SALEM HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MINUTES
MAY 4, 2011
A meeting of the Salem Historical Commission was held on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 7:30 pm at 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA. Present were Ms. Herbert, Ms. Harper, Ms. McCrea, Ms. Keenan and Ms. Bellin.
35 Broad Street
Paul Viccica and Helen Sides submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for paint colors. The body will be Benjamin Moore Mannequin Cream, the trim will be Mayonnaise and the shutters will be Sorcerer. The will also make repairs to rakes, soffits and flat roofs.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application
- Photographs
- Paint chips
Ms. Sides stated that the trim is lighter and the body color darker.
There was no public comment.
Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the application as submitted. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Sides stated that with Sean Clarke from Waters and Brown, she presented to the Board of Health a proposal to change the paint preparation guidelines. She stated that the Board of Health is going to be adopting the EPA guidelines with power sanding allowed with HEPA vacuum and it will be more stricter requirements for permitting, applications and fines, so that we can do the right thing with these buildings, prepare them well and also suck up all the lead paint, rather than it scattering all over the city.
60-62 Washington Square South
In continuation of a previous meeting Lewis Legon, Hodges Court Real Estate, LLC, submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the following:
- Install 2 vents in chimneys as installed
- Replace 2, third floor windows with double hunger Anderson 200s as installed
The agenda also included discussion on the windows installed with applied grids and the height of new faux chimney in rear.
Documents & Exhibits
Ms. Guy stated that she received a request to continue the application to the meeting of May 18th and that the request also included a waiver of the requirement that the Commission act on the application within 60 days.
Ms. Bellin made a motion to continue the application. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
2 Oliver Streeet/33 Washington Square
David C. Jones presented an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to construct a pergola on an existing deck in the rear yard. It will have three 8’x8”x8” posts with caps, similar to the existing fence. The beams will be 2”x6” pressure treated. All will be painted white to match existing.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application
- Photographs
- Sketches
Ms. Harper asked if everything will be pressure treated. Mr. Jones stated that he may use some cedar.
There was no public comment.
Ms. Harper made a motion to approve the application as submitted. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
401 Bridge Street
High Rock Bridge Street LLC submitted an application for Waiver of the Demolition Delay Ordinance to completely remove the building, noting that the roof has partially collapsed and is unsafe. The building is being removed for a new 137,000 s.f. commercial building.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application
- Photographs
- Demolition & Erosion Control Plan
- Gateway Center elevations
Ms. Guy stated that the application has withdrawn the application. This is due to the building department having condemned the building, based on recommendations from the City Engineer and Fire Chief.
40 Derby Street
Ms. Harper recused herself from discussion on the application and sat in the audience.
Tina and Richard Jodrie submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace existing 3-tab shingles with Landmark Woodscape Colonial Slate architectural shingles. Tammy and Steven LaMonde, contractors, were present.
Documents & Exhibits
Ms. Lamonde stated that the owners are not present due to a death in the family. She stated that the homeowner requested architectural because they believe 70% of Derby Street is already architectural shingles. She provided photographs of some of these properties.
Mr. Lamonde stated that the house itself is not historical, but rather is just located in the district.
Mr. Lamonde stated that the owner has chosen Colonial Slate, the color selection due to being across from the power plant which stains his roof.
Ms. Lamonde noted that one of the House of Seven Gables properties has architectural shingles.
Mr. Lamonde stated that the proposed is a better quality than Iko. He stated that the proposed will give more of a wood or cedar shake look.
Ms. Herbert asked if they are doing other work on the house.
Mr. Lamonde replied in the negative and stated that part of the roof is leaking.
Ms. Herbert stated that the house is historic, but has been altered. She stated that there are violations on the property, noting that there are satellite dishes visible on the roof and that they would need to be moved so they are not visible from the public way.
Mr. Lamonde stated that one will be taken off and the other will be moved to the back where it can’t be seen.
Ms. Herbert asked when the flue was put in the chimney.
Mr. Lamonde stated that he did not know, but believed it had been there a while.
Ms. Herbert asked if it were the type of venting that could be enclosed.
Mr. Lamonde stated that by code, it needs to extend 9 to 10 inches above the cap and that if you put anything around it, it would not be able to breath.
Mr. Herbert stated that a possible solution is a chimney cap with mesh around it. She stated that as part of the roof project any vent pipes should be painted out to blend into the roof.
Ms. Herbert wondered if the Commission needed to investigate more about the architectural roofs on Derby Street.
Ms. Guy noted that the Commission has not always been concerned about architectural roofs versus 3-tab roofs and that in years past Certificates only specified asphalt and a color. She added that some of the roofs may also have been replaced prior to the formation of the district. She stated that some of the prior reviews of architectural roofs were based on the size and massing of the roof and were not completely denying architectural roofing altogether.
Ms. Herbert noted that there are a few architectural roofs that the Commission has recently approved, as long as they don’t create too much of variance in light so that they don’t look like a checkerboard. The Commission has also specified shape.
