Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-12-29 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION A meeting of the Historic Districts Commission xas held on Wednesday, December 29, 196, in Room G25, Town Office Building, Lexington. Present xere Comsaissioners Wilbur M. Jaquith, Chairman ;Georgia H. Williams, Sec- retary; Amelia G. Samoylenko; S. Lawrence Whiggle; and Associate Commis- sioners Oliver F. Hooper and John R. Packard. Also present was Thomas J. Holzbog xho announced that he had submitted his resignation from the Coss- mission since he xas returning to California to teach. Mr. Packard xas appointed to serve for Mr. Holzbog xho has resigned. Then followed a discussion on the application of Frances M. Broussard to replace the existing aluminum siding on the dwelling at 1358 Massachu- setts Avenue, xhich is xithin the Munroe Tavern District, with aluminum siding. Mr. Packard observed that the aluminum siding on the front of the dwelling is nox beginning to look bad. Mr. Jaquith said that Bird and Com- pang had told him that they would guarasstee the aluminum siding to be in- Iii atal2ed only if it was properly installed and that they xould not guarantee i the siding if it xas improperly installed. Mr. Holzbog commented that he felt the Commission should allox the installation of the nex aluminum sid- ing; Mx'. Packard said that he agreed; and Mr. Hooper said that it xas all right xith him. Mrs. Williams commented that, if the new aluminum siding gets scratched, the Broussards x111 not be happy with the aluminum siding.; Mr. Jaquith said that he did not think the Brousssards would be happy xlth aluminum siding and that he suspected that they x111 sell the house within three to five years. Mr. Jaquith stated that vinyl siding is not solid and that it is vezy bouncy. Mr. Holsbog commented that vinyl siding has a nicer sheen but that the seams can be more readily seen, and that it will melt in case of fire. Mr. Hooper asked how long vinyl siding has been in existence and Mr. Holzbog said about eight years. Mr. Jaquith said that aluminum siding has been made for over twenty years nox. Mr. Jaquith asked if the members xished to approve the installation of aluminum siding under the "hardship" clause or under some other provisions. Mr. Hooper said that he would prefer the "hardship" clause and Mrs, Samoylenko said that she thaught that xas a good. solution. Upon motion made by Mr. Packard and seconded by Mrs. Sasnoylenko, it was unanimously VOTEDs That the replacement of the existing aluminum siding xith nex aluminum siding 1s inappropriate for the purposes of the Historic Districts Act. Upon motion made by Mr. Packard and seconded by Mrs. Samoylenko, it xas ~I VOTEDs That there are conditions especially affecting the dwelling involved that do not affect the Historic District generally under which failure to approve the application x111 be a sub- stantial hardship to the applicant. The vote xas 4-i xith Mr. Whipple voting against the motion. i HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION - 2 - December 29, i9~6 Upon motion made by Mr. Packard and seconded by Mrs. Samoylenko, it xas VOTED: That the application of Frances M. Broussard for the re- placement of aluminum siding with aluminua siding on the - dxelling at 1358 Massachusetts Avenue may be approved xithout substantial detriment to the public welfare and xithout substantial derogation from the intent and pur- poses of the Historic Districts Act.. The. vote xas 3-2 in favor of this motion xith Commissioners Wilbur M. Jaquith and Amelia G. Samoylenko and Associate Commissioner John R. Packard voting in favor and Commissioners Georgia H. Williams and S. Laurence Whipple voting against the motion. It xas moved, seconded, and VOTED that the Chairman be authorized to prepare a Certificate of Appropriateness in accozda.ace with the above vote. Then followed a discussion on nex drawings submitted for the building at 55 Waltham Street, which is xithin the Battle Green District, and xhich is owned by Robert and Delores Lyon. The bay windoxs on the rear elevation addition are 8' in xidth and have 4j panes fn each bay xith the fascia. about j 2' high. Mr. Packard said that it xould not look too bad to duplicate the upstairs xindoxs and blinds. Mr. Jaquith suggested--that xood shingles should be installed on the front roof of the addition but that the rest of the roof could have asphalt shingles. Then followed a discussion on the application of Steven Oxren of Lex- ington Realty with respect to changes in the architectural features of the building at 1844 Massachusetts Avenue and the sign xhich he proposes to erect on said building, xhich building is xithin the Battle Green District. Mr. Jaquith said that he feels that the sign is too heavy for the location. Mrs. Williams said that she feels that the sign is not appropriate for this building. Mr, Whipple said that he feels that the sign is too big. Mr. Packard said that the drawing shoxs reduction in the sign from 3'10" to 3'6" xhich is not much of a reduction. Mr. Whipple said that the sign back- board should be reduced 8" vertically and 10" horigontally. Mr. Jaquith asked if the members xanted the "tails" on the sign and tor. Whipple, Mrs. Williams, and Mr. Packard all said that. they did not. Mrs. 5amoylenko said that it xould be better to also reduce the size of the letters. Mr. Whipple said that in order to reduce the signboard it would be necessary to reduce the size of the letters. Mr. Jaquith asked if the bay xindox was all right and the members agreed that it xas. Mr. Whipple asked if the bay window xould have a copper roof and Mrs. Samoylenko said that the drawing speci- fied a copper roof. The meeting xas adjourned a.t 10:40 P.M. c,~,,~ j~ 1 ~d2 lw I V i / ~~~tis-.~-=~ eorgiH. Williams Secretary