TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK
Historic District Commission
302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741
Telephone (860) 395-3131 FAX (860) 395-3125
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
Thursday, November 2, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.
Gymnasium of the Goodwin School
80 Old Boston Post Road
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Robert Welsh called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Attendant Members Absent Members
Robert Welsh, Regular Member Louise Tietjen, Alternate Member
Robert Wendler, Regular Member Henri David, Alternate Member
Randi Bradbury, Regular Member Louise Tietjen, Alternate Member
Tamara Miglio, Regular Member Richard Morrison, Regular Member
Louise Tietjen, Alternate Member
Attendant Staff
Katie Beecher, Recording Clerk
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
III. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Report on the “South Green Historic District”
Mary Donohue, Director from State of Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism and Michael Cronin, Esq. also attended the meeting.
Meeting Outines written by Town Planner Christine Nelson were distributed to the public and Commission members.
Town Planner Christine Nelson read the reports from the Zoning Commission, Planning Commission and CT Commission on Culture & Tourism.
Commission Member Bob Wendler spoke to the public regarding the proposed Historic District and the Report. He gave some general guidelines and discussed the mailings that went to each household. Planner Christine Nelson informed the public that additional information was available at the Town Hall Land Use Office including specific rules and regulations regarding Historic Districts and their Commissions.
Paul Moore, 297 Main Street asked about the total number of properties and votes.
Margot Morgan, 22 Pennywise Lane asked about advantages to homeowners. The Commission responded that a historic district protects an area from inappropriate development and preserves the character of the neighborhood. B. Welsh responded that statistics have shown that homes in historic districts tend to retain their value and that their values rise higher and faster than homes not in historic districts. He stated that no application has ever been turned down by their Commission but constructive suggestions have been made.
Betty Durling, 28 Old Boston Post Rd said she was concerned about the loss of control over her property. Members responded that Commissions do not control landscaping.
Chris Gosselin, 9 Pennywise Lane asked why the policy isn’t voluntary.
Attorney Cronin commented about Certificates of Appropriateness and read the State Enabling Statutes
Members asked residents to join the Historic District Commission as there are several openings.
The resident of 7 Pennywise Lane asked about home businesses. She also asked about the expense of receiving a Certificate of Appropriateness and wanted to know if the town offered any financial aid toward expenses. Mary Donohue of the State of Connecticut said that there are a large range of application sizes. For large additions and projects, the same documents required by Zoning and other Commissions usually suffice for Historic District Commissions. Architects are not required and attorneys are often not required either.
Rick Allen, 20 Fenwood Street asked if criteria for Certificate of Appropriateness could be changed later. M Donohue stated that the criteria is based on State Statutes but that any citizen could make a proposal.
Elizabeth Jacoma, Pennywise Lane asked about the number of structures and how contributory homes are affected. The Commission responded that the same guidelines are in place but they would be applied as appropriate to each structure.
Bob Baldwin, 75 Old Boston Post Road asked a question. Jim Magoon of 311 Main Street asked how the process of construction could be delayed. R. Welsh answered that the Board must rule within 65 days of the application and that special meetings are often called so that construction is not delayed.
Karen Price, 108 Old Boston Post Road asked about the possibility of the town providing repair services for sidewalks more quickly in a Historic District and if the Goodwin School was affected. Both questions were answered in the negative.
G. Foote, 287 Main asked about replacement of roofs with asphalt and the expense of wood shingles. The Commission responded that any appropriate building materials would be considered including asphalt.
Margot Morgan asked how Historical Districts increase property values. R. Welsh said he offered no guarantees.
Paul Moore asked if the focus was on appearance or original materials and asked if households could ask not to be included. He mentioned the minutes of the September 18, 2006 HDC Minutes which stated that the Conregational Church has asked to not be included.
First Selectman Michael Pace spoke, citing the Main Street School as an example of a structure that had been restored and the benefits to preserving the character of the Town. He said that Old Saybrook has been rated the 4th best town according to one survey and that the three towns rated above Old Saybrook all had multiple Historic Districts.
The resident of 7 Pennywise Lane asked why these issues cannot be regulated by Zoning. Town Planner Christine Nelson responded that Zoning only concerns issues of public health and safety, not architecture or landscaping. They have a limited authority and state law does not allow the overlap of Commission authority.
Chris Gosselin commented that the Town does not seem to trust residents to make the proper decisions about their own property and that participation should be voluntary.
George Burton, 54 Old Boston Post Road submitted a letter from his father, resident Frank Burton. He stated that he feels that development in the area has been responsible. He also stated that his father’s entire property is visible from the street, therefore open to HDC authority. The letter spoke against the proposed Historic District for reasons such as loss of control, time and added expense. George Burton said that he was not aware that the Congregational Church had opted out until he read the minutes of September 18, 2006. C. Nelson responded that the State said the Town could shrink the boundaries of a Historic District and that the Congregational Church was on the outer boundary. Mary Donohue said that any property can request to be removed during a public process. She
stated that the residents of Madison, CT had voted in favor of a Historic District ten days ago with an 85% approval vote.
Reverend Hoffman of Grace Church spoke in favor of the proposal because of the protection it affords the neighborhood. He did not speak for the entire congregation, this was his personal opinion. He has been distressed by the destruction of historic homes.
Jesse Johnson, Old Boston Post Road said that he is afraid his property rights will be taken away. He is concerned about Constitutional rights and that the Commission members and rules and regulations could change over time. He also expressed appreciation to all of the Commission members for their hard work.
The resident of 33 Old Boston Post Road likes the area and would like it to remain the way it presently is. He is in favor of the proposal.
Bill Gloven, Sr. Reverend of the Congregational Church said that the Church has been in Old Saybrook for over 300 years. The Congregation cannot predict the future and needs the freedom to do what it needs to regarding the buildings and the needs of the people who are members.
Hugh Henderson, 182 Ingham Hill Road asked about the members of the Commission and where they reside. The Commission responded that they are in need of additional members.
Bob Baldwin, 75 Old Boston Post Road had questions about homeowners giving up their property rights.
George Burton gave his opinion that people are responding to the proposal for a Historic District out of fear of future problems with development.
Chairman Robert Welsh continued the Public Hearing to the next regularly scheduled HDC since the public stated that they would like the opportunity to ask additional questions.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: to adjourn meeting at 9:16 until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, December 18, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Acton Public Library on 60 Old Boston Post Road. MADE by R. Bradbury. SECONDED by R. Wendler. VOTED IN FAVOR: T. Miglio, R. Wendler; R. Walsh, R. Bradbury OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Katie Beecher
Recording Clerk
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