Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, July 9, 2007
Place: |
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LACFA, 84 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT |
Present: |
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Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Kenneth Levin (Cochairman, Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Tom Keogh (Regular), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate) |
Absent: |
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Nina Peck |
Guests: |
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John Flower, Tom Schellens, Kathy Munday, Edward & Rosemary Gargano |
Agenda: |
1. 9:15 |
Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum |
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2. 9:30 |
HDC– Plaque program update – Ken Levin |
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3. 9:40 |
HDC- Demolition Delay Ordinance – Tom Keogh |
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4. 10:00 |
HDC – Sculpture Policy discussion – Ken Levin & Jim Bechtel Invited guests: Fred Osborne, Jeff Cooley, Gil Boro |
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5. 10:30 |
Old Lyme Conservation Commission Questionnaire - Ken Levin & Jim Bechtel |
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6. 11:00 |
30 Lyme Street – Renovations and addition to former Christ the King Rectory- Rink DuPont & LuEllen Parsons |
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7. 11:30 |
Town Hall Expansion Update – John Forbis |
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8. 11:45 |
CLG Grants (2) update- Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, John Forbis |
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7. 12:00 |
HDC - Business News – Betty Chamberlain |
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8. 12:15 |
Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen |
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9. 12:20 |
HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission (Center School courtyard and white birch tree, contractor sign replacement) |
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10. 12:30 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:15 A.M. by Cochairman Jim Bechtel. A motion was made by Barbara Traskos, seconded by Tom Keogh and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the June 4, 2007 meeting with no changes.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum
No public participation
2. HDC – Plaque Program update- Ken Levin
Elizabeth G. Whitley’s residence at 56 Lyme Street has been traced back to the purchase by Dr. George W. Harris in 1867. John Pfeiffer, who aided in the research, suggested sketching a map to help clarify property locations and also to check marriage records (in addition to probate). Ken Levin, Tom Keogh and Martha Hansen are working together to write instructions for researching historical properties.
Action: Prepare sample forms for land records research (Martha Hansen, Tom Keogh, Ken Levin).
3. HDC – Demolition Delay Ordinance – Tom Keogh
Tom Keogh reviewed the Demolition Delay Ordinances for the towns of Essex, Darien, and East Windsor. Structures located within the Old Lyme Historic District are protected by the current CofA requirements: renovation, construction and/or demolition must first receive approval from the Historic District Commission. Outside of the District, however, the building department is only notified of an impending demolition if a building permit is sought.Tom Keogh suggested that the simplest way to protect those structures would be to add a demolition delay amendment to the current zoning regulations.
Demolition Delay Ordinance was one of the goals listed in the Town of Old Lyme’s Year 2000 Plan of Conservation and Development.
Action: Draft a sample demolition delay notice (Tom Keogh).
4. HDC – Sculpture Policy Discussion – Ken Levin & Jim Bechtel
The HDC invited Fred Osborne, president of LACFA, Gil Boro, sculptor, and Jeff Cooley, owner of the Cooley Gallery to participate in the discussion. While the Commission expressed its concerns about sculpture in the context of an historic district, all three visitors spoke favorably. Fred Osborne suggested that the HDC send out a survey to property owners in the District and form a subcommittee for sculpture. Jeff Cooley proposed a vetting committee be appointed to select appropriate pieces. Gil Boro warned that while the concept was good, the process (vetting, etc.) could be problematic. The HDC will continue the discussion (context of sculpture on private property in the HD) at the August 6 meeting at 11:00 A.M., and will invite other members of the community.
Action: Ken Levin contact Wendy Brainerd, Joanne DiCamillo contact Jennifer Hillhouse, Betty Chamberlain contact Jeff Andersen, John Forbis contact Alva Way, Jim Bechtel contact Tom Schellens.
5. Old Lyme Conservation Commission Questionnaire
The Old Lyme Conservation Commission has requested input from the HDC for the Old Lyme 2010 Plan of Conservation and Development questionnaire. The HDC favors an Old Lyme Demolition Delay Ordinance to protect historic buildings located outside the historic district (see Item 3).
Action: Respond to the Conservation Commission by August 1 (Jim Bechtel).
6. 30 Lyme Street – Public Hearing - Renovations to former Christ the King rectory – Rink DuPont & LuEllen Parsons
The hearing was attended by neighbors Edward & Rosemary Gargano, Kathy Munday, Tom Schellens, and Tom Flower.
Owners Lee and Michelle Mergy requested a CofA for renovations and addition to the former Christ the King church rectory.
Rink DuPont and LuEllen Parsons presented plans for the renovations. A more recent addition at the rear will be removed and replaced by a similarly-sized addition, plus an attached two-car garage with doors facing west. The additions will be in the same Italianate style as the main house and period wooden brackets will be added throughout. The existing driveway accessing Lyme Street will be removed. A new driveway will be installed at the rear of the residence with access to Beckwith Lane. John Flower did not think this new curb cut would be a problem as it would allow safer access than the current drive entrance onto Lyme Street. The aluminum siding will be replaced with wood clapboards, two over two window sashes will be replaced with matching energy-efficient simulated divided light sashes by
Marvin.There are no present plans to renovate, replace or demolish the parish hall located at the rear of the property.
The HDC approved the CofA application for 1 year. There were no objections from the neighbors who attended the meeting. A landscape plan for the rectory and the church will be presented in the future.
Action: Prepare a landscape plan for the former church and rectory (Rink DuPont).
7. HDC - Town Hall Expansion update – John Forbis
Construction is proceeding on schedule.
8. HDC - CLG Grants update – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, John Forbis
Ken Levin applied for a $2,800 CLG grant to fund research on historic properties in the HD and also fund plaques for nonprofit historic properties on Lyme Street.
John Forbis is in the process of applying for a second grant (matching funds required) that would be used for informational/tourism purposes.
9. HDC - Business News – Betty Chamberlain
No news to report
10. HDC - Secretary’s Report - Martha Hansen
The HDC received a thank you letter from Linnea Rufo.
11. HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission (Center School courtyard and white birch tree, contractor sign replacement)
John Rhodes contacted Jim Bechtel about changes to the Center School courtyard (will not require a CofA- the area is not visible from Lyme Street).
John Rhodes also mentioned that the white birch tree on the school property is diseased; an arborist has been contacted to examine the tree.
The contractor sign in front of 22 Lyme Street has been changed to comply with the Commission’s size and color requirements.
12. Adjournment
Betty Chamberlain made a motion to adjourn the meeting at12:15 P.M. The motion was seconded by Barbara Traskos and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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