CAPE CHARLES, Va. — The Cape Charles Historic District Review Board will consider an application March 17 for the construction of a new single-family home on Bay Avenue within the town’s historic district.
According to materials submitted to the board, the proposal calls for a 1,407-square-foot, two-and-a-half-story residence on a currently vacant lot. The design includes a 25-by-10-foot front porch (250 square feet), a 24-square-foot outdoor shower at the rear, two gravel driveways, and the installation of a sidewalk along the front of the property as required by town code.
The proposed construction is located on one of the few vacant parcels new the Washington
Town planning documents note that although the parcel is undeveloped, any new construction in the historic district must be compatible with surrounding structures and designed to be sympathetic and complementary to existing buildings in the neighborhood.
The application states the proposed materials and overall design comply with the town’s zoning ordinance for new construction. Planning staff indicated that the property represents a legal, conforming use under the current zoning regulations.
However, approval from the review board would represent only one step in the process. If the board grants approval, the applicant will still need to submit a building permit application and a full set of construction plans. Those plans must reference the board’s decision and demonstrate compliance with all applicable requirements.
As part of the permitting process, the applicant will also be required to submit a site plan and landscape plan detailing any removal of existing trees and the addition of new plantings in accordance with the town’s Tree Conservation and Preservation Ordinance and the Historic District Overlay Design Guidelines, including landscaping standards.
Properties located within Cape Charles’ Historic District Overlay must meet both the underlying zoning regulations and the additional historic design guidelines, which are intended to preserve the architectural character of the town’s historic neighborhoods.
The board’s meeting is scheduled for March 17, when members will review the application and determine whether the proposed design meets the town’s historic district standards.
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