Board gives positive referral for reconstruction of deteriorated sunroom at 91 Cortland Avenue

The New Rochelle Historical Landmark Review Board on Nov. 12 recommended that the Zoning Board consider a special permit to legalize and reconstruct a sunroom at 91 Cortland Avenue.

Architect Fernando Chavez, representing the owner, said the 1917 Tudor-style residence features a sunroom that exhibited extensive wood rot discovered during interior renovation. "There's a lot of rot and unfortunately for safety reasons that this decision was made to demolish the sunroom with the full intention of rebuilding it in kind," Chavez said, adding the new sunroom would be rebuilt in the same footprint and would restore original decorative details.

Staff explained the matter is a zoning-board special permit rather than a variance because the sunroom is a pre-existing condition that predates modern FAR and setback rules. The board and applicant agreed that specific materials and detailing would be reviewed in a later HLRB application and that this meeting's role was to advise the Zoning Board on the special-permit referral.

A board member moved for a positive recommendation to the Zoning Board; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote (ayes recorded; exact tally not specified). The applicant said the zoning referral would allow the team to prepare a complete package for the January historic-review meeting.