Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-07-13 Historic District Commission MinutesOf R a, Town of Reading b Meeting Minutes 0 m „o, 5J9. INCOH9p44 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Historic District Commission Date: 2015 -07 -13 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:00 PM RECEIVE O TOWN CLERK READING, MASS. Location: Conference Room Session: General Session -b Ali. 30, Everett Blodgett, Chairman; Virginia Adams, Priscilla Poehler, Ilene Bornstein, Greg Maganzini Members - Not Present: Others Present: Eric Reustle, Town Counsel Mary Ellen O'Neill, 125 Summer Avenue Virginia Blodgett, 99 Prescott Street Robert Littleton Camille Anthony, 26 Orchard Park Drive Jack Williams, 46 Summer Avenue Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kim Saunders Topics of Discussion: Mr. Blodgett opened the meeting at 7:00 pm. Mr. Blodgett introduced Mr. Reustle. He said Mr. Reustle is attending the meeting to discuss the Reading Bylaw and help the Commission understand a Certificate of Hardship. Mr. Blodgett stated there will be no discussion on the property located at 186 Summer Avenue. Mr. Maganzini arrived at meeting 7:05 p.m. Mr. Reustle read the Town bylaw in regards to hardship. He said the following: • The Town bylaw mirrors the Massachusetts State Statute Chapter 40c Section 1 • He listed and explained the 3 basic requirements • There are not a lot of challenges • It is similar to a variance of the Zoning Bylaw Mr. Blodgett distributed and asked the Commission to read the "Assessing Economic Hardship Claims under Historic Presentation Ordinances ". The Commission and public asked Mr. Reustle their question or concern in regards to a Certificate of Hardship. Page 1 1 Mr. Blodgett asked that Mr. Reustle document the criteria's that were mentioned. Ms. O'Neill asked the Town website be updated with the documents that were discussed at tonight's meeting. Mr. Blodgett ended the discussion on the Certificate of Hardship and stated what will be discussed for the remainder of the meeting. 201 West Street Mr. Blodgett said the owner at 201 West Street has requested that the Town change their address to a Prescott Street address. Since the door is located on Prescott Street, the Town had a problem finding the house during an emergency situation. The property will remain in the West Street Historic District. There are other properties that are in the District that is not a West Street address. The Commission discussed the request and agreed the property will remain in the District no matter what the address is. Minutes Mr. Blodgett distributed the minutes from the July 1St Summer Avenue site visit. Motion made by Ms. Poehler to approve the minutes from July 1, 2015. Ms. Bornstein seconded. The vote was 5 -0 -0. It was noted the minutes from the 186 Summer Avenue Public Hearing and June 8th meeting will need to be approved. Mr. Blodgett asked that the Public Hearing minutes be approved when the applicant for 186 Summer Avenue is present. Mr. Blodgett said he changed the Certificate for 160 Summer Avenue. When he went to the property he realized there was no access to the pool area. He added an option to allow a gate if the owner wanted to. Mr. Blodgett stated he issued a Certificate of Non - Applicability for 133 West Street. The application was for a new roof. Mr. Blodgett stated he issued a Certificate of Non - Applicability for 229 West Street. The application was for a new roof. Mr. Blodgett questioned if the Commission would want to break up the responsibility of the issuance of Certificate of Non - Applicability based on category —for example: roof, window siding etc. Mr. Blodgett said the application has been edited. There is a signature section for the owner of the property and one for the applicant. This will allow contractors to represent owners at a meeting if necessary. The list of properties that are located in both West Street and Summer Avenue District was distributed. It was agreed the properties should be broken out by District, not merged into one. Page 1 2 Motion made by Ms. Adams to allow any documents that reference the WSHDC for general use be changed to Historic District unless it pertains to the West Street District only. Ms. Bornstein seconded. Vote was 5 -0 -0. As an example, the Abutters List and Email on the application needs to be changed. Ms. Adams introduced Jack Williams. She said he is interested in being on the Commission. He submitted his application for the Historical Commission. It was suggested, he fill out an application and present it to the Selectmen when he meets with them for the position on the Historical Commission. Ms. Adams said Ms. Anthony also has an interest in being on the Historic District Commission. Mr. Blodgett summarized the meeting he attended with Ms. Adams at the town hall. He reminded the Commission that there is a Public Hearing on August 10th at 7:00 p.m. at Coolidge Middle School. A motion was made by Ms. Adams to adjourn at 9:00 p.m. Ms. Bornstein seconded. Vote was 5 -0 -0. Page 1 3