HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-08-16
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HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION
A meeting of the Historic Districts Commission was held on Wednesday,
August 16, 1978, at Ss00 P.M. Commissioner John R. Packard, Chairman,
called the meeting to order at 8s0O P.M. in Room G-15, Town Office Build-
ing, Lexington and adjourned the hearings to the Selectmen's Meeting Boom,
Town Office Building, Lexington. Present were Commissioners John R.
Packard, Chairman; Georgia H. Williams. Secretary; John L. Davies; S.
Lawrence Whipple; and Associate Commissioner Richard S. Morehouse. Mr.
Morehouse was appointed to serve for Commissioner Rmland B. Greeley who
was unable to be present. Also present were Louis H. Spencer of S2
Waltham Street and James Lewenson of 7 Saddle Club Road.
Mr. Fackard announced that Mr. Morehouse would sit on the first hear-
ing but would not vote since he is the architect for the petitioners. NIr.
Spencer stated that he objected to Mr. Morehouse sitting on the hearing
even though he did not vote. Mr. Packard stated that there had to be five
Commissioners or Associate Commissioners sitting for a hearing but that a
decision needed only three votes in order for a Certificate of Appropriate-
ness to be issued. Mr. rackard stated that, since other members of the
Commission were not able to be present, he would permit Mr. Morehouse to
sit on the hearing but that he would not vote in the decision. Mr. Packard
stated that Mr. Spencer's objection to Mr. Morehouse's sitting on the hear-
ing would be noted. A hearing was held at St05 P.M. on the application of
Lexington Enterprises, Inc. d~b~a Peking Gardens for a Certificate with
respect to the erection and display of two Chinese soapstone lions on
either side of the main entrance to the restaurant and amending of Certifi-
cate of Appropriateness No. 77 C-4~0 dated June 29, 1977 with respect to the
installation of three windows on the southerly elevation of the building at
27-31 Waltham Street, which is within the Battle Green District. Peter
Wong, P. C. Wong, and Chester Chi represented the applicant. Peter Wong
stated that they wish to display carved soapstone lion on each side of the
entrance doorway and that they wish to cover these lions with redwood boxes
at night to prevent vandalism. Photographs of the lions xere submitted as
was a plan of the building showing location of the lions. The lions are
23" long x 39" high x 16" wide. Mr. Davies asked what would happen to the
boxes during the day and Mr. Morehouse said that they would be taken inside.
Discussion followed regarding the time period that the boxes could cover
the lions and it was determined that the boxes could not be put over the
lions prior to 9:00 P.M. and must be removed by 9s00 A.M. It was decided
that the boxes should be of redwood. Mr. Packard asked about displaying
the lions outside and Mr. Davies said that they would be within the entrance
area of the building and are appropriate for there but would not like to
have them on the sidewalk. Mrs. Williams said that she thought they were
gorgeous creatures and Mr. Whipple said that he thought they were very hand-
some things. Mr. Spencer said that he did not understand how the Historic
Districts Commission could allow lions on front entrance of any building in
any district as he thought the Commission's purpose was to maintain town's
HISTORIC DISTRICT'S CQMMIBSION - page 2 - August 16, 1978
history and traditions. Mr. Spencer said that he objects to the lions.
It was moved, seconded, and VOTED to approve the application of Lexington
Enterprises, Inc. d~b~a Peking Garden for a Certificate of Appropriateness
with respect to the erection and display of two soapstone lions on either
side of the main entrance to the restaurant at 27-31 Waltham Street, which
is within the Battle Green District. Participating in this decision were
Commissioners John R. Packard, Georgia H. Williams, John L. Davies, and 5.
Lawrence Whipple. Associate Commissioner Richard S. Morehouse abstained
from voting. It was moved, seconded, and VOTED to approve erection and
display of redwood boxes as covers for the lions between the hours of
9;00 P.M. and 9:00 A.M. on the premises at 27-31 Waltham Street, which is
within the Battle Green District. Participating in this decision were
Commissioners John R. Packard, Georgia H. Williams, John L. Davies, and S.
