Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, September 12, 2005
Place: |
Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT
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Present: |
Kenneth Levin (Cochairman, Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Paul Sagristano (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), Tom Keogh (Alternate)
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Absent: |
Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Nina Peck (Regular), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate),
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Agenda: |
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum 2. 90 Lyme Street/Lyme Art Association – Sheila Wertheimer: CofA application for landscaping, entry signage and lighting 3. 105 Lyme Street– Jill & Charles Todd: CofA application for fence replacement 4. 1 McCurdy Road – Bob Sullivan: CofA application for partial paving 5. 76 Lyme Street – David Bikerman: CofA application for fence installation 6. 7-1 Lyme Street – Jim Bechtel: Vinyl siding 7. 26 Lyme Street – Tom Keogh: Propane tank 8. 57 Lyme Street – Ken Levin: In-the-wall air conditioner 9. Opposite 40 Lyme Street – Ken Levin: No parking signs 10. Church Corner – Ken Levin: Report on the meetings of Church Corner Committee 11. Business news – Paul Sagristano, Betty Chamberlain 12. Historic District PR events – Jim Bechtel 13. Secretary’s report – Anna Silberberg 14. Any other new or old business to
come before the Commission 15. Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9.15 A.M. by Cochairman Ken Levin.
A motion was made by Tom Keogh, seconded by Barbara Traskos and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of August 01, 2005.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum
a. 54 Lyme Street – Brad Sweet
Mr. Sweet presented a model, photographs and a perspective drawing for a proposed renovation.
Action: Submit CofA application including plans (elevations, floor plans and site plan) and list of all changes (Brad Sweet).
2. 90 Lyme Street / Lyme Art Association – Sheila Wertheimer: CofA application for landscaping, entry signage and lighting
Sheila Wertheimer failed to attend the meeting.
3. 105 Lyme Street– Jill & Charles Todd: CofA application for fence replacement
The CofA application has not yet been submitted.
4. 1 McCurdy Road – Bob Sullivan: CofA application for partial paving
A new CofA application was submitted for paving the driveway behind the fence including three parking spaces and the walkway from the driveway to the church. Joanne DiCamillo has walked the site with Bob Sullivan to ensure that existing trees will not be damaged.
A motion was made by Paul Sagristano, seconded by Betty Chamberlain and voted unanimously to approve the application. The approval is valid for six months.
Action: Send copy of the approved application to Christ the King Church (Anna Silberberg).
5. 76 Lyme Street– David Bikerman: CofA application for fence installation
David Bikerman submitted a CofA application for the installation of an 1850’s cast-iron fence facing Lyme Street. A privet hedge and granite pillars with deer fencing are to be used surrounding the pool area according to the HDC meeting minutes of August 1, 2005.
A motion was made by Paul Sagristano, seconded by Tom Keogh and voted unanimously to approve the application for the fence installation subject to confirmation on pool fencing. The approval is valid for six months.
Action: Send copy of the approved application to David Bikerman (Anna Silberberg).
6. 7-1 Lyme Street – Jim Bechtel: Vinyl siding
Jim Bechtel spoke to Attorney Ted Potter of Kitchings & Potter L.L.C. in Old Lyme. As it is not within his field of expertise, Mr. Potter declined to represent the HDC. At Attorney Potter’s suggestion, Jim Bechtel contacted Attorney Mike Wells of Essex, who has represented Historic Districts in Old Saybrook, Clinton and East Haddam. He is also a past Town Historian in Westbrook and familiar with state regulations. Mr. Wells charges $135/hour for municipalities (regularly $200/hour).
The Commission agreed to use Mr. Wells for legal questions.
Action: Investigate HDC budget implications (Jim Bechtel).
7. 26 Lyme Street – Tom Keogh: Propane tank
Tom Keogh reported that Mr. Pedersen is willing to shield his propane tank.
Tom Keogh also offered to make an inventory along Lyme Street for any other visible propane tanks.
Action: Ask Mr. Pedersen to submit a CofA application with suggested shielding (Tom Keogh).
