Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, May 5, 2008
Place: |
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LACFA, 84 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT |
Present: |
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Kenneth Levin (Cochairman, Regular), Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate) |
Absent: |
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Nina Peck (Regular), Tom Keogh (Regular) |
Guests: |
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Laurel Camean & Kelly McCracken |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum |
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9:15 |
62 Lyme Street –Privacy fence CofA |
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9:45 |
HDC – Church Corner – Ken Levin |
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10:00 |
84 Lyme Street – Sill House sign CofA - OLHSI |
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10:30 |
HDC– Plaque program update – Ken Levin, Martha Hansen |
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10:45 |
I-95 Corridor – Jim Bechtel |
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11:15 |
HDC – Town Hall Expansion update– John Forbis |
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11:30 |
Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain |
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11:45 |
Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen |
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12:00 |
Any other new or old business to come before the Commission |
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12:15 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:10 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 April 7, 2008 meeting with no changes.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum
Laurel Camean and Kelly McCracken, juniors at Lyme Old Lyme High School, attended the meeting as part of a class project in local government. They are members of John Pfeiffer’s Civics and Law Class.
Action: Mail Laurel Camean and Kelly McCracken HD Handbooks and Annual Reports (Martha Hansen).
2. 62 Lyme Street – CofA application for privacy fence
Jonathan and Denise Collins submitted a CofA application for the installation of a six foot high privacy cedar fence (tongue and groove boards with a flat top) surrounding the south, west and north borders of their property (with an opening to the west). The fence will be left to weather naturally and care will be taken during installation not to disturb the roots of the arborvitae shrubs on the south border. Ken Levin moved to approve the CofA application as presented. Joanne DiCamillo seconded the motion which passed with one vote opposed (Barbara Traskos). The CofA was approved for 3 months.
The Collins also presented preliminary plans for a garage and bedroom addition on the south side of the house. An old work shed and small garage will be removed. The large trees on the south lawn will be preserved. The HDC was concerned about the size and location of the addition. The Collins provided a schematic drawing of the front elevation, a site plan, a floor plan and photos of the existing house. Jim Bechtel will give the drawings and plans to Nina Peck to review. John Forbis questioned about the possibility of car access from Elizabeth Lane at the rear of the property. However, access is blocked by the Spratt property. The Collins invited the HDC members to look at the property and the area of the proposed addition. The Collins were asked to attend the June meeting to discuss the project
further.
Action: Give drawings and plans to Nina Peck (Jim Bechtel).
3. HDC – Church Corner –Ken Levin
The recommendations made by the HDC were reviewed at the Church Corner Committee meeting on April 16th. The CCC prefers to retain the 3 bluestone pavers on the bumpout at the corner of Ferry Road and Lyme Street. There was a discussion to replace the 25 mph sign on Ferry Road with a 15 mph sign. (There will be a 15 mph sign on McCurdy Road entering the HD.)
4. 84 Lyme Street – Sill House sign CofA – OLHSI
The Old Lyme Historical Society submitted a CofA application for an informational plaque (history of Sill House – 84 Lyme Street). The sign will be no more than 38” high with a post and easel in black with cream lettering and will be installed behind the iron fence near the front entrance to Sill House. Jim Bechtel moved to approve the sign on the condition that it will not set a precedent for future signs. The motion was seconded by John Forbis and passed unanimously. The HDC would prefer that the promotional text “Presented to the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts by the Old Lyme Historical Society” be removed.
Action: The HDC will discuss creating a sign policy at the June meeting (John Forbis).
5. HDC – Plaque Program update - Ken Levin, Martha Hansen
a) The plaques for the Congregational Church and the Parsonage have been completed and delivered to Bob McCracken and Rev. Good.
b) The O’Connell house at 8 Lyme Street has been determined to be a Sears Roebuck house (Lexington model) built ca. 1930 by Nathaniel Rutherford Sheffield.
c) The research for the Masonic Hall at 20 Lyme Street has been finished. Part of the building was originally the old Town Hall built in 1877. The building was moved to 20 Lyme Street in 1919.
d) The research for 59 Lyme Street (LYSB) has been completed. According to the land records, the building was built prior to 1849 - probably by James Burnette.
The cost of the plaques has been increased by Computer Signs from $100 to $115 plus tax.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (Ken Levin and Martha Hansen).
6. I-95 Corridor - Jim Bechtel
Jim Bechtel presented DOT’s preliminary plans for the expansion of the I-95 corridor through Old Lyme as well as Dave McCulloch’s fly-way alternative. The HDC wants to preserve the stone underpass at the corner of Lyme Street and Halls Road. In addition, the HDC is concerned about retaining the northbound entrance and exit on Lyme Street and about the eventual impact of the I-95 expansion on Old Lyme and the Historic District. The expansion is 10-15 years in the future. It was suggested that the Commission contact Atty. Mike Wells and ask him for a time/price range to research Historic District precedents in dealing with state and federal road expansions.
Action: Contact lawyer and keep the HDC updated (Jim Bechtel).
7. HDC - Town Hall Expansion Update – John Forbis
The second floor is completed with lights and carpeting installed. The Palladian windows have been installed and provide a view of the Lieutenant River. Some Town Hall staff will be moving upstairs this week. The parking lot will be paved and the Halls Road staff will be moving back on May 15th.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (John Forbis).
9. Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain
The National Trust is concerned about preserving modernist buildings from the recent past. Paul Bailey, the architect of the Town Hall, recently won a Historic Preservation Award for St. Michael’s School.
10. HDC - Secretary’s Report - Martha Hansen
The Historic District property files are being sorted in preparation for Laserfiche scanning.
Jim Bechtel suggested that some Historic District Handbooks be available at the Town Hall and at the OLPGN Library.
Action: Leave Historic District Handbooks in the Town Hall lobby and at the OLPGN Library (Martha Hansen).
11. HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
Jim Bechtel announced that the Old Lyme Code of Ethics needs to be read and the acknowledgement form signed by the HDC members and filed with the Town Clerk.
The forms were signed by Barbara Traskos, Joanne DiCamillo, Betty Chamberlain, Martha Hansen, Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, and John Forbis.
Action: File the completed forms with the Town Clerk (Martha Hansen). Ask Nina Peck to read the Code of Ethics, sign the form and file it with the Town Clerk (Jim Bechtel).
12. Adjournment
John Forbis moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 A.M. The motion was seconded by Ken Levin and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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