HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-10-20-HC-min.pdf Whititit
LEXINGTON HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MINUTES
OCT 20, 1988
Present: McKenna, Phillips, Witthoft, Hagelstein. Guest, R. Gubisch
1. MINUTES of previous meeting: add, Witthoft agreed to act as
secretary.
2. WOOD ST. BARN. Gary Larson, of Larson Assoc, Arlington MA,
landscape architects, acting for Joann Vilasi, current owner of the
property, presented his plans for the site. The owner wishes to
develop the property to include 5 apartments in the 3 existing
buildings [which are only legally approved for 2 apartments, although
5 exist] , and to build additional dwellings on the land. Mr. Larson
showed site plan including present structures and the barn, and a
series of alternate development plans with and without retention of
the barn, either as a barn or as a dwelling unit. The present
tentative plan is to build 5 houses, one of which will be the
remodelled barn, and to retain extant structures for housing.
Summaries of previous letters were read for the benefit of the
Commission's new member.
McKenna stated that the previous owner of the barn had not made a
"continuous effort" to save it, in accordance with the language of the
Demolition Delay Ordinance, so the LHC will not sign o €—ei the
property. 14tA14014d1wAlimut
The commission indicated to Mr. Larson an informal, generally
favorable, opinion of his plans, with the proviso that we will first
investigate the legal issues of our continued supervision of mode of
remodelling. "To cut in is demolition," which we control, and of
course some changes in the building would have to be made if the barn
were to be made into a house.
3. McKenna has not yet met with Town Manager about manner in which
personnel change was handled.
4. The Allen—Swenson farmhouse is scheduled to be moved on Oct. 26.
5. East Village Historic District: Mr. Gubisch will provide a folder
with all relevant materials to the commission. Gubisch also noted
that the Lexington Inventory gives some recommendations for Historic
District/National Register listings. Witthoft will call Mass. Hist.
Comm. for forms for listing buildings.
NEW BUSINESS
6. REQUEST FOR TOWN REPORT. Witthoft will draft a preliminary town
report. Hagelstein will check building commissioner's office to find
out number of buildings for which we 'signed off' in the past year.
7. The Commission decided that there was no need to ask to Town
Meeting for special funds.
8. The members of the Commission thanked Mr. Gubisch for his service to
the town.
adjourned, 9:15 p.m.
nb: a hearing scheduled for 10/20/88 re Waltham St. house was
postponed until Nov. 10 at 8 p.m., due to an error — abuttors were not
notified.