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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-27 West Street Historic District Commission Minutes'r C M +: o fia JsJ8 )NCO P? Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: West Street Historic District Date: 2014 -10 -27 Time: 07:00 PM Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Location: Great Room Address: 49 Pleasant Street i OWE N CLERK t +DING. M,�SS. 10i5 FEB 18 A10:13 Purpose: Public Hearing for the Proposed Summer Avenue Local Historic District Attendees: Members - Present: Everett Blodgett, Chairman; Priscilla Poehler, Virginia Adams, Ilene Bornstein Members - Not Present: Alyssa Scaparotti Others Present: Mrs. Virginia Blodgett David Godwin, 189 Summer Avenue Peter & Sally Murphy, 121 Prospect Street Liz Whitelam, 7 Gilmore Avenue Brendon Murphy, 43 Bond Street Sandy Boyer, 20 Copeland Avenue Leslie Soria, 259 Summer Avenue John & Melissa Mendez, 149 Summer Avenue Barbara & Michael McDade, 33 Virginia Road Carolyn Goldy, 42 Berkeley Street Gina Snyder, 11 Jadem Terrace Linda Mitropoulos, 112 Summer Avenue Susan Taylor, 76 Pearl Street Anne Mark, 284 Summer Avenue Jamie Kreppein, 15 Pratt Street Nancy Graham, 26 Holly Road Tracey Perkins, 175 Summer Avenue Ellen Penafiel, 143 Prospect Street AnnMarie Flynn, 112 Mineral Street Eileen Barrett, 90 Sunnyside Avenue Mark Warmer, 7 Temple Street Cathie Mayo, 87 Prescott Stret Rob Figenbaum, 87 Prescott Street Dan Ensminger, 6 Oakland Road Elise Ciregna, 48 Pearl Street Will Finch, 51 Mill Street Bo Garrison, 11 Jadem Terrace Theo Mitropoulos, 112 Summer Avenue Anne Godwin, 189 Summer Avenue Camille Anthony, 26 Orchard Drive Carl Mittnight, 18 Cherry Lane Drive Joaquin Umana, 62 Summer Avenue Connie Swaebe, 16 Vale Road. Kathi Proctor, 30 Prospect Street Page I 1 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Rebecca Liberman, 50 Pratt Street Angela Binda, 10 Orchard Park Drive Rachel & Steve Baumgartner, 285 Summer Avenue Alice Armstrong, 340 Summer Avenue Diana Deyermenjian, 217 High Street Mary Ellen O'Neill, 125 Summer Avenue Bob & Lorraine Salter, 247 Summer Avenue Lina Snow Dockser, 110 Beaver Road Ellen & Rick Penafiel, 143 Prospect Street Anmarie Flynn, 112 Mineral Street Nancy Ziemlak, 15 Orchard Park Drive Joe & Liz Lupi, 167 Summer Avenue Tom & Mary Parr, 22 Garrett Road Jack Williams, 46 Summer Avenue Peggy White, 97 Prospect Stret John Halsey, 75 Beaver Road Phyllis & George Perry, 230 Franklin Street James Guttadauro, 75 Vine Street Bea Garner, Adam Street Pat & Pete Shields, 31 Randall Street Nancy Lamb, 194 Summer Avenue Anne F Coneeney, 13 Temple Street Cindy McGrath, 25 Glen Road Ben Tafoya, 40 Oak Street Kathy & David Greenfield, 192 Woburn Street Cynda Rohmer, 176 Summer Avenue Robert Cruickshank, 32 Copeland Avenue Bob Drake, 176 Summer Avenue Rachelle Garcia, 15 California Road Bill Saunders, 193 Prescott Street Carol Hollingshead, 193 Prescott Street Dennis Carr, 61 Temple Street Jonathan Barnes, 41 Pratt Street Nadin Hamblin, 89 Vine Street Kelly Corwin, 199 Summer Avenue Valerie Wadell, 43 Berkeley Street Joanne & John Harney, 106 Summer Avenue Tiffany & Gardner Bradlee, 198 Summer Avenue D. O'Connor, 210 Summer Avenue Kevin Sexton, 20 Emerson Street Cynthia Tozian Cool & Steven Cool, 107 Prospect Street Theresa Jeffrey, 181 Summer Aveue Ellen Hill, 14 Frank Tanner Drive, #3 Liz Magliozzi, Federal Street - Wilmington Sharlene Reynolds Santo, 46 Wakefield Street Jerry Lamb, 194 Summer Avenue Mary Coneeney, 13 Temple Street Beth Eggimann, 26 Hemlock Road Meghan Young, 40 Oak Street Cindy McGrath, 25 Glen Road Marla Clough, 172 Summer Avenue Kirsten Kinsella, 304 Franklin Street Lisa Rinaldi, 65 Temple Street Susan & Frank Coccoluto, 195 Summer Avenue Page 1 2 FA Town of Reading Meeting Minutes '6J9'INC0Rp�PT� Larry McHugh, 205 Summer Avenue Charles Beauregard, 17 Pierce Street Fausto ] Garcia, 15 California Road Robert Corwin, 199 Summer Avenue Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kim Saunders Topics of Discussion: Mr. Blodgett opened the public hearing at 7:00 p.m. He introduced the West Street Historic District Commission members. He stated the WSHDC voted unanimously to be the study committee for the proposed Summer Avenue local historic district. Each Commission member discussed a portion of the PowerPoint presentation. Below is a summary of what was presented: Mrs. Adams — • History and Significance of the Proposed District • Prominent figures resided in Reading in the late 1800 • Summer Avenue attractive neighborhood, street scape • How a District is created • WSHDC agreed to take on task • Steps needed to be able to create a district • What are the benefits • Preserve and protect the distinctive character of the building and places Ms. Poehler — • History of Local Historic Districts • Discussed the location of the proposed District — includes 146 Summer Avenue, Wisteria Lodge • Discussed other Towns that have historic districts • In 2005 Readings 1St district created - WSHDC Ms. Bornstein — • Integrity and Challenges Facing the District • 25 properties in the proposed District • 10 properties are on the Historic and Architectural list • 5 properties are on the National Register Mr. Blodgett — • Exclusions from review • Certificate of Appropriateness and Certificate of Non Applicability Page 1 3 • Disapproval — public appeal process • No restriction or protection on properties listed on the National Register • A local historic district protects a significant building from demolition and inappropriate renovations • The same bylaw would be applied to this District as the WSHDC • Survey showed over whelming positive results