Ms. Guy stated that she supplied the applicants with the information on those that had been approved.
Ms. Herbert stated that she did not feel the proposed is a type that has been recently approved.
Ms. Lamonde stated that the owner is willing to go with the Iko, because he prefers an architectural and felt that he is entitled because of the other properties on Derby Street with architectural roofs.
Ms. Bellin stated that we have to focus on what is in front of us, and that we really don’t know the history of the others, so it is not a question of he gets to have it because somebody else has it. She stated that she feels the color is a little light. She stated that she is somewhat hesitant on architectural because it draws attention to the roof.
Mr. Lamonde stated that since Elk bought out Landmark and GAF, there is rarely one solid color available.
Ms. Bellin stated that she is not asking for a solid color, but rather a charcoal grey or black.
Mr. Lamonde stated that people tend to go with light shades in order to prevent rot, because a darker shingle absorbs the heat. He stated that the owner is picking the color due to being across from the power plant and when the color starts to change from staining, the stain will blend better in with the proposed shingle color.
Ms. Lamonde noted that the owner will accept any color in either type of architectural shingle.
Ms. Harper, representing herself as an abutter, stated that she has 3-tab shingles on her house. She asked what color comes from the power plant.
Mr. Lamonde stated that it is light to dark brown.
Ms. Lamonde stated that one side of the house has green shingles and the other side is white.
Ms. Harper stated that the straight edge shingles leap out less. She wondered if a dark color would absorb the power plant debris better.
Ms. Bellin stated that she felt a dark shingle will hide a lot of the differences in the architectural. She noted that the Commission has not been approving angled shingles.
Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the IKO Cambridge 30 AR asphalt shingles in Dual Black or in Harvard Slate since the commission has previously approved this shingle in both colors. Ms. Keenan seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Herbert reminded the petitioners to relocate the satellite dishes to be non-visible.
Ms. Harper rejoined the meeting.
42 Warren Street
Todd and Jennifer Weissman submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of an existing garage/shed and replacement with a new cedar shed to be painted the same color as the house. The application is also to construct a brick wall to extend from the back edge of the house to the end of the property. The shed will be 8’ x 12’. The wall will be approximately 30’ in length, 42” in height, with 2 pillars to flank a pedestrian gate. It will be capped with 14” wide granite.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application
- Photographs
- Catalog cut of proposed shed
- Sketch of wall
Ms. Bellin asked the size of the current shed.
Mr. Weissman stated that the new one is smaller.
Ms. Weissman stated that the current shed is metal. She stated that the wall would start at the edge of the house and go to the end of the property. There will no longer be a garage.
Ms. Herbert asked if the fence around the rest of the property is wood.
Ms. Weissman replied in the affirmative. They will reuse some brick from the driveway for the wall and will match any new bricks to those.
Ms. Herbert asked if they have a gate design.
Ms. Weissman stated that it will be iron, but that they did not have a design. The wall cap will be granite rather than bluestone. The shed will go in the same location. The gate opening can go in anywhere and does not have to be centered.
Ms. Herbert stated that the Commission will need to see the gate design.
Mr. Weissman stated that the shed will be centered on the driveway and would prefer the gate also be centered.
Ms. Weissman stated that it is a Reeds Ferry shed from New Hampshire.
Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve a brick wall as proposed, reusing some existing brick from driveway and with new brick to match driveway brick in the same pattern as the driveway, capped with granite per drawing, with the gate opening to line up with the center of driveway. The motion is also to approve demolition of the existing garage/shed and replacement with a new Reeds Ferry 8’ x 12’ shed per photograph and description submitted, in the same location centered on driveway. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
The applicants will need to apply for the gate.
15 High Street
Ms. Harper made a disclosure that she had been renting space in this building and that since the building has been sold, she no longer has a financial interest.
Paula Pearce submitted an application to waive the Demolition Delay Ordinance for complete demolition of 15 High Street due to it being in disrepair and having structural problems. She intends to build a single condo with 3-car parking.
Documents & Exhibits
- Application
- Photographs
- Land survey completed by Edwin T. Brudzynski
- Drawings of proposed new residence completed by HND Architects
Ms. Pearce stated that there will be 2 condos at 17 High Street and one at 15 High Street and the garages will provide parking for all 3 units. She stated that there will be no vinyl and that the Zoning Board of Appeal has already approved the project.
Ms. Herbert questioned if the lone condo owners at 15 High Street will have an issue with the other 2 garage doors opening at 2 in the morning.
Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the waiver of the Demolition Delay Ordinance for the demolition of 15 High Street. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Other Business
- Ms. Guy stated that the First Church in Salem has requested an extension of their 5/24/10 Certificate of Appropriateness for the addition for one year. Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the extension. Ms. Harper seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
- Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the minutes of April 20, 2011. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
There being no further business, Ms. Bellin made a motion to adjourn. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane A. Guy
Clerk of the Commission
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