The Historical and Architectural Review Board voted unanimously to issue certificates of appropriateness to three properties at the Feb. 7 regular meeting.

Assisted by Rusty Sillivan from Chiles & Sillivan, Inc., property owner Christopher Fowler was granted two COAs for 41 E. Market St.

Having been approved in 2023 for solar panels, Fowler returned to request the worn slate shingles on the south-facing area of the detached guesthouse’s gabled roof be replaced with GAF Slateline antique slate shingles. Any worn slate on the northern-facing section would be repaired in kind. The solar panels would then be installed over the Slateline shingles as it faces the residence’s backyard. The asphalt shingles on the circa 1900 main house and small detached garage were approved for replacement with GAF Slateline shingles.

The applicants were also allowed to install 11 new double-hung replacement windows on the rear detached guesthouse. Sillivan mentioned the existing wood windows were beyond repair. Manufactured by Anderson, the new fibrex-clad wood windows will be white.

Homeowners Brandon and Erica Horlick were approved to change the exterior colors of their circa 1870 house at 17 E. Church St. Some of the HARB commissioners encouraged the couple to employ a greater amount of contrast with their choices. The COA was issued as the “wrought iron” gray and darker shade of black were chosen from an approved palette of historic colors. An “English Chestnut” stain was approved for the front door.

A 6-foot-high steel gray wood fence and gate near the carport behind 58 E Wall St. was quickly approved after homeowner Russell Miserendino produced photographs of one of similar design belonging to one of his neighbors. Post caps are to be copper.

Before adjourning, the commissioners allowed Martin Romeril to ask “point of order” questions pertaining to previous contentious HARB hearings on the Walnut Street Parking Garage. He wondered if they strictly followed “Robert’s Rules of Order.”

Chairperson Connie Postupack remarked they run meetings more loosely, but will tighten things up when necessary.

Romeril suggested the option for public input via an email link be re-established from when it was available during the Covid pandemic.

After adjourning, board members discussed the recent city council meeting where one HARB COA denial regarding the Walnut Street Parking Garage was upheld, while the other COA denial for it was overruled.

The Historical and Architectural Review Board regularly meets the first Wednesday of every month to review all exterior changes proposed to buildings in the Bethlehem Historic District north of the Lehigh River. When a proposed project receives a certificate of appropriateness from the board, applicants must wait for City Council to vote on it before proceeding. Meetings can be viewed on YouTube.