2012-05-24-HDC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Town of Lexington Historic Districts Commission Joseph Welch, Chairman Tel: (781) 862-0500 x294 Daniel Griffin Jr. Fax: (781) 861-2780 Scott Kyle Paul Ross Robert Warshawer Minutes of May 24, 2012 in Estabrook Hall of the Cary Memorial Building at 7:00 PM Commissioners present: Chairman, Joseph Welch, Daniel Griffin, Paul Ross, Robert Warshawer and Scott Kyle Associate Commissioners present: Carl Oldenburg, Marilyn Fenollosa, and Barbara Feldman, and Lynn Hopkins Town Council: Kevin Batt, Anderson & Kreiger LLP Department Clerk: Amy Casparius 31 Somerset Road : Don Sullivan, presented a letter from Architect Colin Smith in answer to a letter from neighbors regarding the old house, a engineered stamped letter regarding the condition of the detached Garage, a site plan showing the placement of the two (2) new site walls inside of the Historic District, a drawing of the front of new house, a drawing of a section of the large retaining wall and planter wall, and a site plan from Meridian Associates showing the location of the demolished house and existing detached garage. Mr. Sullivan requested before he begins his presentation if the commission would address a letter which was sent to them by a number of neighbors prior to this hearing. The letter stated that a corner of the concrete walk leading to wooden stairs leading to the old house was in the Historic District making the entire house in the Historic District and should not have been granted a demolition permit. The Commission and Town Council stated that the concrete walk, wooden stairs, and house are three independent objects. The Historic District line never ran through the old house itself making the house outside of the District. Mr. Sullivan requested permission to demolish an existing garage, and concrete walkway. Two (2) site walls inside of the Historic District and a gambrel shingled style house outside of the Historic District will be constructed on the site. The Commission asked Mr. Sullivan if he was withdrawing his application for a certificate of appropriateness for a new house. Mr. Sullivan stated yes they have decided to move the house outside the boundaries of the Historic District Mr. Sullivan presented plans for two (2) site walls inside of the district. One wall is a fieldstone planter wall measuring approximately 2-feet by 2-feet. One wall is a larger retaining wall running at an angle at the rear of the property. This retaining wall will vary in height to reflect the grades of the property. A few commissioners were concerned about the height of the retaining wall up to 7-feet 6-inches in a few places. One commissioner asked if the applicant had considered terracing. The applicant stated that terracing does not give as much of a back yard as the retaining wall. Mr. Sullivan also showed an elevation of the front of the house, and a site plan showing where everything will be located. The commission rd asked if the new design of the house was any smaller than the plan shown at the May 3 hearing. Mr. Sullivan said that it was a tiny bit smaller. Neighbor Mark Brakestone, requested that The Commission table the vote on this application for two weeks to give The Commission and the community time to review the plans for the house. Chairman Joseph Welch stated that the only structures The Commission has the authority to review are the Demolition of the garage and walkway, and the installation of stonewalls inside the district. The plans for the new house clearly show the house will not be in the district therefore The Commission has no jurisdiction over the detailed plans of the house, and a two week stay of the Vote would not be appropriate. 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 e-mail acasparius@lexingtonma.gov