Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, April 6, 2015
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) left at 10:15, Joanne DiCamillo, Jim Bechtel left at 11:00, Barbara Traskos ALTERNATE: Dini Mallory, Jeff Cooley, Carol Winters |
Guests: |
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Bonnie Reemsnyder, Ken Levin, Keith Rosenfeld, Tammy Hinckley, Attny Michael Cronin, Angus McDonald, Celine Sullivan, Bob McCracken, Russell Learned, Kathy Burton, Sheila Werthiemer. Gary Parrington, Joseph Newman, Mimi Brainerd |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Call to order, Quorum call, Approval of minutes, Communications |
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9:05 |
Ken Levin Thank You |
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9:15 |
Zoning Update |
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9:25 |
Public Hearing: First Congregational Church of Old Lyme- propane tank and fence |
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9:45 |
Public Hearing: 31 Lyme Street, Hinckley, house addition |
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10:15 |
Public Hearing: 90 Lyme Street, LAA, Banner |
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10:40 |
Plaque Program Update: Ferry Road, 4 Johnnycake Hill Road, 206 Mile Creek Road, 17 Lieutenant River Lane, 10 Academy Lane |
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10:50 |
Secretary’s Report |
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11:00 |
Chamber of Commerce Signage |
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11:15 |
Duck River Garden Club |
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11:30 |
Any other new or old business to come before the Commission (Village Shops, 38 Lyme Street, PGN Library gutter extensions, Bee & Thistle Inn sculpture, Lyme Street signage) |
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12:00 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman John Pfeiffer. Joanne DiCamillo made a motion, seconded by John Forbis, to approve the March minutes. Jeff Cooley, Dini Mallory, John Forbis and John Pfeiffer voted in favor, motion passed. Joanne DiCamillo and Jim Bechtel abstained.
Communications: A letter has been received from Wendy Brainerd regarding the 5 Lyme Street propane tank installation.
1. Ken Levin Thank You – Dr. Pfeiffer thanked Ken Levin for his years of service to the Town of Old Lyme. First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder presented Mr. Levin with a Certificate of Appreciation for his many years of service on the Historic District Commission. Ken Levin thanked Mrs. Reemsnyder and the commission members.
2. Zoning update – Keith Rosenfeld
The ZBA continues to debate the cease and desist issued to the Vitality Spa. The board could not make a decision at the last meeting. The matter will be discussed at the next meeting on April 21.
The 38 Lyme Street property is going through the foreclosure process.
3. Public Hearing: First Congregational Church of Old Lyme – 5 Lyme Street propane tank & fence – Bob McCracken, and Russell Learned of Centerbrook Architects
A plan was presented to install the 1000 gallon propane tank on the south side towards the rear of the property, on a concrete pad surrounded by a 4 foot high wooden fence which would be screened by shrubs. Dr. Pfeiffer stated that he would prefer to locate the tank in back of the building so that it would not be visible from Lyme Street. Mr. Learned stated that the back yard is flat and open and that the tank, even though screened with a fence and shrubs, would be highly visible for the residents of the parsonage. He continued, that the location on the south side of the lot (adjacent to Marty Ames’ house) is somewhat screened by forsythia and trees. Russell Learned indicated that the tank location that he and McCracken preferred on the south border could only be visible from the area of the church and not from Lyme
Street. Jim Bechtel indicated that the proposed location for the tank is clearly sensitive and agreed with Dr. Pfeiffer that the placement needed more review. Dr. Pfeiffer asked to have several different locations flagged so that commission members can see how visible they are.
Mr. McCracken and Mr. Learned agreed to flag several locations on the property. The discussion will continue in at the May 4 meeting.
Action: Mark several tank locations with flags (Russell Learned and Bob McCracken). Look at the areas marked (HDC members).
4. Public Hearing: 31 Lyme Street, Hinckley, House addition – Attorney Michael Cronin, Angus McDonald, Chris Herald, architect.
