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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-09 Joint BOS and HDC-min Joint Meeting September 9, 2019 Page 1 of 3 Joint Meeting Board of Selectmen and Historic Districts Commission September 9, 2019 A Joint meeting of the Lexington Board of Selectmen and Historic Districts Commission was called to order at 7:55 p.m. on Monday, September 9, 2019 in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office Building, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Lucente, Chair; Mr. Pato; Ms. Barry; Ms. Hai; and Mr. Sandeen were present, as well as Mr. Malloy, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Assistant Town Manager; Ms. Katzenback, Executive Clerk; Mike Cronin, Director of Public Facilities; and Mike Waters, AIA, LDa Architecture. Present for the Historic Districts Commission were: Anne Eccles, Chair; Ed Adelman; Mark Connor; Susan Bennett; Robert Adams; and Lee Noel Chase. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION 1. Discuss Hosmer House The Board of Selectmen and the Historic Districts Commission met to discuss the future of, and the possible relocation of, the Hosmer House. Mike Waters, LDa Architecture, reviewed the results of a study on the Hosmer House and its possible relocation. While the structure could be adapted to a community space in its current location, and offer amenities not otherwise available at the field such as storage and bathroom facilities, the study results showed the highest and best use of this building would be as a residence. It could be adapted to affordable housing, or returned to use as a private a residence. Further, he stated that a residence would not be an appropriate use on Fletcher field. He reviewed options for moving the house to town owned or private land and the various steps involved in each. While moving the Hosmer House offsite was beyond the scope of the study, and hard to quantify as there is no site to move it to at this time, there was no technical reason it could not be moved off-site. He stated that the Hosmer House is valuable both its current location near the police station and as a form of architecture. In conclusion, after hearing from the public and discussing the issue in a working group, he stated that the best use would be for the Hosmer House to remain a house, if possible, within close proximity of its “sibling” across the street but not on Fletcher field. Mr. Lucente reaffirmed the Board’s position from their July 8, 2019 meeting that they were not in favor of the Hosmer House being incorporated as a part of the Lexington Police Station redesign plans. The Board also felt that the Hosmer House should be moved offsite to another location as a historic preservation restricted residential building. Ms. Eccles said that the Historic Districts Commission feels the highest and best use of the Hosmer House would be as a private residence moved offsite. Joint Meeting September 9, 2019 Page 2 of 3 Mr. Connor articulated that the best use for the building would be as a house, however, if removed from its current site, it would lose its context. He expressed concern for setting a future precedent regarding relocating buildings for the Town versus a private resident or developer as it could jeopardize districts all over town, not just within the Historic District. He does not see how the Historic District would benefit from relocating this building. Ms. Bennett showed support for using the Hosmer House as a residence, as well as moving the structure offsite with the protection of a preservation easement held by an appropriate organization. Mr. Adams supports the highest and best use for the Hosmer House as a residence, as well as moving the structure offsite. Ms. Chase expressed concern that past discussions regarding use for the Stone House are now affecting the current work of the Historic Districts Commission and she is hopeful that it does not set a precedent for historic structures going forward. She is concerned that the Hosmer House would lose context if removed from its current site. She is hoping that the focus of the current site, with or without the Hosmer House, would be on making the site prominent, as it is the entryway to the Town. Ms. Hai acknowledged that after attending the listening sessions of the working group for the use of the Hosmer House, she feels as though the best and highest use for the structure would not be for storage and public toilets. Mr. Sandeen agreed with the HDC that the guiding principal for our decisions on the Hosmer House and Fletcher Park should be their highest and best use. David Kanter, Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member, inquired about the timeline for the completion of the new police headquarters design, as well as the timeline for relocation of the Hosmer House. He expressed concern regarding relocation to the future site of the Hosmer House, as he does not want to see the structure having to be moved twice. He also expressed concern for the highest and best use of the house and how it would best support the use of Fletcher Park. He would like to see the funding for the repurposing of the structure come from a brand new funding project. Mr. Cronin stated that the timeline for the relocation of the Hosmer House, after Annual Town Meeting approvals for the new police station, would be September 1, 2020. Ms. Barry stated that she would like to see a full update on the police station design come before the Board in the near future. Dawn McKenna, 9 Hancock Street, expressed disappointment in the lack of a site master plan. She expressed dismay that the analysis was not specific regarding options for keeping the Hosmer House on the property. Joint Meeting September 9, 2019 Page 3 of 3 Mr. Waters stated that by increasing the effectiveness of the Hosmer House as a hub (by adding a barn and a porch back onto the home and providing a yard) it would encroach upon, and take away from, the use of Fletcher Park. He said that there was no master plan for Fletcher Park because the public made it clear to the working group that the field is considered fairgrounds and should be able to support any activity within the site. The end goal was to maximize the use of the site and not take away from it. Ms. Eccles stated that the HDC is not willing to take a position on the future outcome of the Hosmer House at this time. Ms. Hai mentioned that cost would be a factor in the Town maintaining the property versus it being sold to a private developer. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to close the Joint Meeting at 8:48 p.m. The Historic Districts Commission voted the same. A true record; Attest: Stacey Prizio Department Assistant