Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, September 10, 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), Nina Peck (Regular), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate), |
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. 9:45 |
HDC- Demolition Delay Ordinance – Tom Keogh |
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4. 10:00 |
HDC – CLG Grants (2) update- Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, John Forbis
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5. 10:30 |
21 Lyme Street – Garage addition plans – Paul Sagristano |
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6. 11:00 |
HDC – Sculpture Policy draft – John Forbis |
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7. 11:15 |
Town Hall Expansion Update – John Forbis |
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8. 11:30 |
HDC - Business News – Betty Chamberlain |
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9. 11:45 |
Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen |
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10. 12:00 |
HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission |
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11. 12:15 |
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 August 6, 2007 meeting with no changes.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum
No public participation.
2. HDC – Plaque Program update- Ken Levin
The HDC has received a $2,300 grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism to fund the Historic Plaque Program for nonprofit organizations in the Historic District.
Action: Work on grant paperwork and contact nonprofit organizations in the Historic District concerning free plaques (Ken Levin & Jim Bechtel).
3. HDC – Demolition Delay Ordinance – Tom Keogh
Tom Keogh read a draft of the HDC letter to Ron Rose, building inspector. For clarification, the Commission asked Tom to insert “(pre WWII-1939)” after the word “historic” in the letter. The HDC is requesting timely notification from the building department when any historic structure in Old Lyme is planned to be demolished (including structures outside the Historic District).
Action: Complete the draft of the letter to the building inspector (Tom Keogh).
4. HDC - Grant updates – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, and John Forbis
Old Lyme has applied for a $200,000 grant (to be decided in October) from the CT Commission of Culture and Tourism for the town hall renovation. John will also be applying for a $30,000 CLG matching grant for the display of literature in the renovated town hall lobby.
Action: Keep the HDC informed (John Forbis).
5. 21 Lyme Street –Addition plans – Paul Sagristano
Paul Sagristano presented preliminary plans for an addition including a three-bay garage and new driveway entrance. The HDC recommended that the large mass of the new structure be broken up and recommended the book “Creating a New Old House: Yesterday’s Character for Today’s Home” by Russell Versaci. The applicant was advised that a public hearing will be required and that architectural elevations and material specifications had to be part of the Certificate of Appropriateness application.
Action: Contact Paul Sagristano and ask him to provide scaled drawings, specs and, if possible, bring his architect to the October meeting. If the architect’s schedule allows, the public hearing could then be held in November (Ken Levin).
6. HDC – Sculpture Policy draft – John Forbis
John will have a Sculpture Policy draft ready for the October meeting.
7. HDC - Town Hall Expansion Update – John Forbis
Construction is proceeding on schedule; the south addition framing (meeting hall) has been started.
Action: Keep the HDC informed (John Forbis)
8. HDC - Business News – Betty Chamberlain
No news to report.
9. HDC - Secretary’s Report - Martha Hansen
The required Certified Local Government Annual Report for Old Lyme was submitted on August 30th. The report covered the activities of the Historic District Commission for the fiscal year (July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007), and included a copy of the town’s most recent municipal audit.
Martha attended a demonstration of Laserfiche, a scanning software, that the Town of Old Lyme is considering purchasing to scan documents into digital format. The program would be available to the HDC to scan property files and photos of Historic District properties.
Action: Keep the HDC informed of the town’s decision on Laserfiche (Martha Hansen).
10. HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
John Forbis suggested that the HDC review its needs for office and storage space in the renovated town hall. He also requested Martha Hansen to check on the Freedom of Information Act requirements regarding the HDC.
Action: Keep the HDC informed (Martha Hansen).
The Church Corner Committee had met and continued its discussion of the reconfiguration of the church corner. Ken and Joanne recapped the meeting for the HDC and the Commission agreed on the following: Crosswalk and side parking area lines will be painted (rather than treated with Belgian block). The access drive for the Rectory and Cox residence will be moved further to the east on McCurdy Road. The stone bollards with connecting chains will continue on McCurdy Road to the eastern side of the entry to Christ the King Church. The sidewalk along the Green (on McCurdy Road) will connect in a more straightforward fashion with the walk in front of the Congregational Church. The bumpouts on the corner of Lyme Street and Ferry Road as well as the one off the Ames’ driveway should be eliminated.
Action: Keep the HDC informed (Joanne DiCamillo & Ken Levin).
11. Adjournment
Betty Chamberlain made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 12:15. The motion was seconded by Barbara Traskos and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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