Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, August 1, 2005
Place: |
Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT
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Present: |
Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Kenneth Levin (Cochairman, Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Paul Sagristano (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), Tom Keogh (Alternate)
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Absent: |
Nina Peck (Regular), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate)
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Agenda: |
1. 90 Lyme Street/Lyme Art Association – Sheila Wertheimer: CofA application for landscaping, entry signage and lighting 2. 105 Lyme Street– Jill & Charles Todd: CofA
application for fence replacement 3. 68 Lyme Street – Diane Birdsall: CofA application for art gallery sign 4. 1 McCurdy Road – Bob Sullivan: CofA application for partial paving 5. 7-1 Lyme Street – Jim Bechtel: Vinyl siding 6. 26 Lyme Street – Tom Keogh: Propane tank 7. 57 Lyme Street – Ken Levin: In the wall air conditioner 8. 38 Lyme Street – Jim Bechtel: Replace fence and check on maple tree 9. Church Corner – Ken Levin: Report on the meetings of Church Corner Committee 10. Business news – Paul Sagristano, Betty Chamberlain 11. Report on National Trust Seminar – Jim Bechtel 12. Discussion of possible HDC public information meeting – Anna Silberberg 13. Any other new or old business to come before the Commission 14. Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9.20 A.M. by Cochairman Ken Levin.
A motion was made by Jim Bechtel, seconded by Barbara Traskos and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of July 11, 2005.
1. 90 Lyme Street / Lyme Art Association – Sheila Wertheimer: CofA application for landscaping, entry signage and lighting
Sheila Wertheimer failed to attend the meeting.
Action: Call the Lyme Art Association (Anna Silberberg).
2. 105 Lyme Street– Jill & Charles Todd: CofA application for fence replacement
The CofA application has not yet been submitted.
3. 68 Lyme Street– Diane Birdsall: CofA application for art gallery sign
Diane Birdsall submitted a CofA application for a sign at 68 Lyme Street. The two-sided sign has a grey background and cream lettering (“68” “diane birdsall gallery”) and will be hung from the existing bracket on the corner of the building. The application also includes a phone number centered at the bottom of the sign.
A motion was made by Jim Bechtel, seconded by Paul Sagristano and voted unanimously to approve the application for the art gallery sign. The approval is valid for sixty days.
Action: Send copy of the approved application to Diane Birdsall (Anna Silberberg).
4. 1 McCurdy Road – Bob Sullivan: CofA application for partial paving
A new application including the location of the parking spaces must be submitted.
Action: Call Bob Sullivan and request a new application including a drawing (Anna Silberberg).
5. 7-1 Lyme Street – Jim Bechtel: Vinyl siding
As Town Attorney Marylin Clarke has not responded to repeated telephone calls, Jim Bechtel suggested that the Commission search for another lawyer.
Action: Continue search (Jim Bechtel).
6. 26 Lyme Street – Tom Keogh: Propane tank
Pending.
Action: Discuss the propane tank in front of 26 Lyme Street with Mr. Pedersen (Tom Keogh).
7. 57 Lyme Street – Ken Levin: In the wall air-conditioner
Connie Pike has talked to Ken Levin about the Old Lyme Children’s Learning Center installing an in-the-wall air conditioner on the south facade of 57 Lyme Street (under the casement window).
The Commission agreed that this does not require a CofA application. However, the HDC will require a letter for our files from the OLCLC.
Action: Talk to Connie Pike (Ken Levin).
8. 38 Lyme Street – Jim Bechtel: Replace fence and check on maple tree
Mr. Caltabiano is concerned about the maple tree bordering Lyme Street. Joanne DiCamillo (Tree Commission) has confirmed that the tree has been fertilized and will be watered.
Mr Caltabiano would also like to replace the existing galvanized fence on Lyme Street. The fence is needed as a protection against a sharp drop just behind the sidewalk. Tom Keogh suggested attaching a picket fence to the Lyme Street side of the existing galvanized fence. (This has been done at 23 Ferry Road - the last house on the right going towards route 156.)
