HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-11 Historic District Commission MinutesTown of Reading
Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Historic District Commission
Date: 2016 -01 -11
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Public Hearing
Attendees: Members - Present:
12 A 8: 01
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Conference Room
Session:
Everett Blodgett, Chairman; Virginia Adams, Priscilla Poehler, Ilene
Bornstein, Greg Maganzini
Jack Williams - Associate Member
Camille Anthony - Associate Member
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
John Robson, builder for 182 West St. application
Mary Ellen O'Neill, 125 Summer Ave.
Cynda Rohmer, 176 Summer Ave.
Robert Drake, 176 Summer Ave.
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Virginia Adams
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting called to order at 7:30 PM
Application —182 West Street
• The application was time stamped Jan. 7, 2016
• The request is for a new roof on the entire house
• And above the kitchen extension, to remove the roof above the existing kitchen and add a
bedroom
Ms. Adams noted that the application was not complete —there was no date for the original building of
the house and that there were no plans until tonight
Mr. Williams asked if they were planning to remove the porch.
Mr. Robson —yes
Mr. Blodgett asked if they would be using architect shingles.
Mr. Robson —yes
Mr. Blodgett noted that this would have to be a Certificate of Appropriateness as the building is more
than 70 years old.
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Ms. Bornstein questioned whether they should even be considering the application without the needed
information.
Ms. O'Neill said that the date on the Assessor's page of the Town website stated 1892.
Mr. Blodgett said that it might be the water date.
Mr. Williams said that he felt the character of the house depended on the porch, the detailing, the mass
of the structure and the "telescoping" effect of the two sections of the house. And that the plan
eliminates the scale.
Ms. Anthony agreed that the plans don't add any dimension to the house.
Ms. Adams suggested that they could consider extending the house further back, so that they could
maintain the look of the house
Ms. Anthony suggested that the architect and the home owners should come in to discuss it.
Ms. Bornstein recommended tabling the application until the Commission had a chance to study the
plans.
Mr. Williams also questioned whether they could extend the building.
Mr. Robson disagreed with the need to do that.
Mr. Maganzini asked if they could keep the porch.
Mr. Blodgett expressed concern for the financial burden that extending the house would place on the
family.
Ms. Adams noted that no exclusions listed in the Bylaw apply, and asked if there could be a vote to
postpone.
Mr. Robson stated that the roof of the main house is leaking badly.
Mr. Blodgett suggested that the application be split between the roof and the addition. Then a
Certificate of Non - Applicability could be given for the replacement of the roof on the front main section
of the house.
Ms. Bornstein questioned whether a new application would be needed.
Ms. Adams said the current one could be amended.
Mr. Blodgett asked Mr. Robson to convey to the owners the need for more discussion about the
addition.
Motion was made by Ms. Bornstein to grant approval of a new roof on the main part of the house and
a new submission with complete plans for the addition. Ms. Adams seconded. Vote 5 -0 -0.
Mr. Robson was told that the next meeting of the HDC would be on February 8.
Discussion of 186 -190 Summer Ave.
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Mr. Blodgett said that the joint public hearing with CPDC will be on January 25 at the Pleasant Street
• Center
Ms. Adams suggested that a prepared statement by the HDC would give the CPDC the information on
how the HDC came to the conclusions that it did. She stated that the current submittal shows the
changes since CPDC approved the previous application and that Town Counsel will be there for both
Commissions.
Mr. Blodgett noted that the driveway had been reduced from 24' to 20' and that curbs had been
removed from the right side.
Ms. Adams also stated that Criterion has already applied to MAPC for an appeal and that it was being
held until the results of the hearing are determined.
Mr. Williams questioned what would happen
osit on D and dknown.CPDC could not reach an agreement.
And he wanted to make sure that the H p
Ms. O'Neill asked if the Town was preparing a decision prior to the meeting as had been done when
Criterion came before CPDC the last time.
Mr. Blodgett said that he would ask.
Ms. Anthony said that it would be important for the Chairs of the two Commissions to touch base and to
ask what CPC needed from the HDC.
Mr. Blodgett said that he would contact Mr. Hanson.
Ms. Adams said that the CPDC will be taking a vote to accept what the HDC approved, which is a change
from what was originally approved by them.
Ms. Rohmer stated that 01867 will be sending a letter to the CPDC.
Ms. Adams proposed that the following wording should be printed out and given to the CPDC at the
hearing and read into the record: roved the Certificate of Appropriateness on November 4,
"The Historic District Commission app
2015, based on the plans submitted to the Historic hD's site plan."
and that we are here should Com
there be any further changes that would imp
Ms. Adams wrote a letter of thanks to Mr. LeLacheur and Mr. Miyares which she read.
A motion made by Ms. Poehler to send the letter. Ms. Adams seconded. Vote was 4 -0 -0.
Mr. Blodgett said he would print it on Town stationery and send it.
Motion made by Ms. Adams to adjourn at 9:45 P.M. Ms. Poehier seconded. Vote
was 4 -0 -0
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