And anyway, he's the city's home. I was building to the desk. Why don't we Yeah, why don't we approve the minutes and move into and do the election. Is that okay? Anyway,
for church across the street, we were just talking about other Yeah. No, we'll we'll do the approval of the minutes and then we'll do changes to the admission and then we'll do and then we'll move to
you know what I really want to know is he just I just got off the phone with this Okay. Okay, folks. We're going to try to start this as soon as possible. I need to
leave a little bit before 6 because of the way all these are changing. I've got a board meeting that I have to be at or I'm actually paid. So, um, we don't have an attorney or staff. They're late, but we're on time.
They're going to be right here. So, what we're going to do is we're going to call the we're going to call the meeting to order. We're going to approve the minutes and um and then we're going to we're going to move into the elections for the chair vice chair, which we have to do, you know, since we have a new
term. Okay. And I think everybody is here. Uh no, we can't start the meeting until the staff's here, I don't believe. I'm just we're just talking here amongst ourselves. Okay. Well, now we're Oh, and Peggy's
here. Good. Okay. All right. Here we go. Good. Okay. We're going to start. I hope everybody recording in progress. You ready? And here we go.
Good afternoon. Welcome to the regularly scheduled meeting of the city of Coral Gable's Historic Preservation Board. We are residents of Coral Gables and are charged with preservation and protection of historic or architecturally worthy building structures, sites, neighborhoods, and artifacts which
impart a distinct historical heritage of the city. It is comprised of nine members, seven of whom are appointed by the commission, one by the city manager and the ninth members selected by the board and confirmed by the commission. Five members of the board constitute a
quorum and five affirmative votes are necessary for the adoption of any motion. Lobbyist registration and disclosure. Any person who acts as a lobbyist pursuant to the city of Coral Gables ordinance number 2006-11 must register with the city clerk prior to engaging in lobbying activities or
presentations before city staff, boards, committees, and/or the city commission. A copy of the ordinance is available in the office of the city clerk. Failure to register and provide proof of registration shall prohibit your ability to present to the Historic Preservation Board on applications under
consideration this afternoon. Lobbyist is designed is defined as an individual, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity employed or retained, whether paid or not, by a principle who seeks to encourage the approval, disapproval, adoption, repeal, passage, defeat, or
modifications of an ordinance, resolution, action, or decision of any city commissioner. Any action, decision, recommendation of the city manager, any city board or committee including but not limited to quasi judicial advisory
board, trust authority or council, or any action, decision or recommendation of city personnel during the time period of the entire decision-making process on the action or decision or recommendation which foreseeably will be heard or reviewed by the city commission or a
city board or committee, including but not limited ed to Quasi Judicial Advisory Board, Trust Authority, or Council. Presentations made to this board are subject to the city's false claim ordinance, chapter 39 of the City of Coral Gable City Code. I now
officially call the city of Coral Gable's Historic Preservation Board of July 10th, 2025 to order. The time is 408. Present today are to my left at at my
far left our newest member, Miss Kelly Shield. Welcome, Kelly. We're happy to have you. Marlon Ever, Michelle Dune, Alex Silva, and to my to my right all the way down at the end is Miss Peggy Rolando. Next to her, Miss
Donna Spain, and Mr. Caesar Garcia. We have a quorum of the necessary members. And today's our staff. Let's see here. We have staff member Carrick Calf and
our ever faithful city attorney Gustavo. Okay. Next item on the agenda is approval of the minutes of the meeting held on June what was our last meeting? June 12th. Excuse me. Are there any changes, corrections?
Yes. Uh Mr. Chair, I submitted a note to staff. The recording of the vote on the item 24 and one of the votes was incorrect and I submitted it via email
and the staff received it. Want to read it into the record? No, it was noted. Not necessary. Okay. Very good. So, motion to approve with that amendment. Very good. All right. A second. We have a second. I have a voice vote. All approved. I I
Any dissension? Motion carries. Thank you. Notice regarding exparte communications. Please be advised that this board is a quasi judicial board and the items on the agenda are quasi judicial in nature which requires board members to disclose
all exparte communications. An exparte communication is defined as any contact communication, conversation, correspondence, memorandum, or other written or verbal communication that takes place outside a public hearing between a member of the public and a member of a quasi judicial board
regarding matters to be heard by the quasi judicial board. If anyone has made any contact with a board member when the issue comes before the board, the member must state on the record the existence of the exparte communication, the party who originated the communication and whether the communication will affect
the board member's ability to impartially consider the evidence to be presented you regarding the matter. Okay. On the agenda, are there any deferrals? No, there are no changes to agenda. I'm sorry.
There are no changes to the agenda. There are no deferrals. Okay. Very good. Okay. Are there any uh persons in the audience who will be testifying today? If so, please rise to be sworn in. In other words, if you're going to be
speaking on your behalf any of anything, please rise and Thank you very much. Okay, we're going to move it. We're going to move another portion here of what we have to do today. Um, as we have a new board,
every every two years, every cycle, we we run into a new board. So, we're going to have elections here on the board, nominations and elections for chair and vice chair. You are still missing one appointment. I'm sorry. There is still one appointment to be made. uh one commission as a whole appointment
that is yet to be filled. So I do if you all want to wait until that position is we had an appointment made last last meeting that is the board as a whole. This is there's one commission as a whole appointment which would be the the architect position which would be um Anna or another architect.
We can wait. Not a problem. Okay, great. Then we're going to move into the public hearing. Okay. Our first case is uh 259377 case file AV 2018-00003 an application requesting adalorum tax
relief for the property located at 4125 Santa Maria Street a contributing resource within the Santa Maria Street Historic District legally described as lots 9 and 10 block 96 Coral Gables Country Club section plat book 23 page 55 Miami day records
the related special certificates of appropriateness which is COA SP 2017-001 was granted design approval by the Historic Preservation Board on February 16th 2017. Reservisions to the approved COA were report were approved by the
board in 2017, 2019 and 2020. Thank you. Can you put the PowerPoint presentation up please? Thank you. Says location map for the property in question. Um, as you had mentioned, uh, this is a COA that, uh, was initiated in
2017. Um, the property was, um, built in 1947. It's a contributing resource in the historic district, which spans, uh, Santa Maria Street from Bird Road, um, all the way to Blue Road. This is a uh, photograph from the 1940s,
so after the property was built, um, it was designated along with the district in 2007. So, um, there were a couple of revisions to the COA. This was an extensive scope of work. Um, so I'm going to walk you around the property. It's was very
difficult to get the before and afters to line up because it was such a large um, uh, scope of work. So, it was a very big project. Um, I did the best I could. You were supplied hundreds of photographs in your um, in your board documents, so I didn't want to put them
all up here. Um, these are the before photos walk starting from the beginning and then we'll walk around the house. This is still the front facade. Great house, Colton Skinner. It had had some really unsympathetic additions done to it previously um that
were removed. So, this is these are the after photos. Um, again, walking you around the house. This was a new addition and kind of in the front yard a little bit. It's a library freestanding connected with this walkway.
Walking around the rear. Um this is the front molding. It was buried inside um in a the previous owner had pushed the front door out and made a vestibule and the original molding was within the house inside the vestibule.
it was um removed and reopened and the molding remained and the front door reinstated. So these are some interior photos before and after. Again, very difficult to get them to line up, but this is the original living room in the house. The before and after, obviously.
Um this was a little vestibule off to the right. It is now a a really cute powder room. This is um what was originally a study and it's now a library office game room.
This is the original dining room on the left. It's now the stair hall, a two-story stair hall. Same octagonal shape. Um the kitchen was a um part of a later addition that was removed. So this whole side of the house kind of got expanded.
