MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room - 302 Main Street
CALL TO ORDER
Chair, Diane Aldi DePaola called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Diane Aldi DePaola, Mary Kennedy, Eugene Creighton, seated for Rich Peters and William Childress
Members Absent: Rich Peters, Jeff Meotti, Donald Brigham
Staff Present: Stella Beaudoin, Recording Clerk
MOTION: To amend the Agenda to place New Business first; “George Pratt House” (1813) Certifiate of Appropriateness – Alterations to Existing Structure; MADE: M. Kennedy; SECONDED: E. Creighton; IN FAVOR: D. DePaola, M. Kennedy, E. Creighton, OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: W. Childress; APPROVED: 3-0-1.
NEW BUSINESS
A. “George Pratt House” (1813)
Certificate of Appropriateness – Alterations to Existing Structure
200 North Cove Road Map 32/Lot 13
Applicant/Owner: Barbara L. Harms Agent: Denise VonDassel, Architect
ACTION: Open public hearing, continue or close; deliberate & act (NLT 05/10/15)
W. Childress recused himself as a direct abutter.
Seated for this application were D. DePaola, M. Kennedy and E. Creighton.
Present for this Hearing were Denise VonDassel, Architect with KB Design; Barbara L. Harms, Applicant; William Harms, 55 North Cove Road; Anthony Brodeur, Owner North Cove Construction.
Denise VonDassel presented. The George Pratt House was built in 1813. The style of the home is a Federal. D. VonDassel stated this is an application for the removal and reconstruction of both bay windows on the North side, the installation of a copper roof, wood panels and the replacement of a square window with oval on the north side. The renovations to the east side porch include removal of the second story porch railing, replacement of the second story door with a window to match the others and re-working the stairs off of the porch. The stairs are proposed to be bluestone on stone to match the side steps.
On the north elevation which faces the river, there is currently a rectangular casement window that will be replaced with an oval window. There is a bay window that will be replaced with a box bay window with a panel below. The floor will be suspended outward. A small copper roof will be installed above the bay windows. The copper roof is consistent with the house. Double hung windows will be installed to keep the same appearance all the way around the structure. In the kitchen there is a bay window which will be replaced with a box bay window. All of the other windows will remain the same. There will be a small window on either side of the kitchen box bay. There will be a few air conditioning compressors installed on the northwest corner of the main house. There is currently
a generator and a few propane tanks which will be buried. The generator will be repositioned so that it is in the same enclosure as the air conditioners.
A small arch-top entry, copper roof with lattice sides for side door protection will be installed. The shelter is 48’ in width and will extend 30” over the door. The windows over the existing kitchen sink will be smaller and there is a covered walkway that goes to the entry and the first section closest to the house will be enclosed with glass window, in keeping with the structure. The roof and post detail will remain.
D. DePaola stated that the proposed box windows are more authentic looking than the present bay windows.
M. Kennedy stated that the changes were a positive improvement to the house.
E. Creighton stated that this proposal presents an attractive improvement and is in keeping with the style of the house.
MOTION: To approve “George Pratt House” (1813) Certificate of Appropriateness – Alterations to Existing Structure, 200 North Cove Road, Map 32 Lot 13; MADE: M. Kennedy; SECONDED: E. Creighton; IN FAVOR: D. DePaola, M. Kennedy, E. Creighton, OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 3-0-0.
REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
The Commission reviewed the March 19, 2015 meeting Minutes and motioned to approve with following amendments:
Page 2, Under Review of Criteria, first paragraph, 3rd line, remove; “Department of Interior standard” and replace with “criteria”
Page 2, third paragraph from bottom, last sentence, replace “standards” with criteria.
Page 2, second paragraph from bottom, second sentence; remove “draft design guidelines and replace with “criteria”.
