HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-08-26 Historical Commission Minutes�� OrR
Town of Reading
�, 1, Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Historical Commission August 26, 2014
Date: 2014 -08 -26 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Regularly scheduled meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair: Sharlene Reynolds Santo (SRS)
Treasurer:
Secretary: Carl Mittnight (CM)
Robyn Parker (RP)
Nancy Kohl (NK)
Virginia Adams (VA)
Sally Hilgendorff (SH)
Jonathan Barnes (JB)
Members - Not Present:
Robyn Parker (RP)
Ron Weston (RW)
Others Present:
Cynda Rohmer
Mary Ellen O'Neill
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Carl Mittnight
Topics of Discussion:
RECEIVED
1 DpiNG. MASS.
1014 SEP I l A 11: 02
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R @s0
Call to Order
August 26, 2014 at 7:20 pm.
Minutes
Reviewed meeting minutes: Approved as amended for meetings held
File with
CM
on 7/24/14 and 8/5114
clerk
Budget
The RHC voted unanimously to approve reimbursement to VA for an
expenditure of $7.98 for anterior pictures of 186 Summer Avenue and
163167 South Street.
Archives
No update.
186 Summer
Discussed RHC's obligation to work with the applicant, based on the
Avenue
specific provisions of the application before the RHC. As the terms of
this application include the conversion of the property to a Criterion
Early Childhood Development facility, RHC is obligated to collaborate
with applicant to best preserve as much of the historic structure and
features of the property as possible with respect to applicant's
proposal to such a conversion of use.
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Avenue. structures on the site, for residenf/a/ use would best serve the Town's
continued and that neighborhood's historic values and interests. To that end,
discussed RHC's additional obligation to propose to and work with the
applicant to develop other reasonable alternatives for saving the
home and barn as a residence on the site.
RHC understands that a Purchase 8 Sale Agreement (P&S) for the
property may have been signed by the applicant and Criterion ECD,
and as such applicant would be obligated to adhere to its terms. RHC
is unaware of the terms of the PBS, particularly concerning its
voidance by either party; and in any event, the applican lseller is
certainly allowed to compile and consider a list of potential alternative
backup options for this property.
To that end, and as the applicant is obligated to work with the RHC on
alternatives to demolition, the RHC determined that a set of
alternatives which could preserve the structures and site as a
residence should be presented for consideration by the applicant.
Several members of the RHC took on one of the following alternatives
to research and prepare a report for distribution to the owner:
1. The town is considering Bed and Breakfasts. (NK)
2. The barn could be renovated and rented out according to the
Carnage House Bylaw, soon to be incorporated into the
Accessory Apartment Bylaw. (VA/SH)
& Provision of additional frontage for two of the current lots an the
site through an agreement with a potentially willing abutter of the
site; and via a variance from the ZBA regarding frontage on the
one lot containg the current structures, allowing for two
"buildable" lots. Additionally, sell the back lot, currently wooded,
to the town. Presumably the sales value of these three lots would
command sufficient revenue satisfactory to the applicant (as
compared to applicant's current proposal to demolish the historic
structures and convert the site to an ECD facility.
4. Use of the property under Planned Residential Development -R.
5. Create a list of alternative locations for Criterion Child
Enrichment: 258 Main Street, Walgreen's building, Post Office,
Certainly Wood building, former Reading Gymnastics Academy
building, others?
8. A list of websites listing older homes for sale:
http: //www.oldhouses.coni/cf/search.cfm
ht tp:// historicfealestate .oreservalionnation ora/
htto: / /www.oreservationdirectory Dorn /h'stodcrealestate /homesfgmale
aspx
IA10/circaoldhouses.com/search
hap: //www.counINlivino com/ homes /real- estate /real- estate -samol -
submissions?click =main sr
Reports should be prepared in time for the September 8 RHC
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01867
C.Rohmer and M.E.O'Neill updated the RHC on the activities of the
Neighborhood
01867 Neighborhood Preservation (Group):
Preservation
1. The Group submitted the preliminary report to expand the current
Update
West Street Historical District to include homes on Summer
Avenue from Woburn Street to Glen Road, to the Massachusetts
Historical Commission. This begins a 60-day waiting period.
2. The Group hired two attorneys: one to look at the applicability of
the Dover Amendment and the other with expertise in zoning.
(The Dover Amendment is a state law allowing exemptions from
zoning bylaws for non -profit schools or religious institutions.)
3. The Group had 250 lawn signs made, using positive language.
4. The Group is planning a petition drive.
5. The Group plans to set up a booth at the Fall Street Faire.
6. An informational meeting is being planned for September 8, 2014
at the Pleasant Street Center.
7. The Group set up a web site and a Facebook page.
Demolition
Two hearings will be held on September 15, 2014. One at 7:OOpm for
Delay Hearings
119 Salem Street and another at 8:30 for 163 -167 South Street.
119 Salem
The RHC reviewed the property, including historical and architectural
Street
si nificance.
96 John Street
The owner is applying for a Demolition Permit.
75 Pearl Street
The RHC reviewed the canopy drawings and lighting fixture
description submitted by LCB Senior Living. While the downspouts
were not represented in the drawings, the lighting fixtures were
deemed acceptable by the RHC.
20 Washington
The owner inquired about a Plaquing program in Reading. The RHC
Follow -up
CM
Street
was working towards a program in the spring of 2014. An agreement
with
with Markarian Sign to produce a sample was made: no sample has
Markarian
at been rod .
Sion
Town Web Site
The Town Web site needs to be updated with the current members of
the RHC.
Ad oumed
I The meting adjourned at 10:25 gm.
Next lilleartinia
I September 8, 2014 at 7:00 PRI
All
Copies of referenced correspondence and documents are kept in Meeting Minutes binder and relevant project
folders located in the Reading Historical Commission Archives lower level of the Reading Town Hall
Preservation only works when we remember it is all about: People — Planning — Partnerships — Politics.
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