Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, April 5, 2010
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), John Forbis (Alternate) |
Absent |
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Tom Keogh, Nina Peck |
Guests |
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Barbara Beal, Cathi Green, John Rhodes, Jeff Flower, Janet Sturges, Erin Aures (UCONN School of Law) |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Old Lyme Historic District Public Open Forum |
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9:15 |
Plaque Program update – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen |
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9:30 |
Church Corner update |
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9:45 |
Firehouse Memorial Garden, Halls Road/Lyme Street Corner |
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10:15 |
HDC Handbook Reprint update |
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10:30 |
Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain |
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10:45 |
Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen |
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11:00 |
Any other new or old business |
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11:15 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Cochairman Jim Bechtel.
A motion was made by John Forbis and seconded by Betty Chamberlain to approve the minutes of the February 1, 2010 and March 1, 2010 meetings as presented. Jim Bechtel, Ken Levin, Barbara Traskos, Joanne DiCamillo, Betty Chamberlain and John Forbis voted in favor.
1. Public Open Forum – No public participation
2. Plaque Program Update – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen
Research has been completed for 27 Lyme Street (Henry M. Waite ca 1820) and 23 Lyme Street - Cooley Gallery - (James A. Rowland ca 1867). Research is progressing on 60 Lyme Street (J. Elms building) and 9 Lyme Street (Boxwood). Charles and Jill Todd want to install a plaque at their house at 105 Lyme Street.
Action: Plaque research: 60 Lyme Street, 9 Lyme Street, 105 Lyme Street (Martha Hansen).
Contact Harry Oakley and order plaque for 27 Lyme Street (Henry M. Waite – ca 1820) (Ken Levin).
3. Church Corner update – Janet Sturges
Work is almost completed on the Church Corner Project. Some curbing, driveway aprons and a bluestone walkway on the South Green still need to be installed. The Rectory/Cox driveway will be finished this summer in the tan chip seal as discussed. The bollard (granite post) and chain fence, although included on the drawing and approved at the town meeting, was not in the bid package and therefore not part of the budget.
Action: HDC to draft letter to Selectmen regarding bollards - copy to Janet Sturges (Jim Bechtel).
The Tree Commission received a request from Stanford Brainerd to plant a shade tree in front of his house at 6 Lyme Street. Tom Degnan, the tree warden, agrees that a tree should be planted at that location (town property).
4. Firehouse Memorial Garden & Halls Road/Lyme Street Corner - Barbara Beal, Cathi Green, John Rhodes, Jeff Flower
John Rhodes met with representatives from the Duck River Garden Club and the Fire Department to discuss the Memorial Garden. The Fire Department agreed to allow removal of the first two sections of the existing chain link fence to improve visibility. The Memorial Garden will be surrounded by grass (pavers will not be installed). Jeff Flower contacted neighbors (Hendricks, Blackledge, and Bikerman) about the LOL High School access road. Tony Hendrick’s concerns about privacy screening were addressed; the other neighbors either did not respond or had no objections to the plans.
The Duck River Garden Club’s cement planter and the Chamber of Commerce bench were installed at the corner of Halls Road and Lyme Street without the required HDC Certificate of Appropriateness. Barbara Beal and Cathi Green agreed to discuss the matter at the next DRGC meeting. The Chamber of Commerce has been contacted several times about the bench.
Action: Draft letter to the Chamber of Commerce requesting removal of the bench (Jim Bechtel).
5. Handbook Reprint - Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen
The new updated Historic District Handbook (500 copies) funded by a grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism will be distributed to: Historic District property owners and renters, local real estate agencies, Town Hall, OLPGN Library, OLHS and Senior Center.
Action: Draft a letter to accompany the handbook and price envelopes (Jim Bechtel, Ken Levin).
6. Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain
Betty Chamberlain passed around the latest copy of Preservation magazine.
7. Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen
The HDC received a letter from the CT Trust requesting that the membership renewal fee be increased by 35% to $101. Jim Bechtel made a motion, seconded by John Forbis, to approve the payment of $101 to the CT Trust. All present voted in favor.
Paul Bailey Architects has won a CT Trust Preservation Award for the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall Renovation. The award will be presented on April 7 at the Capitol in Hartford.
8. HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
a) Scenic Road update – The Board of Selectmen requested that the HDC send letters to all property owners along the 1.5 mile stretch of Route 1 explaining the impact of Scenic Road designation.
Action: Prepare and mail letters this month to all affected property owners (Martha Hansen).
b) A letter (copy to Ann Brown) has been mailed to Brad Sweet asking him to remove the greenhouse at 54 Lyme Street by June 1, 2010.
9. Adjournment
Ken Levin moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 AM. The motion was seconded by Betty Chamberlain and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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