Owner challenges requirement to replace porch columns at Patterson Avenue; board pauses enforcement while owner seeks exception

A Louisville property owner told the code enforcement board on Jan. 23 that a requirement to replace square porch columns with round Tuscan columns was “capricious and arbitrary” and would create structural problems for his Dutch Colonial house.

The owner described renovating a 120-year-old house and said his contractor recommended reinforced square columns to bear the porch load. Code enforcement staff and the board explained that a certificate of appropriateness required round columns and that there is an architectural review committee that hears exception requests.

Staff offered to hold enforcement while the owner pursues the review-board exception; the board agreed to pass the case to April 3, 2026 to allow that process to proceed. Hearing officer Chris Wantland said he would not invoke fines at this time and encouraged the owner to contact the Office of Planning and the PVA to correct mailing addresses if necessary.

The board’s decision leaves open the option to return to the docket if the owner does not obtain the architectural review exception or otherwise achieve compliance.

The item was recorded on the docket as ENFDashZONDash23Dash001511 (address 2228 Patterson Avenue).