Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, July 12, 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), Tom Keogh (Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate) |
Absent |
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Nina Peck (Regular) |
Guests |
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Lee Mergy, Sarah McCracken, Tom Schellens, Janet Sturges |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Public Open Forum, Public Hearing: 22 Lyme Street - Back Building renovations |
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9:30 |
Public Hearing: 2 Ferry Road - Congregational Church Fence |
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10:00 |
Public Hearing: 43 Lyme Street - Window Replacements |
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10:30 |
Plaque Program update - Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen |
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10:45 |
HDC Handbook Reprint update - Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen |
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11:00 |
Business News & Secretary’s Report |
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11:15 |
Any other new or old business (Scenic Road update, OL Plan of Development) |
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11:30 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Cochairman Ken Levin.
A motion was made by Jim Bechtel, seconded by John Forbis, to approve the minutes of the June 7, 2010 meeting as presented.
Jim Bechtel, Ken Levin, Tom Keogh, Barbara Traskos, John Forbis and Betty Chamberlain voted in favor. Joanne DiCamillo abstained as she had not attended the June meeting.
1. Public Hearing, 22 Lyme Street, Back Building renovation – Lee Mergy
A 29 foot portion of the south end of the outbuilding (formerly the church social hall) will be removed. The remaining exterior will be changed to resemble a barn: wood awning windows, T-111 siding and black/grey architectural roof shingles (similar to the shingles used on the garage). A 13’ x 17’ conservatory on a brick foundation will be built on the south end of the building. Jim Bechtel moved, seconded by Barbara Traskos, to approve the CofA application for the outbuilding renovation. All present voted in favor.
Lee Mergy also shared the model of the second floor addition to 22 Lyme Street (residence) with Tom Schellens. While there might be some questions from a ZBA perspective, Mr Schellens said he had no problem with the second floor addition to 22 Lyme Street in the context of the HDC.
2. Public Hearing, 2 Ferry Road, Congregational Church Fence – Sarah McCracken
Sarah McCracken brought a sample of the Walpole replacement fence of composite material consisting of 1 ½” by 1 ½” pointed pickets of alternating heights spaced 3” apart. The existing arbor will be replaced by one of the same style also of the composite material. The project is expected to be started in the fall (after approval by the church trustees). There were no objections from the neighbors. The HDC approved the CofA application for one year.
3. Public Hearing, 43 Lyme Street, window replacements – John Forbis
The six new simulated divided-light Marvin windows (sample provided) will be the same size as the old windows. They will have 6 over 6 panes to be consistent with the other windows in the house. Jim Bechtel moved, seconded by Tom Keogh, to approve the CofA application for the replacement of the windows. Jim Bechtel, Ken Levin, Tom Keogh, Barbara Traskos, Joanne DiCamillo and Betty Chamberlain voted in favor. John Forbis abstained.
4. Plaque Program Update – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen
a) The research on 60 Lyme Street is nearly complete: the building was built by James F. Bugbee sometime between 1889 and 1897. The building was the location of Bugbee’s Store.
Action: Check with Carolyn Wakeman regarding the date of construction (Martha Hansen).
b) Boxwood, 9 Lyme Street, appears to have been built by Richard Sill Griswold ca. 1842.
Action: Determine when it was first named “Boxwood” (Martha Hansen).
c) Research continues on the house located at 105 Lyme Street (attributed to Dr. Richard Noyes ca. 1814) built on the site of the old Parsonage Farm granted to Moses Noyes in 1672. The original 230 acres extending to Boggy Hole Road was known as “White Farms” during the 1930s and 1940s.
Action: Continue research (Martha Hansen).
d) Julie Edmondson, of 45 Lyme Street, is interested in a Historic Plaque.
Action: Meet with Julie Edmondson on 7/19 at Land Records to explain procedure (Martha Hansen).
5. Handbook Reprint - Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen
Handbooks will be distributed at no cost to: Historic District property owners and renters, local real estate agencies, Town Hall, OLPGN Library, OLHS and Senior Center. Some handbooks will also be available for sale ($10 each) at Town Hall.
Action: Mail and distribute handbooks (Martha Hansen).
6. Business News & Secretary’s Report – Betty Chamberlain, Martha Hansen
a) Betty Chamberlain passed around the latest copy of Preservation News which has an article on the most threatened historic sites in the United States. The Merritt Parkway is on the list because many of its mature trees are being removed.
b) Of the original Handbook grant of $3,500 approximately $3,100 has been spent.
Action: Prepare Handbook grant report for reimbursement (Martha Hansen).
c) Expand the installation of Historic Plaques in the Historic District.
Action: Investigate additional grant funds (Martha Hansen).
7. HDC – Any other new or old business
a) Scenic Road Application:
Two residents who had questions concerning the Scenic Road application letter (sent to residents abutting the proposed road from the I-95 overpass to Boggy Hole Road) were contacted.
b) Old Lyme Plan of Development:
Jim Bechtel spoke with and then e-mailed a memo to Harold Thompson, Planning Commission Chairman via Kim Groves in Land Use, regarding the HDC’s feelings about the proposals (an “Art Zone” in the Historic District, the creation of a design review committee, etc.) in the 2010 Plan of Development.
c) Chamber of Commerce Bench:
The Duck River Garden Club has removed their planter at the corner of Halls Road and Route 1.
Action: Speak to Cathy Frank about removal of the bench agreed to by the Chamber of Commerce (Jim Bechtel).
d) Betty Chamberlain has moved to Chester and is resigning from the HDC. Janet Sturges will join the HDC in September.
8. Adjournment
John Forbis moved, seconded by Tom Keogh, to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 A.M. All present voted in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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