Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, August 4, 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),), Tom Keogh (Regular), John Forbis (Alternate), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate) |
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Absent: |
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Nina Peck (Regular), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate) |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum |
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9:15 |
HDC– Plaque program update – Ken Levin, Martha Hansen |
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9:30 |
HDC - I-95 Corridor update – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel |
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10:00 |
62 Lyme Street – proposed addition Public Hearing– Denise Collins |
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11:00 |
HDC – Town Hall Expansion update– John Forbis |
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11:15 |
Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain |
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11:30 |
Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen |
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11:45 |
Any other new or old business to come before the Commission |
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12:00 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 A.M. by Cochairman Ken Levin. A motion was made by John Forbis and seconded by Jim Bechtel to approve the minutes of the July 7, 2008 meeting with no changes. All present voted in favor except Tom Keogh who abstained as he had not attended the July meeting.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum
Gilbert Boro presented photos and a site plan for the installation of a sculpture on his property at 80-1 Lyme Street. As the sculpture will not be visible from Lyme Street, a CofA application is not required. However, Mr. Boro agreed to obtain approval from all the adjoining property owners before placing the sculpture. He also agreed to install additional screening, if needed, to conceal any part of the sculpture that may become visible from Lyme Street during the winter months.
Action: Gil Boro will confirm in writing to the Commission that he has obtained permission from the neighbors for the placement of the sculpture.
2. HDC – Plaque Program update - Ken Levin, Martha Hansen
a) John Forbis will present the plaque for the Town Hall (Memorial Town Hall – ca. 1921) to Tim Griswold.
b) The Grange plaque (Old Lyme Gun Club – ca. 1885 Relocated 1928) will be installed at 55 Lyme Street after the exterior refurbishing has been completed.
c) Lee Mergy will submit plaque applications with supporting documentation for 22 Lyme Street (former CtheK Church) and 30 Lyme Street (former CtheK Rectory).
d) The construction date of the LYSB building at 59 Lyme Street is still in question. While land records
indicate buildings on the site as far back as 1808, the present structure appears to have been built around 1900. Martha Hansen will contact town historian Ned Pfeiffer for his opinion on the correct dating.
e) The research on 57 Lyme Street (the Old Lyme Children’s Learning Center) is almost finished.
f) The research on the Masonic Hall is finished; it was built in 1919 using part of the old Town hall.
Action: Contact Ned Pfeiffer and complete 57 Lyme Street research (Martha Hansen).
3. I-95 Corridor – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel
Jim Bechtel contacted Tim Griswold about the possibility of forming a Task Force to study the future impact on Old Lyme and the Historic District of the planned expansion of I-95. Tim Griswold will be invited to the HDC September meeting.
Action: Invite Tim Griswold to the September 8 meeting (John Forbis).
4. 62 Lyme Street Public Hearing for proposed addition – Denise Collins
Denise Collins submitted a CofA application for a two-car garage and bedroom addition and also the renovation of a small shed (existing garage) on the north side of the property. As there were no objections from the adjacent neighbors (no one attended the advertised public hearing), Jim Bechtel made a motion to approve the CofA as presented for one year. Tom Keogh seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
5. HDC - Town Hall Expansion Update – John Forbis
At the completion of Phase 2 this week, all of the staff will be moving back into their respective offices. Plantings are being supervised by landscape architect Steve Wing. The exterior lights will be shut off at 9:00 P.M. (unless there is a late meeting) and the plates of glass facing 46 Lyme Street will be shaded to reduce glare.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (John Forbis).
6. Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain
Betty Chamberlain passed around a copy of the National Trust Preservation magazine. Members are now receiving their own copies of the Connecticut Preservation News.
7. HDC - Secretary’s Report - Martha Hansen
Cathy Frank has been contacted about eventual file space for the HDC records and Ruth Roach about Laserfiche scanning. John Forbis suggested speaking with Ann Brown, ZEO, to avoid duplicate scanning of land records’ files.
Action: Speak with Ann Brown about scanning (Martha Hansen).
8. HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
a) Jim Bechtel received a letter from the Florence Griswold Museum thanking the HDC for its letter concerning the Museum’s proposed barn renovation. The FGM has since received a grant of $84,000 for the restoration.
b) Charlie Delinks, President of the Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce, will be invited to the September meeting to discuss the CofC bench at the corner of Halls Road and Lyme Street.
c) A letter will be sent to the Lyme Art Association requesting that they remove the two large, non-event banners presently on their building. The letter will also include an invitation to Director Anna Grenier and the board of the LAA to attend an upcoming meeting of the HDC to discuss planned improvements and upgrades to the LAA structure.
Action: Invite Charlie Delinks and write letter to Anna Grenier (Ken Levin and Jim Bechtel).
9. Adjournment
Tom Keogh moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:05 A.M. The motion was seconded by Barbara Traskos and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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