The crux of the debate was centered on vinyl window frames and how they should be handled during the Planning Department’s review process for permitting window replacements. Other replacements for traditional wood window frames, such as fiberglass or aluminum-clad wood, have been less of an issue, officials said.
Currently, vinyl window replacements are rarely allowed in historic districts and other neighborhoods, and even then, their design approval depends on the specific residence and surrounding neighborhood.
But that process has come under scrutiny from residents who have been unhappy with the vinyl frames popping up in their own neighborhoods, pushing the issue onto the City Council agenda Tuesday.
“The review process has been problematic for many people primarily because the Design Review Boards in their study sessions looked at vinyl windows as a particularly problematic replacement material,” said Jay Platt, planner for historic preservation and urban development.
On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously moved to direct city planners to streamline the current process to make it more predictable and consistent for residents. The modified guidelines would still have to come to the council for final approval.
They also directed officials to smooth the process after hearing from several residents who had been caught in the “procedural web” for months.
Residents were passionate on both sides. Opponents of vinyl windows complained of their cheap, plastic look, that they only come in white or beige and can’t be painted. Proponents argued that they were an affordable and energy efficient alternative to other types of window frame replacements.
