Design Review Board

Lonsdale Infill Housing Overlay District

11-B-24-IH

Staff Recommendation

Staff recommends approval of Certificate 11-B-24-IH, subject to the following conditions: 1) final site plan to meet City Engineering standards; 2) revision to proposed front setback, with site plan approval by staff; 3) modifications to the porch to meet Infill Housing guidelines; 4) use of lap siding with an overlap instead of Dutch lap or flush panel siding.


Location
1212 Katherine Ave.

Owner
Jose Martinez

Applicant Request
New Primary Structure
1. The new house is proposed to be set 15' from the front property line. The average setback of the blockface is 9.5'; the site plan should be revised to include a front setback of 10' (minimum front setback for the block) to create a consistent street. The site plan includes a walkway to the front sidewalk.

2. The block itself lacks significant context; a shotgun-type house was on the lot previously, with a new construction house similar to a shotgun house at 1218 Katherine Ave. The surrounding blocks of Lonsdale feature modified Queen Anne cottages, modified Craftsman bungalows, and a significant amount of infill construction. The house is somewhat wider than other houses on the block.

3. The proposed parking meets Infill Housing design guidelines as it's located behind the main house and accessible from the alley. Final modifications may be necessary to meet City Engineering standards and the impervious surface limits of the RN-2 zoning.

4. The three-bay façade is somewhat wider than original houses on the block. The design does contain projecting bays and massing details compatible with the context, and the foundation height reflects those on original houses in the neighborhood.

6. The design includes a 5' deep, recessed front porch on the left half of the façade, supported by narrow turned wood posts. Guidelines typically recommend a porch 8'-12' deep, with posts comparable to the historic context (larger than 2 by 2s).

7. One-over-one windows are similar to historic houses on the block. The façade, side elevations, and rear elevation demonstrate a sufficient proportion of solids to voids.

8. The 6/12 pitch is typically the minimum pitch recommended in the Infill Housing overlay. The house incorporates additional complexity via a hipped porch roof and a projecting front-gable massing.

9. The siding material is not specified but lap siding is indicated, which meet the design guidelines. Final siding selection should use an overlap similar to wood clapboard patterns instead of Dutch lap or flush panel siding. A brick clad foundation meets the guidelines.

10. The final site plan indicates trees in the front and rear yards.

Staff Comments
Modification to COA 5-B-22-IH: new primary residence fronting Katherine Ave. One-story residence features a front-gable roof (6/12 pitch, clad in asphalt shingles), an exterior of lap siding (material unspecified), and a foundation clad in brick veneer. The house will be set 15' from the front property line. The house is rectangular in shape, measuring 33'-9" wide by 42' deep. The parking is proposed to be accessed from the alley, featuring a 57'-3" long granite driveway.

The façade (northwest) features a projecting, front gable-roof massing flush on the right side of the façade, flush with a porch on the left side. The porch features a partial hipped roof and turned wood balusters. The right side elevation features one pair of double-hung windows and a single double-hung window, and the left side elevation features two pairs. On the rear elevation, a second-story deck provides access to the secondary entrance.

Revisions include the removal of shingles in the front gable fields, removal of rear elevation windows, and minor revisions to building footprint and driveway placement..
Applicant

Eric Forrestall Bald Design Services LLC


Planning Staff
Lindsay Crockett
Phone: 865-215-3795
Email: lindsay.crockett@knoxplanning.org

Case History