Columbus, Georgia

Board of Historic and Architectural Review

Work Session Minutes

February 7, 2002









Members Present: Ed Burdeshaw Richard Coss

Craig Davis Sia Etemadi

Saundra Green Virginia Peebles

John Sheftall Teresa Tomlinson





Members Absent: Mary Ford Phillip Ford

Charlotte Frazier John Gower

Thomas Pooler



Chairman John Sheftall called the meeting to order.





? Rebecca Wiggins, Inspections and Codes Enforcement Officer, gave a

review on Mr. Rayford property at 620 1st Avenue. Mr. Rayford first came

before the Board in December of 2001. According to Mr. Rayford, he had added a

fire escape to his property. Rebecca stated that fire escapes are not done the

way that Mr. Rayford has done this one. A fire escape consists of

non-combustible materials. The one that was built on this property is made of

wood. This is more of an exit stairway from a door on the second floor and it

is not required by Inspection and Codes. A deck and handicap ramp was also

built on the back of the property, which were not approved by the Board. And

does not meet Codes approval. At this point there nothing can be done because

Mr. Rayford has re-submitted and application to go before the Board on February

11, 2002. The normal process is: The applicant bring plans for changes before

BHAR before building or buying any materials, the Board either approve or deny

the request, and then building permits are purchased with Certificate of

Appropriateness. While building the appropriate inspections are done.





? Review/Discussion of Staff Review/Approval Process.

If materials are like materials, with the same or different design, then it

does not need to come before the Board. It is considered maintenance and

repairs and can be approved by Staff (Mark McCollum). If changes are being

made where different materials are being used, it needs to be addressed before

the Board for approval.



A listing of applications with addresses and brief description of changes

should be provided for the Board monthly of the approvals from Staff.







BHAR Minutes

February 7, 2002

Page 2







Roofs Issues:

The Staff (Mark McCollum) will make the decision if the same type roofing

materials are used with same or different designs.



The Board will need to make a decision if there are architectural changes even

with the same materials.



Any time that Mark receives a case that requires judgment, then will he call on

Allison Slocumb for her opinion or advice.





Back yard fencing:

A back yard is defined as not being seen from the front of the house.



Any unpainted, solid, plank board fencing that abuts any part of the house

that?s visible from the street is inappropriate and needs to be addressed

before BHAR.



Putting a fence around a vacant lot behind the property does not need to come

before the Board, if it?s not strictly speaking of back yard and can be

approved by Staff (Mark McCollum).



Back yard Deck:

If a deck is not an architectural or historical significant it has to go to

Elizabeth Barker (Historic Columbus Foundation) for a signed statement. This

statement will show that the deck is non-historic, non-contributing and/or

intrusive. BHAR will need this statement to show justify it was not

architectural or historical significant.