2015-04-02-HDC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Meeting broadcasted by LexMedia Minutes of Thursday, April 2, 2015 Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Lexington Town Offices 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 7:00 PM Commissioners present: Lynn Hopkins, Chairperson, Paul Ross, Robert Warshawer and Britta McCarthy Associate Commissioners, Jon Wardwell, Marilyn Fenollosa and Nancy Shepard Department Clerk: Linda Rainville FORMAL HEARINGS 7 Muzzey Street: Carol Fournier, Fastsigns, presented drawings of a sign to be mounted on the building. The proposed sign was 36” x 36” black aluminum with gold vinyl letters. The Commission recommended that Ms. Fournier return with a design more consistent with other signs on Muzzey Street, with carved letters and no logo. She will return with new drawings. The hearing is continued. CONTINUED HEARINGS 21 Muzzey Street : Adam Shuck, Spacecraft Architecture, presented a plot plan showing the location of 7 air condensers on a concrete pad and a dumpster, both located in the northwest corner of the lot. The condensers are adjacent to the building. The dumpster will screened. Location of condensers and dumpster approved. Applicant will return with proposed screening design. Mr. Shuck also reported that they would like the black finish for all the windows. Window color approved. Trim and body paint scheme have not been finalized. Applicant will return with proposed paint colors. All in Favor 847 Massachusetts Avenue: Colin Smith spoke to the Commission regarding siding and window sills that had been installed in variance with materials previously approved by the commission, and a chimney that had been demolished without approval. The commission was told at the March hearing that cement siding had been used for fire resistance reasons because a portion of the house came closer than 5’ to the property line. However, a more careful review of the site plan showed that only a small section of eave and no building walls encroached on this set back limit, so there was no need for a fire- resistant wall surface. The commissioners unanimously agreed that cement siding was not an appropriate choice for a residential building of this architectural era. Cedar siding, which was proposed by the applicant and approved previously by the commission, was and is the appropriate siding material for this project. The applicant will need to remove cement siding already installed and install the cedar siding. Windows had also been trimmed out in a more modern “picture frame” configuration rather than the “historic sills” configuration listed as part of the approved design. Again, the commission unanimously agreed this was not appropriate for a house of this era and that the installed window trim should be modified to comply with the previously approved historic sills. The issue of the chimney was discussed and noted at a previous meeting. The Commission will not insist on having the chimney rebuilt.