So, the original kitchen's on top and it was replaced with this family room that you see down below and and a much expanded kitchen addition on the left on the right and then the master bedroom upstairs before and after. Again, there are many many more pictures in your um in your
package. But so the general improvements uh to the property include new impact resistant windows and doors to match the existing on the house, removal of later additions at the rear of the house, removal of the later portica share, um uh storage room and entry foyer, which I don't know if you noticed that that was
missing and it's was a huge improvement to the property. Yeah, huge huge improvement. Yeah. Very clunky um carport was added to the front that was removed. Um, uh, reintroduction of of a window on the
front facade, reestablishing the front entry to the door molding surround, demolition, reconstruction of the second floor and roof structure, demolition, reconstruction of the full height wood columns that were rotten at the front facade, complete interior modeling, new flat tile roof, wood installation of new
wood shutters, stucco repair and painting of the house. Um they match the slump brick on the additions. Um mechanical electrical and plumbing upgrades. Uh one and two story additions to the south and rear of the home. Um site improvements. Removal of an existing swimming pool and installation
of new pool. Installation of new walkways and driveway. New sight walls and gates. New septic and new landscaping. So soup to nuts. Um we obviously recommend approval. And the owner is here in the audience if you would like to be recognized or
beautiful. Very good. Is there anyone that wishes to speak for against this? Okay. Good. All right. Close that part of the hearing then and we'll come back to the board. Board. I think I needed to dis Wait, is this
on? I think I need to disclose that uh these were my next door neighbors when I was living on Santa Fe Street. that I'm I can be impartial in my vote. And I love what they did. It's such a huge It's a a
a big project, but just a a big improvement in the property, and it retains the original character. It actually brings a lot of the stuff back. So, I I really appreciate what you did, and I hope you're very happy there. I would like to agree. I think the owners, congratulations. It's a
beautiful home. And I'd also like to thank the architect who worked on this. I think the the collaboration between you all was was excellent and the removal of the pieces that shouldn't have been there add so much to the house. So I think it's they did a great job. Any other comments from the board?
Okay. Any further discussion? Can I hear a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the Do I have to find it in the Wait. I'd like to make a motion to approve the applica application requesting Avalor
tax relief for the property at 4125 Santa Maria Street, a contributing resource within the Santa Maria Historic District. Okay, we have a motion. Second. Second. Peggy.
Peggy, did you second? Okay, thank you. All right, so we have a motion by Miss Spain. We have a second by Miss Rolando. Please call the question. Yes, Mr. Yes, Mr.
Yes, I'm sorry. I obviously I'm losing my hearing. Yes. Yes. Motion passes. Okay. We're going to move on to the next item, please. Okay. Special certificates of appropriateness. Thank you all very
much. Case file COA SP 2025 018, an application for the issuance of a special certificate of appropriateness for the property at 405 Viscaya Avenue, a contributing resource within the
French Normandy Village Historic District. legally described as portions of lot 10 11 block 4 the French village of Coral Gables according to platbook 29 page 71 Miami Dade County the applicant requests after the fact design approval
for the installation of impact resistant windows indoors please put the PowerPoint back up so Um, six of you heard this at your last meeting. Um, because not all of you were present, um, it's been advised that
we do a full presentation again. Um, so bear with me. Again, location map of the property. That little enclave is uh, the designated district along with the two parcels to the north. So, they were um, this property is a contributing
structure within the district, French Normandy. Um it was designated in April of 1987. These homes were um designed by architects John and Colton Skinner and constructed uh circa 192627. As I mentioned last time, we don't
really have a 40s photo straight on of this property, which is um unusual, but these are um photos of the district um from various times. And this is the original permit elevation for the property. Um, as Mr. Maxwell had noted um earlier,
this is for after the fact approval for windows and doors. In April of 2024, a permit application was submitted to install uh impact resistant casement uh windows and doors on the property. We as staff worked with the window company to kind of guide them and review the
different um set of drawings and the final set of drawings that the windows and doors would accurately reflect um the type and style of windows and doors that were originally found on the residence. In this case, um the windows that I you probably can't tell these
were steel casements. Um so we adjust the montton pattern and the thicknesses of the windows to accommodate um and and adjust for the thinness of the steel casements. Um we approved the permit after five previous rejections um with
the glass to be clear, no tint, no reflectivity and then muttons to be as per the approved drawings. Um this is not regularly reviewed by board of architects. is reviewed by their staff who who also approved um after we did.
And the reason why we're here is that we have consistently um worked with property owners to adhere to the original plans andor photographs the earliest known photographs that we have to uh replace windows and doors with
what would have originally been on the house. So um in both type so casements single hung and also style in terms of mutton placement and mutton pattern. Um the windows on this home like like I said originally steel casements. So uh
because they were thinner we worked with them to to get the proportions of the glass right. Um not necessarily the exact mutton pattern because this would come off as very busy and and um the wrong proportions given the thickness of
aluminum frames. That being said, we also work with applicants where the windows are too narrow for a pair of double casements to apply a thicker faux vertical mutton so that it looks like a pair of of casements were being closed. So, we did
require that in this case because the windows were too narrow. So, what we ultimately approved um are the appropriate configuration for this house based on those exercises that we did. Um, we have also consistently, as you all
know, uh, approved window and door applications with the condition that the glass be clear with no tint, no reflectivity. Clear is clear. Um, the windows installed on this property when we went to the final inspection were both reflective with a green tint and or
sheen to them and also the wrong minton pattern. Um, so they were aware of these conditions, the window company, um, through multiple email and telephone conversations and the permit review cycles. They put, um, notes on their own drawings that you see
on the screen. These are the windows that were installed. The note actually specifies no, you know, clear, no tint, no reflectivity. So when we signed off, that's what we signed off on. Um, as was mentioned in the pre in the previous meeting, the windows and doors were ordered before the permit was even
applied for. So, we did this exercise when the windows were already purchased. So, it's it's a bit um problematic for staff to have have spent that much time and energy on on this. Um, but here we are. So, that being said, I will um
there's a PowerPoint from the applicant. Um, I loaded both of them, not which one you all wanted to use. So you tell me Miss Cal just very briefly before you come up just a moment please. Um what was the pattern that was
suggested and do you have a um you all should have that in your in your packet? Yeah, I think it's exhibit number two. And you were referring specifically to page seven where the applicant's representative
specifically stated that the color would be clear of the glass. Yeah. So, it's page 300 of their application is the is the front facade. I'll see it. Basically, it's it's um three horizontal muttons pretty much
consistently for the type the size of window throughout. Um and then the the faux the thicker faux center m and um that's what that's what was installed. Okay. And I'm I'm sorry if I may ask a
question for the chair. Um, and I just want to confirm that um, in May and June and approximately five times as delineated by your figure three in your report, you specifically
discussed the requirements with the applicant. Is that correct? Yes, I did. And in fact, that would be pursuant to the ordinance because under section 8-106, specifically D, there was is required to be pre-application conferences and the
specific purpose of those conferences is for you to give guidance as a staff member, correct? To prevent substantial burden of expenses and things like that. So you did all of that, right? And you did all of that through a substantial period of time until at least until and
through October, correct? Okay, thank you. the first or the second. And as you look, Cara, one more question. Um, the mutton pattern is correct as installed. Okay, it is it is
incorrect. Okay, thank you. We didn't bring our kids this time. Please introduce yourselves with your name and your address, both of them. Camela Pulla. I live at 405 Avenue in Coral Gables. Lavine, uh, her roommate.
