Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, March 5, 2007
Place: Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT
Present: Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Kenneth Levin (Cochairman, Regular), Nina Peck (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), John Forbis
(Alternate) Note: Peck and Forbis had to leave before the meeting’s conclusion.
Guests: Tom Schellens and John Flower – Public Hearing (22 Lyme Street neighbors)
Absent: Barbara Traskos, Tom Keogh
Agenda: 1. 9:15 Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum
2. 9:20 52 Lyme Street – John Forbis: Town Hall expansion update
3. 9:30 38 Lyme Street – John Caltabiano: Driveway improvements
4. 9:45 HDC – Ken Levin: Plaque program & Christy Laurence Real Estate request for “OPEN” flag at 10 Lyme Street
5. 10:00 100 Lyme Street/Bee & Thistle Inn- Linnea Rufo: New outside dining area
6. 10:15 HDC – Jim Bechtel & Ken Levin: CLG grants applications
7. 10:30 69 Lyme Street – John Rhodes: High School Renovation Project
8. 11:00 22 Lyme Street – PUBLIC HEARING - Rink DuPont: CofA for changes to the Former Christ the King Church
9. 11:45 HDC – Jim Bechtel & Ken Levin: CT Historic Preservation Award
10. HDC – Jim Bechtel: Demoliton Delay Ordinance
11. Business news – Betty Chamberlain
12. Secretary’s report – Martha Hansen
13. Any other new or old business to come before the Commission (78-80-82 Lyme Street
Lack of plantings between LACFA & Boro driveway, 25 Lyme Street Cooley Gallery
14. Adjournment
The meeting was called to order at 9.15 A.M. by cochairman Jim Bechtel. A motion was made by Jim Bechtel, seconded by John Forbis and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the February 5, 2007 meeting with no changes.
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 stated that the Town Hall Expansion project is currently on time and on budget. The dry laid stone wall at the south side of the Town Hall will be moved to a new location. Advertising for construction bids will begin within the next two weeks.
Action: Keep the HDC informed (John Forbis).
3. 38 Lyme Street – John Caltabiano: Driveway improvements
John Caltabiano submitted a CofA application for driveway improvements: existing asphalt paving to be replaced by faux stone pavers with a granite edge. Joanne DiCamillo suggested that Mr. Caltabiano apply to the Tree Commission for a permit to install pavers around the maple on Lyme Street adjoining his driveway.
Action: John Caltabiano to submit CofA application (anticipated six-month work schedule) and contact the Tree Commission.
4. HDC- Plaque program & Christy Laurence Real Estate request for “OPEN” flag at 10 Lyme Street
The first plaque was installed on the Hiram G. Marvin house at 33 Lyme Street. Claire Kearney of Lymeline.com will write an article about the plaque program. The Commission decided that all structures built before WWII (1939) are eligible for a plaque. In order to qualify, property owners will need to complete an HDC application form and verify the year of construction and the name of the original owner/builder.
Action: Prepare application form and seek additional press releases (Jim Bechtel and Ken Levin).
Christy Laurence Real Estate request to hang an “OPEN” flag: The HDC feels that an American flag would be more attractive and would also indicate that the office is open.
Action: Contact Christy Laurence (Ken Levin).
5. 100 Lyme Street/Bee & Thistle Inn - Linnea Rufo: New outside dining area
Linnea Rufo came to discuss adding French doors to the existing north porch of the Bee & Thistle Inn. The doors will open directly to the lawn and will help the Inn to accommodate larger wedding receptions. David Tiffany will be the contractor. The HDC felt the project was justified and requested that the name of the door manufacturer be included in the CofA.
Action: Ms Rufo to submit CofA application with an anticipated six-month work period (Linnea Rufo).
6. Old Lyme Historic District – Jim Bechtel & Ken Levin: CLG Grants Applications
Will be discussed at the April 2 meeting owing to time constraints.
