HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-10-PLNCD-min
Minutes
Pierce-Lockwood Neighborhood Conservation District Commission Meeting
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Attendance:
Committee Members
Rich Goldhammer, Chair
Chris Neurath - Neighborhood member
Wendy Russman-Halperin- Neighborhood Member
Bob Creech - Planning Comm. Rep
Rob Rotberg - Historical Comm - Rep
Gail Leichman - Neighborhood alternate
Others
Joe and Sarah Adelmann - 19 Byron, applicants
Jose Rivera Feliciano - 10 Lockwood
Wilma Frey - 1133 Mass Ave
Cynthia Stern - 15 Byron
Ralph and Pricilla McDewelll Susan O’Keefe - 14 Lockwood
Minutes from previous meeting approved.
Rich Goldhammer - Reviewed purpose of the NCD and decision criteria
Chris Neurath -
1. Saw mansionzation happening in Lexington and one built at end of Byron.
2. Our neighborhood is unique because all have original architectural character from
1930’s
3. Concern houses could be torn down and large houses built on our small lots.
Rich Goldhammer
Showed pictures of houses in neighborhood.
Chris Neurath
All look similar, porches on front, Byron bungalows, Lockwood primarily Dutch Colonial.
Want to keep front of houses consistent with existing houses.
Joe Adelmann showed arial and front view sketches of current house and proposed
additions to back and side of house. Included several versions of side addition and
front porch.
Brief discussion of whether occupants of abutting houses had to recuse themselves
from vote. Both Rich and Chris as well as Gail Leichtman are abutters. Because of
small size of neighborhood, it was suggested by Rob Rotberg that probably that
wouldn’t be necessary but since there would be no vote at this meeting, everyone could
participate in discussion. Committee needs to check with town for clarification.
Question on width of side “bump-out” - Joe answered that it would be about 8 feet.
Joe also checked with town on set-back requirements and they are 7.5’ on each side
due to small (50’) frontage of Byron St lots. Pointed out bump outs on three houses on
Lockwood Road, 12, 16 and 7.
Rob Rotberg stated that if roofline is changed it also has to go before Historical
Committee, even though house is not in the Historical District.
Wendy Russman-Halperin gave measurements of those bump outs, one each on #7
and #16 are original to the houses and are about 8’ deep and recessed 5.5’ from the
front of the house. The 2 bump outs on #12 were added about 5 years ago when the
house was gutted and totally rebuilt and are 5’ deep and 15’ from the front of the house.
Wendy felt that the addition at the back of the house wouldn’t be a problem but was
concerned that the side addition should not come to the front, but be recessed back.
That would keep the front view of house consistent with the others on Byron.
Rich - emphasized that one of main points of NDC was keeping the fronts of the houses
looking similar in size and style.
Joe - Some of houses already out of conformance.
Wendy - May need variance to extend porch across entire front of house but felt it would
be not only approved by committee but desirable since every other house on Byron has
a porch extending across front.
Rich - # 15 Byron matches # 19 in style.
Gail - Felt “Plan B” (bump out going to front of house and front porch going across
original house plus bump out) would make house look too massive for neighborhood.
Discussion about whether bump out should go to front of house or be set back. Several
committee members mentioned it would fit in better with other houses if set back about
5’ and one mention that a small set-back might look better for the house itself. General
feeling that front porch could extend across entire part of original house but not include
bump out
Suggestion of putting large, egress windows in basement addition. One option showed
the front dormer on the second floor extending the entire width of the house. Most
committee members did not like that idea, saying it would change the look of the front of
the house too much.
Several committee members mentioned “A” options would be easier to approve than “B”
Meeting adjourned 8:30.
Notes taken by Wilma Frey and condensed and typed by Wendy Russman-Halperin