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Design Review Board

Oakwood/Lincoln Park Infill Housing Overlay District

8-C-20-IH

Location
131 E. Emerald Ave. 37917
Owner
Matthew Matthew Sterling
Applicant Request
New Primary Structure
Staff recommends approval of the project with the following conditions:

1. Utilize lap siding over Dutch lap or horizontal panels to more closely resemble exterior materials historically used in the neighborhood (p. 13).
2. Parking area to meet City Engineering standards.

Staff recommends approval of the project due to the following findings:

1. Front and side setbacks are consistent with other houses on E. Emerald Avenue. The site plan includes a walkway, perpendicular to the street, connecting the street and front door.
2. The proposed parking area is located in the rear yard and accessed from the alley. The proposed parking area is drawn at 16' by 16'. Applicant has proposed either pervious compacted gravel or concrete. City Engineering states that parking area must accommodate 2 vehicles on the lot, which can be a minimum of 18' wide and 17.5' deep OR 10' wide and 35' deep. The surface must meet zoning and engineering requirements, which can be determined during permitting.
3. The size and massing of the proposed house are consistent with the surrounding context. E. Emerald Avenue features numerous 1.5 story Craftsman-style residences or Queen Anne cottages with steeply pitched roofs. The foundation height is also consistent with the neighborhood.
4. The porch design demonstrates appropriate size, proportions, and details to be consistent with other Craftsman-style houses in the neighborhood.
5. The roof shape and materials meet the Infill Housing Review Guidelines.
6. The proposed materials (horizontal lap siding, Craftsman-style windows and doors, Craftsman-style porch details) are in compliance with Infill Housing Design Guidelines. Siding should feature an overlap to mimic historic wood clapboard siding instead of Dutch lap or horizontal panels.
7. Windows meet egress requirements where necessary, and placement of the windows are appropriate for the Craftsman style of the house and consistent with other houses on the street.
Staff Comments
The applicant is proposing a new house and driveway for 131 E. Emerald Avenue.

Proposed Site
1. The proposed house will front E. Emerald Avenue, with a proposed front setback of 15' from the porch to the front property line and 23' from the main house to the property line. While the adjacent house at 135 E. Emerald Avenue is set closer to the street, other houses on the 100 and 200 blocks of E. Emerald Avenue reflect similar setbacks as the proposed infill house. The front and side setbacks are appropriate for the neighborhood context.
2. Proposed access is from the alley. The 16' x 16' parking area will be located behind, and screened visually by, the house.
3. The applicant has included a walkway from the sidewalk to the front door.

Proposed House
1. The proposed house is a 1.5 story, three-bedroom, two-bathroom structure, measuring 31' wide by 32' deep. The house features a front-gable porch projecting from the right half of the façade (east). The house is proportional to the dimensions of the lot and other houses on the block.
2. The side-gable roof has a 9/12 slope with dimensional asphalt shingle cladding. The front-gable roof on the porch features a 6/12 slope with matching cladding.
3. The house features Craftsman influences, including the porch design, roof details, and windows and doors.
4. The front porch is 8' deep by 20' wide, featuring a front-gable roof porch with 6" x 6" square wood columns on wider square bases. The porch is consistent with existing porches on surrounding blocks.
5. The proposed concrete block foundation is 2'-8" tall, consistent with other historic houses on the block.
6. The proposed front door is appropriate for a Craftsman-style house.
7. Windows are proposed as 2/1 or 3/1 double-hung windows with trim on the façade, left (south) elevation, and both side gable fields. The right (north) elevation features three non-egress, 3' x 3' square windows. Windows are appropriately designed for the style and placement of the windows is appropriate.
8. Proposed siding is a horizontal lap siding, which reflects the materials historically used in the neighborhood.
Applicant

Matthew Matthew Sterling

Planning Staff
Lindsay Lanois
Phone: 865-215-3795
Email: lindsay.lanois@knoxplanning.org
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Case History