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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-06-HDC-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON Anne Eccles,chair HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION Robert Adams Edward Adelman Meeting broadcasted Robin Lovett Paul O'Shaughnessy by LexMedia Minutes, Thursday May 6, 2021 Meeting Conducted by Remote Participation Approved June 3, 2021 Commissioners Present: Anne Eccles, Chair, Robert Adams, Edward Adelman, Paul O'Shaughnessy Commissioner Absent: Robin Lovett Associate Commissioners Present: Lee Noel Chase, Mark Connor Associate Commissioner Absent: Dan Hisel Staff Present: Maureen Adema, Admin. Asst. Others: Kimberly Nudi, Ryan Nudi, Alda Srour, Ricky Zeng, Joseph Caruso, Tara Fleming Caruso, Gillian Galen, Carl Oldenburg and other interested parties. Chair Anne Eccles called the May 6, 2021 Historic Districts Commission meeting to order at 5:01pm Chair Anne Eccles read for the record, Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law and remote meeting protocols. Chair Eccles, confirmed a quorum, with the presence of Mr. Adams, Mr. Adelman, Mr. O'Shaughnessy, Ms. Chase and Mr. Connor. Mr. Connor will be a voting members. FORMAL HEARING Chair Eccles opened the hearing for 1433 Massachusetts Ave, Kimberly and Ryan Nudi change of paint color in the Munroe Tavern District. Chair Eccles stated the members received and reviewed the application materials and documents prior to the meeting. The application was complete. Chair Eccles recognized the owners or 1433 Massachusetts Ryan and Kimberly Nudi. They stated they were new owners of 1433 Massachusetts Ave. Historic Districts Commission Minutes Town of Lexington May 6, 2021 1 Members' comments and/or questions Bob Adams fine with change. Ed Adelman no questions. Paul O'Shaughnessy good with change. Lee Noel Chase no questions. Mark Connor good with change. Anne Eccles likes the color choice. No Abutters were present to speak. Paul O'Shaughnessy made a motion to approve the paint color change at 1433 Massachusetts Ave as presented. Bob Adams seconded. No further discussion. Roll Call Vote: Adams—Yes,Adelman —Yes,Eccles—Yes, O'Shaughnessy—Yes, Connor—Yes. Motion carried 5 to 0. Documents Photos and Paint Swatches Chair Eccles opened the hearing for 14 Muzzey Street, Hui Huang, change of sign in the Battle Green District. Chair Eccles stated the members received and reviewed the application materials and documents prior to the meeting. The application was complete. Chair Eccles recognized Alda Srour, Zen Dental Care business owner of 14 Muzzey Street who was present to speak to the application. Members' comments and/or questions Ed Adelman questioned why the phone number would be on the sign. He said the districts signs do not have phone numbers on signs. Ms. Srour stated that she is taking over the space, this is a new business and does not have a website and wants people to be able to contact the office. Chair Eccles asked if the phone number on the sign was an issue for the members. Paul O'Shaughnessy stated the phone number on the sign was not an issue for him. Bob Adams stated he would prefer the phone number was not on the sign Lee Noel Chase stated she has some concerns with having the phone number on the sign. Mark Connor stated the phone number on the sign was not an issue for him. And in fact could be helpful. Paul O'Shaughnessy asked if the Historic Districts Commission Guidelines addressed phone numbers on signs. Chair Eccles referred to the guidelines, and stated that signs are to be limited to informational. Advertising is not allowed on signs. Chair Eccles stated there is a lot about placement of signs in the guidelines,but nothing that says a phone number cannot be on a sign. Chair Eccles ask members, Adelman, Adams and Chase for thoughts. Historic Districts Commission Minutes Town of Lexington May 6, 2021 2 Ed Adelman stated he understands why a business would want a phone number on a sign, regarding the advancement of technology regarding phones. Bob Adams stated he is fine approving with the phone number,but most new businesses can get a website pretty easily. Lee Noel Chase would approve with the phone number. No Abutters were present to speak Mark Connor made motion to approve the business sign proposed for 14 Muzzey Street as presented. Paul O'Shaughnessy seconded. No further discussion. Roll Call Vote: Adams—Yes, Adelman—Yes, Eccles—Yes, O'Shaughnessy—Yes,Connor—Yes. Chase—Yes. Motion carried 6 to 0. Documents Photos 4.27.21 Plans 4.27.21 Chair Eccles opened the hearing for 7 Maple Street, Joseph Caruso, alteration, doors and windows in the East Village District. Lee Noel Chase recused herself from the hearing of 7 Maple Street due to having a personal relationship with