Historic District Commission
Minutes
Land Use Meeting Room
July 15, 2014
Members present: Chair Linda Messana, LM; Lucy Kennedy, LK; Elaine Steinert
Absent with notification: Ken Fowler, KF
Frank Newton, 17 Main St., Map 43 Parcel 18, sign
Presenting the application was Frank Newton. He wishes to remove the existing sign from the face of the front of his building and place it on a post on his front lawn. The sign will be in alignment with both the Lenox National Bank and Berkshire Bank, but Mr. Newton was unable to give the precise distance from the sidewalk. The sign will be lighted.
Mr. Newton was advised that according to the bylaw, the lighting is to be hooded and there are restrictions on the time the light can be on. He said that he would comply with the bylaw.
LK made a motion to approve the application as presented. ES seconded the motion and the Commission voted to approve 3-0.
Steve Oakes, 27 Housatonic St. LLC, 27 Housatonic St., Map 43 Parcel 176, Signage and remodeling at property located at the intersection of Church and Housatonic Streets. Renovations will be internal and external.
Presenting the application were Anthony Allegrone, Steve Oakes and Louie Allegrone.
Also present was Whitney Asher, a tenant and business owner.
Mr. Oakes said that he has devoted a considerable amount of time researching this building, the former court house, which was built in 1790 on Main St. and said that it will require significant repairs. The renovations are meant to replenish what was lost from the original design as much as possible, repair and replace current architectural elements of significant value to the history of the building, and to improve the building’s overall performance.
Twenty pages of plans were presented and reviewed with the Commission by Anthony Allegrone. Included was a site plan, drawings of the existing and proposed building, historic photos, elevations, signs, and interior and exterior renovations. The Commission advised the proponents that the HDCs authority was limited to the exterior. Within the plans there is significant detail on the existing conditions and proposals. The existing siding is of shakes covering clapboard. New clapboard siding is proposed, but it is believed that some of the clapboard can be restored.
The building has structural sag which is being corrected.
The proponents said that what could be restored would be, but where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a character-defining feature, the new feature shall match the old design in design texture and material.
The proposed colors will be a simple beige color for the clapboard and the architectural trim will be a darker shade within the brown palette. LK preferred that the clapboard be white with black. trim, but Mr. Oakes felt that white would be more difficult to maintain and would look stark. Based on the historic photos, he believes that the original structure was more of a cream color and not white.
The existing windows are a replacement of the original windows, therefore not historic. Fourteen windows will be replaced with wood clad historic style at the second floor residential units. The existing windows are one over one, and the new ones are proposed to be one over one. LK said that to be more consistent with the historic design there should be more panes. There was discussion regarding using grills to give the illusion of multi-panes. The store-front windows will be replaced.
The existing signage will remain, with one new sign that will project from the building.
A sample of a composite material was provided for replacement trim.
LK made a motion to approve the project as presented but with grills for the windows as discussed. ES seconded the motion and the Commission voted to approve 3-0.
Annual review of the local Historic District Bylaw-Continued from July 1st-
It was agreed that this discussion should take place when KF could be present. LK said that for any changes in the Bylaw to be approved, a 2/3 vote at Town Meeting would be necessary, and would like any proposed HD bylaw changes to be included with Planning Board “housekeeping” items at a future town meeting.
LK said that membership requirements under the local HD bylaw are more limiting than the state requirements and she feels that for the sake of having more members, some of the local requirements should be eliminated. Also, she said that there is a built in demolition delay, but it is a vague area that needs some clarification.
The Commission felt that they need more time to read through the materials and agreed to continue this discussion until the next meeting.
Other Business
LM has observed that the Gateways on Walker Street has two neon “Open” signs. LK said there is only one legal neon sign in the District and it was grandfathered. That is located in Brava on Housatonic Street. LM will speak to the Building Commissioner, Bill Thornton.
Approve Minutes:
September 17, 2013-Not a quorum. These minutes have been held until ES was present. The Rule of Necessity will be invoked at a future meeting. JB ES and SS were sitting for that meeting.
June 17, 2014-Not a quorum. LK LM and KF
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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