Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, August 7, 2006
Place: |
Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT
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Present: |
Kenneth Levin (Cochairman, Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate)
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Absent: |
Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Nina Peck (Regular), Tom Keogh (Regular)
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Guests: |
Timothy Griswold (First Selectman), Betsy Cooley
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Agenda: |
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum 2. 52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – John Forbis: Town Hall expansion update 3. Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9.15 A.M. by Cochairman Ken Levin.
A motion was made by Barbara Traskos, seconded by Ken Levin and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of July 10, 2006.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum
No public participation.
2. 52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – John Forbis: Town Hall expansion update
John Forbis introduced Tim Griswold and Betsy Cooley - both members of the design review group of the Town Hall Expansion Committee. HDC members Jim Bechtel and John Forbis are also on the design review group. HDC member Betty Chamberlain is on the Town Hall Expansion Committee.
Tim Griswold presented background information on the Town Hall expansion project. As the existing Town Hall is inadequate in terms of handicap access, fire safety, office space and storage requirements, three main options have been reviewed:
1) Convert the existing basement into office space and provide elevator access.
2) Expand the current Town Hall with an addition to the south façade (auditorium space) and add an elevator.
3) Relocate the Town Hall.
Option 1 was not possible due to zoning regulations. It was also concluded that the Town Hall should remain on Lyme Street and not be relocated (Option 3). Therefore, the focus has been on expanding Town Hall (Option 2).
After purchasing 47 Lyme Street (the Roche property), the Town concluded that it would not be practical and might even be hazardous to have the town offices divided by Lyme Street and eventually sold the property (now a renovated private residence).
When the Speirs property to the south (50 Lyme Street) became vacant, the town obtained a purchase option expiring on November 30, 2006. The Town Hall site presently includes .9 acres (over coverage ratio required with proposed addition). The additional .2 acres of the Speirs property would help in obtaining ZBA approval for the enlargement.
The architectural firm of Paul Bailey of New Haven was selected from the seventeen applicants submitting proposals. Paul Bailey designed the new C the K church as well as several residences in Old Lyme. A Town Meeting is scheduled for August 28 (seasonal residents still in town) to vote on the purchase of the Speirs property (50 Lyme Street). A referendum is planned for the first quarter of 2007 to vote on the final plans for Town Hall.
John Forbis presented the Paul Bailey proposal (plans, elevations and rendering) including space for the central office of Regional School District 18 (not yet decided). The existing building (original façade and gable ends) will remain and the interior entry (staircase) will also be retained. The Old Lyme Tree Commission will be consulted concerning landscaping. The additions to the north and south are all at or below the peaks of the existing neighboring residences (46, 50 and 54 Lyme Street) and below the height of the Town Hall cupola (33 feet). The appearance of the rear (west façade) will be modified and enhanced.
The Bailey plan includes an addition to the existing south façade and a second story expansion on the north wing. It is not feasible to expand in the rear due to limited area (backing up to Speirs property and wetlands). Vertical expansion is not possible (limitation on building heights and problems of scale). Expanding to the north would be costly as the town vault would have to be relocated. The Bailey design maintains the same casings on all windows (new and old). The elevator for handicap access (four floors) will be constructed in the existing building. The parking area in the rear will be screened by a wall to the south and the existing 8 foot drop from Lyme Street. The proposed addition to the south will include an auditorium holding 100 people (larger meetings will still be held in the
Middle School auditorium). The access driveways are planned to be reduced from three to two (50 Lyme Street driveway would be eliminated).
The existing Town Hall in the Colonial Revival style was dedicated on November 11, 1921. The old Town Hall was immediately to the north and was bought by the Masonic Lodge and moved to its present location at 20 Lyme Street (corner of Lyme Street and Academy Lane). The Speirs residence (50 Lyme Street) was built in 1915 and would require extensive interior renovation.
The HDC is concerned mainly with the massing of the new design, the materials to be used (including roofing), the proposed landscaping (with the Memorial Garden) and the eventual demolition of 50 Lyme Street.
Action: Keep the HDC informed on progress and eventual submission of CofA applications (John Forbis).
3. Adjournment
Barbara Traskos made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11.35 A.M. The motion was seconded by Betty Chamberlain and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Anna Silberberg
Recording Secretary
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