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Home My WebLink About2024-11-20-HC-min Historical Commission 1 Lexington Historical Commission Meeting Minutes November 20, 2024 Meeting Conducted by Remote Participation Commissioners Present: Robert Rotberg, Chair, Diane Pursley, Susan Bennett, Marilyn Fenollosa, Wendall Kalsow. Commissioner Absent: Associate Commissioners Present: David Kelland. Associate Commissioner Absent: Chair Robert Rotberg called the November 20th, 2024 Historical Commission meeting to order at 7:00 pm. AGENDA ITEM #1: Approval of meeting minutes of the meeting held on October 16th, 2024 Ms. Pursley made a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting held on October 16th, 2024 as amended. Mr. Kelland seconded. Motion carried with Ms. Fenollosa, Mr. Kalsow, and Ms. Bennett abstaining. All in favor. AGENDA ITEM #2: Continued Public Hearing regarding the Partial Building Demolition and Roof Line Change (Additions) at 6 Revolutionary Road APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: Sally DeGan, Architect ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: None DOCUMENT(S): PE_For HDC_6 Revolutionary Rd_2024-11-12: dated November 12, 2024 SUMMARY: Sally DeGan, architect, explained the updated proposed addition plans for the structure at 6 Revolutionary Road. The siding materials for the whole house will be Western red cedar. The Commission approved this updated proposed addition plans. No Public Comments. HC COMMENTS: The Commission reviewed this application and agreed that the updated proposed additions plans were appropriate. Historical Commission 2 MOTION: Ms. Pursley made a motion to find the structure at 6 Revolutionary Road is historically significant and preferably preserved, and approve the additions as described in the plans as presented at the November 20th, 2024 Historical Commission meeting. Ms. Fenollosa seconded. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Kelland – Yes, Mr. Kalsow – Yes, Ms. Pursley – Yes, Ms. Bennett – Yes, Ms. Fenollosa – Yes, Mr. Rotberg – Yes, Motion carried 6 to 0. Motion carried. All in favor. AGENDA ITEM #3: Public Hearing regarding the Partial Building Demolition and Roof Line Change (Additions) at 19 Walnut Street APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: Katy Finkenzeller, Architect ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: None DOCUMENT(S): Homeowner Letter: dated October 11, 2024 Comparison of Existing and Proposed Elevations: dated October 10, 2024 Historical Information: October 10, 2024 Individual Building Form from Lexington Comprehensive Cultural Resources Survey: dated Oct 10, 2024 Photos of existing structure: dated October 10, 2024 Legal Advertisement Authorization Form: dated October 11, 2024 Neighborhood support letters: dated November 5-19, 2024 SUMMARY: Katy Finkenzeller, architect, explained the proposed addition plans for the structure at 19 Walnut Street. The Commission agreed the proposed addition plans were appropriate. No Public Comments. HC COMMENTS: The Commission reviewed this application and agreed that the proposed additions plans were appropriate and that they were very respectful of the original house. Historical Commission 3 MOTION: Mr. Kalsow made a motion to find the structure at 19 Walnut Street is historically significant and preferably preserved, and approve the additions as described in the plans as presented which are respectful of the historic character of the house and consistent with the Secretary of the Interior Standards including the proposed garage overhang, with pending approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Ms. Bennett seconded. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Pursley – Yes, Ms. Bennett – Yes, Mr. Kalsow – Yes, Ms. Fenollosa – Yes, Mr. Rotberg – Yes, Motion carried 5 to 0. Motion carried. All in favor. AGENDA ITEM #4: Review and Approve of the 2025 Historical Commission Calendar The Commission reviewed and approved the 2024 HC Calendar. The April Historical Commission meeting will be on Thursday, April 17th, 2025. AGENDA ITEM #5: Consideration of suggested bylaw amendments regarding historic preservation Ms. Bennett and Ms. Fenollosa suggested amending the Zoning Bylaw regarding historic preservation as below. “To amend Section 6.9.1.5 of Lexington bylaws governing special residential developments by adding the following: For the purpose of this section, “preservation of historically or architecturally significant buildings or places” means the act or process of applying only those measures necessary to retain the existing form, integrity, and materials of an historic property. To replace Section 6.2.3 governing historic preservation incentives with the