Council Reverses Approval of Cupola

Controversy over a proposed cupola returned earlier this week when the City Council reversed a previous decision allowing a contractor to build the domed rooftop porch.

The story so far: On June 8, the council voted 2 to 1 to override a Planning Commission decision to deny resident Alan Harbour’s request to put a cupola atop a Cape Cod-style house he plans to build at 519 Ocean Ave. The deal seemed done. A quick second vote on Monday would have cleared the way for construction of the cupola.

But Councilwoman Patty Campbell and Councilman William Doane reversed their earlier support of the cupola, largely out of concern about setting an architectural precedent.

“Mr. Harbour, I still like your cupola,” Campbell said of the home embellishment that has dominated debate at the last two council meetings. “But I can see where we’re getting into problem areas.”

Mayor George Brown reaffirmed his opposition to the cupola; he cast the lone dissenting vote against the project June 8.

In a 3-0 vote, the council denied the cupola “without prejudice,” which gives Harbour a chance to bring it back before the Planning Commission.

Councilman Shawn Boyd recused himself because Harbour is his landlord; Councilman Paul Yost was on vacation.

Campbell also asked staff and planning commissioners to come up with guidelines to regulate cupola requests.

“If these things become more popular,” Campbell said, “. . . if we don’t define them properly up front, we’re going to have a problem with them.”