Historic District Commission
Minutes
Land Use Meeting Room
December 18, 2012
Members present: Chair Jason Berger, JB; Steve Sample; SS Lucy Kennedy, LK
Absent without notification: Elaine Steinert, ES,
Staff present: Peggy Ammendola, PA
Mary McDermott, 25 Franklin St., Map 43 Parcel 85, sign for Kathleen Friend, MD.
Craig Pixley presented the application. He provided a sample of the material proposed for sign. The proposal is to use the existing posts, remove the current sign, and replace with Dr. Friend’s sign.
SS made a motion to approve the sign as presented. LK seconded the motion and the Commission voted to approve 3-0.
Church on the Hill Chapel, located adjacent to Lilac Park, 55 Main St., Map 43 Parcel 60:
- Sign
- Wrap basement space window frames in aluminum flashing versus the installation of wood like trim which had recently been approved by the Commission.
This is a continued meeting from December 4, 2012 when the sign was approved by the Commission. The request regarding the window frames was continued to this date to allow time for Commissioners to go to the site individually to get a better perspective of the windows.
Present was the applicant, Courtney Gilardi, and Kameron Spaulding of the Beacon. There were no other members of the public present.
There was a consensus that the lower level windows should replicate what is on the upstairs windows. SS made a motion to accept the application and approve the aluminum clad in the style of windows on the upper level. LK seconded the motion and the Commission voted to approve 3-0.
Approve Minutes-December 4, 2012. LK made a motion to approve the minutes as written. SS seconded the motion and the Commission voted to approve.
Other Business:
- SS said that at the last Planning Board meeting, signage in the Historic District was not discussed, but the Board did talk about using both Belchertown and Dennis sign bylaws predominantly for structuring a proposed sign bylaw for Lenox.
- JB mentioned an email from Olga Weiss that was forwarded to all members of the HDC on December 8, 2012. The email, a response to Ms. Weiss’s question of the use of HardiPlank in place of wood, detailed the Historical Commissions official position on the use of cement board in Historic Districts. JB said that if the Commission wanted to discuss this in the future it could be put on the agenda. LK said that she believes that the use of HardiPlank is not “by right”, that the HDC reserves the right to not approve and that the HDC has set a precedent approving where appropriate.
LK made a motion to adjourn. SS seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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