TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK
Historic District Commission
302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741
Telephone (860) 395-3131 FAX (860) 395-3125
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, March 14, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.
Acton Public Library
60 Old Boston Post Road
I. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Robert Welsh called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL:
Seated Members Absent Members
Robert Welsh, Chairman Pat Osborne, Alternate Member
Robert Wendler, Vice Chairman Louise Tietjen, Alternate Member
Richard Morrison, Clerk
Randi Bradbury
Joan Rimkus
Attending, Not Seated
Henri David, Alternate Member
Attending Staff
Gratia Lewis, Recording Clerk
III. PUBLIC HEARING:
Public Hearing was held to consider the application by Charles Klewin for replacement of deteriorating retaining walls, relocation of existing power pole, addition of cobblestone apron to parking area and planter beds between parking area and retaining wall at 191 North Cove Road. Cliff Rhodes of Rhodes Construction Company, Old Saybrook, representing Charles Klewin, presented materials and answered questions regarding the completed as well as proposed work.
Discussion was held regarding the permit process, with questions concerning the passage of time between the issuance of the permit on June 28, 2004 and the March 1, 2005 submission of the Application for Certificate of Appropriateness. After further discussion it was the consensus of the Commission that the application was incomplete as it did not distinguish between repair and new construction and did not include renderings or representations of the projected appearance of the completed posts and chains, retaining walls and cobblestone apron. The Commission requested that Cliff Rhodes arrange for the preparation of those materials for presentation at a Special Meeting on March 29, 2005. Discussion was held regarding the relocation of the existing power pole, the relocation of which was reported to
have been approved by Mr. Klewin’s immediate neighbor.
Motion to continue the Public Hearing to Tuesday, March 29, 2005 at 7:30 pm at the Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook was made by R. Bradbury, seconded by R. Wendler. No further discussion and a vote was taken. In favor: R. Bradbury, R. Morrison, J. Rimkus, R. Welsh and R. Wendler. Opposed: None. Abstaining: None. The motion passed. 5-0-0.
IV. REGULAR BUSINESS:
a. Minutes
Motion to approve as written the Minutes of the February 7, 2005 Special Meeting was made by J. Rimkus, seconded by R. Wendler. No discussion and a vote was taken. In favor: R. Bradbury, R. Morrison, J. Rimkus, R. Welsh and R. Wendler. Opposed: None. Abstaining: None. The motion passed. 5-0-0.
b. Correspondence
None.
c. Member Reports
R. Morrison reported on his review of the Commission’s budget and distributed a budget spreadsheet summarizing the information he received from the accounting office. R. Morrison noted that Linda Corrette of that office will provide him monthly status reports which will be used for tracking expenses. Discussion was held regarding the line item for Personnel which appeared to be incomplete.
V. OLD BUSINESS:
R. Wendler reported on a meeting with Mike Pace, Norm Wood and Sarah Becker regarding the indexing of the properties contained within the North Cove Historic District. It was agreed that the indexing was necessary and the indexing will be handled by the office of the Town Clerk.
Extensive discussion was held regarding the proposed South Green Historic District. R. Wendler proposed additional properties on Old Boston Post Road be included within the district. General topics of discussion included the percentage of contributing vs. noncontributing properties, the restrictions vs. benefits of an historic district designation, the process involved, and the preparation necessary to present the proposal to home owners within the proposed district. R. Bradbury distributed materials addressing the process involved in bringing an historic district to fruition along with sample questions and answers commonly arising during that process. Discussion was also held as to whether the Commission would act as the Study Committee or a separate Study Committee should be
appointed. No determination was made. After discussion it was the consensus of the Commission that the boundaries existing in the previous survey form the basis for the South Green Historic District and consideration of expanding those boundaries be addressed as the process proceeds.
R. Welsh reported that he was discussing the possibility of arranging a workshop for the Commission to be conducted by Craig Miner of Cromwell who has extensive experience in the creation of historic districts. No date has been set as of this meeting. Suggestion was made that possibly proposed district home owners might benefit from being included in Mr. Miner’s presentation.
VI. NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion was held regarding the process involved in submitting an Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness. R. Welsh proposed that Don Lucas, Building Inspector and Chris Costa, Zoning Enforcement Officer, receive a copy of any applications to come before the Commission prior to consideration of those applications by the Commission. In addition, R. Welsh proposed that language be added to the application itself directing the applicant as to a time frame for submission of the application.
H. David suggested that the sitting members of the Commission be expanded to include home owners within the proposed South Green Historic District. After discussion it was determined that the number of Commission members could not be changed as that number is set by State statute but that the membership requirements could be altered through a town ordinance change.
VII. ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 pm until the next Special Meeting on March 29, 2005 at 7:30 pm, Acton Public Library, made by J. Rimkus, seconded by R. Wendler. In favor: R. Bradbury, R. Morrison, J. Rimkus, R. Welsh and R. Wendler. Opposed: None. Abstaining: None. The motion passed. 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Gratia Lewis, Recording Clerk
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