CITY OF ROCKVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

STAFF REPORT

December 15, 1998

MEETING NO: 13-98

 

APPLICATION: HDC98-0134

DATE FILED:      November 16, 1998

APPLICANT:

McCarthy, Wilson and Ethridge: representative Nancy Francis
100 S. Washington Street
Rockville, Maryland 20850

DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY:

Address: 108 S. Washington Street
Zone: O-1, Office
Present Use: Law Office
Proposed Use: Law Office
Age of Structure: Built in 1902

Property is a Contributing Resource to the South Washington Historic District.

RELATED OR PREVIOUS ACTIONS:

108 S. Washington Street:

HD-37-78 To construct a rear addition and install aluminum siding.

U-104-78        Use permit to enclose area at rear of building for office use.

M-180-69 Reclassify from R-60 to O-1 Zone.

A-186-69        Variance from driveway width approved.

U-466-69        Use for Law Offices approved

Adjacent properties:

HDC205-88 - To construct a 3000 square foot addition to 100 and 104 S. Washington, revise the landscape and parking plan, and add a fence along the rear property line of the two properties. Approved June 20, 1989. This application included approval of the existing rear fence at these addresses.

HDC98-0130, HDC96-0088, HDC95-0073, HDC95-0067, USE95-0545, M-60-93 - to rezone 110 S. Washington Street from R-90 to O-1, approve use for law offices, demolish garage and add parking lot, renovate building, add trash enclosure, and place brass signs on the building.

REQUEST:

The applicant requests approval to install a six (6) foot high pressure-treated wood picket stockade fence ("Wyngate" model) at the rear of the property. The fence is finished on both sides and will connect to and match the existing approved rear fences at 100 and 104 S. Washington Street. The office staff has been concerned about unknown individuals in the rear yard of the property and pedestrians cutting through.

STAFF COMMENTS/ RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends approval of HDC98-0134 based on site visits of the property and neighboring environment, and appropriateness of the proposed design and material submitted by applicant.

  1. Historic, archeological, or architectural value and significance of the site or structure and its relationship to the historic, archeological, or architectural significance of the surrounding area.
    2.

     The Warner House at 108 S. Washington was built as a residence in 1902 and was rezoned to office use in 1969. Although expanded at the rear and clad with aluminum siding in 1978, the front appearance is substantially unaltered. The structure remains a contributing resource to the S. Washington Street Historic District.

  2. The relationship of the exterior architectural features of the structure to the remainder of the entire structure and to the surrounding area
    3.

     Wooden fences were commonly used in 1902 and are recommended by the fence guidelines in "Information for City of Rockville Historic Property Owners" as appropriate to the historic districts. The six-foot height and stockade character of the proposed fence is not typical of front and side yard residential fence enclosures, but falls within the types of fences used to contain animals and provide privacy. The rear property line where the fence will be installed is also the dividing line between the historic district and the public library site and it will provide a visual screen to the parking lot as well as reduce the amount of cut through pedestrian traffic. It will continue a previously approved fence of the same design at 100 and 104 S. Washington Streets.

    The fence will not be visible from the public way of S. Washington Street and will be marginally visible from Vinson Street. It will screen the property from the adjacent Rockville Library parking lot. The fence will not have a negative impact on the character of the two-story frame historic structure or on the surrounding historic area and is consistent with existing approved picket fences in the South Washington Street Historic District.

  3. The general compatibility of exterior design, scale, proportion, arrangement, texture, and materials proposed to be used.
    4.

     The fence is compatible with the design, scale, proportion, arrangement, texture, and materials of the subject house and property. The proposed fence is compatible with the existing design, scale, proportions arrangements and textures of existing fences in the South Washington Street Historic District. It is finished on both sides.

  4. To any other factors, including aesthetic factors, which the Commission deems to be pertinent.
    5.

  Approval is subject to the following conditions:

  1. That the Applicant apply for and receive a fence permit before proceeding.
  2. Fence design and materials shall be a six -foot (72-inches) high, pressure-treated wood "Wyngate" design picket fence that is finished on both sides. It is to be left in a natural finish and match the existing approved fences at 100 and 104 S. Washington Street.