Action: Report to the Commission on all propane tanks visible from Lyme Street (Tom Keogh).
8. 57 Lyme Street – Ken Levin: In-the-wall air conditioner
The Old Lyme Children’s Learning Center has not yet installed the air conditioner.
Action: The OLCLC will submit a letter (as per HDC meeting minutes of Aug. 1 2005) regarding the installation of the air conditioner.
9. Opposite 40 Lyme Street – Ken Levin: No parking signs
A Lyme Street resident has complained that there are too many (four) “no parking” signs on the stone wall in front of the library. Commission members have inspected the site and agree that it would be preferable if fewer signs were used.
Action: Ask the Town (Tim Griswold) if four signs are necessary (Ken Levin).
10. Church Corner – Ken Levin: Report on the meetings of Church Corner Committee
No updates.
11. Business News – Paul Sagristano & Betty Chamberlain
The CT Trust for Historic Preservation has sent back-dated newsletters to Paul Sagristano.
Action: Verify that the next newsletter is received. If not, contact the CT Trust again (Paul Sagristano, Anna Silberberg).
12. Historic District PR events – Jim Bechtel
No updates.
13. Secretary’s report – Anna Silberberg
A letter has been sent to all property owners in the Historic District informing them of the new fifteen minute public forum at the beginning of each HDC meeting. This information has also been submitted to the Old Lyme Tymes.
The HDC has received a request to submit its contribution to the yearly Town Report by Oct. 7.
Action: Prepare and submit HDC contribution to the Town Report (Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Anna Silberberg).
14. Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
a. 7-1 Lyme Street– Susan Begien, Carol Brown: Window replacements
Condo owner Susan Begien has been notified by Ann Brown, the Zoning Enforcement Officer that an approved CofA was required before installing new windows last winter. Ms. Begien therefore presented a CofA application to the Commission for the new windows (12 over 12 vinyl-clad double-pane windows with interior muntins).
A motion was made by Paul Sagristano, seconded by Tom Keogh and voted unanimously to approve the application for the window replacements.
Action: Send copy of the approved application to Susan Begien (Anna Silberberg).
Condo owner Carol Brown presented a CofA application for the same window replacements as Susan Begien’s.
A motion was made by Paul Sagristano, seconded by Tom Keogh and voted unanimously to approve the application for the window replacements for Carol Brown. The approval is valid for six months.
Action: Send copy of the approved application to Carol Brown (Anna Silberberg).
b. 78 Lyme Street – Chris Denison: Tree planting
Chris Denison presented a CofA application for the planting of 5’ to 6’ arborvitae 4’ apart along the back of the property line (160 feet).
A motion was made by Paul Sagristano, seconded by Tom Keogh and voted unanimously to approve the application. The approval is valid for three months.
Action: Send copy of the approved application to Chris Denison and notify Joanne DiCamillo, Chair of the Tree Commission (Anna Silberberg).
c. 1 McCurdy Road, Christ the King Church – Bob Sullivan: New sign
An illuminated Christ the King Church sign is to be installed shortly on church property (see plan in item 4 above). The sign is a 42’’ by 26’’modified oval, the background color is “Snowbound” (Sherwin-Williams) and the lettering is Spalding Gray (same as the Lyme Art Academy sign). An existing CofA for a new church sign has not been found but all parties agree that the sign was approved in February 2002.
A motion was made by Paul Sagristano, seconded by Tom Keogh and voted unanimously to approve the application for the sign as presented. The approval is valid for one month.
Action: Send copy of the approved application to Christ the King Church (Anna Silberberg).
d. 2 Library Lane, OLPGN Library – Ken Levin: Fund drive “Thermometer”
The OLPGN Library is considering putting up a “thermometer of pledges” on their lawn (visible from Lyme Street) to indicate progress on their annual fund drive. The installation would be in place for 4 to 6 months beginning at the end of September.
The Commission felt that it needed additional information.
Action: Talk to the Library (Ken Levin).
15. Adjournment
Barbara Traskos made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10.55 A.M. The motion was seconded by Betty Chamberlain and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Anna Silberberg
Recording Secretary
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