to create a District • Final report needed • Town Meeting vote needs to be 2/3 in favor • Submittal to the Attorney General is needed • One Extra step from homeowners • Town Department approval still needed • Article 9 at Subsequent Town Meeting in November 2014 Mr. Blodgett ended the presentation — opened it up to the public: • Mr. Williams — how were the boundaries created? Usually concerns by neighbors will start the process. This should be considered a start of Historic District, the Town has other locations for Districts. • Mr. Figenbaum — if the District is created, would 186 Summer Avenue be protected from the Dover Act? It does not prevent the Dover Act from taking place. Town Counsel would need to give an opinion. If no District, there will be no control. • Ms. Anthony— if the District is in place, how would this impact the demolition delay? Town Counsel would need to interpret. • Mr. Garcia — how many applications submitted to the WSHDC have been disapproved? One, the owners are working on another option of roofing material. There is a good working system on the West Street. The showing of support for the proposed District is proof. • Ms. Reynolds Santo — could you give examples of what the WSHDC has approved or discussed? Roofs, fences and sheds are the biggest applications. Windows and demolitions are other discussions. • Mr. Barnes — could you describe the appeal process; is it a local bylaw or state law? It is the Town bylaw. The MAPC would be the arbitrators. • Mr. Dodge — why is commercial use being allowed under the zoning bylaw in a residential neighborhood? The Dover Amendment was discussed. • Mr. Lamb — is in favor of the creation of the District; it has been educational for him. The passing of the District is a reinforcement for the Town. • Ms. Binda — who will sponsor the District if passed? The WSHDC will be the Commission and the reason why was explained. • Ms. Binda — commented, after this meeting she has a better understanding of having a local historic district. She also stated how important it is to let the Town Meeting members know the majority of the property owners are in favor of the creation. • Mr. Cool — what where the results of the poll sent to the property owners? Majority in favor, just one more step. • Mr. Cruickshank — questioned if the demolition will still take place if the District is created. Town Counsel will need to review. They have a demolition delay, not a demolition permit • Ms. Greenfield — commented the Counsel for the 01867 Preservation has given their opinion and unofficially so has Massachusetts Historic. Page 1 4 • Mr. Murphy — how long does the AG have to approve — is there enough time? 90 days from the day it is submitted; and yes the numbers are short • Mr. Shields — what would stop the owner from doing the work? If a permit was denied • Mr. Guttadauro — even if permit denied, Critterion can still do interior work? Yes, everyone needs to ask for Town Meeting support. • Mr. Salter — questioned if the Commission would have any say in the parking spaces? Minimal say over ground area. The Commission deals with building • Ms. Baumgartner - commented the District should be supported by the Town. • Mr. Coccoluto — commented he supports the District, worried about additional traffic • Ms. Corwin — commented she loves the historic beauty of the area • Mr. Godwin — commented he loved the neighborhood, keep it as is • Mr. Clough — commented he lived in the District; grateful to show support • Ms. Godwin — commented there is an obligation to protect the properties • Ms. Liberman — commented she supports the District; are there any enticements to the developer to move somewhere else? • Ms. Mendez — supports the District and the 01867 Preservation group; concerned about traffic. • Mr. Finch — commented on the support of the District in all areas of the Town • Mr. Barnes — commented he supports the effort. Suggested contacting the Town Meeting representative; any non -Town Meeting members can still attend. • It was commented a historic district is not only protecting a specific house, but protecting value of the Town. • Ms. Anthony — questioned who is going to let BOS, CPDC and the Town know what the property owners want. • Mr. Ensimenger — stated the BOS will take a position at their meeting tomorrow night • Mr. Halsey — explained the BOS wanted to hear from the public before taking a position • Ms. Snyder — stated she also attended to see what the public wanted • Mr. Cool — reiterated even if District is passed, Criterion could still utilize the property as a business • A resident on Temple Street had concern about lighting from the property • Mr. Barnes — questioned the limited site plan review and if CPDC would still need to approve • Ms. Janowski — commented precinct 2 has openings. She questioned if anything is being done on the State level? Ms. O'Neil answered Representative Jones is aware. • It was asked when the purchasing date of the house was? Not sure • Ms. Snow Dockser — recommends residents approach Town Meeting as well. What challenges arise from having a District? • Mr. Parr — questioned how much disinformation is going around Town It was noted /suggested at the meeting: • How many people in the proposed District attended and are in favor. • Criterion not be brought up at Town Meeting; it is about creating a historic district • If anyone want to become a Town Meeting member contact Town Clerk. • The warrant could be moved to an earlier night, residents should contact the Town Clerk to see what night it will be discussed. Motion made by Ms. Adams to adjourn the public hearing at 8:32 p.m. Ms. Poehler seconded. Vote was 4 -0 -0. Page 1 5