FINAL
Present for the Historical Commission and attending the meeting were: Jane Slater, Chairman, Lenny Jason, John Flender, Steve McGhee, Karin Wetmore and Chuck Hodgkinson. Bette Carroll and Barbara Armstrong were absent.
The meeting came to order at 5:30 PM.
STONE WALL RESTORATION: The Commission reviewed the two quotes to restore the Price’s stone wall across the street from 291 Middle Road. One of the quotes was broken into two segments and it wasn’t clear if one quote was for the taller stone wall on the north side of Middle Road and the other for the 130-140 foot stone wall on the south side of Middle Road. Chuck H. agreed to have this clarified for the next meeting.
DRAFT ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT ARTICLE 6 SECTION 6.11: The Commission reviewed the draft bylaw that is intended to exempt the living area of an historic house from a lot’s total living area as defined in Article 2 Section 2.24 of the zoning bylaws. The goal is to provide an incentive for Chilmark residences to keep and maintain historic houses. After must discussion Mr. Jason suggested modeling the amendment after the zoning bylaw that allows the conversion of a barn built before January 1973 into a guesthouse – even if the barn’s area is greater than the maximum 800 sq. ft. allowed for a guesthouse. In this case the first 800 sq. ft. of living area in the historic house would be exempt from the total living area for a lot. The Committee asked Chuck H. to send a memo to the
Planning Board outlining the suggestion.
HENRY ADAMS GUEST LECTURE – THOMAS HART BENTON, ADOLF DEHN, JACKSON POLLOCK: Chuck H. reminded the Committee that Mr. Adams will be speaking at the Library on August 13 @ 5:00 with Jane’s exhibit at her shop the next morning at 9:30.
TOWN COMMITTEE FOR SQUIBNOCKET: Chuck H. explained the Committee is seeking input and comment from all Town boards on this project. Ms. Slater discussed a draft that suggests the Committee follow the recommendations outlined in the Town’s Master Plan for Squibnocket Beach. After much discussion the following statement was agreed by the Commission: The Historical Commission will endorse a plan for Squibnocket Beach that addresses the community’s future needs of more beach, adequate parking, handicapped access, sanitary facilities and preserves the Town’s historic Squibnocket Pond access as expressed in the Chilmark Master Plan in 1985 and the two updated supplements for 1990-1992 and 2000-2003.
RESTORE 35 GRAVESTONES IN ABEL’S HILL CEMETERY: Chuck H. updated the Commission that Kai Nalenz was going to try and come to the island after Labor Day (September 1) to do this restoration work. He estimated it would take about four days.
ADMINISTRATION: The April 15, 2014 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved as presented by consensus. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 @ 5:15 PM.
With no further business to conduct the meeting adjourned at 6:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Chuck Hodgkinson, CAS.
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