Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, March 6, 2006
Place: |
Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT
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Present: |
Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Kenneth Levin (Cochairman, Regular), Nina Peck (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate)
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Absent: |
Barbara Traskos (Regular), Tom Keogh (Regular)
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Agenda: |
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum 2. 2 Library Lane/OLPGN Library – Alan Curtiss: Restoration of pillars on original building (1898) 3. 10 Lyme Street – Diane Delena: CofA application for new sign 4. 7-1C Lyme Street/Boxwood – James Lowery: CofA application for replacing windows 5. The Historic District – Jim Bechtel: Clarification of District boundaries 6. The Historic District – Jim Bechtel: New initiatives 7. The Historic District – Ken Levin, Tom Keogh: Possible expansion of the District 8. Business news – Betty Chamberlain 9. Secretary’s report – Anna Silberberg 10. Any other new or old business to come before the Commission 11. Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9.15 A.M. by Cochairman Ken Levin.
A motion was made by Betty Chamberlain, seconded by Joanne DiCamillo and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of February 6, 2006.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum
No public participation.
2. 2 Library Lane/OLPGN Library – Alan Curtiss: Restoration of pillars on original Library building (1898)
The wooden pillars at the original entrance to the Library are rotting and have to be repaired or replaced. The Library is considering restoration rather than replacement (the front pillars are probably original). As the pillars are visible from Lyme Street, the Commission expressed its preference for restoration
Action: Submit CofA application for pillar restoration (Alan Curtiss).
3. 10 Lyme Street – Diane Delena: CofA application for new sign
Diane Delena has submitted a CofA application for a new sign (black background with gold lettering) for the North Shore Loan & Development LLC.
To present eventually a uniform appearance, the HDC is recommending to Ms. Delena and Mr. Warren Hannas (owner of the 10 Lyme Street shops) that all future signs have a white background with Essex Green lettering. (Sizes and type faces of signs could still vary but a unity in color scheme would greatly improve the look of the building.)
A motion was made by Jim Bechtel, seconded by John Forbis and voted unanimously to approve the application with the requirement that the colors are changed to “Essex Green” lettering on a white background. The CofA is valid for 60 days.
Action: Send copy of the approved application to Diane Delena (Anna Silberberg).
Action: Send letter concerning color of future signs to Warren Hannas (Jim Bechtel, Ken Levin, Anna Silberberg).
4. 7-1C Lyme Street – James Lowery: CofA application for replacing windows
Mr. James Lowery submitted a CofA application for the replacement of windows at 7-1C Lyme Street. The windows will be the same as those already installed in 7-1B and 7-1D Lyme Street (CofAs approved on 9/12/2005) and 7-1A (see 10a below).
The Commission approved the application. The CofA is valid for 6 months.
Action: Send copy of the approved application to Mr. Lowery (Anna Silberberg).
5. The Historic District – Jim Bechtel: Clarification of District boundaries
Jim Bechtel spoke to a representative of the Circuit Riders organization and to Mary Donohue at the Historic Commission in Hartford concerning boundary definitions for historic districts.
Mary Donohue said that the District boundary for the OLHD is 300 feet from the center line of Lyme Street. If a building and its dependencies are partly within 300 feet, the whole building and its dependencies are considered part of the District. She stated that the 300 feet limit was established as it was considered to be the general limit of visibility from a street.
Ms. Donohue also recommended that the Commission compile an inventory with map of all properties in the District detailing the significance of all historic properties.
There are grants available for historic districts. In order to receive a grant, a town has to become a “Certified Local Government” with the National Park Service. As Old Lyme is not presently certified, Jim Bechtel recommended that Old Lyme apply to the National Park Service (Matt Blood in Hartford) to be certified.
Action: Apply to the National Park Service for Old Lyme to become a Certified Local Government (Jim Bechtel, Ken Levin, Tim Griswold, Anna Silberberg).
6. The Historic District – Jim Bechtel: New Initiatives
The following was discussed and decided by the Commission:
a. A plaque program is being investigated so that individual property owners can buy a plaque with the original owner’s name and approximate construction date. The date would reflect the oldest part of the house (even if it has been moved). Plaques should cost less than $100 and could possibly be offered to any pre-WWII building. The price could also include a brief history of the structure.
b. Welcome letters are now being sent to new property owners in the District. Letters have been sent to 100 Lyme Street (Bee & Thistle Inn) and 47 Lyme Street.
c. News that is pertinent to the District can be announced either via the Town newsletter or via a letter to property owners (no HDC newsletter at this time).
Action: Contact the Historical Societies and Tim Griswold concerning a possible plaque program (Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel and Betty Chamberlain).
7. The Historic District – Ken Levin, Tom Keogh: Possible expansion of the District
“Sill Lane 2” has been added to the inventory and a copy of the application for the present Historic District has been added to our files.
Action: Define “character” of a historic area (John Forbis) and continue discussion of enlargement of the OLHD (Tom Keogh and Ken Levin).
8. Business News – Betty Chamberlain
No news at this meeting.
9. Secretary’s report – Anna Silberberg
Anna Silberberg will receive an online (“PDF”) copy of the newly created walking tour of Lyme Street for children.
10. Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
a. 7-1A Lyme Street/Boxwood – Jeffrey Londregan: CofA application for replacing windows
Mr. Londregan, representing Park Avenue Holdings LLC/Robert Kaufman, submitted a CofA application for the replacement of windows at 7-1A Lyme Street. The windows will be the same as those installed in 7-1B and 7-1D Lyme Street (CofA’s approved on 9/12/2005) and 7-1C (see 4 above).
The Commission approved the application. The CofA is valid for 6 months.
Action: Send copy of the approved application to Mr. Londregan (Anna Silberberg).
b. 52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – Jim Bechtel
Jim Bechtel is a member of the Town’s Facilities Committee that is studying the current problems of lack of space and code violations in the Town Hall. A number of options are currently being discussed.
Action: Invite Tim Griswold to attend a Historic District Commission meeting to discuss possible solutions (Jim Bechtel).
c. 80-1 Lyme Street/Property inspection – John Forbis
Gil Boro has invited the HDC to a tour of his sculpture studio. Jim Bechtel suggested that this be done right after the next meeting (April 3, at 11.30 A.M.).
Action: Confirm appointment with Gil Boro (John Forbis).
11. Adjournment
Joanne DiCamillo made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11.20 A.M. The motion was seconded by Jim Bechtel and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Anna Silberberg
Recording Secretary
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