Historic District Commission
November 20, 2007
Minutes
Land Use Meeting Room
Members Present: ~ Chair Ken Fowler, KF; Elaine Steinert, ES; Kate McNulty-Vaughn, KM-V; Jason Berger, JS; and Jim Harwood, JH
Staff present: Mary Albertson
5:45 PM Frankie’s Restaurant, 80 Main Street, Map 43 Parcel 194, sign.
Making the presentation was Jason Macioge, owner of Frankie’s. Mr. Macioge acquired the former Spigalina’s restaurant and was given permission in June of 2007 by the Board of Selectmen to have a temporary sign. Mr. Macioge cited that he requested the temporary sign (two weeks maximum) because he did not have the time to wait for the HDC to process his application. (An applicant is to present to the HDC an application at least 14 days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting date. Direct abutters are to be given 14 days notice that a business or property owner is seeking approval under the HDC Guidelines.) Mr. Macioge acknowledged that he could not remember if subsequent to the approval of the temporary sign he had submitted an application to the HDC.
The sign for Frankie’s replaced Spigalina’s sign and the new sign is the same size and in the same location. It is a 4 foot by 1.5 foot plastic single sided sign with vinyl coating. Lighting is above the sign.
JH made a motion to accept the sign as submitted and JB seconded the motion. The Commission approved 5-0.
6:00 PM Vittori Properties, Garden Gables Inn, replace an existing sign at 135 Main Street, Map 46 Parcel 59.
Presenting the plans for the new sign was John Vittori, the new owner of Garden Gables. He wishes to replace the existing sign with one of the same size, six square feet, but a new design. The post will be replaced with a white post measuring 4” x 4”, but the height will remain the same as the existing. The sign will be carved resin, double sided and the letters will be of gold leaf on a dark green background. Mr. Vittori researched the signs of the colonial era to design his new sign.
ES mad a motion to approve the sign and KM-V seconded the motion. The Commission approved 5-0.
6:15 PM Birchwood Inn, 7 Hubbard St., Map 46 Parcel 31, fence.
There was a site visit on November 19, 2007. Present were KF, JH, KM-V and Ms. Chenaux, owner of the Birchwood Inn.
Presenting the application was Ellen Chenaux.
Ms. Chenaux told the Commission that a portion of her stucco wall (fence) was destroyed two years ago when a car veered off of Main Street and ran into the fence. The insurance company recently compensated Ms. Chenaux for the damages, but this was not sufficient to replace the stucco wall in kind. The insurance company feels that the wall has depreciated in value since it was originally installed.
She estimates this wall has been in place since 1885. The replacement fence proposed is a scalloped picket style, made of aluminum and painted gloss white.
MA offered comment that Don Fitzgerald, Assistant Building Inspector, stopped the project because there was not a building permit.
The Commission sympathized with the Ms. Chenaux’s dilemma, acknowledging that this is a significant property in the Historic District, but advised her that the guidelines did not allow a replacement of a portion of a fence with another style and different materials. ES made a motion to not approve Ms. Chenaux’s request and JH seconded the motion. The Commission voted 4-0-1 with JB abstaining.
6:45 PM John and Dawn Toole, replace an existing wooden overhead garage door with an anodized aluminum and glass “storefront”, 117 Main Street, Map 43 Parcel 70. Cont’d from November 6, 2007
Presenting a modification in plans was Mark Morgenstein, a designer with William Caligari Interiors/Architecture, and John Toole.
As a result of the comments of the Commissioners at the previous meeting of November 6, a modification was made where by the glass “storefront” would be reduced in size. This proposal would be for a door, with side lights of equal sizes of the door on either side of the door. The materials would be of wood and glass.
KM-V and MA left the meeting to participate in a Planning Board hearing. KM-V advised that she would return to vote if it were necessary.
JH made a motion to approve the revised drawings with the testimony detailing the changes and ES seconded the motion. The Commission approved 4-0.
Other business:
· JH presented to the other Board members suggestions of procedure used by other Historic Board’s for applications received. Discussion ensued regarding the need for a failsafe procedure for the applicant and also the issuance of a “letter of no effect” by the HDC if warranted.
· Minutes approved. (All minutes are electronically mailed to members as soon as possible after a meeting is convened and prior to the following meeting so that members have the opportunity to review prior to the next meeting.)
1) August 7, 2007-KM-V made a motion to approve the minutes with a correction in the spelling of Mark Morgenstein’s name. JB seconded the motion and the Commission approved 5-0.
2) August 21, 2007-This was a regularly scheduled meeting, but no applications had been submitted. It had been expected that the Commissioners would review the issues regarding violations. Since there was not a quorum, there was not a meeting. The minutes were prepared merely for record keeping. Approved.
3) October 16, 2007-ES made a motion to approve the minutes and JB seconded the motion. The Commission approved 3-0. KM-V was not present.
· Seven Historic District Notification Letters have been returned undeliverable. PA noted that she has not received any calls as a result of the letters mailed.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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