Historic District Commission
Minutes
Land Use Meeting Room
September 6, 2011
Members present: Chair Jason Berger, JB; Clare Cantone, CC; Ken Fowler, KF
Absent with notification: Steve Sample, SS
Absent without notification: Elaine Steinert
Staff present: Peggy Ammendola, PA
Hoff’s Mobil, 90 Main St., Map 43 Parcel 192, remodeling.
Present was Glen Hoff and seven residents. Also present were Clarence Fanto, reporter for the Berkshire Eagle and Bera Dunau of The Beacon.
Presenting the application were Glen Hoff and Harry Pasila, Mr. Hoff’s architect.
Mr. Pasila presented elevation drawings and stated that the existing structure was built in 1975 as a service station and has continued over the years to operate as such. Mr. Hoff would like to cease the auto repair portion of his business at this location, but retain gas sales. Additionally he proposes to have a convenience store. The foot print of the rectangular structure will not change, but the building will be cleaned and refreshed with paint. The new store front calls for the removal of the existing overhead garage doors and replaced with windows which would measure 11 feet by 11 feet. Once the existing brick is cleaned it will be matched as closely as possible to the brick on the north and west sides of the building with a “moderate” amount of dressing up of the
corners and roof level of the building on the north and west walls. Brick will be replaced where repairs are required. The canopy at the gas pumps will remain but will be cleaned and re-painted. Mr. Pasila acknowledged that the proposal is very simple, but stated that he was not reproducing something that did not exist in a bygone era. This building is a modern gas station. He has not done a site plan yet, but there will be parking spaces available as the space reserved now for wrecked autos will no longer be necessary.
Following this hearing, Mr. Hoff will be going through the permitting process of changing the use from the existing S1, Storage Motor Service Garage, to Commercial Mercantile, which is a building code issue, not an HDC issue.
KF, stating the Commission is the hearing authority for only the aesthetics and not for the use, suggested a site visit.
KF made a motion to conduct a site visit on September 12, 2011 at 11:00 am and continue the meeting to September 20, 2011 at 6:00 pm. CC seconded the motion and the Commission voted to agree 3-0.
Public Comments:
Alexandra Glover, an attorney who represents Dan O’Brien who owns the abutting O’Brien’s Market, stating that she did not feel the application was complete, raised the following issues:
- Exterior lighting
- Parking layout
- Expanse of glass walls and the concern of fluorescent lighting spilling out from the interior
- Bronze frames are reflective and suggests wood
- Applicant is listed as Glen Hoff, but suggests it should be Shanlan Realty Corp.
Mr. Pasila responded saying that he has not done a site plan yet, therefore he does not have a parking plan detailed. He said that there will not be additional exterior lighting, and the interior lighting is a building code issue. The bronze colored anodized aluminum is not as reflective as the aluminum colored and windows are not replacing wood windows. Mr. Pasila stated that he will look into alternate schemes for the proposed window, in particular raising the sill. .
Minutes: Minutes tabled as there was not a quorum of members from the August 16, 2011 meeting.
CC made a motion to adjourn at 6:30 pm and KF seconded the motion. The Commission voted to adjourn 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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