A CofA application was submitted for an addition on the north side of the house. The existing 1950s addition has deteriorated and will be removed. The new addition will be the same height and will increase the footprint by a small amount, but the total area of the house will be well within the zoning requirement for lot coverage, and will meet all setback requirements. The addition will not be visible from the front of the house. Neighbor Celine Sullivan attended the meeting. There were no objections from neighbors.
Jim Bechtel made a motion, seconded by John Forbis to approve the CofA as presented, for one year. All present voted in favor, motion passed.
Dini Mallory will be the HDC liaison.
5. Public Hearing, 90 Lyme Street, LAA Banner – Gary Parrington, Joseph Newman
A CofA application was submitted to install a vertical banner to the existing, free-standing, Lyme Art Association sign to advertise exhibitions. There will be a new banner for each exhibition. The Florence Griswold Museum and the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts use similar banners to advertise their exhibitions. There were no objections from neighbors.
Jim Bechtel made a motion, seconded by Joanne DiCamillo, to approve the CofA application as presented all present voted in favor, motion passed.
6. Plaque Program Update: Martha Hansen
4 Johnnycake Hill Road: Dyanne Rafal plans to do the research with help from Martha Hansen
206 Mile Creek Road: Continue research with Mr. Holland (Martha Hansen).
17 Lieutenant River Lane: The plaque “John J. Speirs ca 1920” has been delivered
10 Academy Lane – the plaque “Robert H. Noble, Judge of Probate, ca 1937”has been delivered.
Dr. Pfeiffer asked for a motion to have an item added to the agenda.
Jeff Cooley made a motion, seconded by Jim Bechtel, to add the Root Yoga Studio sign to the agenda. All present voted in favor, motion passed.
7. Mimi Brainerd, Yoga Studio Sign alteration 23 Lyme Street. Mimi Brainerd presented plans to change the color of the Root Yoga Studio sign, and add a design logo to it. The size will remain the same. The new color scheme will be black letters on a white background. The HDC members approved of the change, which is minor.
8. Secretary’s Report:
Memberships to the Connecticut Trust, The National Trust, and the Old Lyme Historical Society will be paid this month. The Connecticut Trust’s funding is being reduced and they have asked the HDC to increase its membership level from $45 to $70.
Jim Bechtel made a motion, seconded by Jeff Cooley, to renew the HDC’s CT Trust membership at the $70 level. Jim Bechtel, John Pfeiffer, and Joanne DiCamillo voted in favor, John Forbis opposed, motion passed.
Action: Renew memberships to the CT Trust, the National Trust, and the Old Lyme Historical Society (Martha Hansen).
9. Chamber of Commerce Signage: Sheila Wertheimer spoke about the need for more attractive signage at the corner of Lyme Street and Halls Road. She passed around an example of a sign design. A committee is being formed to work on making Halls Road more attractive. The Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce is also interested in improving signage in town.
Dr. Pfeiffer stated that the HDC has been discussing signage in the Historic District and would like to work with the Halls Road committee and the Chamber of Commerce to come up with a common design. Jeff Cooley agreed to represent the HDC and will get in touch with Cathy Frank.
9. Duck River Garden Club: Kathy Burton: The garden club has seven civic sites around town that they maintain. The club would like to create a Welcome Garden program to encourage individual businesses to add window boxes, flower baskets, and/or planters to make their businesses more attractive. There would be a competition to encourage participation and the plantings would be judged by the garden club. The program would be town-wide and would begin in May. The garden club would like to send letters to businesses in the Historic District inviting them to participate in the program. Businesses participating in the program would receive a small identifying garden club sign to put in their planter.
Dr. Pfeiffer stated that he would like to see a residential component to the program in the Hstoric District. The HDC would also like to see an example (size and design) of the signs that would go into the planters.
10. Any Other New or Old Business:
The sculpture in front of Bee & Thistle Inn has been removed.
Jim Bechtel mentioned that the Old Lyme Children’s Learning Center has an air conditioning unit in front of the building that is very visible and should be screened.
Action: Look at the OLCLC air conditioner (HDC members).
11. Adjournment:
Jeff Cooley made a motion, seconded by Barbara Traskos, to adjourn the meeting at 11:06 am. All present voted in favor. Motion passed
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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