Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, July 7, 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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Sean Clark, Sara Holmes, Leonard Wyeth, John Gallant, George James, John Meluzzo |
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: 32 Lyme Street chimney renovation |
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9:45 |
Active CofAs: 75 Lyme Street fence, 77 Lyme Street landscape screening, 110 Lyme Street - renovation & addition |
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10:00 |
Plaque Program Update: Ferry Road, 4 Johnnycake Hill Road, 1 Library Lane, Ancillary buildings program |
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10:15 |
Secretary’s Report |
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10:30 |
Public Hearing: 84 Lyme Street, LACFA Sill House front steps replacement, other renovations |
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11:00 |
Any other new or old business to come before the Commission (Village Shops parking signs) |
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11:15 |
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 asked for a correction in the May minutes on item 1: the Old Lyme Historical Society should notify Tom Degnan regarding any landscaping or tree removal at 55 Lyme Street. Ken Levin asked to be added to the list of those who voted to approve the May minutes.
John Forbis made a motion, seconded by Jim Bechtel, to approve the June minutes as amended. John Pfeiffer, John Forbis, Joanne DiCamillo, Ken Levin, and Jim Bechtel voted in favor. Motion passed.
Communications: no communications
1. Public Open Forum:
Joe Meluzzo, an Old Lyme resident, has developed an interior storm window which works well for historic buildings. Mr. Meluzzo will attend the September meeting and demonstrate the product.
George James, representing the Conservation Commission, spoke about a state sponsored program that Old Lyme is participating in which allows a group of 50 people to qualify for a lower price on solar installations. Mr. James would like support from the HDC and help in promoting the project. John Forbis suggested mailing the information to town residents and making sure the information is on the town web site. John Pfeiffer stated that the HDC would support it in the Historic District.
2. Public Hearing: 32 Lyme Street chimney renovation – Sean Clark
Sean Clark, of Sean Clark Chimney Services, submitted a CofA application for rebuilding the chimney from the roof up, as it is crumbling. It will be of red brick with a bluestone cap, the dimensions will remain the same.
Joanne DiCamillo made a motion, seconded by Jim Bechtel, to approve the CofA as presented for 1 year. All present voted in favor, motion passed.
3. Active CofAs:
a) 75 Lyme Street fence: The fence has been installed looks very nice. Positive comments have been heard from townspeople.
Action: Send Dr. Awwa a letter letting him know about the compliments (Martha Hansen).
b) 77 Lyme Street, Southwick Commons landscape screening: nothing has been planted and there has been no communication from Mr. Resnikoff since April.
Action: Write letter to the ZEO regarding the situation, with copies to Robert Pratt (Chairman of the LACFA Board of Trustees) and Mr. Resnikoff (Martha Hansen).
c) 110 Lyme Street: the exterior work has been finished.
4. 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.
1 Library Lane: Contacted Eve Todd (Martha Hansen).
There has been no response to the letter sent to Ferry Road residents inviting them to participate in the plaque program.
Action: ask the Old Lyme Historical Society for help promoting the plaque program (Martha Hansen).
Ancillary Buildings program
Action: contact Charlotte Hitchcock regarding a tour of ancillary buildings in Old Lyme in October (Martha Hansen).
5. Secretary’s Report: no news to report
6. Public Hearing: 84 Lyme Street, Sill House front steps replacement, other renovations – Leonard Wyeth, Sara Holmes
In the original CofA application for renovations of the Sill House the front steps replacement was approved as “like for like”, which is what the grant from SHIPO covers. The steps, not original to the house, were probably added in the 1920s or 30s, as there are earlier photos of the house showing a covered (wooden) front porch. The original steps would very likely have been a single set of brownstone steps as shown in The Country Builder’s Assistant published in 1797, a book that the Sill House architect, Samuel Belcher, is known to have consulted. There is a house design identical to the Sill House showing the single front steps. This design was presented to the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts Board of Trustees, who were in favor of replacing the existing steps with the more authentic single step design.
Mr. Wyeth stated that there are two options; a) The stair work could be removed from the SHIPO grant, allowing the existing steps to be replaced by single brownstone steps and using the existing (restored) cast iron railings; or b) The stair work could remain in the grant and the stairs replaced “like for like” with new bluestone treads and a granite veneer. The existing cast iron railings would be restored, and the steel railings replaced.
The SHIPO grant is contributing a fairly small amount to the steps renovation so those funds may be able to be raised separately. John Forbis and Jim Bechtel offered to look into a way to guarantee the funds.
Joanne DiCamillo made a motion, seconded by John Forbis, to approve the plan for the single brownstone front steps of the Sill House as presented, providing that commitments for funding can be secured. All present voted in favor, motion passed.
7. Any Other New or Old Business:
a) Village Shops parking signs – John Pfeiffer and other HDC members looked at the area and did not see any potential for more parking. The space is very tight and cars backing out onto Academy Lane pose a hazard. Mr. Hannas has tried to solve the problem by posting signs designating parking spaces for compact cars only, but the signs are largely ignored by shop patrons.
Jim Bechtel moved, seconded by John Forbis, to write a letter to the First Selectman, with a copy to Mr. Hannas, about the hazard of cars backing out onto Academy Lane. All present voted in favor, motion carried.
8. Adjournment:
Ken Levin made a motion, seconded by Joanne DiCamillo, to adjourn the meeting at 11:27 am. All voted in favor. Motion passed.
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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