MIDDLE HADDAM HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, June 23, 2011 @ 6:30 p.m.
Location: Eaton Smith Meeting Room – East Hampton
Minutes
- Call to order – Chairman Royster called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m.
- Roll Call / Seating of Alternates – Roll call was taken. Present were Commissioners James Royster, Richard Walsh, David Kneeland, Charles Roberts, Gina Ritchie and alternate Commissioners Christopher Dart, Demian Battit and Colleen Mellen.
- Public Remarks – Items Not on Agenda – None
- Public hearings:
a. Application #455, filed by Demian and Deborah Battit, regarding #6 Keighley Pond Road, to replace existing garage roof with shingles to match those on main house.
Demian Battit presented. After a brief discussion, it was confirmed that the new garage shingles will match the existing house shingles.
Richard Walsh moved to approve the application as presented. The motion was seconded by James Royster. Motion Carried 5-0-0.
b. Application #456, filed by Jane Phillips, regarding 4 Shipyard Road, to install a 64 foot long fence around a section of her side yard.
Ms. Phillips was not present, however, Commissioner Roberts received samples of the proposed material (Exhibit A). After a discussion regarding the appropriate style of fence for the property, James Royster moved to deny application #456 on the grounds that the type of fence is not the appropriate design for the architecture and period of 4 Shipyard Road or its immediate neighbors. The motion was seconded by Charles Roberts. Motion Carried 5-0-0.
David Kneeland suggested referring to Page 13 of the Middle Haddam Historic District regarding stonewalls and fences.
c. Application #457, filed by Robert Hanna, regarding 45 Middle Haddam Road, to build a 30’ x 50’ pole barn.
Robert Hanna presented. After a discussion, it was confirmed that Mr. Hanna will be using the barn as a storage building, the barn will be a distance from Route 151 and approximately 3 feet of the peak of the roof will be seen. The barn will be constructed of the same material and will be the same color as the existing barn. The barn will also be approximately 100 feet from High Point Road. Further discussion ensued regarding visibility of the roof from the public way and whether a metal roof would be seen. The MHHDC does not have jurisdiction of the cemetery but does have jurisdiction of the roof from Route 151. Charles Roberts confirmed the doors will face Route 151 and the rear of the property. Richard Walsh indicated he walked the proposed site with Mr. Hanna
and took pictures of the proposed peak of the roof and what would be seen from a public way. Richard Walsh moved to approve the application to build a 30’ x 50” pole barn in the easterly location as indicated on the plot plan submitted with the application. The motion was seconded by James Royster. Motion Carried 5-0-0.
5. Approval of minutes and motions
c. Minutes and motions for the regular meeting on April 28, 2011 were reviewed. The minutes were approved as presented.
6. Correspondence – None
d. Letter from Margaret Faber dated June 3, 2011 – The MHHDC received a letter and attachments regarding the National Register of Historic Places in Middle Haddam from Margaret Faber. With regard to the first portion of the letter, James Royster moved to amend the handbook by deleting Paragraph 2 of Article VIII and substitute the following language:
“The Middle Haddam Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 3, 1984. The listing includes 62 buildings and 12 archeological sites of historic significance, each of which is a “contributing resource” to the District’s listing. Each such contributing resource is considered by the State and National Park Service to be on the National Register.”
and to further amend Article IV of the handbook by adding the following language at the end of
Article IV:
“OTHER LAWS. The forgoing summary of the laws under which the MHHDC operates are not
the only laws affecting properties of historical significance in the Middle Haddam Historic District. For example, § 22a-19a of the Connecticut General Statutes provides that:
“…properties (1) listed or under consideration for listing as individual units on the National Register of Historic Places… or (2) which are part of a district listed or under consideration for listing on said national register and which have been determined by the State Historic Preservation Board to contribute to the historic significance of such district…”
are protected from “unreasonable destruction” under the provisions of sections 22a-15 to 22a-19, inclusive, of the Environmental Protection Act of 1971. Part (2) of the above quoted language encompasses all of the “contributing resources” of the Middle Haddam Historic District’s National Register listing.
Other laws beyond the scope of the commission’s jurisdiction may also apply.
The motion was seconded by David Kneeland. A brief discussion followed regarding the proposed
Amendments. Motion Carried 5-0-0. Richard Walsh then moved to amend the motion by adding
that the MHHDC also recognizes that the properties are included in the National Register. No second.
The second portion of Ms. Faber’s letter regarding the amendment of the Statement of Purpose. The
Statement listed online is not from the 2010 revised edition of the MHHD Handbook. The revised
statement was adopted in 2010 and Commissioner Royster will make the steps to have the revised
statement listed on the town website. Commissioner Royster feels no other steps are advisable.
e. Other – None
7. Reports
f. Expenditures – notices for publication, approximately $60
g. Other – None
8. New Business –
h. Amendment to Handbook – these issues were discussed under Agenda items 6d and 6e.
i. Other – None
j. Other – None
- Public Remarks – Fred Hansen made a statement regarding the clarification of individual places of
historical places which are included in the MHHD.
11. Adjournment – Charles Roberts moved to adjourn at 7:26 p.m., seconded by Gina Ritchie.
Motion Carried 5-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jennifer Magro
Recording Secretary
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