Will Benicia Planning Commission Overturn Historic Preservation Review Commission’s Window Decision?

The Planning Commission will hear an appeal of a Historic Preservation Review Commission decision at .  The owners of 410 West J Street, Julian and Claudia Fraser want to move forward with replacing the old windows on their west side home.  The windows have been made and are waiting to be installed.  The only catch: the Historic Preservation Review Commission denied project approval because the Frasers want to use vinyl clad windows to replace existing wood windows.

, the historic commission approved the use of vinyl windows on the side of the house but required wood windows on the front façade, either rehabilitation of the existing wood windows or replacement with new wood windows. 

The largest and most prominent window on the front of the home is currently a vinyl window.  At its meeting in October some commissioners wanted to require that the large window be replaced with a new wood window but Community Development Director Charlie Knox told the group they couldn’t make that requirement and went so far as to say his department might have to appeal a decision that included that requirement.

The Fraser’s project was originally approved by the planning department.  That approval was later withdrawn when it was discovered the windows being replaced were wood.  The couple’s contractor had indicated to city officials that all the windows proposed for replacement were vinyl. 

The Frasers ordered their new energy efficient windows after they received the approval.  The new windows have been made and are awaiting installation.

In the report to the Historic Preservation Review Commission, city staff had recommended approval of the window replacement because the windows are not considered one of the prominent design features that make the home a contributing structure in the downtown historic district.

The Planning commission meets in the City Council chambers at 7 p.m., Thursday, December 8, 2011.