Board tables carport request in Garden District pending variance, design and landscaping details

An applicant seeking approval for a small carport in the Garden District asked the Cloverdale Historic Preservation Board for permission to install a metal carport beside his house, but the board tabled the request until the next meeting so the owner can provide a variance, final dimensions and design details.

Applicant James Arc told the board he wanted a simple, metal carport to cover one or two cars in a roughly 20-foot gap on the side of his house; he said the structure would be easy to install and primarily intended to reduce debris from nearby hackberry trees. The applicant said the carport would not attach to the house and estimated a quick installation.

Charlie Coleman of the Cloverdale Isle Association and other board members raised concerns about a plain metal structure's compatibility with the streetscape. Coleman noted past approvals of temporary metal carports on nearby Winthrop Court that were later softened with jasmine or lattice, and urged a design that fits the historic character. Staff recommended locating the carport behind the front elevation of the house rather than at the front; a staff member also warned the applicant about wind-uplift vulnerabilities on smaller temporary structures and advised proper tie-down if installed.

The board voted to table the request until the next meeting and asked the applicant to return with an engineered plan or variance, exact dimensions and proposed landscaping or other measures to soften the appearance.