Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, November 2, 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), Tom Keogh (Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate). Nina Peck (Regular) arrived at 9:30. John Forbis (Alternate) left at 10:50. |
Absent |
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Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate) |
Guest |
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Jessica Bender |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Old Lyme Historic District Public Open Forum |
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9:15 |
Walking Tour Update – Jessica Bender, Martha Hansen |
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9:30 |
Plaque Program update – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen |
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9:45 |
HDC Handbook reprint & Grant Application update |
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10:00 |
Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain |
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10:15 |
Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen |
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10:30 |
L-OL High School Access Road – John Rhodes |
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11:00 |
Any other new or old business to come before the Commission |
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11:15 |
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 John Forbis to approve the minutes of the October 5, 2009 meeting with no changes.
Jim Bechtel, Ken Levin, Tom Keogh, Barbara Traskos, John Forbis and Nina Peck voted in favor. Betty Chamberlain abstained as she had not attended the October meeting.
1. Public Open Forum
No public participation.
2. Old Lyme Village Walking Tour Update – Jessica Bender, Martha Hansen
Martha Hansen introduced Jessica Bender, a senior at Connecticut College. She is working with the Old Lyme Historical Society to create a self-guided walking tour of the village of Old Lyme to help visitors appreciate Old Lyme’s historic past. The tour will be downloadable to an mp3 player and/or cell phone.
In addition to the architectural style of the buildings, the HDC suggested that the walking tour include information relating to the Historic Plaques which have been installed on many of the buildings in the Historic District. John Forbis recommended that Jessica contact Dr. John Pfeiffer, the Town Historian, for help relating the buildings to the context of the time in which they were built. Jessica was also advised to contact Charlie Beal, archivist, at the Florence Griswold Museum.
Action: Provide Dr. Pfeiffer’s contact information to Jessica Bender (John Forbis).
Keep the HDC informed (Martha Hansen).
3. HDC – Plaque Program Update –Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen
Martha Hansen will pick up and deliver the plaque for 70 Lyme Street (William Dempsey ca 1873).
About 23 Historic Plaques have been produced (not all have been installed) for properties both in and out of the Historic District since the beginning of the Plaque Program. John Forbis suggested trying to obtain a grant to provide plaques for certain “signature” buildings in Old Lyme.
Action: Begin plaque research on 27 Lyme Street (Martha Hansen).
4. Handbook Reprint and Grant Application – Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen
The Grant Application package has been signed and returned to the CCCT (with the help of Cathy Frank).
Rough drafts of the text of the revised Handbook were distributed. CofA requirements and the notification process for Public Hearings were discussed. All CofAs require a Public Hearing which must be advertised in a local paper. Neighbor notification is not required by statute but it is the custom of the HDC to notify neighbors whenever possible.
Action: Continue the editing process of the revised text for the December meeting (All members).
5. Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain
Betty passed around a copy of the latest Preservation News and suggested that a member take it home to read and bring it back to pass on to another member.
6. Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen
First Selectman Tim Griswold has been asked to comment on the HDC’s proposed application for Scenic Roadway status for the Boston Post Road from I-95 north to Boggy Hole Road.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (Martha Hansen).
7. L-OL High School Access Road – John Rhodes, John Scheib, Jeff Flower
John Rhodes and John Scheib (architect) presented the new plans for the Lyme Street access to Lyme-Old Lyme High School. The access has been enlarged to provide a safe turning radius for the school buses. While the road itself is narrower, a concrete sidewalk has been added to the south side leading to and from a pedestrian crosswalk on Lyme Street. The sidewalk will be separated from the road by a 3’ strip of grass and will be level with the road to preserve the existing water flow. A utility pole on Lyme Street will need to be relocated to allow for the increased size of the access. The chain link fence next to the firehouse will remain. Some of the overgrown trees on the north side of the road should be replaced. John Rhodes was advised to contact the Tree Commission for approval.
The HDC agreed that the plan was a low impact change and fit the like for like definition which does not require a CofA. Jeff Flower agreed to notify the neighbors and explain the plans.
MOTION: Nina Peck made a motion to approve the plan as presented subject to notification of the neighbors. Barbara Traskos seconded the motion.
Jim Bechtel, Ken Levin, Tom Keogh, Barbara Traskos, Nina Peck and Betty Chamberlain voted in favor. John Forbis was in favor of issuing a CofA and holding a Public Hearing.
The motion was passed.
Action: Contact the Tree Commission (John Rhodes).
Action: Notify the neighbors concerning the revised Lyme Street access (Jeff Flower).
8. HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
Brad Sweet has erected a new structure at 54 Lyme Street which, if permanent, requires a site plan and a CofA.
Action: Invite Brad Sweet to the December meeting (Tom Keogh).
9. Adjournment
Barbara Traskos moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:30 a.m. The motion was seconded by Jim Bechtel and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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