Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, May 5, 2014
Place: |
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Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT |
Present: |
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REGULAR: John Pfeiffer (Chairman), John Forbis (Vice Chairman), Jim Bechtel, Ken Levin, Joanne DiCamillo ALTERNATE: Barbara Traskos, Dini Mallory |
Guests |
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Bruce Baratz, Gilbert Boro, Jeff Cooley, Enok Pedersen, Linea Rufo, Robin Sedgwick |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Call to order, Quorum call, Approval of minutes, Communications |
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9:05 |
Public Open Forum |
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9:15 |
Public Hearing: Duck River Garden Club signs |
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9:30 |
Village Shops Parking signs |
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10:00 |
Public Hearing: Old Lyme Inn replacement sign |
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10:30 |
Cooley Gallery shed alteration |
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11:00 |
Plaque Program Update: Ferry Road, 4 Johnnycake Hill Road, 1 Library Lane |
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11:15 |
Active CofAs: 75 Lyme Street fence, 77 Lyme Street landscape screening, 84 Lyme Street Sill House renovations, 110 Lyme Street - renovation & addition |
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11:30 |
Business News & Secretary’s Report |
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11:45 |
Any Other New or Old Business |
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12:00 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman John Pfeiffer. A quorum of regular members was present.
Joanne DiCamillo made a motion, seconded by John Forbis, to approve the April minutes. John Pfeiffer, John Forbis, and Joanne DiCamillo voted in favor, Jim Bechtel abstained as he had not attended the April meeting. Motion passed.
1. Public Open Forum: Linea Rufo stated that the Bee & Thistle Inn’s annual art opening is next week. She would like to place a sculpture by Gilbert Boro in front of the inn. The 9 foot tall sculpture will be removed in the fall. A small informational plaque will be installed near the sculpture. A CofA application is needed and a public hearing will be held at the HDC’s June 2 meeting.
John Forbis made a motion, seconded by Jim Bechtel, to approve the placement of the sculpture pending approval of the CofA application at the public hearing in June. John Pfeiffer, Ken Levin, and Jim Bechtel voted in favor, Joanne DiCamillo abstained. Motion passed.
Action: submit CofA application and attend HDC June 2 meeting (Linea Rufo).
1. Public Hearing: Duck River Garden Club Signs
Bruce Baratz from the Duck River Garden Club submitted a CofA application for several 10” x 14” oval signs to be installed near the garden club’s plantings in front of the Town Hall and at the northwest corner of the Firehouse. The signs would be dark green with white lettering and say “Nurtured by the Duck River Garden Club”. The exact location and height of the signs has not been determined.
Action: present the required information at the HDC’s June 2 meeting (Bruce Baratz).
2. 10 Lyme Street: Village Shops parking signs – Warren Hannas
Mr. Hannas did not attend the meeting.
Action: contact Mr. Hannas to confirm attendance at the HDC’s June meeting (Martha Hansen).
3. Public Hearing: 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme Inn replacement sign
Ken Kitchings submitted a CofA application for a new, lighted, sign recently installed on the roof of the Old Lyme Inn, facing I-95. The sign is different from the old sign it replaced. Mr. Kitchings did not attend the meeting.
Action: contact Mr. Kitchings about the sign (John Pfeiffer).
4. 25 Lyme Street, Cooley Gallery Shed alteration
Jeff Cooley presented a plan for a small addition (6”x60”) to the shed in the back of the gallery for the purpose of housing an oil tank. No CofA is needed, the change is not visible from Lyme Street.
5. Plaque Program Update: Martha Hansen
20 Ferry Road: Research continues. (Martha Hansen and Pamela Hamilton).
23 Ferry Road: Research continues. (Martha Hansen and Robin Sedgwick).
4 Johnnycake Hill Road: Dyanne Rafal plans to do the research with help from Martha Hansen.
1 Library Lane: Contacted Eve Todd (Martha Hansen).
6. Active CofAs:
a) 75 Lyme Street fence: Joanne DiCamillo met with Dr. Awwa and Tom Degnan, Tree Warden. Mr. Degnan made recommendations for tree care/protection during construction and advised placing the fence 30 feet back from the curb to avoid the tree’s roots. He suggested hand digging the fence post holes to protect the roots.
Action: keep the HDC informed (Joanne DiCamillo).
b) 77 Lyme Street, Southwick Commons landscape screening: Mr. Resnikoff asked Mrs. DiCamillo to send the list of recommended shrubs, etc. to his landscaper so that he can order the plants. Mrs. DiCamillo emailed the list as requested.
c) 110 Lyme Street: work continues on the renovations/addition. A propane tank is being installed in back of the building, screened by shrubs.
Action: keep the HDC informed (Jim Bechtel).
7. Business News and Secretary’s Report:
Charlotte Hancock (Connecticut Trust) responded to the HDC’s request for advice on a program to identify historic ancillary buildings in Old Lyme (barns, artist’s studios, etc.). Ms. Hancock provided information on the CT Trust’s new Creative Places program to document sites associated with 20th century visual artists and writers.
8. Any Other New or Old Business:
a) Enok Pedersen submitted a CofA for a fence to screen an air conditioning unit. The public hearing was held in April, there were no objections from neighbors.
Ken Levin moved, seconded by Jim Bechtel, to approve the CofA for one year. All present voted in favor.
b) Robin Sedgwick was welcomed to the meeting. She may be interested in joining the HDC and was advised to fill out a volunteer form in the Selectman’s office.
c) Joanne DiCamillo mentioned an outbuilding located in back of the Christ the King Church Rectory. The building may be old, the rectory was built circa 1812. John Pfeiffer will look at it.
d) Dini Mallory attended a Chamber of Commerce meeting about developing a master plan for Hall’s Road. The goal is to enhance the area and make it more attractive to customers and businesses. The town is planning to form a committee to study the matter and is looking for volunteers. John Pfeiffer agreed to represent the HDC on the committee.
9. Adjournment:
John Forbis made a motion, seconded by Jim Bechtel, to adjourn the meeting at 11:05 am. All voted in favor. Motion passed.
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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