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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-17-HC-min HISTORICAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 17th 2019 Call to Order: A public meeting of the Historical Commission was held in the Parker Room of Lexington Town Office Building located at 1625 Massachusetts Avenue. The meeting convened at 7:30PM. Historical Commission Members in Attendance: David Kelland, Chair, Wendall Kalsow, Marilyn Fenollosa, Samuel Doran AGENDA ITEM #1 (7:30 PM) Public hearing on the partial building demolition and roofline change at 53 Grant Street. APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: Thara Pillai and Joel Abdinoor, Homeowners Amy Nastasi, Architect ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: Pamela Lyons, 51 Grant Street Edward Lidman, 64 Grant Street DOCUMENT(S): Proposed Plot Plan Proposed Plans Dates 3/15/2019 Photos of the existing house SUMMARY: Ms. Pillai told the Commission she had come to a meeting a few years ago to start the clock to get the option to tear down or renovate the house. A one year delay was imposed at that time. Mr. Kalsow at the previous meeting gave a few recommendations of Architects that specialize in preserving historic homes. Ms. Pillai is now working with Amy Nastasi, her plans have kept the historic integrity of the home. Ms. Pillai said her family needs more space, one set of parents plan to live with them in the near future and they have two children and only one full bathroom. Ms. Nastasi went over the plans of the home. There is a non-conforming shed in the back corner of the property that they would like to remove. It is also in disrepair. The front porch of the home is not part of the original home and is also non-conforming. They are proposing to add a larger family room on the first floor full bathroom and bedroom, on the second floor adding two additional bathrooms and then a two car garage in the basement. HC COMMENTS: Ms. Fenollosa asked if they are taking the chimney down. MS. Pillai said yes, it's in disrepair and also has never been used. There will be a gas fireplace in the living room. They are covering the chimney where is it now. Mr. Doran asked if they are repurposing the bay windows. Ms. Nastasi said they are taking those down. Mr. Doran asked if they would be repurposing the bay windows. Ms. Nastasi said no but they could think about doing that and possibly putting the windows on the second floor. Mr. Kalsow thought that would be a nice idea. Mr. Kalsow asked how many of the original windows will they be keeping. Ms. Nastasi said all except for the ones on the side elevation where the chimney is. Mr. Kalsow stressed that windows can be a defining element in historic houses. Mr. Kalsow thought the overall plans and proportions for the home were nicely thought through. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Pamela Lyons of 51 Grant Street came forward and told the Commission she is in support of the plans. Overall Ms. Lyons thinks it's a nice reconfiguration of the home and would love the neighbors to stay. Edward Lidman of 64 Grant Street came forward and told the Commission also reviewed the plans and feels everything looks nice and is in full support of the project. MOTION: Moved by Ms. Fenollosa 4-0 to find 53 Grant Street preferably preserved and permit the partial demolition and roofline change and demolition of shed and porch in accordance with the plans dated 3/15/19 with the understanding that if the Zoning Board of Appeals approves a deeper porch the Historical Commission would support such a change. Seconded by Mr. Kalsow. VOTE: 4-0 In favor of partial building demolition and roofline change: Ms. Fenollosa, Mr. Kalsow, Mr. Kelland and Mr. Doran. AGENDA ITEM #2 (7:49PM) Public hearing on the roofline change at 26 Ames Avenue. APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: Aruna Jayakumar and Jay Marathurai, Homeowners ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: None DOCUMENT(S): Letter to the Commission dated 3/20/2019 Proposed Plans dated 4/9/2019 SUMMARY: Ms. Jayakumar came forward to discuss the plans for her home at 26 Ames Avenue with the Commission. Ms. Jayakumar has lived in the home for the last thirty years. They bought the home because they loved the historic charm. They want to preserve the historic look of the home. Ms. Jayakumar went over the proposed plans. They are looking to enclose the front porch and build a bedroom on the second floor above the existing den. Currently the den is being used as a bedroom for her daughter, they also use that space as their main entrance to the house. By enclosing the front porch it will allow privacy for their daughter. HC COMMENTS: Mr. Kalsow asked if they are removing the vinyl siding. Ms. Jayakumar said yes and will replacing with new vinyl siding. Ms. Fenollosa asked if they had given any thought to wood instead on vinyl siding. Ms. Jayakumar said yes but it's very expensive they received a quote for fifty thousand dollars for the whole house. Mr. Kalsow asked if the windows on the home are original wood windows. Ms. Jayakumar said yes. The front windows will come down since they are enclosing the porch. The Commission expressed their concerns regarding vinyl siding and changing historic windows. Ms. Fenollosa suggested doing wood siding on the front elevation only as a cost saver: remove existing vinyl and retain the wood underneath. Mr. Kelland said removing the vinyl siding would enhance the historical character of the house as well as the value. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None MOTION: Moved by Mr. Kalsow to find 26 Ames Avenue preferably preserved and permit the partial demolition requested in accordance with the plans as presented to the meeting dated 4/9/2019, with the recommendation that two original windows be retained and the vinyl siding on the front elevation be removed and clapboards exposed, and a pair of windows be added to the east elevation of the enclosed front porch similar to those on the west elevation of the front porch. Seconded by Mr. Doran. VOTE: 4-0 In favor of roofline change: Mr. Kalsow, Mr. Doran, Mr. Kelland and Ms. Fenollosa. AGENDA ITEM #3 (8:21 PM) Updates -Introduction of Katie Flynn Ms. Flynn is an Architect and lives in Lexington. Ms. Pursley called Ms. Flynn to see if she might be interested in becoming an alternate member of the Historical Commission. Mr. Kelland said it would be very appropriate to have the Town Manager appoint you as an alternate. -Time Limitations Policy Ms. Fenollosa went over the time limitation policy: that an applicant only has a certain amount of time to act upon the demo permit, if you don't you have to start over again. The Commission discussed the timeline policy and said the Town Manager and Building Commission will decide what to do with the three homes that have come prior to the policy timeline change. The Transfer of Ownership policy remains the same. -Hosmer House Update Mr. Doran went to the first Hosmer House meeting. The meeting was mostly informational. They discussed ideas for the use of the house and potential for moving it. -53 Meriam Inventory Form Ms. Fenollosa would like to amend the inventory form for 53 Meriam Street. There are currently items missing such as the Architect, exact date of construction etc. -Town Meeting Ms. Fenollosa went over Town Meeting Approvals: -The construction funding for the center streetscape -Supplemental funds for the Visitor's Center. -The additional funding for the Battle Green. -Town Clerk's Office to restore the records in the Archives. -MASS DOT Proposing to put in an electric cable and incident detection devices between Waltham Street and 128. The Commission will respond they have no comment. AGENDA ITEM #4 (8:45PM) -A motion made by Mr. Kalsow to approve the minutes dated March 30'h 2019 as amended. Seconded by Mr. Doran. 4-0 in Favor: Mr. Kalsow, Ms. Fenollosa, Mr. Doran, and Mr. Kelland AGENDA ITEM # 5 (9:11 PM) Motion to adjourn made by Mr. Kelland to adjourn. Seconded by Mr. Kalsow 4-0 favor to adjourn Mr. Kelland, Mr. Kalsow, Ms. Fenollosa, and Mr. Doran. Adjourn.