Uh, we did get a babysitter. Um, I just want to note that the mutton pattern has is going to be corrected. That order was placed right after our last meeting. Here is the proof. It is in a shipping container here in Miami
Date County. Just has not been delivered and installed. Okay. So, we bought our home in 2021. This is our first home purchase ever. Um, and we really wanted to live in a historic district and Coral Gables was a really good fit for our family. Um, we
have taken really good care to preserve its character and its historic significance to our community. We're a family of four with two kids under four. And for our new board members that weren't here last meeting, this will be a way more pleasant experience than with our raging toddlers. Um, so upon
purchasing our home, we redid our roof right away with a permit with guidance from the historic board as well from the city of Pearl Gables with very clear guidance on what you needed and what you wanted from us and we delivered on that. Next slide, please.
I'll just add one other note about me. I was born in Coral Gables until I was three or um so we Can you speak to the microphone? Yeah, sure. So, our intentions with this was to replace the windows. They were in poor
condition. So, we had cracks in some of the windows. They were the house was really hot. Uh we applied for something called the My Safe Florida Home program, which I think you guys are familiar with, but it's a state program trying to get uh deal with the insurance crisis. So, they're trying to get people to weatherize their homes. We weren't
planning on doing impact windows. I applied on a whim. Uh we always want to strive to match the village neighborhood character. We that's sort of in our limited understanding of how you do things. You want it to look like it's historic and
like it's part of the neighborhood. Um always act in good faith. Uh like I said when we did the roof, we did it with the permit. We asked you guys what tiles you wanted, what vendor, you know, we did everything. Uh this was the same. You know, we went to the state, they gave us a list of vendors, we picked a vendor. Uh we went to you guys. We thought we
got we were trying to follow the rules like we honestly were doing our best as first-time home homeowners. This is our second project. So the first was the roof. This was the second. So as a timeline in July 23 I applied for the program. In February I was approved. So they uh say you you replace
the windows, we'll give you 10,000 bucks uh if you do it within a year. So the next day I was prepared. I had already called all the vendors, gotten quotes. Uh we hired Patriot Windows, which is here. um and they applied for the permit in November. They installed the windows
with the accepted permit. Uh I do just want to note I'm not sure of the details uh around like how much guidance you guys understand we were given. Uh but the first time I ever spoke either of us ever spoke to Cara was at our last meeting here. We never heard from you
guys uh before uh before this. So, I know that there was back and forth with the vendor, but that was never communicated to us. And, you know, we're not Windows professionals. Nonetheless, uh the My Safe Florida Home program says do it within a year. We didn't
obviously, and so we got a six-month extension, which uh expires in August, at which point we lose the 10,000. Keep going. So, compared to what we did when we replaced our roof, this process was really confusing. And I I don't want
to say that like we didn't provide guidance, but I say we got very little guidance, not from the historic board per se, but from the staff. With two small kids at home, we just relied on our vendor to handle the permitting process, to do what's right, and to
manage what needed to be done. Um, like my roommate mentioned, we are not Windows professionals. We also walked around our neighborhood. We know what French Normandy Village looks like. So, we walked around our neighborhood and did our best to select and install what
fit the neighborhood. We called and left messages for the historic board about six times because we were really confused and needed clarification and guidance um because the permit kept getting denied. So, here are the dates of So, so are you telling us as a board
that you called six times and no member of the and no member of the staff contacted you, returned your call. That's correct. That's that's unexcusable. That's correct. We left messages, voicemails. We also we contacted like
other staff to try to get to Cara who was our point person for this pering process. And I think if you dug up all the emails, I'm sure you can find the fail for that. And um so like I said, you guys or also Cara
mentioned we back and forth with the city about five to six times with this with this project. I just want to make it very clear that we did not disregard the permitting process. If we wanted to disregard it, we would have just ordered some windows and had them installed. We really tried to do what was right for
our neighborhood, for our family, and for actual. So, the vendor, I will acknowledge that wrongly ordered the windows before the permit was approved. They shouldn't have done that, but they did that assuming that it was going to be approved because
it matched the design, the character, and the materials of windows that were already installed and very visible in our neighborhood. So, we did this trying to meet the my Florida time.
So, now I will pass it off um All right. All right. So, I'm going to give you guys a walkthrough of French Normandy. I know you guys know it. Uh, but this is just literally from the first house until the last house. And what you guys are going to see is permitted, reflective, tinted, low E
windows on other homes in French Normandy Village. And so, the first home, 400 Viscaya, this is when you walk in on the left. Uh, this is our name of Tay. Uh, his whole house has low E windows, the same exact low E windows on our house. Uh, here it is. This one, his
house actually on Ljun. Uh this is a picture of that. Uh here's their plans and you'll see uh they SB70 LOI whatever. Uh and then here's the approval. Um and then the certificate of
appropriateness states you know stating that this is like the proposed work does not detract or destroy from the character of the historical right the the same low windows. The difference of course is backwards.
Uh they have Tay has white frames and we have black frames, bronze. Um so the next house, this is uh house on the right. This is NY's house. Nancy was here at our last meeting. Uh I actually
have the original photo from her permit application to what she put. Um, she has in this case and what you can see it's bronze tint. So, it's like a dark bronze glass. Uh, and that of course was also on the permit and that was approved.
Uh, and you'll see bronze. Uh, here's a certificate of of approval. Uh, and I think this one actually has Donna Spain's signature on it. Uh, one thing to note because I know the muttons are like very in contestion right now. Uh, it's the same brand, it's the same frame
color, and it's the same mutton pattern, the thick middle with the two horizontal bars. So, that's NY's windows on the left, and these are our windows on the right. Uh, so this is 404 Viskaya. These windows have not been updated. So, this is the second house on the on the left.
