Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, December 4, 2006
Place: |
Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT
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Present: |
Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Kenneth Levin (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: |
None
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Guests |
Steve Wing (landscape architect) and several members of the Old Lyme Tree Commission |
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Agenda: |
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum 2. 52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – Steve Wing: Town Hall landscaping 3. 84 Lyme Street/Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts – Jim Bechtel: Banners on display 4. 69 Lyme Street/Fire House – Jim Bechtel: Fence between fire house and
school 5. 52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – John Forbis: Town Hall expansion update 6. Business news – Betty Chamberlain 7.
Secretary’s report – Anna Silberberg 8. Any other new or old business to come before the Commission 9. 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 Barbara Traskos and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the meeting on November 6, 2006.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum
No public participation.
2. 52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – Joanne DiCamillo: Town Hall landscaping
Landscape architect Steve Wing working with architect Paul Bailey presented the preliminary landscaping plans. The goal is to maintain a uniform appearance in harmony with the renovated and expanded structure. Plantings should be native, deer-resistant and low maintenance. New plantings will include a maple in front (screening the neighbor to the south), additional trees to provide shade in the parking lot and also low evergreen shrubs (boxwoods, holly, etc.) around the perimeter of the building.
Open issues:
· Maintain symmetry in front of the original building. Of the four current kousa dogwoods, one will have to be removed for the installation of the walkway to the new meeting hall. The Tree Commission will consult with the Duck River Garden Club before any decision is made concerning the kousa dogwoods as the Garden Club planted the four dogwoods (two of which are in memory of Governor Ella Grasso).
· Walkways – The material was not specified on the plan.
· Landscape lighting – Currently not included in the plan.
· Changes in screening and plantings on the north border - discuss with the neighbor (Brad Sweet).
Action: Keep the HDC informed of landscaping plan updates (Joanne DiCamillo, John Forbis).
3. 84 Lyme Street/Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts – Jim Bechtel: Banners on display
As per the minutes of the HDC September 11, 2006 meeting, LACFA agreed to move the two anniversary banners back from the street within 30 days and reinstall them on the lamp posts directly in front of the administration building. There is also a sandwich sign that is occasionally placed near the sidewalk. Presently there are two additional banners on display on Lyme Street.
Action: Call Fred Osborne to review banner and sign procedures (Jim Bechtel).
4. 69 Lyme Street/Fire House – Jim Bechtel: Fence between the fire house and the school
A new silver “like-for-like” chain link fence has been installed behind the fire station. The HDC prefers black-coated chain link to the silver-coated fence that was installed.
Action: Inform School District 18 concerning the preferred fencing coloring for future replacements (Jim Bechtel).
5. 52 Lyme Street/Town Hall – John Forbis: Town Hall expansion update
The residence at 50 Lyme Street is being offered for sale at $1 to any nonprofit organization that is willing to move the building in a specified time frame. Jim Bechtel suggested advertising this offer on Lymeline.com.
The final Town Hall expansion project will be presented at the Town meeting on January 22, 2007. The Town referendum is scheduled for January 30, 2007.
Action: Keep the HDC informed (John Forbis).
6. Business News – Betty Chamberlain
No news to report.
7. Secretary’s report – Anna Silberberg
Information concerning Old Lyme’s status as a Certified Local Government will be reviewed by a representative (Mary Donohue or Paul Loether) from the State at the HDC January meeting.
Meetings of the HDC for 2007 will be held on the first Monday of each month except for January, July and September when meetings will be held on the second Monday due to holidays.
Information concerning demolition delay ordinances in other towns is currently being reviewed. Anna Silberberg has contacted the New Canaan Historical Society, the Wilton Historical Society, the Darien Historical Society and the Town of Darien. Darien has forwarded their builder’s application form for demolition.
Action: Call Essex and ask for a copy of their demolition delay ordinance (Jim Bechtel).
8. Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
a) 76 Lyme Street: New fence
The HDC has inspected the partially installed Gothic-style fence (CofA September 12, 2005) and established that the height is no more than the approved 54 inches.
b) The Historic District – Ken Levin: Plaque program
Ken Levin presented a prototype white plaque with black lettering for 33 Lyme Street. Jim Bechtel will prepare some additional graphic designs for the HDC January meeting.
Action: Additional plaque designs (Jim Bechtel).
9. Adjournment
John Forbis made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11.25 A.M. The motion was seconded by Jim Bechtel and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Anna Silberberg
Recording Secretary
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