Commission approves revised third‑floor addition at 50–52 Fair Oak Street with conditions

The Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to approve revisions to a previously permitted third‑floor addition at 50–52 Fair Oak Street. Staff characterized the property as a contributing building in the Liberty Hill landmark district and recommended approval with conditions after analyzing compliance with Article 10 of the Planning Code and the Secretary of the Interior’s standards.

The revisions include replacing an approved 400‑square‑foot gabled roof area with a matching‑slope composite shingle roof, adding a 135‑square‑foot roof deck set behind an existing raised parapet, constructing a wood parapet and horizontal wood guardrail to conceal the deck, adjusting locations and styles of several windows and sliding doors, lowering the previously permitted garage roof deck by 6½ inches, reconfiguring north‑elevation stairs and installing a hot tub on the garage roof deck. The sponsor’s drawings and renderings showed the changes would be minimally visible from the street.

A commissioner asked whether the parapet height changes would be noticeable; the project sponsor confirmed the south parapet will be raised about three feet and capped in matching wood and paint. Staff said any required refinements will be reviewed during building‑permit review and that staff will finalize the condition of approval prior to the published motion. The commission moved, seconded and approved the COA with conditions, voting 6–0.

The approval is conditioned on final refinements as reviewed by preservation staff and any other required city departments during subsequent permit review.