Uh the third house on the left, 408 Vis Visaya. Uh this these appear to be the exact same windows as Nancy. So bronze frame, bronze tint, the same mutton pattern that we're being denied for. So same brand, same frame color, sick
middle, two horizontal bars. Uh 409 Visaya. So this is the house that we share a wall with. This is Dolly's old house. Uh those windows have not been updated. Olga, who's the daughter of the owners, uh, and their family owns Alhamra Antiques, actually I thought
gave a really nice, uh, testimony. And so I wanted to just reshare that because there are a lot of good points. Uh, so we're family, her family is all about historic preservation. If you go by and see this house, this does not look like it's tinted in any way. It's certainly
true that in this community, all the windows are different. The spirit of historic preservation is for technology to go improving and embracing when it's better for a house to have protection both from hurricane and storms and heat and weather. If you see this house in person, it absolutely looks like the
spirit of the moment. I understand that the push for everybody to have clear glass, but I think that's also something that was done in the 20s because that was the material of the moment, not necessarily because it was a design decision. That's the glass that was available. And had there been a glass that had helped us keep our houses cooler, it would have been used. I very
much support that this be approved. Uh 413 Visaya. So this is on the right. Windows not updated. Uh 415 Viskaya. So this is the house on the corner. This is not contributing. So these were like the houses that were built after. Uh and as
you'll see the windows are reflective. Some of the windows are reflective and tinted. Uh this is the last house on the left. So this is Sally Jude's house. She has low E windows with a different color bronze tint. Um
the next house, so this is the middle sort of apex of the neighborhood. Uh 3621 Biscaya. These are low E windows. Uh they appear to have the same mutton pattern that we're being told not to use. Uh with the one exception, they
don't have the thick horizontal middle bar. Um, and I just want to like stop for a second and and just the point that I'm trying to make is every window which has been updated looks like the windows that we put in. And so what we did is we walked around the neighborhood. We called you guys. You guys didn't didn't
give us any feedback uh and just did what everybody else has done. Uh, everybody else had updated windows. So this is Ginger's house who maybe Yeah. Right. the exception of Ginger who uh same neighborhood not not
historically designated but also same mutton pattern uh thick middle two horizontal bars of course is a white frame uh so if you keep going around this is 412 and 408 Allesio one has a bronze frame one has a white frame these are single hung windows uh they do not
appear to be low and then 3622 Lun uh not updated 400 Allesio updated And then I'm also including 411 Allesio, 403 Allesio, and 401 Allesio, which are the houses across the street uh on
Allesio. Two of them have tints, one of them doesn't have tints. Of course, none of them have muttons. Um so of the other houses in French Normandy, 10 have updated impact windows. Six of those 10 have tint or lowi. Four have two
horizontal muttons. Six have three. Five have bronze frames. five have white. Uh, you know, the the sort of general point I'm trying to make is that, uh, the roof color, the roof tiles are different on every house. The paint color is different on every house. The window
frames are different on every house. Uh, we we honestly, honest to God, just tried our best to match what exists in the neighborhood. Uh, these are letters from all of our neighbors. you know, no complaints from what I unless you guys have heard any,
but most people actually in our neighborhood as we're, you know, we're in the group chat, we're talking about this, they they're they didn't even know that we have low ei. So, okay, so just to wrap up, we really love our historic home and I'm taking really good
care to preserve it. We have two kids. We do not have the resources to replace 63% of our windows with We asked for help. We tried to match our neighbors and we tried to do what was right. So we respectfully ask for a practical and fair solution. We
recognize the presidentusion and the efforts that good. We also respectfully ask for a resolution that is practical, consistent and fair and also a future pallet for the neighborhood. Let me ask you a question. What did you
when you found out about this? What did you ask of your contractor? Why did you order the windows before the permit was approved? Exactly. Because it put you at jeopardy because No, he put you in jeopardy. I mean, he's liable for this. Okay. He has violated
the code. Okay. And so you're coming to us asking for us to release the contractor who took out the permit in your name, okay? and violated the the provisions of the contract. Okay. So,
well, actually, I would say that we're asking you to like not harm us. It's not about harming you. If you make us replace 63% of our windows, that is harm through the chair. May I ask a question,
please? Okay. Um, first of all, you didn't make an econ an economic hardship argument or request at any point in these proceedings, have you? I don't know what that is. Okay. Um, let me ask you this that you actually signed some of the documents
that were submitted. Correct, Mr. Levine? Okay. And you didn't read the documents when you signed them? This is our second house project. I'm not a But this is my point is like we we are here. We accept responsibility. Our
contractor isn't here before you. We are. Okay. But um on February 2nd, I see your signature. I see your 2024. I see your signature um in May of 2024 and we have uh detailed evidence in our record about
communications that were made with your authorized representative. At no point prior to October or prior to 2025, you were made aware of the fact that the windows you ordered were not conforming
to the guidance provided by the historic preservation officer. I I did not I didn't realize you were doing anything wrong until our installation. I didn't I mean like in spite of the back and forth or whether or not we read every single
detail on the document that we signed like we had two little kids in the house. If someone sends me an email that's like hey can you just sign this off so I can submit it to the historic board. I just did like what the person requested because they're a trusted state approved vendor. So I assume that
they're an Windows expert and I am not a Windows expert. I am a homeowner that's like very tired. So, I also want to make note that when we realized something was wrong, we did try and reach out and we were sort of confused as to why we would
be denied because our windows look like so many other windows in the neighborhood. Like, we didn't install purple windows or some like wacky design that didn't fit the character of French Normandy Village. Like, it looks like almost every other home that's had windows
updated. But if we could do it over again, we'd do it again very differently. I've learned my lesson. This is a a colossal. It's a a huge problem. I mean, we're super stressed out about this.
So then your answer is that at no time prior to let's say November when you install the windows, you were you aware in any way that your windows were not conforming? So we kept getting the you know call the vendor I say what's it you know what's going on with permit they
say oh it got denied and we called we we tried to call and like never heard back and then they're like oh okay we got permit okay great can you refresh my memory what were the approximate dates of your phone calls because I think you had noted them
and what number were you calling do you remember what number you were calling was it car's personal phone was it the director's I mean it wasn't a person phone is a person historic board contact number and then I would say hey can I speak to Cara and they're like yeah actually she's not
available I'll pass you through to her line and I would leave a voice message then you left a message I would on her say I would send an email being like and actually even last month I didn't even know we had to pay you over $1,000 to come before you to speak
until two days before the meeting and I found that because you told me we called. So we called November 23rd, the 26th, the 27th, uh October 7th, and then these are times
after. So those are the times before installation and then two times after installation, which I guess are after didn't pass. So your installation was prior to 9:23. No, it was after we installed in November. Thank you. So the just for clarification, we And I
have an email um from Eve that they did call. And so on the 7th, my response was that the email was they're calling about the status of the permit. So I respond to her was that nothing new has been submitted. There's nothing for me to review. That was relayed back to them.
That's on the 7th of what? November. October, sorry of October. So they were responded to and at that point the permit was was already in place. So to offer guidance prior to a permit being applied for in April would have
been the way to do this. I would also ask if we needed guidance because we were confused. Isn't it the responsibility of this board to give us 10 minutes? No, it's the responsibility of the staff and the peraffas judicial board. Right. Right. I don't mean the board. I
mean the staff that work for the historic. But here's the other thing and this is really important for you to understand. your contractor violated the terms of the permit. Okay? Not you, your contractor. Unfortunately, you're
responsible for him. All right? And but that makes him liable for whatever happens. Okay? Right? So, if he messed up, which it appears that he did, and and let me go back to just one other thing. Yes, you've tried to do lots of nice things. However, you
know, it's just like the speed limit. It changes periodically, okay? And now it's 25 in all the residential areas where it used to be 30 last year. So the codes and laws do change. And so whatever is applicable at the time that you apply
doesn't necessarily mean that the people behind you before you had the same sets of rules. And so those rules change and so please understand that and and thing and rules do change. Okay? Just like zoning and other things like that. So, I know you, you know, I know you've tried
to do the right thing here. So, we're not denying, but it's not your fault. It's your contractor's fault. We're here. We're here begging that you I will tell you that you're still It's very easy though for a homeowner to
rely on a contractor and think that they're doing the right thing. I worked in this city for 25 years. I was in charge of code enforcement at one point. I moved into a townhouse. We just repainted the townhouse and you know the guy's out there
painting away and there's no permit anywhere. And I'm thinking, so I said to my husband, he pulled a permit, right? Goes, "Oh, I'm sure he did." No, we were cited by code enforcement, which was really funny for the code enforcement officers.
They realized who it was. But it's very easy as a homeowner to just assume that the person that does this for a living knows what what they're doing. So, I totally get that and I sympathize with you. Yeah, we're going to pass this. You've already made your presentation. Yeah, but I know that we have a witness
that would also speak on this case. Okay. Very briefly. Very briefly. My name is Ginger Jook. I live at 365 Biscaya Court. I've lived in this community for over 20 years now. And I
must agree with this lovely family that um there are inconsistencies in our neighborhood. I mean there are I have um plain old glass windows that are impact because I'm sure the other window wasn't available when I was doing it. So I
think the presentation was quite um extensive and sensitive and I hope you vote in favor of them. Thank you. Thank you Miss Rolando. Never mind. All right. Mr. Garcia,
I do have a question for the homeowner. The um I understand everything that happened. I'm asking question about something you mentioned right when you started that you've ordered mutton replacements already for the new windows or you've you ordered something since the last meeting.
