606 Frenchmen St.

Staff Recommendations: 

The drawings and information initially provided by the applicant for the proposed roof repair/replacement work do appear to indicate a new roof vent at the location where the current commercial hood vent was installed. However, none of the submitted documents indicate that this would be a large, visually prominent, commercial-grade hood vent of the size and height that was installed. For most residential applications, the HDLC approves low-profile power roof vents installed at locations that are minimally visible from the street. However, the vent installed at this roof is considered visually prominent at the left side of the building from Frenchmen Street, and also at the rear from Chartres and Kerlerec Streets. 

While it may be possible to relocate the current hood vent on the roof, the related code requirements for its minimum height above the roof surface, etc. would likely mean that it remains a somewhat visually prominent element, at least at the rear from Chartres and Kerlerec. Based on this, and because the vent is less visible from the street at the more prominent Frenchmen Street side, Staff has no objection to the request for retention.