following: Review and Approval by Historical Commission. In order to qualify for historic preservation incentives, the Historical Commission shall review and approve applications to assure that the proposed renovation, repair, adaptive reuse or relocation preserves the historical and architectural features of the building, structure or elements if renovated or relocated according to the plans. To replace Section 6.2.5.2 governing historic preservation incentives with the following: The proposed renovation, repair, adaptive reuse or relocation, preserves historical and architectural features of the building, structure or element applying only measures necessary to retain the existing form, integrity and materials of an historic property. To amend Section 6.2.5.4 to read as follows: Historical Commission 4 The historical and architectural features of the building, structure or element will be preserved in perpetuity.” MOTION: Mr. Kalsow made a motion to approve the proposed amendments presented and discussed at the November 20th Historical Commission meeting. Ms. Fenollosa seconded. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Bennett – Yes, Ms. Pursley – Yes, Mr. Kalsow – Yes, Ms. Fenollosa – Yes, Mr. Rotberg – Yes, Motion carried 5 to 0. All in favor. AGENDA ITEM #6: Vote to approve Historic Resources section of Community Preservation Committee’s Needs Assessment Report Ms. Fenollosa made a motion to approve Historic Resources section of Community Preservation Committee’s Needs Assessment Report to the Community Preservation Committee for their consideration. Ms. Pursley seconded. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Bennett – Yes, Ms. Pursley – Yes, Mr. Kalsow – Yes, Ms. Fenollosa – Yes, Mr. Rotberg – Yes, Motion carried 5 to 0. All in favor. AGENDA ITEM #7: Input from Commissioners on other matters Jeanne Krieger will attend December HC meeting to discuss the expansion the Hanscom Field Airfield for private jets. AGENDA ITEM #8: Input from the public on other matters None AGENDA ITEM #9: Adjourn Ms. Fenollosa made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Kalsow at 8:17pm. Motion carried. All in favor. 12/16/24,12:03 PM Gmail - Defining Historic Preservation in Town Bylaws M Gmail Susan Bennett <susanjamiebennett@gmail.com> Defining Historic Preservation in Town Bylaws 16 messages Susan Bennett <susanjamiebennett@gmail.com> Wed, Oct 23, 2024 at 3:46 PM To: "Robert Rotberg (rirotberg@gmail.com)" <rirotberg@gmail.com>, Marilyn Fenollosa <mfenollosa@verizon.net>, Diane Pursley <dianepursley@gmail.com>, Wendall Kalsow <wendall@mcginleykalsow.com>, David Kelland <dke11and84@gmail.com> Hello fellow Commissioners - Ever since the Hosmer House debacle, I've been searching for some positive step forward. It occurs to me that one of the problems with the Town bylaws that make some nod to historic preservation is that nowhere is that term defined. It was disturbing to me that the chair of the ZBA said in the Hosmer appeal hearing that his definition of historic preservation was represented in the essentially new house that was created out of the Hosmer fragments. I wonder if we should be seeking a warrant article that inserts a definition in the appropriate bylaw sections. It could read something like: "Historic preservation means the preseraton of a structure in its existing state modified only according to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties." (wordsmithing welcome) Robert and Marilyn did such a great job securing the 21-month demolition delay I bet they could be successful once again. The best bet might be to introduce it as an innocuous technical change. Thoughts? Thanks. Susan Robert Rotberg <rirotberg@gmail.com> To: Susan Bennett <susanjamiebennett@gmail.corn> Cc: Marilyn Fenollosa <mfenollosa@verizon.net>, Diane Pursley <dianepursley@gmail.com>, Wendall Kalsow <wendall@mcginleykalsow.com>, David Kelland <dkelland84@gmail.com> Sounds like a very good idea to me. Bob Conflict Mitigation Newsletter robertirotberg.substack.com Overcoming the Oppressors (2023) [Quoted text hidden] Wed, Oct 23, 2024 at 4:30 PM Wendall Kalsow <wendall@mcginleykalsow.com> Wed, Oct 23, 2024 at 5:23 PM To: Susan Bennett <susanjamiebennett@gmail.com> Good Afternoon Susan, It is good to receive your email. I share your concerns which the Hosmer House raised as well as 69 Pleasant St & 28 Meriam. My first thought was to change a couple sentences in each of the 2 bylaws to essentially require either LHC or MHC approval of plans and a permanent PR approved by MHC. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=a0d975ed2d&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-a:r4828450534202748645&simpl=msg-a:r3944371626729683504&simpl ... 1/5