Yes. What is that please? the uh the extra muttons. So to change the mutton pattern to the mutton pattern that you guys are asking. So the city requested and approved the mutton pattern is what you have
subsequently ordered to replace the muttons that you currently have. That is what the vendor has ordered which I now know I can't trust. But but that is that is the intention. The intention is at the last meeting you guys suggested you might approve the low
E with the changed mutton pattern so that immediately we ordered the change mutton pattern uh and that has been okay thank you very much I ask a question ever uh I think I'm the only one on the board that lives east of the highway I come up
and down Lune Road multiple times a day I pass the French Normandy village even the two homes that are facing are different colors. They're they're one's beige, one's white. Um I had four
friends, Sally Judy and Dolly McIntyre being two, and now I still have two friends in there. I'm in that community all the time. The entire neighborhood, every house is different. Some are white framed, some are bronze framed, some are
double hung, some are um casement windows. Um I was in the exact same boat in Pittsburgh when I was our first home. Anyway, I I um I'm glad that you have been able to order new muttons for the
windows. I I hope that we will let them install them. I can I may I ask a question, Mr. Maxwell? Ask a question of the vendor, please. So the the muttons that are being ordered to replace the other muttons, are are
they able to be removed and replaced um without damaging the existing window because of the film? So was that a nodding from the audience? I mean, do we have to get that on the record? Were you sworn in?
Um yes. The Noah. your name, please. And please state your name for the record. Noah Martinez. Thank you. Uh the muttons can be removed. Uh the glass is just glass. There's no film on it. It's a heat process which the which
gives it the color of the actual glass. Uh those can be removed and the new ones can be replaced. No problem. Thank you. Through the chair. Are we still asking questions? Let me get Mr. Silva, please. Next. I just had a quick question. Um so I I wasn't here last time. I did watch the
last meeting so I appreciate your presentation. Um there I I understand general timeline. I I don't see anywhere. When were the windows actually ordered? That's a date that I don't see anywhere. I just would like to know. That's a I I don't know. I think it's in your presentation. Was
it in? Yes, it was. It was prior to the definite permit was is they just said prior I think in the presentation. Yeah. Wasn't it February of 24? It was before you applied for the
permit, I guess, is the question. Yes. The the windows were ordered prior to the permit. Our process typically for every single job, we've had hundreds of thousands of permits that, you know, we've done. And our process is as long as we get an engineer approval, we pass the address, we pass everything that we
need to, we go ahead and order material. Unfortunately, in this scenario, we had a historic preservation that we had to abide by, which we on that after the fact. So that's why we're here trying to make it right and do what we have. Did you visit the site when you made the estimate? Yes, ma'am.
Uh did you observe that it was an older home? Yes, ma'am. So the real question is why did you go against the permit? We had ordered material. Doesn't matter. You didn't have a permit for the windows that you ordered, did you? Uh no.
No, you didn't. So you installed these windows without a permit basically. In other words, they were contrary to the permit that was given because you had ordered them in advance of obtaining a permit. We installed the material once we had a permit. Nothing was installed prior,
but it didn't match the permit drawings. They got correct. It was a previous You got a permit and that was approved. So, we installed uh items that didn't match what you got approved, the window color. Right. Correct. Right. And had you ever done work in Coral Gables at all? This was actually
unfortunately my first job. Well, there you go. You might remember the process the next time and change it through because it doesn't apply just to historic homes. Absolutely. You know, don't blame it on being a historic. Blame it on not following the
permit drawings. That's why you do permit drawings. They're not a suggestion. Absolutely. Mr. Let me ask you um when you welcome Jan. I'm sorry. Go ahead through the chair. Thank you. Um I have
question some questions for Cara if she can clarify for us. I think we've already established that there was a material misrepresentation with regard to the permit application and throughout the process thereafter which didn't all not also conform with what the certificate of appropriateness had had
provided its conditions. But what I wanted to ask you because there's questions being made about existing conditions at the property and I do note in your report you set forth um the secretary of interior of interior standards for rehabilitation. I think it's just important if we take another
look at the ordinance 8-106 and we are required as a board this is how we're required to make our decision is based upon the guidelines which which shall serve as a criteria for for the decisions and we also have to make sure
that we're complete in our descriptions of the reasons why we're making a particular finding. So, can you refresh our memories about why we're hearing some noise about other looks and other things that have been permitted in the past and about why uh or why not pursuant to the ordinances, we can't
take that into consideration when making our decision. So, a couple of things. So, I mentioned this at the last meeting and I went through each of the properties. Most of the windows that were installed were installed over a decade ago. Um when we when I first started, which was longer
than a decade ago at this job, um we would initially ask for clear glass to be installed. So everything was clear glass and that was known to be glass that's clear as you see here that's fully transparent. Um it then it became
the way that glass manufacturers have um have described their glass has then evolved. So then there became uh clear was was clear but it had a tint to it. So it was dark. So then we would say clear no tint and then there became a reflectivity that was added uh for UV.
Um so the glass was still clear but there were things added to the glass. So still said clear but didn't come out clear. So then it was clear no reflectivity no tint. Now we have low e- glass was a whole leather, no heat, you know, whatever that makes it um greenish
and reflective. So now we start specifying clear, no tint, no reflectivity, no lowey. I'm sure at some point that'll change to something new and we'll have to change our language, but the other things that were installed um were specified as clear glass. I can't speak to every one of those and
why why something was allowed versus not allowed, but that's been our general mo since I've been here. Um the the one on the end um that you can see from Lun that was installed in 2020 that was cited the that was a a part two of a
window installation um that was started in 2014 um when they only did a couple of windows and we had specified clear on those um and that's not what was installed. The previous inspector approved what was there. um they came in
to do the remainder of the windows and it did not make sense for us to have them do half, you know, half one type of window and half the other type of windows. So, yes, we approved the windows as reflective to match what was already approved and installed so that it wouldn't look worse.
Um, so that being said, that's that's how some of the rest of the village got the way it did. Um, do we want to repeat a bad mistake? Not necessarily. do I feel for the homeowner? And I am completely um I'm so sorry they're in this position. I am not adversarial
towards them at all. I'm I'm this should be directed at the contractor in my opinion, but um I I I do feel bad for them that we're here. Okay. Thank you. All right, M. Rando, are you finished, Mr. D? Uh I have a
question for the contractor. at any point when there was the dialogue back and forth with the board of architects and with the um historic preservation staff. Did you communicate
um the reasons for um that dialogue and the reasons for denial to your client? I don't recall Okay. Uh, so as they were asking what was going on, you just said beats me.
Uh, no, not necessarily. I don't handle permitting myself. Uh, that's the my our secretaries at the office are the ones who handle all the permitting procedures, processes. Um, any comments that come back and deal with our engineer directly. Um, when they would
ask, you know, uh, in the beginning it was we didn't know if it was approved or not when it first got denied. We still didn't know. So, we resubmitted I think we resubmitted twice uh with a different mutton pattern if I'm not mistaken. Again, I can't this has been a little bit so I can't recall.
Okay. So, even though you had already ordered the materials and the fabrication of the windows before you had the permit or any approvals. So, This dialogue went back and forth
and it was utterly feudal because the windows were already ordered. Yes, I think that's deceptive. That's stupid. Or or Okay, that's the more um
I mean maybe maybe they just maybe he didn't realize that you you needed to match the drawings. I don't know. I'd like to make a motion through the chair and perhaps then we can have more discussion if the board wishes. I'm sorry. I'd like to make a motion through the chair. Okay.
I'd like to make a motion. No, we haven't closed it yet. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. No, but when wouldn't we close it yet? Okay. Sorry. Is Is there any other presentation from the staff or from the public? Is there anyone that wishes to speak for or against this other than those who've already spoken? Okay. We're going to
close the public hearing now. Thank you. and we're going to bring this back to the board for our discussion and then a motion. Okay, board members, any further discussion that you'd like to you'd like to go through, Mr. Silva?
