Christine Ussler from Artefact, Inc., was granted certificates of appropriateness for project proposals for the four proprieties she represented at the Historical and Architectural Review Board hearing Sept. 6.

With Chairman Fred Bonsall unable to attend, vice chair Philip Roeder took charge of the meeting held in the Rotunda.

Ussler’s plans for 554-558 Main St. to repair and repaint the existing windows, trim and cornice, remove paint at the front façade and perform masonry repair work were quickly approved. HARB also allowed the installation of tan colored storm windows at the north, south and east façades of the Broadhead Building, just south of the Sun Inn and owned by the Sun Inn Preservation Association.

The house at 11 W. Market St., owned by Moravian Academy, received approval for a two-foot-three-inch by one-foot-six-inch blade sign, two triangular logo window decals and a pair of wall sconces with a rough bronze finish proposed by Ussler. The three-story structure with gambrel roof is soon to be the school’s admissions office. The board requested the red and bright gold school colors on the signage be toned down. Plans for replacing three stone steps with a three-foot stucco stoop with bluestone steps and a black wrought iron handrail are reviewed and okayed.

A certificate of appropriateness was granted for a project involving two storefronts for Tapas on Main at 500-502 Main St., for a new vestibule designed by Artefact. Christine Ussler explained the vestibule is needed to protect the patrons inside from cold winter weather outside. In order to keep the new construction from interfering with pedestrian traffic, the design places the edge of one door to the next slightly short of the required 48 inches to be in compliance with the state accessibility code. “Petition the state for a variance. Tell them you have a historic building and ask for forgiveness,” suggested Roeder. Replacing poorly installed tile on a knee wall with terra cotta tile was also approved.

Ussler’s proposal to renovate the existing contemporary storefronts on the first floor of an older commercial building at 520-526 Main St. was granted approval. An aluminum cornice stained to resemble antique brass, black spandrel glass below it, folding windows and a sign for Urbano, a new restaurant, were authorized, pending additional information to be submitted to historic officer George Donovan. The business is managed by the team that owns Tapas on Main.

No stranger to historic district guidelines, Ussler, serves as historical officer for the Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission.

Jeff and Sheila Youst’s proposal to add a driveway with five-car parking pad, a vegetation privacy screen or fence, and a new lamp post at 105 E. Market St. was tabled by the board. After listening to HARB members’ advice, the couple said they will investigate permeable paving that allows storm water to filter through to the soil below, an LED outdoor lamp with dusk-to-dawn sensor, as well as a choice of a stucco wall or a stone wall with brick cap to screen the parking area.

Darlene Heller from the city planning office informed the board that she had applied for a state grant to fund an eight hour training opportunity for both historic district boards. Heller requested input on scheduling and topics of interest if successful.

The Historical and Architectural Review Board 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.