Lawrence Whipple. Associate Commissioner Richard S. Morehouse abstained
from voting. Mr. Spencer reiterated his objection to the approval of the
erection and display of the two lions and the redwood box covers. Then
followed a brief discussion of the elimination of three windows on the
southerly elevation of the building. It was moved, seconded, and VOT"r~D to
issue a Certificate of Appropriateness to Lexington Enterprises, Inc. with
respect to amending Certificate of Appropriateness No. 77 C-40 dated 3une
29, 1977 with respect to the installation of three windows on the southerly
elevation of the building at 27-31 5faltham Street, which is within the
Battle Green District. Farticipating in this decision were Commissioners
John R. Packard, Georgia H. Williams, John L. Davies, and S. Lawrence
Whipple. Associate Commissioner Richard S. Morehouse abstained from voting.
Mr. Spencer stated that he does not now object to elimination of the three
windows on the alleyway. The hearing was closed at 8:35 P.M.
A hearing was held at 8:40 P.M. on the application of Hope Kim d~b~a
House of Kim for a Certificate of Appropriateness with respect to the erec-
tion and display of a sign for the store at 852 Massachusetts Avenue, which
is within the East Village District. Christopher Kim shored a sketch of a
possible sign and stated that they want to obtain visibility for the store.
Mr. Packard stated that the Commission would like scale drawings of the
proposed sign and said that he believed that other signs on the building
were white backgrounds with blacI: 7_etters. Following discussion, the
hearing was adjourned to September 13, 1978 at 8:50 P.M.
A hearing was held at 8:50 P.M. on the application of Carlo Migliore
d~b~a Adorn Salon for a Certificate xith respect to the erection and dis-
play of an awning and signs for the store at 15 Depot Square, which is with-
in the Battle Green District. Mr. Migliore stated that he wanted an awning
only with the words "Carlo Adorn Salon" in white letters on the scalloped
edge of the blue awning. Following considerable discussion on the awning
and lettering as presented in a sketch, Mr. Migliore was requested to have
scale drawings of the awning and existing sign prepared and to appear at
an adjourned hearing on September i3, 1978. The hearing was adjourned at
9:z5 P.M.
HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION - page 3 -August 26, 1978
A hearing was held at 9s30 P.M. on the application of Richard W. and
Dorothy A. Laton with respect to change in color for the dwelling at 33
Hancock Street, which is within the Hancock-Clarke District. Mr. Laton
stated that the house is white and has a black roof and that they would
like to change the color of the shutters, doors, screen doors, and garage
door from dark green to black. Mr. Davies said that he wanted to be sure
that the window frames and sash remained white and Mr. Laton said that they
would remain white. It was moved, seconded, and VOTED to issue a Certifi-
cate of Appropriateness to Richard W. and Dorothy A. Laton with respect to
a change in color for the dwelling at 33 Hancock Street, xhich is xithin
the Hancock-Clarke District. Participating in this decision were Commis-
sioners John R. Packard, Georgia H. Williams, John L. Davies, S. Lawrence
Whipple, and Associate Commissioner Richard S. Morehouse.
Mr. Morehouse stated that he had received a call from the Building
Inspector regarding changes being Made on the Sanderson House, i.e. wood
roof, windows, color, steps on rear, etc. It was stated that all these
changes had been approved under txo Certificates issued to Carol A. Snyder.
Mr. Packard asked if anyone wished to discuss the change from the
drawings approved for the addition of two rear decks on units three and
four at Russell Square (1505 Massachusetts Avenue), which is within the
Munroe District. Barbara Gilson of ~ Russell Square expressed strong dis-
like of the driveway elevation and also stated. that she did not feel that
the clapboards and window on that elevation matched existing clapboards and
windows. Mr. Packard presented photographs showing that the decks had
extended out about 3 3~4 inches over the txo double garages for those units.
Mr. Packard stated that there xould have to be a hearing to amend the
original Certificates issued to Mr. & Mrs. Wessel and Mr. & Mrs. Wilder
for the addition of the txo enclosed decks.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:1$ P.M.
/ ~ rff
Geo is H. Williams
Secretary