Historic District Commission
Minutes
Land Use Meeting Room
December 1, 2009
Members present: Chair Ken Fowler, KF; Jason Berger, JB; Steve Sample, SS; Jim Harwood, JH
Members absent with notification: Elaine Steinert, ES
Staff present: Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA; Peggy Ammendola, Land Use Clerk, PA
Bruni Butschek-Beckmann, 74 Main Street, Map 43 Parcel 195. Replace the two 24” front doors with one 42” door.
Presenting the application was Tim Face, who represents the owner who wishes to bring the entire building up to building code, and this is just one of the items. He said that this front door, the middle one of three doors to the front of the building, leads to the apartments in the building and according to code has to be locked at all time. The existing doors are about two feet wide each (double doors), and the proposal is to replace with one door that is 3 feet 6 inches wide. Code requires that the door be at least 3 feet wide. The proposal will be to leave the transom and frame, and the design will be similar to the existing design and will be more energy efficient.
There are no plans at this time to replace the other two store front doors, identical to the center one that Mr. Face is seeking to replace that are on the left and right front of the building.
Discussion ensued about equipping the existing doors with magnet locks that could be unlocked by a tenant by means of electrical transmission or to create a custom door that would maintain the existing appearance of the three doors.
A letter dated December 1, 2009 from Cornelia Brooke Gilder of from 73 Main St., asked that the existing doors be saved as they are a part of the historic streetscape.
JH suggested that the applicant look to compliance alternatives. There are several code issues, among which are:
1) Whether the existing doors opening in a panic situation would meet code
2) Security issue
3) Weather stripping
Mr. Face said that he would go back to the Building Inspector to discuss options and to talk to experts regarding locks.
Suzanne Pelton, representing the Historical Commission, spoke in favor of retaining the original doors. She said that she would like to seek the advice of the subscribers to the Historical Preservation List Serve before going to a custom door.
The hearing was continued to December 15, 2009 at 5:30pm.
Minutes:
Sept. 1, 2009-JB made a motion to accept the minutes as written and SS seconded the motion. The Commission voted to approve 4-0.
Sept 15, 2009-JH made a motion to accept the minutes as written and SS seconded the motion. The Commission voted to approve 4-0.
Other business: MA told the Commission that Town Counsel has researched public safety issues as they relate to the building at 100 Church St., Map 43 Parcel 86. The Board of Selectmen has invited the HDC to attend a workshop session on December 2, 2009 in which they will provide information on this research.
JH made a motion to adjourn the meeting and JB seconded the motion. The Commission voted to adjourn 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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