the applicants. Chair Eccles stated the members received and reviewed the application materials and documents prior to the meeting. The application was complete. Chair Eccles recognized owner of 7 Maple Street Joseph Caruso and Tara Fleming Caruso. They stated they are looking to keep the work simple. Members' comments and/or questions Paul O'Shaughnessy, no questions stating the application was complete. Mark Connor stated he is in favor of the proposed work, it is appropriate. Bob Adams stated the application was well done, fine with the proposed work. Chair Eccles questioned the siding material. Does the house currently has vinyl siding? Mr. Caruso stated the house had wood siding. The new material will match existing. Chair Eccles confirmed that all materials and colors will match existing such as the roof and clapboard siding. Mr. Caruso said yes. Everything will match existing. Paul O'Shaughnessy stated the narrative in the application states matching of materials and colors. Ed Adelman questioned if the two level porch is existing and if work was being done in the front of the house. Historic Districts Commission Minutes Town of Lexington May 6, 2021 3 Mr. Caruso stated the two level porch is existing and no work is being done in the front of the house. Chair Eccles stated that the work in the interior renovation is requiring window changes. No Abutters were present to speak C Documents Photos 3.22.21 Plans 3.22.21 Chair Eccles opened the hearing for 1844 Massachusetts Ave,Ricky Zeng, change of sign in Battle Green District. Chair Eccles recognized Ricky Zeng, agent and sign contractor for 1844 Massachusetts Ave. Chair Eccles stated the members received and reviewed the application materials and documents prior to the meeting. The application was complete. Chair Eccles stated the size of sign is oversized, the oversized of the sign is approved by zoning. The request tonight is for a name change. The colors, materials and location of the sign will not change. Members' comments and/or questions Bob Adams is fine with the change. Mark Connor is fine with the name change,but stated a concern with the removal of the sign from the brick. He stressed the removal of the old letters/signage must be done with care. Chair Eccles stated her thought the same hangers would be used. Mark Connor does not believe the same hangers would be used because the letters are mounted to the brick. Paul O'Shaughnessy believed the letters were mounted to a backing. Mr. Zeng stated each letter will be pinned into the brick. Each letter will have two or three holes drilled to secure the letters to the brick wall. Paul O'Shaughnessy stated he was incorrect about the letters being on a backing/panel. Mark Connor stated he is concerned about the number of pin holes already exist in the brick. He said the brick is a really nice facade. He suggested maybe drilling into the mortar. Chair Eccles agreed with Mark Connor's concerns about the brick. Ed Adelman stated hitting the mortar for each letter would be challenging. He asked if the existing nails are on a panel. Mr. Zeng, no each letter is individually mounted on the wall. They are pinned/mounted on the wall. Ed Adelman asked Mr. Zeng would he consider a panel. Historic Districts Commission Minutes Town of Lexington May 6, 2021 4 Mr. Zeng stated he does not mind doing a panel. Chair Eccles stated the applicant is open to doing a panel and asked the members their thoughts. Mark Connor agreed a panel would be good, this would keep the brick in good shape. Ed Adelman questioned if the color of letters would match the existing white. He thought the letters in the presentation were very bright. Chair Eccles stated that the brightness was from the software used for the application. Ed Adelman asked if the font being used was the business' trademark. Mr. Zeng stated the font decision was the choice of the business owner and was provided to him from owner. He said the font is the same as on the website and advertising brochures. Ed Adelman encouraged a back panel for the letters, and where the four corners of the panel could be fastened into the mortar. Lee Noel Chase stated the panel would have to fit inside the brackets from the baloney above. Mark Connor stated maybe hang the panel from the baloney, on hooks making the sign less boxy and more ornamental to match the brackets Mr. Zeng said he would have to ask the owner of the business to approve the recommended changes. Mr. Zeng asked what color would be recommended for the back panel. Chair Eccles, Mark Connor and Ed Adelman stated burgundy. But Mark still likes the idea of hanging the sign from the brackets. Paul O'Shaunessy agrees with the concerns of the care of the brick. Therefore Chair Eccles stated the applicant is open to doing a panel and asked the