7. 69 Lyme Street – John Rhodes: High School Renovation Project
Jeff Bianco, the principal architect for the project, gave a presentation regarding the Lyme Street access to the High School. The goals are to improve safety, visibility and traffic flow. Two concepts were discussed: a three-lane road including a landscaped, illuminated median and a sidewalk (Concept A); a repaving of the existing two-land road adding a sidewalk (Concept B). The existing chain link fence separating the current road and the Firehouse would be replaced by a fence matching the fence in front of Center School. The HDC is seeking assurance that the revised entrance will not detract form the Historic District’s predominantly rural character and that the high school would continue to be screened from Lyme Street. The HDC also felt that the area between the proposed sidewalk and the Firehouse was too bare.
Jeff Bianco and John Rhodes both stated that the existing dogwood trees in that location would be saved or replaced. Joanne DiCamillo added that landscaping on Regional School District 18 property would be maintained by the School District (plantings on town property are maintained by the town). The HDC suggested that the number of lights in the median might be reduced. At the recommendation of John Forbis, Jim Bechtel suggested that a subcommittee (similar to the Church Corner Committee) be created with members from the HDC, Fire Department, High School Building Committee, Tree Commission and neighbors adjoining the access road.
Action: Speak to Tim Griswold about forming the new subcommittee and look for a volunteer from the HDC (Jim Bechtel).Action: Contact the Tree Commission about providing a member for the subcommittee (Joanne DiCamillo).
8. 22 Lyme Street – Public Hearing - Rink DuPont: CofA application for changes to the former Christ The King Church
Rink DuPont, architect, presented the revised plans for changes to the former Christ the King Church structure. The skylights on the east side (facing Lyme Street) of the sunroom were eliminated (neighbor Tom Schellens had no objection to the skylights facing west). As requested by the HDC, Mr. DuPont presented renderings of the proposed new tower in a series of reduced scale drawings; the HDC agreed that the original tower plan was the most acceptable. The HDC liked the simplified garage doors and the change of the front steps from concrete to stone. John Flower, neighbor and Old Lyme health/sanitarian inspector, stated that the garage would need its own septic tank. He did not think that would be a problem. The CofA was approved for 1 year subject to review of the eventual landscape
plan and any subsequent building changes.
Action: Send copy of CofA to Mr. DuPont (Martha Hansen).
9. Old Lyme Historic District – Jim Bechtel & Ken Levin: CT Historic Preservation Award
The Historic Preservation Award application for the Florence Griswold Museum was submitted with three letters of recommendation (First Selectman Tim Griswold, State Representative Marilyn Giuliano, and State Senator Andrea Stillman).
10. Old Lyme Historic District – Jim Bechtel: Demolition Delay Ordinance
This will be discussed at 9:30 at the April 2 meeting owing to time constraints.
11. Business News – Betty Chamberlain
Betty Chamberlain reminded the HDC about the lectures to be given by the Antiquarian and Landmarks Society at the Florence Griswold Museum in March and April.
12. Secretary’s Report - Martha Hansen
The approved CofA sign application was sent to Dianne Birdsall. The legal notice of the public hearing for the changes to 22 Lyme Street was published on the Town Hall Web site on February 20, on Lymeline.com on February 21 and in The New London Day on February 28 and March 1. The neighbors’ notices were mailed on February 21.
13. Any other old or new business to come before the Commission
78-80-82 Lyme Street: Lack of plantings between LACFA & Boro driveway
Some members of the HDC expressed concern about the bareness of the area. Joanne DiCamillo pointed out that trees have been planted which will, in time, grow to fill in some of the open spaces and balance the stone walls.
Action: Continue to observe the area as the seasons change (HDC members).
25 Lyme Street: Cooley Gallery
Jeff Cooley submitted a CofA application to replace the existing decking on the front porch of the Cooley Gallery. The new decking material will be Ipe, a tropical hardwood, which weathers to a light grey. The size and style of the porch will remain the same. The front porch of the J Elms building at 60 Lyme Street and the Forbis bridge at 43 Lyme Street are both made of Ipe, Betty Chamberlain and Joanne DiCamillo agreed to look at the 60 Lyme Street porch.
Action: Once Jim Bechtel hears back from Betty Chamberlain or Joanne DiCamillo the CofA application will be approved and Jim Bechtel will contact Jeff Cooley and request that the $25 application fee be forwarded to the Town.
14. Adjournment
Jim Bechtel made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 12:45 PM. The motion was seconded by Ken Levin and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
| 
