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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-16-HC-min MEETING MINUTES th March 16 2022 Call to Order: A public hearing of the Historical Commission was held remotely through Zoom. The meeting convened at 7:01PM. Historical Commission Members in Attendance: Susan Bennett, Chair, Diane Pursley, Vice Chair, Marilyn Fenollosa, David Kelland, Wendall Kalsow and Robert Rotberg AGENDA ITEM #1 (7:05PM): Continued hearing regarding the full building demolition at 20 Harding Road APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: Dana Tower/Seaver Properties ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: None DOCUMENT(S): Letter from Doug Kelleher & Allison Casazza, Epsilon Associates Inc. SUMMARY: Mr. Kelleher provided a report regarding 20 Harding Road. Mr. Tower went over the report with the Commission. Mr. Kelleher found the home not preferably preserved. HC COMMENTS: Ms. Fenollosa agreed with Mr. Kelleher that the home lacks architectural significance and suggested the home be removed from the inventory. The Commission agreed. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None MOTION: Moved by Ms. Fenollosa to find 20 Harding Road to have lost its architectural significance and should be removed from the inventory. Seconded by Mr. Kalsow. VOTE: 6-0 in favor of removing 20 Harding Road from the inventory: Ms. Fenollosa, Mr. Kalsow, Mr. Kelland, Ms. Pursley, Mr. Rotberg and Ms. Bennett. AGENDA ITEM #2 (7:16PM) Public hearing regarding the partial building demolition and roofline change at 7 Dexter Road APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: Tom Timko, Architect ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: None DOCUMENT(S): Existing and proposed elevations dated 3/1/2022 Photos of the existing house SUMMARY: 7 Dexter Road is a unique brick Tudor style home. The home has one addition on the back of the house. Mr. Timko described the proposed plans for 7 Dexter Road: a two story addition on the rear of the property, adding a family room and master suite, no change to the front of the house. HC COMMENTS: Ms. Pursley said the history on this home is very interesting. Ms. Pursley feels the addition is great and thanked Mr. Timko for keeping the historic house. Mr. Kalsow is comfortable with the proposed changes since they are in the rear of the house. The Commission agreed. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None MOTION: Moved by Mr. Kalsow to find the structure at 7 Dexter Road preferably preserved and approve the partial building demolition and roofline change as presented based on the plans dated 3/1/2022. Seconded by Ms. Fenollosa. VOTE: 6-0 in favor of partial building demolition and roofline change: Mr. Kalsow, Ms. Fenollosa, Mr. Kelland, Ms. Pursley, Mr. Rotberg and Ms. Bennett. AGENDA ITEM #3 (7:30PM) Public hearing regarding the partial building demolition at 17 Patriots Drive APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: David Whitney, Architect ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: None DOCUMENT(S): Existing and proposed elevations dated 1/20/2022 Photos of existing house SUMMARY: Mr. Whitney described the proposed plans for 17 Patriots Drive. 17 Patriots Drive is part of the Edgewood Estates. The home has changed a great deal since it was built but Mr. Whitney is trying to be respectful of what is there. Proposal includes an addition to the back of the house, changes to windows in the rear of the house and adding a garage with a bedroom above and matching the existing siding, windows and roofline details. HC COMMENTS: Ms. Fenollosa asked about the carved panels surrounding the double windows at the east end of the property, which are specially listed in the Inventory form B. Mr. Whitney said the panels contain an elaborate floral pattern that will be repeated on the south elevation of the project. Ms. Fenollosa is comfortable with the addition and feels it complements the existing house nicely. The Commission agreed. The Commission agreed. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None MOTION: Moved by Ms. Fenollosa to find the structure at 17 Patriots Drive preferably preserved and approve the partial building demolition as presented to the meeting tonight based on the plans dated1/20/2022. Seconded by Ms. Pursley. VOTE: 6-0 in favor of partial building demolition: Ms. Fenollosa, Ms. Pursley, Mr. Rotberg Mr. Kelland, Mr. Kalsow and Ms. Bennett. AGENDA ITEM #4 (PM) Public hearing regarding the roofline change at 17 Edgewood Road APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: David Whitney, Architect ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: None DOCUMENT(S): Existing and proposed elevations dated 2/15/2022 Existing photos of the house SUMMARY: The home was built in the 1920/30’s. Mr. Whitney came to the Commission a few years ago for a small addition on this home and is back again for a new addition. Mr. Whitney described the proposed plans for 17 Edgewood Road. The front door steps out onto a modest stoop. Mr. Whitney would like to provide a better sequence into the house and provide a covered landing at the front door as well as proposing a larger bluestone terrace landing with wooden columns. HC COMMENTS: Mr. Kalsow is glad to see the modest size of the proposed change. Mr. Kalsow is pleased to see the retention of the house and a relatively minor change. Ms. Fenollosa feels it’s a nice style element that will dress up the house but not overwhelm it. The Commission agreed. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None MOTION: Moved by Ms. Pursley to find the structure at 17 Edgewood Road preferably preserved and approve the roof line change as presented to the meeting tonight based on the plans dated 2/15/2022. Seconded by Mr. Kelland. VOTE: 6-0 in favor of roofline change: Ms. Pursley, Mr. Kelland, Mr. Rotberg Mr. Kalsow, Ms. Fenollosa and Ms. Bennett. AGENDA ITEM #5 (7:46PM) Update on Open Space Residential Development (ORSD) proposal The Commission submitted written comments to the Planning Board on 2/22/22 and received a list of questions back to which the Commission responded. Ms. Pursley attended the Planning Board meeting on 3/9/22 where they officially voted on making two changes to the proposed bylaw per the Historical Commission’s suggestion 1. Adding under the definition of “Historic Building”: “A building eligible to be listed …” 2. Adding under the “Purpose” of the bylaw: Preserve historically or architecturally significant buildings or places, including consideration for siting, sight lines, and landscaping -Planning Board did not publicly discuss the other suggestions and feedback from the Historical Commission outlined in the 2/22/22 document. -Mr. Kalsow expressed his concerns regarding OSRD. OSRD has the potential to dramatically increase the density of development in Lexington and the potential to adversely impact historic buildings because of the density bonus for historical preservation in the OSRD bylaw. It is important for the Commission to review the final OSRD bylaw and announce its position at Town Meeting. The Commission will have a separate meeting to discuss OSRD and next steps. AGENDA ITEM #6 (8:18PM) Battle Road Discussion -Mr. Kelland attended the meeting with the entities that are commenting on the project. DOT does not appear to be responsive to the concerns from the towns and the National Park Service. The DOT initially looked at this project as a paving project as well as introducing other changes that have met resistance from the involved parties. The Commission supports the letter from the National Park Service critiquing the proposal. Mr. Kalsow will draft a letter affiliating ourselves with the Parks Service comments as well as calling out anything of particular note and Ms. Bennett will send out to all parties. AGENDA ITEM #6 (PM) Update on Preservation Restrictions -Ms. Bennett met with Town Counsel regarding a template Preservation restriction.This will be used for the first time for the project at 75 Outlook Road. AGENDA ITEM #7 (8:29PM) Update on antique fireboxes in Lexington - Mr. Pinsonnault reached out to the Fire Chief and other staff. The fire boxes were given to the Historical Society. The reason they took the fire boxes out is because they did not want people to get confused and think they work. If we did restore them then they should have an indication on them stating they are not working. Mr. Pinsonnault will talk with the Fire Chief again. The Commission suggested restoring the boxes but maybe adding a cellular connection so someone could use it if there was a fire. AGENDA ITEM #8 (8:38PM) Updates -Historic Welcome Signage: Mr. Rotberg said Ms. Bennett wrote to the Town Manager asking for an update. The Town Manger said the person on the Select Board did not feel the signage was a problem. Mr. Rotberg sent a follow-up letter. -Mr. Rotberg met as the Liaison for the Pierce-Lockwood Neighborhood for a roofline change. -75 Outlook Drive received our model preservation Restriction. There currently is no landscaping plan. The Commission has to work our comments on landscapring into the description for the preservation restriction. Ms. Fenollosa will work on this. -A Site Sensitive Development is being proposed for 35 Hayes Avenue. The home is currently not on the inventory but probably should have been. The owners want to retain the house. The Commission would like to proceed with a preservation restriction and we will need someone to write up a description on the house. Ms. Pursely volunteered to do so. -The Commission will set up a special meeting to discuss whether our current demolition delay bylaw is effective. AGENDA ITEM #9 (9:09PM) th Vote to accept meeting minutes dated February 16 2021 th Motion made by Mr. Rotberg to approve minutes dated February 16 2021. Seconded by Mr. Kelland 6-0 in favor of approving minutes: Mr. Rotberg, Mr. Kelland, Ms. Fenollosa, Ms. Pursley, Ms. Bennett, and Mr. Kalsow AGENDA ITEM #10 (9:10PM) Motion to adjourn made by Ms. Fenollosa. Seconded by Mr. Rotberg 6-0 favor to adjourn Ms. Fenollosa, Mr. Rotberg, Ms. Pursley, Ms. Bennett, Mr. Kalsow and Mr. Kelland Adjourn.