members their thoughts this is probably the right time to do a backing/panel. Paul agreed with the color burgundy to match the blade sign. He approves the style of the sign. Lee Noel Chase stated if the sign was hung from the baloney, there would be the issue of the sign swinging. Additional fastening would be required. Lee Noel Chase also had a concern with the letters appearing to be a butter cream white and not matching the mortar. She would like to see the "whites" match. Chair Eccles supports a panel that is secured to the brick that matches the width of the window with the color of the panel to be similar to the brick color. Mark Connor would like the panelibacking to have small stand off from the building. He would like there to be a distinction from the building. Bob Adams stated going to the panel is a good thing to do,because of business turnover. He thinks a standoff from the building does make sense,but not as much at about 3/4 inch space. The members agreed 3/4 inch space behind would be good. Lee Noel Chase inquired if there was a product for the standoff that the Commission could require to be used, that would remain if there is a sign change in the future. Mark Connor stated an acrylic blocking could be used. The strip/backer would be permanent. Mr. Zeng stated he understood the requests/modifications from the Commission. No abutters or public present to speak. Historic Districts Commission Minutes Town of Lexington May 6, 2021 5 Mark Connor made a motion to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for new sign 1844 Massachusetts Ave having a burgundy back panel for the letters to be mounted into the mortar at the corners of the panel and will be installed 3/4 inch from the brick wall. Ed Adelman seconded. No further discussion.Adams—Yes,Adelman—Yes,Eccles—Yes, O'Shaughnessy—Yes, Connor— Yes, Chase—Yes. Motion carried 6 to 0. Documents Photos 4.1.21 Plans 4.1.21 Chair Eccles opened the hearing for 13 Hancock Ave, owner Gillian Galen, exterior changes in the Hancock-Clarke District. Chair Eccles recognized the property owners Mr. and Mrs. Galen and recognized Carl Oldenburg, architect for the project. Chair Eccles stated the members received the application in advance of the meeting. But believe that more details on the project are required. Members' questions, thoughts, suggestions Bob Adams stated due to the change in the plans received at a late date, he is not comfortable with voting tonight because the project appears to still be in progress. Mr. Oldenburg stated the updated plans were mainly submitted because of the gutter added that is required due to environmental concerns. Mr. Oldenburg also added 3D drawing/stretches in the last submission. Ed Adelman had a concern about the black foundation. Paul O'Shaughnessy asked for more clarification on the garage doors. Ed Adelman suggested that paint color on the addition may assist in minimizing the volume. Mr. Oldenburg shared screen a list of the proposed products and materials. Mark Connor asked for clarification on the trim material. Mr. Oldenburg stated he will be using wood,but did want to ask about not using wood for the windows but use azek. Mr. Oldenburg stated the garage doors are composite. Bob Adams and Paul O'Shaughnessy asked the windows be reviewed. Mark Connor is concerned about the volume of the project. And addition of the master bedroom not having windows is a concern. He wondered if using the space from the unfinished attic could minimize the volume. He stated the new should not be over taking the old. The rear view appears to show the new construction to be overwhelming the original structure. Ed Adelman suggested that paint color on the addition may assist in minimizing the volume. Lee Noel Chase inquired about the shutter(s) on the windows, especially the single shutter windows. She also offered to maintain the rooflines, to look at the portions giving the project one more pass. Historic Districts Commission Minutes Town of Lexington May 6, 2021 6 Paul O'Shaughnessy does think the bike path view appears to be high, too large and too much. But the street view looks goods. Bob Adams said the azek for the windows does work. He commented that the porch base is massive with a lot of material. Mr. Oldenburg stated the rendering does not show it,but the base of the porch will have lattice. Mr. Oldenburg stated he did not want to add more elements just to break up the look from the bike path. Chair Eccles asked for any abutters or public to raise their hands if they wished to speak. Abutters Kate McCarty thanked the members for their comments and concerns. She thought what has been presented is a good start but thinks the addition is massive and deck is too big. She is concerned about the no windows on the side and would like more work