I just I I feel for the homeowner. Um it it stinks, right? Like you're you're trying to do the right thing. You're trying you think you're following the process as it's supposed to happen. Um I get it. I get from your point how that could happen. I even get from the contractor's point of view. He needs
releasing material. He's trying to rush. My problem in this whole process is you've released the windows, they're already done, right? Then you get your permit, which has something different. Why do you install the windows? Right? That's that's a stopping point there. You say, "Hey, we have a problem, guys.
We we have this window that's manufactured. It's not installed yet." Right? That's half the cost. It's not installed. We have this permit. It doesn't match. What do we do? That that's a stopping point when I think something maybe should have done and we wouldn't be in this boat necessarily, right? But that ship has sailed, right?
We have these windows installed. I get car's um the you know the the justification for the existing low E windows in the neighborhood. Um you know that is a
historic condition, right? That that that's not what we're supposed to be looking at, right? We're supposed to be looking at following the Secretary of Interior standards for this particular house at this particular time, right? Um, you know, I don't know like like like Cara said, she doesn't know who approved
those things. I mean, I guess don't approve one of them, but um but again, those things happen through time, right? Materials come online. People don't necessarily understand a new material, right? The low glass, people don't necessarily understand that it's going
to be super reflective. it gets approved for a year, two years, whatever it is, it gets installed and people start going, "Oh, this is not a historically appropriate material. We're not going to allow this anymore." So, so that kind of to me explains that those existing
windows in the in the area in the neighborhood. Um, so that being said, I'm not sure yet how this is going to go. Um, I I understand the both sides. Um, and you know, I kind of I'd be
willing to maybe overlook this if it was a rear window, if it was something, but this house has no rear windows, right? It's all front. It has some in the rear, too. Yeah. Um, you the the 63% that the the owner said that's because the back's already clear.
The back's already clear. Okay. And that was clear install. Okay. Got it. Um, all right. That's it. To be to be fair, most gay people and homeowners don't know what a mutton is. I I completely understand
or a m pattern. So, you know, to be fair, they're not going to check their permit and go, "Hey, wait, this looks I don't think there was anything malicious there. I don't think there's Mr. Pun." Well, Miss D, I know you want to um make a motion. I don't want to presume your motion, but can I can I try a motion
first? If you wish, I would like to. Sure. Um U Mr. Sios, I have a question. Um and with with regard to phrasing of the motion. Um so the motion the intent is to deny the installation as is but
approve the existing windows if they change the mountain pattern. I don't know how to phrase that. My recommendation will make a a motion to approve with the condition that the buttons be changed. Okay. That is my motion is to approve
I forget what you just said. The condition that the basically approve the windows with the condition that the muttons be um corrected as permit the permit drawings. That's again that's my motion. I don't know if I'm going to get a second. I'll second that motion just
okay. Can we then we can have discussion on your motion? For sure. Okay. Okay. Here's here here's my discussion on the motion. If you look at the language of section 8-106. We are required when dealing with certificates of appropriateness to apply
uh the guidelines that have to serve as our only criteria and those guidelines are the as specified the ones that were provided um in the sta staff report. Also, um I think it's very important
that we note that there was um numerous opportunities at the pre-application conference to prevent any sort of substantial economic hardship, but in any event, economic hardship cannot be the basis for our decision. There are strict rules regarding that in section
115 of the ordinance, and they absolutely do not apply here. So because under our ordinance requirements as a board, we're also required in any decision to have a complete description of the reasons for our findings, I would
need to have more detailed descriptions making an exception in this case, which in any event I would not agree with. So you're not going to seed your motion? No. motion. He's already got his motion.
All right. So, we have a motion on the floor. Do we have a second? I second. Miss Ever. Okay. All the question. I'm sorry. One last chance. Do you want to provide some specific bases or
reasons why you you believe the record would support a motion to approve? What what what are the exceptions to help me in my mind understand this under the ordinance? I would just like to go to the vote. No.
Uh, yes. And and can I just make a comment? The the Secretary of Interior standards are not necessarily being disregarded in this regard in in this case. Um uh they
are um matching it in the mutton patterns if they follow it. Um there it is glass in the windows. I mean there are many interpretations that would allow this to happen regardless of what
was on the permit drawings. Yes. regrettably no yes. No. Yes. Yes. No.
Oh my god. All right. The motion fails. It's a draw. Yes. Okay. Um second, please. Okay. based upon the requirements of section 8-106 and the
detailed facts as stated in the staff report including um extensive supportive evidence and the fact that there was a material um misrepresentation. I am going to make a motion to deny the after the effect the after the effect design approval for the installation of
the impact windows and doors on the property located at 405 Biscaya Avenue and to deny the issuance of a special certificate of appropriateness again in line with the ordinance. I'll second it. Seconded. We have a motion by Miss Jana,
seconded by Mr. Garcia Ponds. Would you please call the question? Mr. Silva, a question. So what happens if we're deadlocked again here, Mr. Deadlock gets continued to the next meeting and hopefully you have a full board.
Okay. Um so no yes yes yes no yes so let's continue again question.
Yes. Question. Yes, please. Sorry. Uh what is the pre-conference that you you mentioned pre-conference meeting before certificate of appropriateness is
applied for? Most most likely it's it's utilized for special certificates of appropriateness, but um an architect or an applicant or a window vendor would come meet with us first and and we would go over plans with them and draw them up and help them work out the plans and so that when you submit for a permit you're
good to go. But that I just that never happens or at least my not Rando uh it's rather routine in Coral Gables and we get comments all the time from
applicants how helpful the preapp conference is and many times it's multiple preapp conferences. We never had that. We would we would love that. Um my question is we have this state
funding which will expire on August 16th. I'm sorry. You know your your your contractor is really responsible for this, not you. You know, I know you may lose that, but you know, you need to talk to the gentleman behind you who is actually liable for the mistakes that
have been made here, not you necessarily. So, please understand that too. I No, I understand. But I mean I is are you suggesting that I have to sue the vendor to then have them redo the windows and then like my question is we have $10,000
that we lose on August 16th. Is there any way that we can I think that's beyond the purview of this board. Um but in any event if you are looking in a future um certificate to ask for an economic hardship then
there's specific ordinance that addresses that. But that's not before us today. I have a followup to that. Can you apply for that retroactively? I'm sorry, that's not something that our board can answer. That's something you should ask staff.
Yeah, it goes through with with normally with a COA application and it's for um there's a lot of requirements in the code of what you have to submit. Um it's normally for larger projects where um uh an action of this board would cause some
some major economic harm which it may apply to you. I don't know your situation. Um but it's it's we can and if you want to know about it, it's in the code. I can I can help you with that. Okay. I have a question for the attorney. Gus, we're in a tie. We're in
two votes. We've had two votes and a split. Okay. We don't have, you know, a tiebreaking vote at this time. Can we push this on to the next meeting? It's part of the by the way the code is currently written, it automatically gets continued to the next meeting. Okay, very good. What's the date?
The next meeting. It's um August 12th, but that's only if we have an odd number probably or people don't show up. So, it's not it's unknown at this time. Yeah. Well, we we'd still need five votes. Correct. You need five votes no matter what.
Correct. But it will be the same group of people. plus one. Hopefully will be a new maybe not the next meeting though, so I don't know that there's a ninth member. She's supposed to be back at the next meeting that she was injured. She was already accepted by the city commission.
No, but they won't make a placement vote until August 26th. So, she's still she's still in place until she gets the old member is still it until the commission votes on it. So, Mr. No, he's off.
