Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, November 6, 2006
Place: |
Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT
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Present: |
Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Tom Keogh (Regular), Nina Peck (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate)
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Absent: |
Kenneth Levin (Cochairman, Regular)
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Agenda: |
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum 2. 84 Lyme Street/Lyme Academy of Fine Arts – Jim Bechtel: Banners on display 3. 10 Lyme Street – Jim Bechtel: Sign in window 4. 52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – Joanne DiCamillo: Town Hall landscaping 5.
52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – John Forbis: Town Hall expansion update 6. The Historic District – Jim Bechtel: Town Annual Report 7. Business news –
Betty Chamberlain 8. Secretary’s report – Anna Silberberg 9. Any other new or old business to come before the Commission 10.
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9.15 A.M. by Cochairman Jim Bechtel.
A motion was made by Joanne DiCamillo, seconded by Barbara Traskos and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the special meeting on October 17, 2006.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum
No public participation.
2. 84 Lyme Street/Lyme Academy of Fine Arts – Jim Bechtel: Banners on display
As per the minutes of the HDC September 11th meeting, The Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts was to move their two banners back from the street within 30 days and reinstall them next to the building. In addition, there is a sandwich sign that is occasionally displayed that is not professional looking.
Action: Call Fred Osborne to discuss sign policies (Jim Bechtel).
3. 10 Lyme Street – Jim Bechtel: Sign in window
The tenant (Webb & Santiago) has moved out and removed the signage.
4. 52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – Joanne DiCamillo: Town Hall landscaping
Joanne DiCamillo presented the Tree Commission's concerns and preferences and will review all with Steve Wing, the Town Hall Expansion Committee’s landscape architect.
John Forbis said that the landscaping plan should be available late November/early December for review by the HDC as well as the Lyme Street neighbors.
Jim Bechtel asked that John Forbis confirm that the landscape architect will incorporate the small terrace on the south side into the landscaping plan.
Action: Invite landscape architect to present plan at December meeting (Joanne DiCamillo)
5. 52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – John Forbis: Town Hall expansion update
The project is in the design detail and engineering phase. The Expansion Committee will meet with the Conservation Commission to discuss possible energy conservation options. A referendum on the project is planned for mid-February.
The Committee is working with the State (Commission on Culture and Tourism) to receive approval to demolish the building at 50 Lyme Street and, at the same time, investigating if any organization will buy it for $1 and move the structure within a specified timeframe.
Action: Keep the Commission informed (John Forbis).
6. The Historic District – Jim Bechtel: Town Annual Report
Jim Bechtel presented a draft for the HDC’s contribution to this year’s annual report.
The Commission approved the text with minor changes.
Action: Finalize report and submit to Town/Michele Dickey (Jim Bechtel).
7. Business News – Betty Chamberlain
Betty Chamberlain reported on upcoming events for both the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation
8. Secretary’s report – Anna Silberberg
No update.
9. Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
a) 32 Lyme Street – Jim Bechtel: New fence
Owner Burr McDermott has submitted a CofA application for a flat white picket fence that has already been installed. While the Commission prefers a square picket fence in the District, a CofA was granted,
Action: Send copy of the approved application to Mr. Burr McDermott (Anna Silberberg).
b) 100 Lyme Street/Bee and Thistle Inn – Jim Bechtel: New sign
Jim Bechtel noted that the new installed sign has is crooked.
Action; Call Linnea Rufo regarding sign (Jim Bechtel).
c) 69 Lyme Street – John Forbis: New fence between school and fire station
A new chain link fence has been installed behind the fire station. It is not certain if it is a “like-for-like” replacement.
Action: Inspect new fence and decide on possible action (Jim Bechtel)
d) HDC December meeting
John Forbis suggested offering a tour of the Historic District to Mary Donohue (Commission on Culture and Tourism) who will be attending the December HDC meeting to discuss Old Lyme’s newly approved Certified Local Government (CLG) status.
Action: Invite Mary Donohue to a tour of the District (Anna Silberberg).
e) 76 Lyme Street: New fence
The Commission noted that the newly installed fence (CofA September 12, 2005), while handsome, looked a bit high (meeting minutes from August 2005 state that the fence should be 54 inches high) and urban for the setting. . It could possibly be softened by plantings in front.
Action: Inspect new fence (all Commission members).
10. Adjournment
Tom Keogh made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10.45 A.M. The motion was seconded by Betty Chamberlain and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Anna Silberberg
Recording Secretary
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