HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-12-02-HDC-Min
Town of Lexington
Historic Districts Commission
Joseph Welch, Chairman
Tel: (781) 862-0500 x294
Alfonso Hernandez
Fax: (781) 861-2780
Daniel Griffin Jr.
Paul Ross
Robert Warshawer
Minutes for Thursday, December 2, 2010 in Selectmen’s Meeting Room of Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.
Commissioners present
: Chairman, Joseph Welch, Alfonso Hernandez, Daniel Griffith Jr., Paul Ross and
Robert Warshawer
Associate Commissioners present
: Carl Oldenburg, Marilyn Fenollosa, Scott Kyle, and Barbara Feldman
Department Clerk
: Amy Casparius
FORMAL HEARINGS
27 Waltham Street:
Youyi Shi, Ruiy Restaurant, presented drawings for three signs, two wall signs and a blade sign.
The wall signs will replace the existing signs on the front and rear of the building; the name of the restaurant will be in
both English and Chinese characters. The blade sign will be placed on the brick pillar to the left of the entrance and will
not protrude past the building. One commissioner did not feel it was appropriate having two signs five feet away from
each other and questioned if it was allowed by zoning. The Chairman, Joseph Welch, stated that town meeting approved
blade signs in the center of town so having both signs is allowed. Mr. Welch also believed that the location of this blade
sign would be appropriate since the restaurant is down Waltham Street.
A few commissioners brought up the concern that there are going to be way too many blade signs in the center of town,
and they are going to start blocking each other out. Mr. Welch reiterated that town meeting did vote to approve blade
signs in the center by-right, and the commission is approving the design and materials of the sign rather than the physical
sign. In response to each sign blocking each other out Mr. Welch believes that is a possibility, and at that point the
requests for blade signs will most likely slow down. The Commission voted 5-0 to issue a certificate of appropriateness
for the front and rear wall signs and 4-1 for the blade sign. Certificate No. 2010C-81
Voting Commissioners were: Chairman, Joseph Welch, Alfonso Hernandez, Daniel Griffith Jr., Paul Ross and Robert
Warshawer
Parking Kiosk at Meriam Street Parking lot (behind Depot Square)
: Ray Drapue, Town of Lexington Public
Facilities, presented a drawing of a three sided wooden cover to go over the Air Conditioner. Mr. Drapue also presented a
drawing by Spring City Electrical Mfg. Co., of one style bollard, a photograph of another bollard used at the Library, and
a list compiled by Gail Wagner, Transportation Coordinator, of dates when the kiosk was damaged. The drawing for the
Air Conditioner cover was not a permit ready drawing and there was a concern with some of the commissioners that it
would not tie in with the kiosk. Mr. Drapue will return in January with better drawings for the Air Conditioner Cover.
Mr. Drapue, presented two different styles of bollard to surround the kiosk, but requested that the commission approve the
simpler model which is used at Cary Library. The Commission voted 5-0 to issue a certificate of appropriateness for four
(4) bollards to be placed around the kiosk, and continue the decision for the Air Conditioner cover. Certificate No.
2010C-82
Voting Commissioners were: Chairman, Joseph Welch, Alfonso Hernandez, Daniel Griffith Jr., Paul Ross and Robert
Warshawer
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420
e-mail acasparius@lexingtonma.gov
AGENDA FOR THURSDAY, December 2, 2010
CONTINUED HEARINGS
Islands throughout HDC:
David Pinsonneault, presented one of the actual signs to be placed on the islands throughout
the HDC. These signs will be between 24 to 30-inches wide and be placed 2 to 3-inches off the ground depending on the
size and shape of each Island. Each sign will say “Island Maintained By” the name of the business or organization that is
sponsoring the plantings for that particular traffic Island. The Commission voted 5-0 to issue a certificate of
appropriateness for small signs on traffic Islands throughout the districts. Certificate No. 2010C-83
Voting Commissioners were: Chairman, Joseph Welch, Alfonso Hernandez, Daniel Griffith Jr., Paul Ross and Robert
Warshawer
1963 Massachusetts Avenue:
John & Gillian Ross, used existing drawings and photos to show proposed plan alterations.
The roof and walls of the rear single story addition and deck will be completely removed and replaced using like
materials. The new rear deck will be shortened by 1-foot on the left hand side so as not to encroach on the set back. The
exact location of two kitchen windows needs to be determined in the field. The Commission voted 5-0 to issue a
certificate of appropriateness for plan changes. Certificate No. 2010C-85
Voting Commissioners were: Chairman, Joseph Welch, Alfonso Hernandez, Daniel Griffith Jr., Paul Ross and Robert
Warshawer
848 Massachusetts Avenue
: Varujan Abalian, presented a computer generated image of the wording and design for the
awning, a section of a Lexington map showing location of building, and a computer generated photograph showing how
the awning will look in place. The Commission voted 5-0 to issue a certificate of appropriateness for signage (awning).
Certificate No. 2010C-84
Voting Commissioners were: Chairman, Joseph Welch, Alfonso Hernandez, Daniel Griffith Jr., Paul Ross and Robert
Warshawer
INFORMAL HEARINGS
Battle Green:
Dawn McKenna, Lexington Tourism Committee, introduced, Lucinda A. Brockway of Past Designs LLC
as the consultant for the Battle Green Master Plan. The draft of this plan will be presented at a public informational
meeting December 9, 2010 and the committee wanted to keep the HDC informed of the progress. Ms. McKenna went
over what the purpose of the master plan was, and what steps the committee took to get to a draft. A few of the main
points of the Master Plan are to define the boundaries of the Battle Green area and to re-establish the battle green as
Hallowed Ground, different from other parks and open space in Lexington. The tourism committee will present
informally the Master Plan Draft in January 2011 to get comments before going to the Selectmen.
OTHER BUSINESS
January 2011 The HDC will start their hearings at 7:00 PM
Upon motion duly made and seconded it was voted 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 PM