ARB conditions approval for new two‑family at 460 Dunham; landscaping and gable window changes required

The Architectural Review Board approved a certificate of appropriateness for a proposed two‑family residential building at 460 Dunham Avenue, subject to several conditions requested by commissioners, including revisions to the landscaping and one architectural detail.

Design representatives presented a two‑story, roughly 2,500‑square‑foot building with brick at the base, rustic cedar‑tone vertical siding at the sides and hardy board on the front facades. Commissioners praised many of the material and color choices but asked for a stylistic revision to a gable window. One commissioner said the proposed half‑moon window above the front elevation read as an attempted Palladian element and recommended a circular gable window instead; the design team agreed to revise the detail.

Commissioners also reviewed the landscape plan and asked the applicant to replace proposed Bermuda grass with a cool‑season turf (rye or fescue) and to remove yucca plants from the planting schedule, recommending native, lower‑maintenance alternatives such as azaleas. Staff said the revised landscape plan should include a maintenance schedule.

Board members asked for cut sheets for exterior light fixtures and clarification of certain wall bases and retaining‑wall finishes. After staff summarized the requested revisions — circular gable window, revised grass and planting palette, and finalized lighting cut sheets — a motion was made to approve with those conditions, and the motion passed.

The applicant was told to provide the revised landscaping plan and the specified material cut sheets for staff review; the board recorded the approval with these conditions attached.