Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-04-02-NCDTM-min Turning Mill Neighborhood Conservation District (TMNCD) COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 2, 2020 Call to Order: A public meeting of the Turning Mill Neighborhood Conservation District Commission was held virtually via Zoom meeting. The meeting convened at 7:30 PM. TMNCD Commission Members in Attendance: Diane Pursley, Renata Cathou, Jim Dowling, Richard Canale, Eric Peterson, Marilyn Fenollosa (alternate) Public in Attendance: Robert Creech, Tina McBride AGENDA ITEM #1 Public hearing on the proposed garage addition at 5 Dewey Road APPLICANT (S) PRESENT: Rob DiPierro, DiPierro & Brown Construction (representing the property owners) ABUTTER(S) PRESENT: None DOCUMENT(S): Construction Plans Dated 12/27/2019 Site Plan Dated 2/5/2020 SUMMARY: The existing home is an original 1955 Peacock Farm home, with an 18x26 foot addition constructed in 2005 by previous owners. The applicant proposed the construction of a detached garage (24x24 foot) approximate 576 square feet placed in front of the house, fully visible from the public way on Dewey Road. The design of the garage matches the home, including the roofing, siding, windows, fascia/eave overhangs. The current driveway is steep, which presents some challenge when locating the garage. The plan proposes keeping the existing grade. Four oak trees are documented on the site plan to be removed from the site. TMNCD COMMENTS: Commission members agreed that the design of the new garage fit the design guidelines very well and had no concerns about the design. The placement of the garage directly in front of the house, obstructing the view of the house from the public way concerned all Commission members. The overall thought was to explore the possibility of flipping the garage and moving it to the right of the house so that it was not completely obstructing the view of the house. Some overlap would be fine if necessary. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Tina McBride (45 Turning Mill Road) suggested the option of turning the garage approximately 160 degrees and moving to the right of the house. This placement would draw the eye up the driveway and complement the house. RECOMMENDATION/NEXT STEPS: Explore options to re-locate the new garage so that it does not obscure the house so dramatically. Some overlap would be fine, but placing the garage directly in front of the house permanently changes the streetscape view of the historic neighborhood. Suggestions included moving the garage to the right, flipping it so the car turning radius would be more manageable and the house was not obscured and exploring the angle of the garage relative to the house and the street to open up visibility. • Present combined elevations of the house and garage with new plan • Present a landscape plan in the area of the new garage to promote the wooded aesthetic of the neighborhood. Trees could be planted (but don't have to). Native plantings like rhododendron or mountain laurel found throughout the neighborhood would be appropriate as well. See the Turning Mill NCD Design Guidelines for more details. MOTION: Moved by Mr. Canale to continue the hearing to April 23 at 7:30PM to further discuss options for the placement of the garage and the post-construction landscaping plan. Seconded by Mr. Dowling. VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the continuance of the hearing: Ms. Pursley, Ms. Cathou, Mr. Dowling, Mr. Canale, Mr. Peterson AGENDA ITEM #2 Motion to adjourn made by Mr. Dowling to adjourn. Seconded by Mr. Peterson 5-0 favor to adjourn Ms. Pursley, Ms. Cathou, Mr. Dowling, Mr. Canale, Mr. Peterson Adjourn.