House renovation OK'd in 4-3 vote
HARMONY — After hearing public comments, borough council voted 4 to 3 Tuesday night to approve a renovation to a historic house.
Although the proposal still needs a zoning variance, Patricia Kipin received approval to add an expansion to the side of the house at 139 Jackson St.
Kipin is a prospective buyer of the house, which was built about 1830 during the Mennonite era of the borough’s history.
One reason she wants an expansion is to have a bathroom on the main floor of the house. Currently the only bathroom is in the basement.
The work would include removing the porch on the west side of the building and expanding the main floor in that direction.
Since the house is in the historic district, the renovation was brought before the Harmony Architectural Review Board on Aug. 4. The board recommended it for council approval, but board member Jodi Correll voted against it.
On Aug. 5, council opted to table the approval after Correll raised her concerns.
On Tuesday Correll again commented that the renovation should not be allowed because it would destroy the historic integrity of the house.
“We have a Mennonite home which can be celebrating its bicentennial in just a few years pretty much still in its original condition, and we don’t seem to be honoring that,” Correll said.
Karen Donnel-Ottney said she rented that house for more than 20 years and now lives next door in a house that was built in 1805.
The architectural board is supposed to take into consideration historic value and also potential effects that renovations would have on the values of neighboring properties. Her current house could be harmed by this addition, she said.
“What they do to their house is going to directly affect my house also,” she said.
Pete Kipin, Patricia’s son, said it was unfair that the borough has strict guidelines on renovations that can be seen from the road, but not the interior or the rear of the buildings.
“That’s incredulous to me. That changes the home whether it’s on the side or on the back,” he said.
To build a similar extension to the back of the house would require stilts due to the topography, an unnecessary expense, he said.
Mayor Cathy Rape said Harmony would not have many residents if people were not allowed to expand and renovate older houses.
“I appreciate Patricia and her design. I think she went to the extreme of putting brick and the same door and windows and it’s not changing the face of the house,” Rape said.
Councilman Jarod Stewart said his inclination was to vote “no” after hearing complaints from neighbors
The motion to approve the expansion passed with council members Jim Hulings, Frank Luek, Greg Such and Don Sims voting in favor and Phyllis Metz, David Szakelyhidi and Stewart voting against it.
The project also needs a zoning variance since it is less than 25 feet from the road.
