HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-05-21
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HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION
A meeting of the Hist~:ric Districts Commission was held
at 8s00 P.M. on Wednesday May 21, 198o in the Selectmen's
Meeting Room, Town Office Building, Lexington. Present were
Commissioners John R. Packard, Chairman, John L. Davies, S.
Lawrence Whipple, Roland Greeley and Associate Commissioner
Richard Morehouse.
At 8:00 P. M. Miriam Butts and Wendy Holzborg presented
scale drawings of a projecting sign for Books on the Green
and Gm.llery on the Green at 1837 Massachusetts Avenue. This
is the first application to come before the Commission for a
projecting sign now permitted under certain conditions by
the Sign By-Law as amended by the 1980 Town Meeting. Since
the Commission encouraged an amendment of the Sign By-Law
to permit projecting signs, the discussion of this first
application was both lively and lengthy. At the conclusion
it was VOTED to approve the design as presented, details of
which shall be incorporated in a Certificate of Approval
and in the permanent records of the Commission.
At 8:40 P.M. Mr. Coscia, speaking for the Town of Lexington,
came in to discuss the deteriorated condition of the wood
shingle roof on the Visitors Center at the Buckman Tavern
grounds. Mr. Coscia advised the Commission that wood shingles
in his opinion and in that of many roofers he had consulted,
would not last long, because the trees overhanging the
Center impede the drying of the roof after wet weather, and
contribute to a build-up of moss and mildew. He recommended
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that wood shingles be replaced by asphalt ones, and presented
several samples. Asphalt shingles would last longer and
cost less to install. Mr. Coscia was seeking an informal
indication from the Commission how it might vote on the
question of asphalt shingles. If it appeared that these
would be disapproved, he might then elect to replace the old
wood shingles with new ones, which would not require a hearing.
There followed a lengthy discussion of the fine points
involved - cost, durability, quality of workmanship and
aesthetics. It appeared that the Chairman and Mr. Whipple
would vote for new wood shingles; Mr. Greeley would approve
asphalt, but hoped the Town could find the necessary funds to
do a proper shingling job with wood shingles; Mr. Davies and
Mr. Morehouse suspended judgement until they could examine
the roof. Consequently the decision what to do was postponed.
After approval of the usual bills for publication and
clerical services, the meeting was adjourned at 10:00 P. M.
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