Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, May 1, 2006
Place: |
Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT
|
Present: |
Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Kenneth Levin (Cochairman, Regular), Nina Peck (Regular), Tom Keogh (Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate)
|
Absent: |
None
|
Agenda: |
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum 2. CLG Application – Anna Silberberg, Mary Donohue 3. 10 Lyme Street – Diane Delena: CofA application for new sign 4. 78 Lyme Street– Anna Silberberg: CofA application for addition 5.
52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – John Forbis: Expansion plans 6. 49-53 Lyme Street – Jim Bechtel: School storage units 7. 23 Lyme Street/Cooley Gallery – Jim Bechtel: Exterior
renovation 8. The Historic District – Ken Levin: Plaque program 9. The Historic District – Ken Levin, Tom Keogh, John Forbis: Possible expansion of the District 10. Church Corner – Joanne DiCamillo, Ken Levin: Report on the meetings of Church Corner Committee 11. The Historic District – Anna Silberberg: Certificate of Appropriateness Status Report 12. Business news – Betty Chamberlain 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 Kenneth Levin.
A motion was made by Barbara Traskos, seconded by Betty Chamberlain and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of April 3, 2006.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum
No public participation.
2. CLG application – Anna Silberberg, Mary Donohue
Mary Donohue from the History Division of the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism (CCT) explained the application requirements to become a CLG and also gave hints on applying for grants.
Action: Submit CLG application to Board of Selectmen for approval/signature and then forward to CCT (Anna Silberberg, Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel).
3. 10 Lyme Street – Diane Delena: CofA application for new sign
A CofA application for a new sign was approved on March 6, 2006 and forwarded to Diane Delena (tenant) with the requirement that the lettering color be changed to “Essex Green.” Ms. Delena responded that she would prefer navy blue. The HDC prefers black lettering (to navy blue) on a white background (similar to Morelock Antiques’ sign).
Action: Notify and follow-up with Diane Delena (Anna Silberberg).
4. 78 Lyme Street – Anna Silberberg: CofA application for addition
A CofA application for an addition connecting the garage with an existing outbuilding has been submitted by Chris and Timothy Denison. The work would also include renovation of the existing outbuilding.
Action: Advertise the public hearing and send out letters to abutting neighbors in advance of June 5 meeting (Anna Silberberg).
5. 52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – John Forbis: Expansion plans
Tim Griswold has created the Town Hall Expansion Committee to replace the Facilities Committee. Jim Bechtel and John Forbis are on the new committee. One plan under consideration is to construct a 3000 square foot addition attached to the south facade of the Town Hall. The Town has an option to buy the Malcolm Speirs property if needed. Architectural and site evaluations, a town hall staff needs analysis as well as a request for architectural firms’ qualifications will be performed in May. If the evaluations are positive, an architectural firm will be selected.
Action: Keep the HDC informed on progress (John Forbis).
6. 49-53 Lyme Street – Jim Bechtel: School storage units
The LOL Regional School District has placed two industrial storage units behind the Middle School and within view of Lyme St. Jim Bechtel talked to John Rhodes, the school district’s director of facilities, who explained that moving the units would be expensive and therefore suggested fencing as another option. While fencing would hide the units, it would also block the view. It was decided to ask the school again to move the storage units.
Action: Talk to John Rhodes (Nina Peck, Jim Bechtel).
7. 23 Lyme Street/Cooley Gallery – Jim Bechtel: Exterior renovation
Jim Bechtel contacted Jeff Cooley to discuss some ideas that were suggested by the HDC at the April meeting. If Mr. Cooley decides to go forward with any improvements, he must apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Action: Submit Certificate of Appropriateness application for any work to be done (Jeff Cooley).
8. The Historic District – Ken Levin: Plaque program
Ken Levin has scheduled a walk on Lyme Street with John Pfeiffer, the town historian, to review the plaque program (establish accurate dates of construction and names of original owners). Dr. Pfeiffer requested to gain access to attics and basements, wherever possible, to authenticate dates of construction.
Action: Continue research and coordinate with John Pfeiffer (Ken Levin).
9. The Historic District – Ken Levin, Tom Keogh, John Forbis: Possible expansion of the District
John Forbis discussed the character of Old Lyme and mentioned that not only are structures important but also outbuildings, trees and the space between properties. Jim Bechtel mentioned the CT Trust’s new “Barn Inventory Project” and suggested that a list of outside structures/addenda be compiled as well.
The actual streets to be included in an eventual expansion of the Historic District have not yet been selected.
Action: Continue inventory (Tom Keogh, Ken Levin, John Forbis).
10. Church Corner – Joanne DiCamillo, Ken Levin: Report on the meetings of Church Corner Committee
The traffic engineer’s report (VHB, Inc.) for the Church Corner proposes to eliminate the three parallel parking spaces opposite the Congregational Church and maintain 60 degree angular parking in front of the church. The report also proposes adding bulb outs for pedestrian safety on the Lyme Street crosswalk between 6 Lyme Street (Brainerd) and 5 Lyme Street (the parsonage). The conflict between the six parallel parking spaces and the fire lane on the south side of Ferry Road is being studied by the Old Lyme fire marshal and Tony Hendriks.
The Commission discussed the problem raised by C the K Church concerning the lack of visibility for their parishioners exiting their driveway. The church suggested blocking parking adjacent to their drive on McCurdy by installing large painted boulders. The HDC prefers the use of bollards (two on each side of the driveway).
Action: Recommend bollard installation to the Church Corner Committee (Joanne DiCamillo, Ken Levin).
11. The Historic District – Anna Silberberg: Certificate of Appropriateness Status Report
Anna Silberberg presented a follow-up form she had created for CofA applications.
John Forbis suggested making phone calls instead of sending out a form.
Tom Keogh recommended that the application for a CofA be revised to notify applicants about the new follow-up procedure. He also noted that language that suggests that proper procedures have not been followed should not be included in the status questionnaire.
Action: Work further on suggestions for revision of the CofA and Status Report forms (Anna Silberberg).
12. Business News – Betty Chamberlain
Betty Chamberlain noted that Sarah Dodson from Lyme is on the board of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. She also informed everyone that there is a new Web site for information on Connecticut barns. There will be a tour of five barns on Saturday, May 6.
Action: Attend Connecticut Barn Tour (Jim Bechtel).
13. Secretary’s report – Anna Silberberg
A mylar of the map of the Historic District has been filed with the town clerk.
14. Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
a. 80-1 Lyme Street – Gil Boro: CofA application for moving of fence
Gil Boro presented a plan to move an existing fence to the southern property line between his driveway and the neighbor at 78 Lyme Street (Denison). The horizontal-board fence is about 48 inches high and painted gray. Nina Peck commented that the “horse pasture” style of the fence is not really appropriate for the location,
Betty Chamberlain and Barbara Traskos suggested planting shrubs instead of installing a fence. Joanne DiCamillo pointed out that shrubs in that area (northern exposure) would create mildew on the neighbor’s outbuilding. However, other types of plantings could be done to make the area look attractive: mixed plantings similar to the ones Mr. Boro has planted on the northern side of the property (adjacent to the Art Academy parking area).
Mr Boro agreed to postpone his project until after he attends the HDC public hearing on June 5 concerning the proposed addition connecting the garage to the outbuilding at 78 Lyme Street and also the remodeling of the existing outbuilding that abuts Mr Boro’s property.
Action: Attend June 5 public hearing for 78 Lyme Street (Gil Boro).
15. Adjournment
John Forbis made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 12.10 P.M. The motion was seconded by Tom Keogh and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Anna Silberberg
Recording Secretary
| 