All right. So, can I may I ask a question? Deferred until the next meeting of the My suggestion is so talk to your contractor. Okay. Okay. And and maybe your lawyer don't know
through the chair, please. I just have a question. If there's if there is there any other solution to modify these windows in place that would make them right. Is there is there any that you can do to these windows to mitigate what's been
done to the to the look. I'll order new glass for the windows if I have to pay for new glass for the windows myself to personally. I'm running on a tight schedule. I know. I'm I'm just trying to see if I can get them. Okay. Do do this back over here. You know, we we've already voted on it and
you know, you can just take it off the you know, your company should step up and change the windows. That's what I just said. Well, you should do it. tell tell the board and and get them so that they don't lose that $10,000 because it's your fault.
Absolutely. That's okay. Well, let's hope that that resolves the situation. Sorry. Then since the item it's still fresh enough that we could talk about it, I think I know you got to go, but it doesn't matter. Um if if if the motion
is denied, right, we just deny it, then they would have to go through whatever process to do to meet the new requirements. Yeah. If you if you if you flat out deny
this application, then the windows need to be changed per the specifications that were agreed to. If they unless they submit some revision that I would not approve because we approved what should be installed. So through the chair again, I ask the
homeowner, if we deny it, that means that everything's got to go and get replaced. Is that something that you think you could work out? everything. Well, you got it's got to it's got everything's got to be exactly as per
the city's approval. Exactly. I have I have no it's a simple question. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I can answer. Yeah. I have we have no objections to changing the color or the month patterns. It sounds like a really difficult thing to talk to the vendor to get them to order new windows, which takes months to get
them to be installed to redo the interior of the house week long process. And then I have to beg the state to, you know, to So then denial doesn't help you. I don't think. Okay. Denial is a night. Thank you.
Okay. We're going to move on to the next issue. Okay. We're at case file COSP 2025-00009. An application for the issuance of a special certificate of o appropriateness for the property at 1541 Sopeta Avenue.
a local historic landlord legally described as the west one half of lot 16 and all lot 17 and the east one half of lot 18 block 58 Coral Gables country club section 4 platbook 10 age 57 Miami
Dade County application requests design approval for additions and alterations to the residence and detached garage and site work a variance has also been requested from article 2 section 2-101D4 C of the city of Coral Gable zoning code
for the minimum rear setback for detached auxiliary structure. Okay, Miss Calf, would you like to make a presentation? So, sorry. Give me one moment. put the power presentation back up, please. Thank you.
This is the location of the property um under under this item. Um it was constructed in 1925. um designed by architect H. George Fank. It was one of the few um properties built in the uh country club section
part 4. Uh it was designated as a local historic landmark in 2021. So um it's a little bit complicated um how we got here. So I think it's important just to give you a little bit of background. So, um, this project was
started in 2020 under a previous historic preservation officer. Um, it was reviewed by the board of architects on May 27th, 2021 and was rejected with comments that the applicant meet with the historical resources
department and obtain a historical significance determination from us. um that that was applied for and it the the letter saying that the property does meet the minimum criteria was issued in October of 2021. It was designated as a
local historic landmark in 2021. At that point, as they were moving through the um application process to the board of architects, previous historic preservation officer um reviewed the plans, guided them through the process, and give gave them the okay for BOA for
a couple of different BOA hearings. So um this was then applied for permit um they they got approval finally from the city architect in 2022 applied for a permit in January of 2024. There is um a
new historic preservation officer at that time who reviewed the project on four occasions saying this needed historic preservation board review and um didn't happen. So now we're here to review.
Um, we received this project now and have worked with the applicant um, focusing on the redesign of the addition to the detached garage structure in order to keep the one-story detached garage an independent volume and leave it
unimpaired. Um, which led to the variance that is now being requested in front of you for the rear setback of that addition. We are okay with the variance. We support the variance because it took the volume of the second story that was previously on the existing garage off of it. So we are um
fine with that. So for the design of the addition to the main residence um the applicant was counseledled and allowed to proceed with the proposed design by the previous preservation officer. Um none of his comments um when he signed okay for BOA addressed um anything
having to do with the main house except for minor comments like windows. there was nothing no reference made to the the design of the addition or its its appropriateness or the roof structure. So they were they were you know encouraged to move forward at the board
of architects finally got approval. Um current uh historic staff is not in agreement with the addition necessarily, but understands the predicament of the owner where they relied on counsel from this office, although it's not uh anyone
that's still here. So staff then also requested that the applicant maybe explore a modification to the proposed roof, a flat roof of some sort um to minimize the impact on the historic structure. Um structural drawings have already been made. This is already down
the road. Um the applicant chose not to entertain the request. So um the current preservation officer requested renderings of of the proposed addition to determine how visible the addition is from the street. Um the renderings were
included in your packet and are also part of this PowerPoint. Um she went on leave before she was able to um make a comment on it. So, we have made a request to restudy the roof as a condition of approval. Whether or not you all choose to accept that condition
is entirely up to you um for taking it for what it is at the moment. So, um there are um multiple um conditions that we'd like to incorporate into any motion for approval. Um and the applicant has a
presentation. Yep. Okay, please come and introduce yourself. You're over here at this mic right over here. That's forward backwards. Please state your name. You're over
here. I'm Dr. Julia Perez. Both of you. I'm the owner of the property. My name is Lester Perez. I'm the architect of the addition. I'd like you both over here.
Um I just wanted to to illustrate um we agree with all the the uh approval uh with conditions that um I mean recommendation of approval with conditions that staff
mentioned. The only item that would that we would like to run with you I'm going to jump real quick to to the to the area is about the the addition on the back area. Let me just
let just here in the Let us come to the house sure has changed over time. Well, in the It's coming up now. Here we go. So this this area is the second level
addition. in the rear area. And this um volume that you see here is the the twotory addition next to the existing single car garage. So we're
adding the the second car garage and on top of that we're adding a guest guest house here. This the existing conditions of the of the house. What I wanted to share with you is the the views. These are the three
views that uh using the proposed volume of the roof on the back which the same level of the existing. Because this this portion this portion here is existing
and this portion at the end is the addition. So it aligns the the the high beam aligns with the with the existing um second level. Um this is the other view from the from the
street and this is the other view from the street. Um basically What staff is wanted to to emphasize
is to to make this area to make this area. This is an the existing flat roof that is in between. We have like a man room condition in the front um in the existing uh volume and we have a hu on
the back which help us to to have this um gable end on the back that allows us to do the the canopies that blend with the with the front canopies that we
keep the same vocabulary. And by making the this whole area a flat roof and keeping the the manza at the perimeter would compromise the look of of this area. And as I as I show in the
previous um images this this volume is not visible from the from the street because there is this is the the first level. Uh This is what I was mentioning about the
the cannabis and the gable condition. Um, and as you can see here is is not the you know the look of the of the house is exactly the same as the existing historical house. Um, so that volume
beyond is not visible based on the view angle from the street. This is the the view. The only of course the only difference is the addition of the of the second level garage which is the I mean sorry of the of the second
car garage with the body on the top. This is the only the only um difference. So uh that's the only ite to share with with you. recommendation. Um, but we would love to
to keep the Hebrew condition on the on the back considering that it's not visible from the ceil and it doesn't affect the the the view. The rest uh high profile mountains uh clear glass with coating
Spanish tile ceramic barrel tile all that we are accommodating for that in the in the in the design. the existing front doors are existing uh to remain. We're not changing that. Um
and we going to we're going to work with the staff on any other detail or or item that they would like to for us to make sure that we obtain the the you know the the most accurate uh quality of what
they are looking for. This concludes my presentation. Does that conclude your presentation? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Board questions of the applicant. Mr. Just a clarification. Cara, you said that this
this came to us after full permit drawings have been developed. Is that what happened? Because they had well they had they had like a preliminary approval that that sort of didn't they were working with Warren um when he
was here on the design. So Warren approved this preliminary design as it stands and gave it to BOA and let him move forward and then let them move forward with BOA um with just the base the the biggest comment was the massing of the
garage. So he told them that that this was acceptable and couldn't move it forward. So that's um it's not something that we would counsel at the moment. Um but it we're here. Yeah. I mean, I I I
agree with with the comment with number one. I think that that that kind of weird hip thing going on is is foreign to the house, right? Um so if if this was coming for for a you know, for a regular thing, I would say
absolutely re please re restudy this. Um this is not that situation though, right? I I understand why you're kind of hesitant to to really push it because you know they're here um they were given direction and it's not the direction
that we would give. Right. Right. So for for me um I would definitely agree with with Cara's comment again if this was a regular process I think that it would be much better if if you looked at this as a flat roof or a manser um just because
that is such a foreign element to the house right but I understand that you were given directive to proceed and and you did um so and and and you're you are in agreement with all the rest of the conditions right yeah and
we wanted to run that with you however we have discussed internally please speak into the microphone yes uh we have disc I discussed this internally aftering careful with with um the owner because from outside it doesn't really change
much the the facade look. So um because it's the it's the upper part of the roof but it's what will be getting eliminated. Uh so if you are concerned about the view from the backyard so it doesn't look
that massive I discuss with them and we are all okay uh if that's a condition we are all okay to to make it mana roof consistent with the rest of the house I just wanted to hear your speak yes you may
please speak into the microphone I'm I have been waiting for this five years. I have been sleeping with my daughter five years. She's seven. And when I moved to the house, the house was not historical. Everything changed when they
start doing the plans. And I I saw with I don't know 25 times. We did meeting with him and we follow whatever he approves us to us. Now when everything changed, then they let us to start again.
