Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, April 6, 2009
Place: |
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Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT |
Present: |
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Kenneth Levin (Cochairman, Regular), Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), Tom Keogh (Regular), Nina Peck (Regular) |
Arrived late |
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John Forbis (Alternate) |
Guests |
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Craig Silver |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum |
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9:45 |
Plaque Program update & letter – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen |
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10:00 |
Church Corner construction- Jim Bechtel |
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10:15 |
Sign Policy discussion – John Forbis |
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10:45 |
HDC Handbook reprint |
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11:00 |
Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain |
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11:15 |
Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen |
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11:30 |
Any other new or old business to come before the Commission (Kelsey letter, 33 Lyme Street construction, Grange ceremony) |
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11:45 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 A.M. by Cochairman Ken Levin. A motion was made by Jim Bechtel
and seconded by Joanne DiCamillo to approve the minutes of the February 2, 2009 meeting with no changes. Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Barbara Traskos, Elizabeth Chamberlain and Joanne DiCamillo voted in favor. Tom Keogh and Nina Peck abstained as they had not attended the February meeting.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum
Craig Silver attended the meeting and submitted a CofA application for plans to replace some windows and siding at 9 Lyme Street (Boxwood). On the north end of the front porch: window walls of the breakfast room would be replaced (like with like). On the south side of the building: 2 double-hung windows would be replaced with 2 three-part sliding doors. Existing sliding doors would be replaced with new sliding doors (like with like).
The commission reviewed the plans. Nina Peck suggested the following changes to better match the style of the building:
- North side – replace existing glass in sunroom with 5 stationary panels and 1 door panel with transom lights and appropriate trim above and raised 18” high panels below (as in Nina’s drawing).
- South side – replace 2 sliding doors with 2 sets of triple double-hung 6/6 windows. Also, substitute 2 additional sets of triple double-hung 6/6 windows for 2 existing double-hung windows.
As Mr. Silver agreed to the changes, a public hearing will be held on May 4th.
Action: Advertise the May 4th public hearing per FOI requirements and notify adjoining neighbors and Mr. Silver of the hearing date (Martha Hansen).
2. HDC – Plaque Program Update & Letter - Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen
Since the inception of the Plaque Program, 17 plaques have been produced including 6 for private residences. Barbara Traskos plans to order a plaque for her house at 46 Lyme Street (Allan T. Speirs ca 1917) and John Forbis plans to order a plaque for his house at 43 Lyme Street. Susan Woody, 23 McCurdy Rd, and Shelley Nobile, 112 Sill Lane, have been researching their historic houses.
Letters will be sent to the owners of eligible properties in the Historic District inviting them to apply for plaques and offering (limited) help with property research. A plaque application form and a photo montage of some of the existing plaques will be included with the letter.
Action: Order plaque for 46 Lyme Street (Ken Levin).
Create photo montage and mail letters (Martha Hansen).
Check property records for 43 Lyme Street (Martha Hansen).
3. Church Corner Construction – Jim Bechtel
Jim Bechtel reported that the drainage portion of the Church Corner Construction project should be completed this spring. The remainder of the project is scheduled after the White Elephant Sale in July. There is the possibility of staging the construction materials on the South Green and on the grassy area bordering McCurdy Road in front of the Wilcox’s. According to Joanne DiCamillo, materials should not be stored under trees on the Green or by the side of the road as the weight will compress the soil around the roots and could kill the trees. The trees affected directly by the construction will be protected per the construction specs. However, there is no provision for protecting the trees on the Green if it is used as a staging area. The grass would also need to be restored.
Action: Relay the Commission’s concerns to the Church Corner Construction Committee and keep the HDC updated (Jim Bechtel).
4. HDC – Sign Policy Discussion – John Forbis
Tabled until the next meeting.
5. Handbook Reprint and Grant Application – Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen
The HD Handbook is eight years-old and requires updating to include new policies and a redo of the CofA application requirements reflecting FOI standards. Jim Bechtel received an estimate of $3,300 in November 2008 to print 500 copies of the new handbook. The HDC may be able to obtain a CLG grant to help offset the expense of the new handbook.
Action: Look into CLG grants and keep the HDC updated (Martha Hansen, Jim Bechtel).
6. Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain
Betty Chamberlain passed around the latest copy of Preservation News which has information on historic restorations at Yale University and Trinity College. It is time to renew the HDC’s membership in the National Trust.
Action: Renew HDC memberships and check on the CT Trust newsletter mailing to Jim Bechtel and John Forbis (Martha Hansen).
7. Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen
The Preserve America Communities application was submitted in February. The town should be notified sometime in April.
Martha Hansen handed out information on the Scenic Road application process to include a 1 mile stretch of Route 1 north of I-95 to be designated as a scenic road to preserve the historic and rural character of the area. Part of the road is in the Historic District. A 2.5 mile stretch of Route 1 in Madison was recently designated as a scenic road by the DOT and East Lyme has recently passed a Scenic Road ordinance to preserve the rural character of that area.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (Martha Hansen).
8. HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission (Kelsey letter, 33 Lyme Street construction, Grange Ceremony)
Kelsey letter - The HDC received a letter from David Kelsey requesting that the graffiti on the Lyme Street I-95 bridge overpass be removed. As the DOT in Old Saybrook is in charge of that bridge, the request needs to come from Old Lyme’s Selectmen. Jim Bechtel will speak to Tim Griswold to have the graffiti removed. Mr. Kelsey also brought up an issue concerning the street lights on Lyme Street some of which have been changed from blue-white to pink-orange. It is not clear who changes the lights - the town or the utility company – and if the lights were changed to save energy.
Action: Look at the lights and report at the next meeting (HDC members).
33 Lyme Street – The new owner of 33 Lyme Street would like to substitute a door for a window on the back of the house. As the area is not visible from Lyme Street (or Library Lane), a CofA application is not required. Central air-conditioning might also be installed, and the contractor will contact the HDC about the location of the condensers.
Grange Ceremony – The Old Lyme Grange will be having a ceremony on April 18, 2009. Ken Levin and Barbara Traskos will attend the ceremony to dedicate the nonprofit plaque.
9. Adjournment
Barbara Traskos moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:15 A.M. The motion was seconded by John Forbis and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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