done. Emily Patel stated support of the plans and understands the difficulty in adding on to the houses in the neighborhood. She said there are a lot of trees that the rendering does not show, so the no windows is not an issue for her. Bob Adams would like a walk around rendering be presented in order to know what the neighbors are seeing. He wants to see the renderings be in less block form. He wants to have a true look, including trees etc. Chair Eccles asked Mr, Oldenburg if he is willing to continue to next month. Mr. Oldenburg and Ms. Gillian stated they want to get it right. Ms. Galen communicated that deck location is due to wetland restrictions. They will be prepared to present again next month. The hearing for 13 Hancock Ave is continued to June 3, 2021 at Spm. Documents Site Plan, Photos, 3.31.21 Plans 4.29.21, Spec Sheets ACTION ITEMS Minutes Approval Bob Adams made a motion to approve the April 1, 2021 meeting minutes. Mark Connor seconded. Roll Call Vote: Bob Adams -Yes,Anne Eccles -Yes,Mark Connor—Yes, Ed Adelman - abstain, Paul O'Shaughnessy- abstain. Motion carried, 3-2-0. Members Ed Adelman and Paul O'Shaughnessy were not at the April meeting. DISCUSSION ITEMS Historic Districts Commission Minutes Town of Lexington May 6, 2021 7 Liaisons Reports 33 Marrett Rd, Scottish Rite Museum—The Masons Chair Eccles stated that the Commission sent a letter about the sign change at 33 Marrett Road. The Masons acknowledged the letter,but since Chair Eccles has tried to make contact on the phone to have a formal request be made for the sign change. Ed Adelman met with the landscape architect hired to do landscape project at 33 Marrett Road. The project is in the early stages of a new landscape design for the property. Ed stated, the Masons are aware of the historic district property line. He told the landscaper, the Commission does not have purview over landscaping,but does have purview over hardscape such as walls and steps. Ed expressed that he had a candid discussion about the view from the district. And although the building is outside the district, he received an agreement of sensitivity to the design elements regarding the design and what could be viewed from the district. There may be landscaping done to soften the current white wall. Ed Adelman will follow up with the Scottish Rite Museum regarding the approval in the change in the sign. 3 Bedford Street Bob Adams stated he got involved with 3 Bedford to assist/offer guidance in work of 67 windows. 3 Bedford Street had two proposals neither that were in line with a restoration of the windows. Bob has worked with several contractors that do historic window restoration. He has about 6 options to discuss with the decision makers of 3 Bedford. He hopes to meet with them this week. Bob stated he has used the opportunity of this project to create a white paper for HDC guidelines on historic window restoration. He noted there are not very many people doing this kind of work. Lee Noel Chase stated she used it build wood windows and has published articles on wood windows. She offered to collaborate/contribute on the white paper. 443 Massachusetts Ave Chair Eccles stated 443 Massachusetts Ave may be on the market. An interested party/architect has met with Bob Adams to discuss a design for the property that will met the rules and regulations of the HDC. Bob has communicate that there should be sensitivity to the neighborhood. He has encouraged the designer to work with the form of the building. If an agreeable design is finalized the interested party will likely purchase the property. 812 Mass Ave. The Commission should be receiving document on the barn restoration. Hosmer House The Historic Districts Commission was asked by the Town Manager to provide input on a location for the Hosmer House. Chair Eccles shared the review, Robin Lovett review and Mark Connor review of the possible locations for the Hosmer House to be moved. Historic Districts Commission Minutes Town of Lexington May 6, 2021 8 After a discussion of the many town owned and other parcels/locations and other points such as ownership, deed restrictions and cost to the Town, the Commission came to the consensus that 41 Hancock Street would be the Commission's recommendation. The HDC stated they are only an advisory to the Hosmer House project. Chair Eccles will communicate to the Jim Malloy, Town Manager the Commission's recommendation. Public Comments No public comment. Adiournment Paul O'Shaughnessy made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:20pm. Mark Connor seconded. No further discussion. Roll Call Vote, Bob Adams—Yes,Ed Adelman—Yes,Anne Eccles—Yes, Paul O'Shaughnessy-Yes, Mark Connor—Yes,Lee Noel Chase—Yes. Motion carried, unanimously. Historic Districts Commission Minutes Town of Lexington May 6, 2021 9