HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-01-09 , ~ ~
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HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION
A meeting of the Historic Districts Commission was held
on Wednesday evening, January 9, 1980, at 8e00 P.M. in Room
G-15, Town Office Building, Lexington. Present were John R.
Packard, Chairman; Gdor~a Williams, Secretary; Commissioners
Roland Greeley and S. Lawrence Whipple, and Associate
Commissioners Richard Morehouse, sitting for John L. Davies
and Howard Nason.
Since the first scheduled hearing (VR Management) was
cancelled, the Commission VOTED,at 8:00 P.M. to approve bills
submitted by Minute Man Publications, Inc. and Barbara Gilson,
Clerk in the amounts of $21 and $60 respectively.
At 8:15 P.M. Amy Gore submitted drawings for a skylight
and new window to enhance the utility of a 2nd floor bathroom on
the north side of her home at 822 Massachusetts Avenue. Although
there was a bit of grumbling about the lack of scale drawings,
a majority of the Commission thought it had had sufficient
exposure to the matter to reach an informed decision, and so
VOTED to approve the application.
At 8:30 P.M. Mrs. Elizabeth Pressman, speaking for the
Town of Lexington, presented a request for the installation of
a pay telephone in front of either Coipitts Travel Agency or
Anderson's Jewelers on Massachusetts Avenue at Depot Square.
Mr. Joseph A. Trani, Jr. opposed the installation, for the
reasons that teens ers, or their mental a uivalen have a
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tendency to hang around phone booths and vandalize them. This
did not contradict the experience of the Commission. It was
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further noted that phone booths are not always attractive
structures, that they lead to congestion on the sidewalk, and
that the particular model presented appeared to be unusable
by the handicapped. Other locations and other models were dis-
cussed, and Mrs. Pressman was invited to return on January 30
to continue the hearing, after she had reviewed with the Select-
men the reservations voiced by the Commission.
At 9:05 P.M. Daman Commissary Corporation, represented by
Henry Patterson and Elizabeth Carney, husband and wif e, sub-
mitted drawings fora sign to be erected on the premises formerly
occupied by the Minute Man Restaurant at 1715 Massachusetts
Avenue, to be made of wood, and to read "Bel Canto Restaurant",
adorned by brightly-colored fruits and vegetables, including an
onion for an "0" in "Canto". The sign as presented was approved,
except for the "0", which will be redesigned. The subject of
lighting was deferred until January 30; and after discussion of
the smaller sign requested for the rear, it was agreed by all
that this would benefit from redesign, incorporating the company
logo. Accordingly the hearing was continued until January 30.
At 10:00 P.M. Mr. and Mrs. Cambourelis and their architect,
Manuel Rempelakis came in for their final session concerning
plans for the expansion of Lois Ernst Realtors at 15-17
Muzzey Street. The front of the building will remain unchanged
except for the addition of a small vestibule and 3 skylights.
The rear will have a small dormer and interior stairs rather
than fire escapes. The Commission was pleased with the revised
plans and VOTED to approve them. The Chairman wishes to record
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his gratitude to Messrs. Davies and Morehouse for the time they
spent with Mr. Rempelakis in developing the final plan.
At 10e20 P.M. Bruce Ribas of Melindas at 1'719-21
Massachsuetts Avenue presented drawings for a sign for the
rear of his store, and after brief discussion it was VOTED to
approve the same.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 P. M.
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