Homes on Lakewood Boulevard in the proposed expansion area. Photo by Renee Umsted.
The 15th and final post-application meeting of the Lakewood Conservation District expansion brought repeat and first-time attendees to discuss regulations of one last architectural feature: windows.
While windows were discussed, a few residents raised concerns about the overall process and their ability to participate in deciding how property owners can remodel their homes.
Over several months, residents have been meeting to talk about how they want to regulate architectural and developmental features including setbacks, fences and paint color, among others. All of these meetings were held because Lakewood residents decided to take action to protect the character of the neighborhood.
Windows are one of the defining features of architectural styles, Chief Planner Trevor Brown said, and language in the ordinance would make sure that windows match the style of the house during remodels.
Some neighbors wanted to make sure windows that were causing issues such as leaks could be replaced.
“I am very much in favor of maintaining the integrity of all of the styles,” resident Margaret Cervin said. “I think that’s important. But not to the exclusion of practical, reasonable replacements.”
They also agreed that windows should have the same appearance as something typical of the style and time period of the home. For example, a simulated divided-light window, made to look like a historical divided-light window, would be OK, and a true divided-light window would not be required.
Some windows have a grille sandwiched between the glass, and neighbors didn’t want that. They weren’t in favor of what Brown called windows with “popsicle stick” grilles, which are flat and have no expressed profile, nor did they want to allow tinted or mirrored glass.
Many of the homes in the Lakewood Conservation District expansion, including several of the Spanish Eclectic homes designed by Clifford Hutsell, have prominent stained-glass windows on the front facade. Neighbors wanted to make sure they’re able to take measures to protect them.
If a stained-glass or leaded window is replaced, another comparable window that’s appropriate to the style and period should replace it.
The conversation expanded in scope when residents began sharing concerns about regulations for noncontributing homes. This specifically came up in discussions of maintaining window openings.
Neighbors said they wanted to preserve window openings and not allow them to be filled in, but they were in favor of allowing window openings to be relocated.
But neighbor Julie Broberg said some regulations should only be for homes of contributing styles.
“As far as noncontributing, I don’t know why we’re regulating that. That doesn’t make sense to me,” said Broberg, who lives in a Ranch home, one of the noncontributing styles. “It doesn’t preserve anything. It has nothing to do with preservation. It’s more like dictating to other people what they can do.”
Broberg said she felt misled about the expansion process and said several residents were upset about the decision to place regulations on noncontributing homes.
But all the items on the petitions were what was discussed in the past 15 meetings, Brown said. There were opportunities to give feedback throughout the process, and more opportunities are to come.
The Conservation Districts team is working on a draft ordinance for the Lakewood Conservation District expansion. After the ordinance is written, there will be a meeting to present it to residents; only minor changes will be made at that point.
Then, the ordinance will go before the City Plan Commission. Neighbors will be able to provide feedback via the mailers to be sent out before the meeting, or they can sign up to speak at the meeting.
Information about all previous meetings, including slides and audio recordings, can be found here.
