Historic Zoning Commission
Fairmont-Emoriland NC-1: Level III
3-D-17-HZ
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the new construction based on the design guidelines and findings of fact with the condition that 1) the aluminum-clad windows are dark in tone, such as the proposed bronze color, rather than white; and 2) the railing for the deck have balusters that are set into the top and bottom rails rather than having beveled ends overlapping the rails.
Location Knoxville
0 Emoriland Blvd. Rd
South side Emoriland Blvd in 1500 block
OwnerCaleb Caleb Kyser
Applicant Request
Level III. Construction of new primary building
Other: Construction of new primary buildingConstruct one-story, frame, front-gabled house with footprint of 45'x36'-6" . Height of overall house to be approximately 19 feet from finished grade and the front foundation to rise approximately 2 feet above finished grade. Style to be front-gabled Craftsman with integral front-gabled porch. The setbacks are to be 35 feet from the street's edge, 9.5 feet from the west side, and 14 feet from the east side. A two-track driveway is proposed for the east side.
1) Foundation
•Block foundation will be covered with Boral Heritage Trail brick. Sample board provided.
2) Siding and Trim (All exterior siding and trim are to be painted with traditional craftsman earth tones)
•Wall siding will be smooth fiber cement board with 6" reveal. Sample provided.
•Gables will be fiber cement board straight shingle. Example photo provided in packet.
•Window and door trim will be smooth fiber cement board 6" on top and 4" on sides and bottom as shown on plan. Also shown in example photo.
•Corner trim will be 6" smooth fiber cement board board
•Freeze boards will be 8" smooth fiber cement board
•Fascia board will be 6" smooth fiber cement board
•Soffit will be made of wood or vented fiber cement board
•Each gable will have three wooden brackets made as shown on plan
3) Window and Doors
•Front door will be painted wood with side lights. Unit will be as shown on plans (see photo in packet for more detailed view).
•Back door will be aluminum-clad French with full glass, painted to coordinate with trim
•Window style and sizes will be as shown on plan
•Window to be made of wood with aluminum exterior with simulated -divided-lites 7/8" grille "putty" profile. See photos in packet for more detail. Please note that vinyl flange will not be visible after trim is installed
•Window color will be Colonial White or Bronze
4) Porches and Railing
•All porch railing will be of wood as shown on plan and painted
•Front porch walking surface and stairs will be poured concrete and tinted so not to cure white
•Tapered woods columns will be as shown on plan and painted
5) Roof
•Roof pitch will be 4-over-12 shown on plan
•Roof material will be standard-size asphalt dimensional shingle. As seen in the top left corner of the siding example photo.
6) Driveway and Sidewalk
•Concrete driveway will have a full approach turning into two 24" tracks with grass between and around tracks. Tracks will end at the back of the house and back parking area will be brown pea gravel.
•Concrete sidewalk will match width of front steps-- both driveway and sidewalk will be tinted to match porch.
Staff Comments
vacant lot
A. New Development and Additions
Construction of new buildings, accessory buildings and additions
1. The design of additions and accessory buildings should be consistent with the character of the main structure.
2. New buildings on vacant lots shall be set back the same distance from Emoriland or Fairmont boulevards as the adjacent buildings.
3. The width of side yard setbacks should duplicate the average side yard widths of the three adjacent existing buildings on each side of the subject property.
6. The entrances and front facades of new buildings located on Emoriland and Fairmont boulevards should be sited facing those streets. The front facade should have a strong sense of entry.
7. Sidewalks should run from the front sidewalk to the front entrance, reinforcing the established rhythm and emphasizing the importance of the front entry.
B. Building and Roof Form
The houses in Fairmont-Emoriland are diverse in their architectural designs and trim, with roof variations formed by flat roofs, offsetting gables or hips, telescoping gables and dormers. Wings extend from the main body of the buildings and porches or porticos add further diversity. In constructing new buildings:
1. Houses with the same design of front facades cannot be repeated within five adjacent houses.
2. A matrix of the primary architectural designs and their features found in the Fairmont-Emoriland neighborhood is shown on page 6 of this report. New designs should interpret one of these design types, with features drawn from the matrix and appropriate to that style.
4. The minimum roof pitch should be appropriate for the style of house that is being constructed, as shown on the matrix in these guidelines.
5. Stoops, porticos or front porches are required for new buildings in the neighborhood, with the appropriate form drawn from the matrix of style types.
6. Most buildings should incorporate complex planes in the design of their front facades, as shown on the attached matrix.
7. The average foundation height of new buildings should replicate the average height of buildings on adjacent lots.
8. The height of newly constructed buildings from the first floor to the top of the first story should replicate the height of neighboring buildings.
C. Materials
1. In constructing new buildings, the materials to be used should respect individual designs as shown on the matrix provided in the design guidelines.
3. Board and batten and materials noted on the matrix can be used on accessory buildings located in the side or rear yards.
D. Access and Parking
Many of the houses along Fairmont and Emoriland boulevards were built before use of the automobile was widespread. Driveways, if they exist, are of minimal width. Front sidewalks access the entry off of the primary sidewalk at the street. Garage doors on accessory structures facing the primary streets of the neighborhood are usually located at the rear of the lot. All of these factors act to preserve the impression of the neighborhood as a streetcar, or walking neighborhood, which contributes to its historic setting.
1. The carports or doors of attached garages should not face Emoriland or Fairmont Boulevards.
2. Attached garages or carports should be located fifteen feet back of the front facing facade.
4. If driveways are built they should be 9-10' wide. Separate tire strips of aggregate exposed concrete are encouraged.
6. Sidewalks should connect the public front sidewalk to the front entrance.
E. Landscaping, Walls and Fencing
Several factors form the setting for historic houses in the Fairmont-Emoriland neighborhood. They include the driveways themselves, walkways from the front sidewalk and mature trees. While these visual images affect the setting, they also impact on drainage issues with First Creek. The amount of impermeable features such as paving and roofs has a direct effect on the amount of runoff in First Creek, and the degree of flooding that can occur downstream. Additional mature trees and landscaping will also reduce immediate runoff and moderate the effects of intense rainfall.
1. The maximum lot coverage for impermeable features such as paving and roofs on any lot shall be 40%.
2. If driveways are constructed, they should be as narrow as possible.
3. Mature trees in the designated area should be protected, with residents and agencies encouraged to maintain trees that currently exist, and to begin planting the next generation of trees as soon as possible in conformance with the Master Plan for Tree Planing now being drafted.
4. Prior to any grading, a site plan should be prepared depicting trees that are to be conserved with any new development.
5. The front and rear yards of new houses constructed on Emoriland or Fairmont Boulevards should provide for large, native trees that will reach at least 50' in height at maturity. At least one tree should be placed in each of the front and rear yards. Examples of these include oaks, maples, sweet gums, sycamores, and other native trees that are suited to the environment and soils of the neighborhood. Existing trees may be included
6. At least one native ornamental tree such as a dogwood or redbud should also be planted in the front and the rear yards of each newly built primary structure in the neighborhood.
7. Fences and freestanding walls over 30" tall shall not be constructed in front of the front facade of houses facing Emoriland or Fairmont Boulevards.
8. There should be no mailboxes at the street on Emoriland or Fairmont Boulevards; all mailboxes should be attached to the front facade of houses.
9. Foundation plantings with low ornamental shrubs should be installed with new construction.
