Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, March 7, 2016
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 |
Absent |
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Barbara Traskos, Dini Mallory, Jeff Cooley |
Guests |
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Jane Montenaro, Bonnie Reemsnyder, Mary Seidner, Cindy Taylor |
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 |
Zoning update |
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9:30 |
Public Hearing: LYSB – replace basketball court with play area, remove parking area, install Landscaping |
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10:00 |
Public Hearing: Hinckley – AC Unit screening |
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10:30 |
Amtrak Train update |
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10:45 |
Plaque Program Update: 4 Johnnycake Hill Road, 206 Mile Creek Road, 209 Mile Creek Road, 6 Ferry Road, 10 Ferry Road, 110 Lyme Street |
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11:00 |
Secretary’s Report |
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11:15 |
Any other new or old business to come before the Commission (32 Lyme Street Propane tank & AC unit screening, HD handbook reprint, Village Shops parking) |
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11:30 |
Adjournment |
A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman John Pfeiffer. Approval of the February minutes was postponed due to the lack of a quorum of members who had attended the meeting.
1. Communications: A letter regarding the Village Shops parking on Academy Lane was sent to First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder, Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal, and Selectman Skip Sibley, with a copy to Lee and Michele Mergy. The letter recommended that the parking be changed from perpendicular to parallel to avoid cars backing out into Academy Lane, which is a narrow road.
2. Zoning Update: no update
3. Public Hearing: LYSB – Mary Seidner submitted a CofA to create a new play area in back of the LYSB building. The existing parking area and basketball court will be removed and replaced with a four-square court and lawn. The back entrance to the property will be closed off with a combination of (removable) lighted bollards, and a fence. The Jonathan Glenn Memorial Fund will finance the project, which is planned to be completed by the end of May.
Jim Bechtel made a motion, seconded by John Forbis, to approve the CofA as presented. All present voted in favor, motion passed.
4. Public Hearing: 31 Lyme Street AC unit screening
Daddona Brothers Mechanical submitted a CofA to install a new AC unit next to the existing units at 31 Lyme Street. The units will not be visible from the street, but can be seen from the neighboring house. The commission would like them to be screened from the neighbor’s view.
Jim Bechtel made a motion, seconded by John Forbis, to approve the CofA on the condition that the units be screened from the view of the neighbors. All present voted in favor, motion passed.
5. Amtrak update: First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder reported that she has met with Joe Courtney, and has spoken to DOT Commissioner Redeker several times about removing Alternative 1, which goes through Old Lyme, from consideration. Over 1000 comments were recorded online during the comment period. Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that the Connecticut River estuary is very sensitive and the high speed rail plan would have a profound impact on it, as well as on many historic properties. She feels that getting the word out about the plan’s environmental impact is very important. Old Lyme is already being damaged by speculation that the rail line will go through the town. She prefers Alternative 2, which would branch off on the west side of the Connecticut River and go up through Hartford and Storrs to Boston. John
Forbis remarked that the anticipated rise in sea level is a major reason that the rail line is being moved inland. New London County is the most at risk from sea level rise and storm surge; 25% of the existing rail tracks in the county are predicted to be submerged in the future.
John Pfeiffer stated that he would like to focus on the area between Lyme Street and the Connecticut River and get as many houses as possible on the National Register of Historic Places. He thinks there are thirty to forty houses that may qualify. SHPO is planning on conducting an architectural survey of the beach areas and Griswold Point. Griswold Point is the oldest property continually occupied by the same family in the United States.
6. Plaque Program Update: Martha Hansen
4 Johnnycake Hill Road: Dyanne Rafal plans to do research with help from Martha Hansen
206 Mile Creek Road: Research has been started on the neighboring property to help clarify the history of #206.
209 Mile Creek Road: Martha Hansen is helping Patricia Shippee with the research and has made some progress.
6 Ferry Road: Julie Quinn is working on the research.
10 Ferry Road: David Rahr is interested in a plaque, Martha Hansen will follow up.
110 Lyme Street: John Noyes has been contacted about a plaque for his house at 110 Lyme Street, he is working on the research.
32 Lyme Street: Cindy Taylor is interested in a plaque.
John Forbis suggested getting historic plaques for the barns at 1 Lyme Street, and 110 Lyme Street. Martha Hansen will look into this.
7. Secretary’s Report:
a) The HDC’s memberships in the OLHSI, CT Trust, and National Trust will be renewed this month.
b) The HD handbook update meets the criteria for a CLG HPEG grant. The grants are up to $5,000 and do not require matching funds. New photographs will be added, and the content will be updated. John Forbis will look into production costs.
Action: contact Mary Dunne about applying for a grant (Martha Hansen).
8. Any Other New or Old Business:
Cindy Taylor will be screening the propane tank and AC unit, and would like to install a privacy fence between her yard and the neighboring property on Beckwith Lane. She submitted a CofA application and will provide some examples of the fencing.
Martha Hansen will write a letter to the First Congregational Church regarding the status of landscaping for the fenced area in back of 5 Lyme Street.
9. Adjournment:
Jim Bechtel made a motion, seconded by John Forbis, to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 am. All present voted in favor, motion passed.
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
NOTICE: Messages to or from the Town of Old Lyme domain are subject to the Freedom of Information statutes and regulations.
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