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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-18-HC-minMEETING MINUTES May 18th 2022 Call to Order: A public hearing of the Historical Commission was held remotely through Zoom. The meeting convened at 7:00PM. Historical Commission Members in Attendance: Diane Pursley, Acting Chair, Marilyn Fenollosa, Wendall Kalsow, Mr. Kelland and Mr. Rotberg AGENDA ITEM #1 (7:03PM): Public hearing regarding the partial building demolition and roof line change at 23 Oakland Street APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: Lauren Mitchell, Architect John Coakley, Homeowner ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: None DOCUMENT(S): Existing and proposed elevations dated 4/20/2022 Site plan Photos of existing house SUMMARY: 23 Oakland Street is a Queen Anne Victorian home built in 1887 known as the George B Grant House. Ms. Mitchell described the proposed plans for 23 Oakland Street. There is currently a detached two car garage. The proposed work is on the right façade of the house. It includes an attached two and a half car garage and a half bay for storage, a mudroom and great room above the garage. The proposed work includes the demolition of the existing garage. HC COMMENTS: Mr. Kalsow asked what the opening was between the passage door and garage door. Ms. Mitchell said the garage is currently designed with a 6-foot storage bay and doors there to get bikes out without having to open the garage doors, but they are not quite set on the door design. Ms. Fenollosa asked if the siding will be the same material as the main house. Ms. Mitchell said yes, it will be clapboard and the windows will match existing windows. Ms. Fenollosa feels the addition is wide but understands the need for it and feels it is sensitively designed. Mr. Kalsow asked if they can use some of the fieldstone from the existing garage. Ms. Mitchell said they can try to do that. Mr. Kalsow asked to applicant to consider relocating the door into the half bay from the front of the garage to side wall of the garage to make it less prominent. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None MOTION: Moved by Mr. Kalsow to find the structure at 23 Oakland Street preferably preserved and approve the partial building demolition and roof line change and approve the demolition of the free-standing garage according to the plans presented to the meeting and encourage the owner to consider relocating the door into half bay from the front of the garage to side wall of the garage to make it less prominent. Seconded by Mr. Kelland. VOTE: 5-0 in favor of partial building demolition and roof line change: Mr. Kalsow, Mr. Kelland, Ms. Fenollosa, Mr. Rotberg and Ms. Pursley AGENDA ITEM #2 (7:20PM) Public hearing regarding the partial building demolition and roofline change at 20 Clarke Street APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: Todne Texeira, Builder Mark Barbadoro, Presenter ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: None DOCUMENT(S): Existing and proposed elevations Photos of existing house SUMMARY: 20 Clarke Street was built in 1872 by David A. Tuttle for F.F Raymond. The existing garage was likely a modified carriage house; the doors are not original and were relocated around 1995. The garage floods, there is dampness between the garage and house, there are drainage issues and the garage fits only one car. Mr. Barbadoro described the proposed plans for 20 Clarke Street. The plan is to add an attached garage to the house that has the appearance of a converted barn. The new garage will fit two cars. The plans also include improving the full bath, remodeling the kitchen, moving the laundry to the second floor and addressing dampness and drainage issues. The hope is that this addition will preserve the integrity of the home. HC COMMENTS: Mr. Kelland feels the addition fits well with the architecture of the house but the size of the new garage is much bigger and inconsistent with the massing of the house. Ms. Fenollosa said this home is on the corner so the barn/garage is to the back of the house. Mr. Barbadoro said you won’t be able to see the addition from Clarke Street but you will from Raymond Street. Ms. Fenollosa has no issues and feels the addition is fine and confirmed that the materials are similar to the existing house. Mr. Kalsow asked why the garage is projected forward from the house rather than recessing it to the side wall of the house. Mr. Barbadoro thought it would appear slightly chopped off. Mr. Rotberg thinks it’s a great improvement over the existing structure. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None MOTION: Moved by Ms. Fenollosa find the structure at 20 Clarke Street preferably preserved and approve the partial building demolition and roof line change and permit demolition of the garage and rebuilding according to the plans presented to the meeting. Seconded by Mr. Kalsow. VOTE: 5-0 In favor of partial building demolition and roofline change: Ms. Fenollosa, Mr. Kalsow, Mr. Kelland, Mr. Rotberg and Ms. Pursley. AGENDA ITEM #3 (7:40PM) Discussion on Hosmer House Relocation Rosalina Carroll, Owner of property Jim Kelly, Building Commissioner Bob McGinty, Contractor Mark Connor, Historic District Commission Mike Cronin, Director of Public Facilities Building Commissioner Kelly gave a brief overview on the Hosmer House relocation. An RFP was issued by the Town to find a new home for the Hosmer House. The Police Station vote is just in a few weeks. The Carrolls’ have submitted their proposal and the Select Board has accepted the proposal. Mr. Kelly said that his objective for coming to the Historical Commission tonight was to get the Commission’s opinion on the proposed project and its appropriateness in relation to the historical significance of the Hosmer House Ms. Carroll went over the proposed plans for the proposed relocation of the Hosmer House. The proposed location is at Blossomcrest Road and Waltham Street facing Hayden Avenue. This location would be ideal because it would be the gateway into Lexington traveling from Waltham into Lexington. The Carrolls are proposing to place a plaque on the house stating its history and also restore the house to its original appearance with a wraparound porch while adding an addition with a kitchen and bathroom. Nairi Art Studio developed preliminary plans. HC COMMENTS: Mr. Kalsow is hesitant to see historic houses or properties moved off their original site. The Commission saw a good presentation by Mark Connor at the last meeting regarding how the house could be retained on the original site but closer to Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Kalsow would prefer the house be used for public purposes. Ms. Fenollosa agreed with Mr. Kalsow and does not feel this location is appropriate and would prefer something similar to Mr. Connor’s proposal. Other Commissioners agreed. Mr. Connor told the Commission the house is not in danger of demolition. Mr. Connor feels it would be a great loss to the Historic District to move the house rather than incorporating it into a plan for the existing park space. Mr. Cronin said there has been a real effort to keep the house in its current location but the Select Board voted against that proposal. This is the third time this RFP has issued. There is also no current funding source to retain the house on the current site. The only option on the table right now is this proposal to move the house to the proposed location Mr. Kalsow would rather see the home used for public use and used as part of Fletcher Field and is not in support of this proposed location. Mr. Kelly and Ms. Pursley thanked Ms. Carroll for her time, presentation, and efforts to save the home. AGENDA ITEM #7 (8:15PM) Updates Antique Fire Boxes: Mr. Kelland said the Fire Department did not like the idea of making them usable. Mr. Kelland suggested adding a cellular connection to them. The Commission agreed. AGENDA ITEM #8 (8:18PM) Vote to accept meeting minutes dated April 20th 2022 Minutes will be voted on during the June 15th 2022 meeting. AGENDA ITEM #9 (8:19PM) Motion to adjourn made by Mr. Kalsow. Seconded by Mr. Kelland 5-0 favor to adjourn Mr. Kalsow, Mr. Kelland Ms. Fenollosa, Mr. Rotberg and Ms. Pursley Adjourn.