631 Independence St.

District: Bywater - Full Control

Owner: Horace R Jordan Jr

HDLC Staff: Wendy Cargile

Rating: Landmark

Applicant: David Scott Oman

Permit #: 25-26362-HDLC

HDLC Design Guidelines: 

• 05:10 -- Guidelines for Roofing

• 10:8-9 -- Guidelines for Site Elements

Staff Recommendations: 

The house and property at 631 Independence became a designated Landmark in 1989 and was constructed in ca. 1826. It is one of the oldest extant structures in Bywater. 

The applicant is requesting to install a solar array on the right side of the roof facing south. They are also proposing to install additional wall mounted equipment at the right, interior side of the building, as well as an EV charging port on the exterior, street facing side of the garden wall. 

The HDLC Guidelines requires all new solar panels and equipment on a Landmark/Significant rated building to be reviewed by the Commission. The current proposal is highly visible from the public right-of-way and does not meet the 12" setback from the roof eaves. Staff has recommended relocating some of the more forward panels, as well as the panels closest to the eaves, to the other side of the roof near the rear and at the rear, in less visually prominent locations. 

The proposal also shows the installation of a Tesla Powerwall Home Battery and an expansion pack for the battery. Staff feels this is an excessive amount of equipment and conduit to add to the exterior of the historic building and has recommended relocating as much of the new equipment as possible to the interior side of the garden wall with the conduit to run a similar path as the existing gas line. Staff has no objection to the EV charging port at the exterior of the garden wall.

• Recommendations:

  • Solar Panels - Denial as currently proposed, but approval with Staff recommendations for relocation.

  • Wall-mounted Equipment - Denial as currently proposed, but approval with Staff recommendations for relocation, to be worked out with Staff.

  • EV Charging Port - Approval