TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK
Historic District Commission
302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741
Telephone (860) 395-3131 FAX (860) 395-3125
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, September 12, 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 7:35 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Seated Members Absent Members
Robert Welsh, Chairman Louise Tietjen
Robert Wendler, Vice Chairman Randi Bradbury
Richard Morrison, Secretary
Pat Osborne, Alternate Member
Henri David
Joan Rimkus
Attending Staff
Kate Frank, Recording Clerk
III. MEETING MINUTES
Bob Welsch spent a few minutes introducing the commission members and explaining the purpose of the meeting. The main idea was to find out if the community members had any interest in pursuing the establishment of a third historic district in Old Saybrook. Bob Wendler used a map to describe the area that the proposed district would encompass. He defined essential buildings vs. contributing buildings vs. non-contributing buildings and stated that the mission of the HDC is to preserve and protect our historic areas.
Bob Welsch entertained questions from the audience. Topics discussed included how the district was represented on the commission, the terms that commission members serve and the fact that the regulations are set by the state. Possible advantages of being a homeowner in a district were covered for a member who was concerned that the process of enlarging his home from a one story to a two story building would be complicated if the structure was located within a historic district. This person suggested that the town acknowledge specific historic buildings rather than delineate entire neighborhoods.
Michael Pace, First Selectman, described the actions of the board on non-contributing vs. essential buildings. He tried to convey the idea that this is not the government controlling your life but the government protecting your investment. The topic of house color came up and the point that Old Saybrook has no authority to limit color was clarified. Although the state sets the regulations, individual towns can add specific local regulations (i.e. the Town of Madison requires house color be chosen from an approved palette). The chairperson did not think the commission had taken the step of adding specific local regulations at any point in the commission’s history and further added that the commission had never denied any of the requests presented to it.
The pathway for getting a new structure approved was described as first going to the ARB, then the Zoning Commission and then the project would finally go before the HDC. For each property, the main title holder would receive one vote; no single address would receive more than one vote. For people owning more than one parcel within the district, they would be allowed to vote once per parcel owned.
The minister of the Congregational Church stated that the trustees were concerned that at some point, the interests of the church and the town might conflict and he asked if the church could be excluded from the district. Bob Welsch offered to come to the church to meet with the trustees in an attempt to alleviate any fears and clear up any misconceptions.
An informal poll was taken to establish interest in proceeding; eight approved, two were undecided and no one raised their hand that they were against the idea. Members of the community were encouraged to pick up a copy of the Historic District Regulations to become familiar with them.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kate Frank, Recording Clerk
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION WILL BE ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2005 AT 7:30 AT THE ACTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
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