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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-12-14 i ~ HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION A meeting of the Historic Districts Commission was held on Wednesday, December 14, iga3, in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building, Lexington. Fresent were Commissioners John L. Davies, Chairman; S. Lawrence Whipple, Secretary; John E. Ryan, Ann Wallace; and Associate Com- missioners Linda J. McAulay and Mary Harding Nye. At 8:05 P.M. Mr. Mark Moore appeared on behalf of Moore Homes, Inc. with respect to proposed signs at 39 Bedford Street. The signs will read "The Liberties", "Brake Service", "Car Care Center", and "Auto Renting". They will be matte finish plastic letters installed on the existing brick surface and illuminated by existing lighting, as shown on a drawing sub- mitted. This proposal was VOTED. Mr. Moore further reported that he was withdrawing his application for the demolition of the structure at i~ Muzzey Street and for the con- struction of anew building. The question having arisen at an earlier hearing, Mr. Davies announced that Mrs. McAulay, as the senior sitting Associate Commissioner, would be the fifth recorded vote. Mr. Moore then presented Mr. John Cole, architect for Moore Homes, Inc., to speak on behalf of Norge Realty Trust with respect to their pro- posed addition and alterations to the building at 1656 Massachusetts Ave- nue. Mr. Cole presented plans and rendered elevations of the proposed project, and explained the color scheme, the proposed improvements to the porch on the existing building, the removal of the existing air condi- tioners and their replacement with flush louvered units, and the arrange- ment of the proposed addition at the rear of the property. In addition to the colored and mounted drawings, revised elevations were presented to the Commission to supplement the site plan, floor plans, and elevations that had been submitted on November 16. Mr. Ryan expressed the opinion that "appropriateness" to him is more than just the building design and that the proposed addition is too bulky. Mrs. Wallace said she felt the site was too congested. Mrs. McAulay said that she liked the design, and that it was better looking than the exist- ing conditions. Mrs. Nye said that she felt the design was all right. Mr. Whipple expressed dissatisfaction with the skylights, and said that he felt there was too high a density for the site. Mr. Davies said that he liked the design, and that he felt it respects the existing building. Mr. Jerry Slack, the easterly abuttor, spoke to the issue of the space between the proposed building and his own. He questioned the accu- racy of the rendered street front elevation. He said that there was only a six foot space between the foot of his porch steps and the retaining wall line of the proposed addition. He said that he was not opposed to the addition in general and pointed out that it would help hide the Vine- brook Dental Building behind his own. Historic Districts Commission - 2 - December X983 There was also discussion of the possibility of a roof overhang on the easterly wall of the addition due to proximity to the property line. Mr. Cole agreed to modify the design so that the overhang on all four gables, new and old, would be the same. A vote was called for on the proposal subject to the agreed adjust- ment to the gable end overhangs, and the proposal was DISAPPROVED by a vote of three to two. Mr. Whipple, Mr. Ryan, and Mrs. Wallace voted against, while Mr. Davies and Mrs. McAulay voted in favor. Following the vote, Mr. Stephen Owren of Norge Realty Trust asked that the Commission list the reasons for its vote in its Notice of Determina- tion. Mr. Davies asked the members to express their reasons, and the responses were that the development on the site would be too dense, that the building would be too close to the Slack building, that the skylights were inappropriate, that the addition was too bulky, and that the addition would be as large as the original building. Mr. Davies reported that he had received complaints about the USA Today box at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Marren Road, and, that if the Commission agreed, he would attempt to have it removed. The Com- missioners agreed, and Mr. Davies will write to the newspaper. The Com- miss~oners agreed with Mr. Davies' opinion that the box is a "structure" within the meaning of the statute. Bills were then approved in the amounts of $23.40 to Beacon Publica- tions and $66,20 to Miss Gilson. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M. / `-'CJ S, Lawrence Whipple ' Secretary