And my profession I'm always tired and I don't sleep because I have a king extra king bed but still it's not enough. So every time I was sitting with K I was explaining to her I follow what the board what they told me to do and
everything was done before they came on board. So if I have to change a structure if I have to change anything I have to pay again. I have been paying every single year more money because I get denied and I have to
come to you to see if I'm able to keep as much if I can because as it was approved by then you understand if I can leave the roof or lower a little bit is better because I
don't have to change the structure again and paint those people again to get the everything changed. Yes, please. I I just Yes. And I just want to mention that uh we sat down with H staff when you know when we were
clarify that this is the process to go and we didn't just come here with whatever we have. We sat down with them to to we refined the the design of the of the rear addition based on what they uh recommended. We kept originally we were proposing a terrace on top of the
existing roof. We eliminated that terrace as per their recommendation and we accommodated that to make as to make it as compact as possible. Uh what they suggested is a big benefit to the project because applying for a variance to to move it back. It helps a lot not
only it has them the project is it's very beneficial. Um so we would have to to readjust because everything is pretty much approved in terms of permit documents and the real part would be um Erh, you know, we're going to resubmit
the revision, but but I think the at the end the outcome is successful. It's better than it was before. Okay. All right. So, that concludes your presentation. Okay. We're going to close the public hearing then and move back to the board. Board questions.
Miss D. Nothing. Miss Ever, Miss Shield, Miss Everanding this, this is kind of grandfathered in to the to the last head of the historic preservation ops, right? To the
uh Yes. We so many times and we didn't even know that he left. We knew because they news and a burn sent an email to start over everything again and we got so lost. We
said why we were approved already. They couldn't find approval. They couldn't find anything. Yeah, he he came to the board of fun presentation and mentioned that he had no objection back in the time that when we were presenting hard copy in this in this room back in that time and then what happened was that
through the approval of the permit sets then I think it was soning or or BOA that was only pending on like an administrative change you know administrative review or change by city architect. Um and then it was pending
was a note comes a note pending and approval by board of architects and we thought it was approved. We we asked uh the board and then they had pretty much they start digging on the information
and then they found a a note um from um from Warren. They couldn't find anything. Finally after we digging all the emails that wasn't sent me and we sent it to Anna and they after two or three months they
found where it says the note that he approve it exchanging something that I cannot remember now but I think was the the garage which was there was a comment about the garage. There was a comment in a hand note that
he had about the garage but that was never mentioned to us. never was sent to us. However, we met with staff and we make any adjustment to to reconcile to because we didn't want to stand here without a recommendation of approval
from staff, you know. So, okay, Miss Rolando, let me make sure I understand. You are okay with all of these staff uh conditions but for restudying the roof?
Uh, yes. Just tell. Yes. Okay. I ideally I Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yes or no? Just simple. It's on the because if we're renegotiating all of these, I have a totally different attitude. No, no. The rest the rest are the all
the items. We're okay with that. Okay. By the way, I totally um agree with staff's recommendation about this, but I also
see that you relied on the previous discussions and approval and I think you would have a much more attractive and aesthetically pleasing and something you'd be much happier with
in the end. Um, and I am willing to hold my nose and vote for something that I don't especially think is sympathetic to the home because of your situation, but that's not something I would
ordinarily say yes to. Okay. Anything from any other board member? Okay, Mr. Silva, I believe you got a meth. I will no one has any other comments. I'll I will make a motion. Please do.
Uh I will make a motion to approve with conditions uh noted in the staff report except condition number one. Um please state what condition number one is. Condition number one is to restudy the
roof of the addition to the house and explore the possibility of a flat roof. So that is going to be as as um so that for an addition and alterations to the residence and side work on the property located at 1541 Sopeda Avenue and
approve the issuance of a special certificate of appropriateness with the conditions noted above. Uh, in addition, um, we I I think we can piggyback the motion to approve the variance to allow the addition to the detach auxiliary
structure to have a rear setback of 5T versus the required minimum setback of 10 ft. Mr. Attorney, do we need two motions or can we put it in one? My apologies. So the first condition was that the first item is not being
considered but all the other ones are correct. The the the first condition is not going to be a requirement of is excluded. Okay. What was the second board that you want to approving the variance together with the variance should be its own independent motion. Okay. So I will strike the variance portion
from that for now. Okay. So we have a motion on the table. I like to have a second please. Second it. We have a second by Miss Spain. Would you please call the role? Yes, yes. Okay, we have a second motion uh to approve the variance. Y so I'll make a motion to approve the
variance uh to allow the addition of the to the detached auxiliary structure to have a rear setback of approximately 5 ft versus the required minimum of 10 ft. I'll second. Second by Miss Spain. Please call the role. Yes.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All right. Motion carries. Thank you very much. I hope this solves your problem. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Okay, ladies and gentlemen. Um, do we
have any old business to bring before? Okay. I'm going to pass the You have Does this count? Can you can you be quick with any old business? Um uh old business. Um is there any No, ex except for um the commission
approved the uh hopes windows at their last meeting. We all know that. Was it unanimous? Um, Miss Cal is I uh Fernandez was missing. Yeah, Miss Cal, is the city required to
have a certificate of appropriateness from this board? Um, unclear. I don't believe so. Mr. Attorney, can you answer that question? I think it can be bypassed. I don't believe so. This is the way they're they took the item only to this board
for recommendation solely. They are exempting themselves from the zoning code. Correct. They can do that. Did they pass a resolution to exempt themselves from the zoning code? It was not my item, so I'd have to look into that and provide you with that information.
Thank you. There's a section of the zoning code that exempts them from the zoning code. So, all right. Is there any new business? All right. Any city commission items or discussion items? Okay. Hearing none, I'm going to call
for Did you have something, Mr. Garcia? Okay. I'm going to call for adjournment. Thank you. Welcome, Kelly. You got a hard one.