HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-04-17 HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMI~SSI01~
A meeting of the Historic Districts Commission was held on Wednesday,.
April lq, 19~+~ in the Selectmen•s Meeting Room, Town Office Building, Lex-
ington. Present were Commissioners Wilbur M. Jaquith, Chairman= Georgia H.
Williams, Secmtary= Donald J. Shawl and Associate Commissioners Oliver F.
Hooper and S. Lawrence Whipple. Mr. Whipple was appointed to fill the va-
cancy on the Commission and Mr. Hooper was appointed to sit for Commissioner
Thomas J. Holzbog who arrived during the first hearing and resumed his seat
at the end of that hearing.
A hearing was held at 7:55 P.M. on the applicsation of Helen F. Potter
for a Certificate with respect to the emotion and display of a sign on the
historic horse at 129;5 Massachusetts Averrue, xhich is within the Munroe
Tavern District. Mr. Jaquith read the legal notice and application. Miss
Potter submitted three scale drawings and a photograph of the house. The
sign is to be hung between the end wirdoxa of the first and second floors on
the easterly side of the front elevation. There will be about 2" between
the sign and each window frame. The sign will have a whits backboard. with a
one inch molding and letters painted black. The hearing was closed at 8110 P.M.
A hearing was held at 8:15 P.M. on the application of Cheryl's Bakery
for a Certificate with respect to the emotion and display of a sign for the
atom at iq3~+ Massachusetts Avenue, whioh is within the Battle Green District.
Mr. Jaquith mad the legal notice and application. Robert T. Callahan and
Frederick J, Pohl mpmaented the sabre owner and sulxnitted three scale draw-
ings of the proposed sign and a photograph of the atom front and Dolor chips.
The trim, full spindle balusters at each end, and solid raised letters of the
sign am to be •~inted an off-white and the sign backboard is to be painted a
red matching the and panels around the doorway. The sign is to have a steel
frame with aluminum facing. Discussion followed as to whether or not the sign
should fit between the columns or extend over the columns as proposed. It was
stated that the Commissions problem was to decide if the sign would look bet-
ter across the columns or better between td~e. Qolumns. The sign is to be 2"
thick and mounted on steel brackets. There is to be a 1" aluminum moldi
The sign is to be painted asemi-gloss finish. It was decided that the 3J4"
plywood letters should be 10" for the top row and 5" for the second row in-
stead of 12" and 6" as proposed. Three of the members stated that they pm-
ferred straight letters rather than the slanted letters proposed. The hear-
ing xas adjourned at 9=25 P.M.
A hearing was held at 9:30 P.M. on the application of The Seasons Fonr
for a Certificate with respect to changes in the existing free standing sign
for the nursery premises at i2d5 Massachusetts Avenue, whioh is within the
Munroe Tavern District. Mr. Jaquith mad the legal notice and application.
Mr. Roman Garulay, Stom Manager, submitted photographs of the existing sign,
one drawing, and one color rendering of the proposed riew sign. The sign would
be painted on the existing backboard and would have a brown backboard instead
of the existing white backboard. Red flowers in a dark brown tub world m-
_ place the existing symbol, the legend at the top would be changed and world be
painted white as world the symbol at the top of the sign, and the 1®tters in
HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION - page 2 April 17, 19~
the removable panels xould be painted brown to match the brown tub. The Gold
Ribbon Farm sign auapended from this sign xould remain. The legend at the top
of the sign xould consist of "Garden Center" on a removable panel so that the
legend "Christmas Place" could be used for wiz xeeka prior to Christmas. The
removable panels at the bottom of the sign xonld be changed depending on the
hours the store is open which varies from season to season. Mr. Jaquith said
for the benefit of the six interested neighbors that the Commission has no
control over use of the property and that the Commiaslon has jurisdiction only
over the sign. Than followed a discussion on the xetding of the txo legends.
It was stated that the coreeern of the neighbors is the change i.n the legends
aril xhsther or not these legends, if approved, xonld then receive a "stamp of
approval" for the use of the property. Mr. Jaquith said that the only fast
xould be a court case as it is a nonconforming busir~aa in a residential di~-
trict. Mr. Shsw snggeated that svale drsxings as requested be anbmitted to
the Conneiasion. The hearing xas adjourned at 30:30 P.M. and another hearing
was avheduled for May iat.
An adjourned hearing xas held with F. William Smith at 10:35 P.M. Mr.
Smith snbmdtted three nex acs,le draxings of the Sits Plan and Sheet 2 and also
three sets of proposed lighting fixtures for the Russell Square Condominiums.
The hearing xas closed at 10:50 P.M.
Mr. Jaquith submitted a bill from Barbara Gilson, Clerk, for March 197+
for X85.55 ($3.05 for postage arxi stamps and $82.50 for clerical cervices).
It xaa moved, seconded, and unanimously VOTED to apprrnre payment of this bill.
A hearing xas held at 10c55 P.M. on the application of the Dana Home of
Lexington, Inc. for a Certificate xith respect to changes in the color of the
building at 2027 Massaohnsetta Avenue, which is xithin the Battle Green Dis-
trict. Mr. Jaquith read the application, Hooper submitted color samples
of the gray proposed for the banding, the lighter gray proposed for the trim,
and the teal blue proposed for the doors. Following discussion the volora,
the hearing was closed at 11n00 P.M.
It was moved, seconded, and unanimously YOTED to issue a Certificate of
Appropriateness to the Dana Home of Lexington, Ins. xith respect to changes
in colors of the building at 2027 Massachusetts Avsnme, xhich is xithin the
Battle Green District. Participating in this decision were Conaniasiornsrs
Wilbur M. Jaquith. Georgia H. Wnliama, Thomas J. Holsbvg, Donald J. Shax, and
Associate Commissioner S. Lawrence Whipple.
It was moved, aecorrled, and unanimously VOTED to issue a Certificate of
Appropriateness to F. William Smith with respect to alterations and additions
to the existing building known as the "Russell House" and the existing single
family dwelling and the erevtion of additional dwelling unite resulting in a
16 unit condondninm complex on the premises at 1505 Massachusetts Avenas and
15 Woburn Street, which is within the Munroe Tavern District. Participating
HISTORIC DISTRICTS COl~S320N -page 9 April i~, 1974
in this decision xere Commissioners Wilbur M. Jaquith,, Georgia H. Williams,
Thomas J. Holzbog, Donald J. Shax, and Associate Commissioner S. Laxrence
Whipple.
The meeting xas adjourned at 11:35 p.M. yy
~~orgi(a H. Williams
Secretary
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