Preservation Board approves Tesla array, cottage renovation
The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board unanimously approved four projects at their Sept. 11, 2024 meeting, including two Tesla solar projects. Present were members Barbara Wickwire, Paul Eddy, Jerry Edgerton, Becky Paterson and Chair Bill Caldwell.
The first request was to legitimize a black chain link fence at 1771 17th St. E. The fence was to seal off the perimeter of the property for its pool. The property also has a shorter section of aluminum picket. The issue was that the fence was already in place, and in the past the board had questions about chain link. The contractor said that he had initially thought the fence was part of the initial approvals, but it was not included.
“Obviously, we wanted to do the right thing, so I started the process,” said the respondent. Staff had recommended approval of the fencing, as it also faced the Gasparilla Island Water Authority.
“You really have to look for it and see it,” said Lee County Zoning Planner Peter Blackwell.
The next item was an addition to 310 Palm Ave., which sits at the corner of Palm and 3rd. The intent for owner Jan Fields, through Tarpon Shack LLC, was simply to create a new larger kitchen and a new covered porch. The design was in keeping with the current cottage. (See sidebar for history of the property.)
“It blends in well with the property,” said Blackwell. “It could be removed easily in the future without disturbing the house.”
The last two items were solar panels to be installed in two separate projects, at 291 Gilchrist and 255 Whiskey Row, just off Gilchrist. The county presented plans from Source Energy of Naples. In previous meetings, the board had asked that solar panels be brought for approval if they could be seen easily from the street.
“Staff find that their overall impact on the property is minimal,” said Blackwell. He added that in planning, staff consider them to be in a similar line as air conditioning units. “As such, they can be removed,” said Blackwell.
Neighbor Bruce Kenan came to the meeting to express support. “As the nearby residents, we have no objection,” said Kenan.
The system for the house will have Tesla MCI-2 rapid shutdown interrupters, and rooftop 450-watt panels. The battery is a Tesla Powerwall III system.
Paul Eddy asked the contractor about the equipment’s durability. The contractor said that the material was PVC, up to a 165 mph wind resistance.
Board member Becky Paterson said that she thought it was insane that the solar cases were brought before the board, “unless somebody’s going to stick them in their front yard.”
The board only had one pending case for an upcoming meeting. The remodeling is at 311 Tarpon Ave.
Blackwell attended the meeting with Janet Miller, Administrative Assistant. He also announced staff member Mary Sue Groth, a zoning planner who attended for a second time. Blackwell added that Principal Planner Dirk Danley, often a visitor to the meetings, has moved to the county’s economic development office.
Historic cottage vernacular told for Preservation Board
Editor’s Note: The construction documents for the renovation of 310 Palm (seen at top), at the corner of Palm and 3rd St. E., contain a history of the house. Brief excerpts from the construction documents from Donald Daughtry of Grande D&C LLC are below, as they were submitted to Lee County. They provide a window into overall building history on the island.
This home was built in early 1925 by the local island builders for Jesse H. Downing. He was a self-employed captain and commercial fisherman that raised a family of five children in this house. Three boys, Herbert, Johnny, and Charles and two girls, Margaret and Genevieve.
Since the original construction, the rear portion of this residence has a non-contributing addition built with 80’s materials, vinyl siding on plywood. The owners of this home are proposing to rebuild this area with historically correct architecture that matches the existing residence.
The classic Boca Grande, Framed Vernacular architecture has been the most prevalent style in Florida since its settlement until the present. It began as the common wood-frame construction of self-taught builders utilizing local materials. From the end of the Civil War until about 1910, Frame Vernacular architecture in Florida was characterized by the balloon-frame method of construction.
Balloon-frame construction reached Florida in about 1870. It featured closely spaced two-inch deep boards of varying width joined by nails. Studs in multi-story buildings rose continuously from the floor to the roof. Floors hung on the studs. This method allowed cheaper and more rapid construction by eliminating the need for hand-hewing the principal timbers in the walls. Brick piers usually provided the foundation, and roofs were generally gable hip or pyramidal. Metal roof surfacing became common.
Windows were double-hung sash but contained larger panes than in the pre-Civil War era.
A final change in Frame Vernacular architecture came about in 1910 with the introduction of platform framing. With this new method, each floor was constructed independently. This framing system was both simpler and more rigid than the balloon framing it replaced. Frame Vernacular architecture of the 1920s and 1930s shared even more common characteristics.
Buildings rested on brick or concrete block piers. Exterior cladding was usually horizontal wood siding, either ship lap or drop, and roof types were gable or hip, covered with v-crimp or embossed sheet metal or composition or asbestos shingles.
This renovation will match the local architecture of 350 3rd St., 280 Palm, 261 Tarpon and 271 Tarpon, which was part of Mrs. Dorrance Hamilton’s estate.