Action: Contact Mr. Caltabiano – CofA application required for fence modification (Jim Bechtel).
9. Church Corner – Ken Levin: Report on the meetings of Church Corner Committee
Speeding on Ferry Road and parking in front of the Congregational Church were discussed at the Town Forum on July 20. A suggestion was made to hire a traffic consultant to review the Church Corner drawings.
Action: Report on next Church Corner Committee Meeting (Ken Levin)
10. Business News – Paul Sagristano & Betty Chamberlain
Paul Sagristano has not received any information from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation.
Action: Fax the confirmation letter received by Paul from the CT Trust to Anna Silberberg who will contact CT Trust (Paul Sagristano, Anna Silberberg).
11. Report on National Trust Seminar – Jim Bechtel
Jim Bechtel attended a CT Trust and National Trust for Historic Preservation seminar in Norwich concerning how Historic District Commissions should communicate with the public. Jim reported that there are “Circuit Riders” who can be called in to assist local Historic District Commissions.
Commissions can avoid “policing” by being proactive. This includes the use of newsletters, social events for property owners in the HD, walking tours, welcome letters for new residents, articles in local newspapers, preservation awards and a plaque program for historic buildings.
Ken Levin noted that the Old Lyme Historic District is not concerned with a specific historic period but instead strives to preserve the existing mix of styles.
Action: Continue discussion on proactive suggestions (annual newsletter and a “welcome-to-the-neighborhood letter” to new property owners in the Historic District).
12. Discussion of possible HDC public information meeting – Anna Silberberg
A suggestion to hold a Historic District Commission public information meeting was presented to the Commission by Anna Silberberg at the last meeting. Barbara Traskos suggested that, rather than have a separate meeting, each regular meeting could begin with a 15 minute period reserved for the public. The Commission agreed that this should begin at the next meeting (September 12). Property owners in the Historic District will be informed by letter and all other Old Lyme residents will be informed by an insert in the next Town newsletter.
Action: Send a letter to all property owners in the Historic District and submit information to the Old Lyme Tymes (Anna Silberberg).
13. Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
a) 76 Lyme Street– David Bikerman: Fence installation
David Bikerman attended the meeting to discuss the installation of a 54” high 1850 cast-iron fence painted Essex green. The plan is to install the fence bordering both 74 Lyme Street and 76 Lyme Street. (At 74 Lyme Street the fence will be between the sidewalk and the existing 10’ high yew hedge.) Mr. Bikerman is hoping that the fence will be at least partly installed by the end of August. The Commission requested that any major visual items such as motor boxes for the gates be reviewed with the Commission before installation.
Mr. Bikerman is also planning a privet hedge around the swimming pool (and granite pillars with deer fencing) and a formal garden in front of the south façade of the main house. The 74 Lyme Street property has been placed into Old Lyme Open Space.
Action: Submit CofA application for the fence installation to the Commission including drawings (David Bikerman).
b) Old Lyme Historic District – Ken Levin: Expansion
Ken Levin asked if the Old Lyme Historic District should be expanded at some point to include Ferry Road (and perhaps other roads off Lyme Street).
Action: To be discussed further by the Commission.
c) Opposite 40 Lyme Street – Ken Levin: No parking signs
Ken Levin raised the issue of the four new “no parking” signs on Lyme Street (on the stone wall in front of the library). A Lyme Street resident had complained that there were too many signs.
Action: Inspect the signs and discuss the issue at the next meeting (all Commission members).
d) 43 Lyme Street – Jim Bechtel: CofA application extension
A letter by John Forbis of 43 Lyme Street was submitted to the Commission today requesting an extension of 180 days from August 2, 2005 of the CofA for the barn construction (due to delays in construction). The original approval had been valid for one year. There are no changes in the plans as presented in the original application.
Action: Send extension letter to John Forbis (Anna Silberberg).
14. Adjournment
Jim Bechtel made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11.30 A.M. The motion was seconded by Paul Sagristano and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Anna Silberberg
Recording Secretary
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