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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-16-HC-min HISTORICAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES October 16th 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: Marilyn Fenollosa acting Chair, Diane Pursley and Wendall Kalsow AGENDA ITEM #1 (7:30 PM) Public hearing on the partial building demolition and roofline change at 15 Sherman Street APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: Julie Kelly, Homeowner Christal Snell, Snell Construction Ron Borque, Architect ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: Howard Cloth, 19 Sherman Street Susan Pitney, 19 Sherman Street Wanda Gilbert, 17 Sherman Street DOCUMENT(S): Photos of the existing house Plans dated October 2, 2019 SUMMARY: Mr. Borque told the Commission he is proposing an addition to the front of the house. Mr. Borque went over the plans with the Commission. The porch is currently an enclosed porch with no foundation so they plan to open it into a three season porch. HC COMMENTS: Mr. Kalsow said he would rather see an addition to the rear of the house but given the setbacks they do not have that option. This gives the ability for the applicant to save the bones of the house, with some hesitation he is ok with the proposed changes. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mr. Cloth of 19 Sherman Street expressed his concerns on the depth of the house increasing. The concern is that it will create a dark alley and block light coming in from our house. Ms. Gilbert of 17 Sherman Street Concerns about the driveway. Ms. Fenollosa told the neighbors the Commission do not have design review but suggested the Contractor speak with the neighbors regarding the concerns. MOTION: Moved by Ms. Fenollosa to find 15 Sherman Street preferably preserved and approve the partial building demolition and roofline change subject to the plans presented tonight dated October 2nd 2019. Seconded by Ms. Pursley. VOTE: 3-0 in favor of partial building demolition and roofline change: Mr. Kalsow, Ms. Pursley and Ms. Fenollosa AGENDA ITEM #2 (7:45PM) Public hearing on the full building demo at 7 Butler Avenue APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: Donna Talbot, Homeowner Marcello Rullo, Contractor James Trano, Realtor ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: Lynn Murray, 5 Butler Avenue DOCUMENT(S): Old and new photos of the house List of home improvement on the house over the years Photos of the neighborhood SUMMARY: Mr. Rullo told the Commission that he and Ms. Talbot wanted to revisit the application from last month and discuss possibly removing the home from the inventory. Mr. Trano told the Commission the homes in the neighborhood are all changing over. The home is currently a 750 square foot home that has had several changes inside and outside over the years. Mr. Trano is looking to use the existing foundation and build approximately a 2,000 square foot home for a family. They want to make the home a modestly sized property, moved homes in Lexington are 4,000 square feet but we want to stay conservative and stay within the setbacks. Mr. Talbot went over the photos of the home over the years and the configuration has changed several times. HC COMMENTS: Ms. Pursley drove around the neighborhood. The home next door is also historic. Ms. Pursley feels the home could be easily modified. 7 Butler was built in 1910. Mr. Kalsow said the house had significant historical merit in 1980's, the bones are there but now the skin is gone. Mr. Kalsow said his fist consideration is whether the home merits to be on the inventory. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Ms. Murray of 5 Butler Avenue also put an addition on her home, she lives next to 7 Butler Avenue. She expressed her concerns regarding the proposed addition and the zoning, her deck and windows will face the addition. MOTION: Moved by Mr. Kalsow to find 7 Butler Avenue to have been substantially altered and has lost its historic character. The home is no longer a contributing factor to the streetscape and therefore will be removed from the inventory. Seconded by Ms. Pursley VOTE: 3-0 In favor of removing & Butler Avenue from the inventory: Mr. Kalsow, Ms. Fenollosa and Ms. Pursley AGENDA ITEM #3 (8:26 PM) Public hearing on the partial building demo and roofline change at 4 Bennington Road APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: John McGeough, Homeowner ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: Andrea Jackson—Barrett Sotheby's Realty Zamaneh Mikhak, 22 Elliot Road Gale Nill, 16 Bennington Road Steve Resnick, 22 Elliot Road DOCUMENT(S): Proposed plans dated October 13, 2019 SUMMARY: Mr. McGeough is requesting the raising of the detached 3 car garage constructed in 1993. He is also proposing a 2 car garage addition perpendicular to the home. HC COMMENTS: The Commission expressed their concerns regarding changing the windows. Ms. Fenollosa feels the 2 over 1 windows are not appropriate for the style house where the windows are a truly defining feature. Mr. Kalsow agreed with Ms. Fenollosa also stating that the front entrance is a particular defining feature of the home. PUBLIC COMMENTS: The neighbors expressed their concerns regarding the proposed changes and were displeased to not get to see the plans in advance. Mr. Resnick was concerned regarding the modern style changes to the house. MOTION: Mr. McGeough asked the Commission to be continued to next month after a site visit is completed. AGENDA ITEM #4 (9:10 PM) Updates -Ms. Pursley went over updates regarding the MHC grant. The deadline for the RFQ passed and there were no qualified applicants. We received feedback from consultants who were likely candidates to submit a proposal. They reported that the required scope of the project was too large for amount of the funding. The Commission wants a deep study of these historic homes, but the MHC requires a certain quantity of properties in the scope given the size of the grant. Ms. Pursley and Ms. Fenollosa communicated the consultants' feedback to the MHC, but they have not received any feedback or direction on next steps. The project is on hold until further notice. -Ms. Fenollosa went over the home at 21 Hastings Road. 21 Hastings Road was built in 1847 by David Tuttle. The property is being subdivided and converted into a group home. Ms. Fenollosa wanted to make the Commission aware. AGENDA ITEM #5 (9:30 PM) Vote to accept meeting minutes dated August 21"2019 -A motion made by Ms. Kalsow to approve the minutes dated August 21"2019. Seconded by Ms. Pursley. 3-0 in Favor: Mr. Kalsow, Ms. Pursley and Ms. Fenollosa, AGENDA ITEM #6 (9:35 PM) Motion to adjourn made by Mr. Kalsow to adjourn. Seconded by Ms. Pursley 3-0 favor to adjourn Mr. Kalsow, Ms. Fenollosa, and Ms. Pursley Adjourn.