Hi Miranda,

The goal of the "Exterior details/features" guideline passage is to create a sense of higher standards within the community, by giving alternatives to a full width porch. We have interpreted the passage even more broadly then how they are written, by allowing only sections on an elevation to be upgraded as opposed to always requiring the main siding to be the upgrade. Our goal in this interpretation is to not force the builders into a box where every home is dark siding + masonry, but instead to allow the builders to get a premium look sometimes through simpler means. This allows us to bring up simple elevations that have less detailing or materials, while allowing some relaxations to some more well developed elevations.

On this elevation for example, we recommended the shakes be the premium upgrade, so as not to force the whole thing dark. But as another example on this elevation given all the material changes, and the level of design, we'd also accept if the panels were just painted in a darker tone to give that sense of darker siding being on the home. Hopefully this helps bring some clarity to how we've been reviewing colours/design.

I've approved the home with the submitted shake changes, but if you'd like to submit with an alternative colour solution now, given the above information, please resubmit as special request.