Page 2, last paragraph, first sentence; to read W. Childress suggested that the Commission make changes to the current guidelines to address Mr. Loether’s suggestions”
MOTION: To approve the Minutes of February 19, 2015 as amended; MADE: E. Creighton SECNDED: M. Kennedy; IN FAVOR: D. DePaola, M. Kennedy, E. Creighton, W. Childress; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
Memorandum from R. Peters who attended the Harbor Management Commission Meeting. To be discussed under Old Business, Item B.
- Committee, Representative and Staff Reports
There were no reports.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Historic Structures Inventory - ACTION: Update about the work of architectural historians.
Due to health issues, David Taylor was not available to present a status update at this evening’s meeting on the preliminary report of the Historic Resource Inventory. D. Taylor forwarded the results of the initial survey to D. DePaola and Ted Levy, who reviewed the document and then met to discuss the results. D. DePaola and T. Levy compiled a list based on the survey results which was sent back to D. Taylor. The final report is due by April 27th, however the final survey may not be available at that time. Ted Levy will track the progress of the survey and the timeline. When the final report is submitted, a community presentations will be facilitated by the Historic District Commission. Among the various commissions and boards, the Historical Society will be invited to attend.
D. DePaola will speak with C. Nelson for recommendations on which other agencies would benefit from the presentation.
B. Physical Improvements – Roadside & Hillside Planting Plan
125 North Cove Road (Map 32 /Lot 3)
ACTION: Update about the planting plan
Members were provided with a report prepared by R. Peters which was an encapsulated discussion which took place at the April 13, 2015 Harbor Management Commission meeting related to the Planting Plan for the Guardrail. The Harbor Management Commission will not endorse the Planting Plan.
The matter has been turned over to Selectman Fortuna who will mediate between the Historic District Commission and the Harbor Management Commission.
C. “Notice” on Land Records
ACTION: Update about recording notice of properties located within historic district
W. Childress distributed “Notice Regarding North Cove Historic District” which is a compilation of the owners of parcels, all or portions of which are within the Historic District, and the street addresses of those parcels, as appears on the records of the Old Saybrook Tax Assessor. W. Childress also distributed a document entitled “Identifying Historic Properties on the Land Records Re North Cove Historic District”.
W. Childress suggested that these documents be sent to Michael Cronin, Esq. for his review and approval to have these documents recorded on the Old Saybrook Land Records.
D. “Criteria” Amendments
ACTION: Discuss draft amendments.
D DePaola referenced the OSHDC (Old Saybrook Historic District Commission) Criteria document which members received prior to this evening’s meeting. W. Childress incorporated into a new document, the suggestions made at the February 19, 2015 and those suggestions made by J. Paul Loether, State of CT Historical Commission.
D. DePaola stated that the OSHDC criteria which was adopted in October 1985, has been amended and will be placed on the Town’s website along with the criteria from Department of Interior. The OSHDC will also amend their application to include a reference requesting details as to how the proposal is consistent with the OSHDC criteria.
The OSHDC will be consistent with the Department of Interior criteria. D DePaola will forward the newly revised Criteria introduction to C. Nelson.
MOTION: To adopt the alterations to the original OSHDC criteria; MADE: E. Creighton SECONDED: M. Kennedy; IN FAVOR: D. DePaola, M. Kennedy, E. Creighton, W. Childress; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 4-0-0.
D. DePaola contacted Devin Carney, local representative concerning an amendment to the CT General State Statute to include Historic District Commissions in the provision allowing land use commissions to hire an expert to advise on matters related to the land and to construction. The fees for this service are to be paid by the applicant. D. Carney indicated that he would attempt to add this amendment to onto another Bill for review and approval by the legislature.
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m. until the next regular meeting on May 21, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 302 Main Street; MADE by E. Creighton; SECONDED by M Kennedy; IN FAVOR: D. DePaola, M. Kennedy, E. Creighton, W. Childress. OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 4-0-0
Respectfully Submitted,
Stella Beaudoin
Recording Clerk
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