SALEM HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MINUTES
JANUARY 16, 2013
A meeting of the Salem Historical Commission was held on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 7:00 pm at 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA. Present were Kathryn Harper, Laurie Bellin, Susan Keenan, Joanne McCrea, and Laurence Spang.
Ms. Harper suggested that the Commission begin the meeting with Other Business as the applicant had not yet arrived.
Other Business
VOTE: Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 19th meeting. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Ms. Lovett stated that the City of Salem is applying for an MHC Survey and Planning Grant to undertake a nomination of Greenlawn Cemetery to the National Register of Historic Places. Jane Guy, from the Department of Planning and Community Development, has drafted a letter of support for the City’s application for funding.
Ms. McCrea asked if any of the projects at the cemetery had been implemented under the Works Progress and Administration (WPA)? If so, they could be mentioned in the report.
Ms. Lovett replied that she would speak with Ms. Guy and find out if that information was known.
VOTE: Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the letter of support with a possible amendment to include information on the WPA. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor, and the motion so carried.
The applicant for 101/103 Federal Street arrived. The discussion regarding Other Business was continued to the end of the meeting.
101/103 Federal Street
In continuance of a previous meeting, ProProcessIt, Inc. submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to remove a first floor awning window and to reduce the size of a second floor window (front most double hung) on the addition at the left side of the house by approximately three inches narrow and moving it forward. The application is also to add a three bath and one stove vent to the side.
ProProcessIt, Inc also submitted an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a small fixed non-operable skylight above a 2nd floor bathroom and to change the building’s paint color. John McIver was present at the meeting.
Documents & Exhibits
Mr. McIver stated that he is trying to work with the awning window in its current location. He would like to get permission from the Commission however, to cover the window with clapboards.
Ms. Bellin clarified that Mr. McIver would like the option to remove the window on the first floor awning.
Mr. McIver responded in the affirmative
Ms. Bellin asked if the second floor window would remain.
Mr. McIver responded in the affirmative.
Ms. Harper asked if the option to cover the window would be in case the interior work did not allow for the window to remain.
Mr. McIver responded in the affirmative.
Ms. Harper asked for public comment. There was no Public comment.
VOTE: Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the application to replace the window with clapboards. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor, and the motion so carried.
Discussion then ensued regarding the proposed stove vent.
Mr. McIver showed a sample of the stove vent he would like to install. The vent will be painted to match the house siding. The current vent needs to move because the stove will be move to between the two windows.
Mr. Spang asked if the vent could be located between the two windows.
Mr. McIver responded in the affirmative. The photoshop drawing presented to the Commission showed the incorrect location.
Ms. Bellin asked what the Commission thought about the height of the stove vent.
Mr. Spang asked if the stove vent high was limited due to the ceiling height.
Mr. McIver responded in the affirmative.
VOTE: Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the stove vent location, centered between the two windows. Ms. Harper seconded the motion, all were in favor, and the motion so carried
Discussion then ensued regarding the proposed skylight.
Mr. McIver believes that most of the skylight will be hidden from street view by the flat roof near it.
Ms. Harper asked if Mr. McIver had a manufacturer for the window.
Mr. McIver replied in the negative, but the window will be a Velux fixed skylight, about the same size of the recycling bin shown in the pictures.
Mr. Spang said that typically the skylights are 9-12” high because the flashing comes up around the window.
Mr. McIver responded that he was not aware of that.
Mr. Spang asked what the flashing finish would be.
Mr. McIver stated dark brown. He stated that he is open to other suggestions to get natural light into the bathroom if the Commission did not like the skylight idea.
Ms. Harper asked for public comment.
Constance Arlander, 91 Federal Street, stated she was under the impression that skylights had to be 6” off the roof. She recently had one replaced and was told that it needed to be installed higher than 3” off the roof like the older style of skylight. She asked if there was a window in the bathroom.
Mr. McIver responded that there was no window in the bathroom.
Ms. Arlander stated that the window will be visible at night when the bathroom light is on.
Mr. McIver stated that he didn’t believe so because the pitch is shallow and the bathroom will have down lighting.
Ms. Bellin suggested that the Commission needs to see a catalog cut for the window.
Ms. Harper agreed that the item should be continued until they are available to see a catalog cut and have more information about the height of the skylight.
Mr. Spang agreed.
Ms. Keenan also requested that information on the flashing color be submitted for that meeting.
Discussion then ensued regarding paint colors for the house.
Mr. McIver then passed around paint chips for the house paint colors. The house has already been painted, he was not aware that the Historical Commission reviewed paint colors.
VOTE: Ms. Bellin made a motion to continue the skylight to the February 6 meeting. Ms. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
VOTE: Ms. Bellin made a motion to approve the paint colors as submitted. McCrea seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Discussion then ensued regarding a Certificate of Non-Applicability filed for a balcony addition on the back of the house.
Ms. Harper stated that she went by the house and could see from Beckford Street the back windows of the house that are part of the deck addition project as well as the 1st floor porch.
Mr. McIver responded that he cut the balcony back to 6’ off the house so that it would not be visible from the street.
Ms. Harper stated that from the fence in front of 22 Beckford Street she could be see several windows.
Mr. McIver asked which windows she could see.
Ms. Harper stated that she could not see the row of windows, but she could see the window on the end proposed to become a door.
Ms. Lovett suggested that the applicant submit a Certificate of Appropriateness for the deck to be reviewed at the next meeting.
Mr. McIver stated that he did not want to send away his work crew for the next 3 weeks.
Ms. Harper asked if other commission members could go by and take a look at the house.
Ms. Bellin stated that if the window is visible from the street then it would be impossible to design the balcony to not be visible.
Mr. McIver showed pictures of where the balcony will be.
Ms. Bellin stated that he is in the street taking the picture but what if you are along the fence.
Mr. Spang suggested that Mr. McIver mock up a railing and take a picture from the street so that they can tell it is not visible.
Ms. Harper stated that there is a week before public notice needs to go out for a Certificate of Appropriateness. If another Commission member goes by and sees the window from the street then there is still time to submit an application for the next meeting.
Mr. Spang stated that assuming that everyone can see the window, Mr. McIver will need to bring plans and elevations of the balcony for the next meeting.
Ms. Bellin added that details on railing will be needed.
Ms. McCrea added that the color would need to be submitted.
Mr. Spang asked that information on the window being changed also be submitted.
Other Business
Ms. Lovett stated that she received a copy of a letter from Massachusetts Historical Commission to the Army Corps of Engineers stating that they have reviewed the information submitted for the Legacy Park Apartments at Harmony Grove development and have determined that the Salem Oil and Grease property (SAL.376) and the Blubber Hollow area (SAL.A) both meet the criteria of eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Ms. Lovett stated that she received a copy of a letter from Massachusetts Historical Commission to the National Register of Historic Places which states that the nomination of the North Street Fire Station, located at 142 North Street, was voted eligible by the State Review Board for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Ms. Lovett stated that she recently forwarded the Commission a copy of a Written Determination from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) regarding the Salem Intermodal Station. DEP has approved the application, subject to conditions.
Ms. Lovett stated that Chad Garner has been recommended to the City Council to be appointed to the Historical Commission. She expects that the Council will vote to approve his appointment at its January 24th meeting.
VOTE: 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,
Natalie BL Lovett
Community Development Planner
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