HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-09 Historic District Commission Town of Reading
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Historic District Commission
Date: 2019-09-09 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session:
Purpose: Meeting Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Everett Blodgett, Chairman; Virginia Adams, Greg Maganzini, Ilene
Bornstein
Amelia Freedman and Pino D'Orazio - Alternate Member(s)
Members - Not Present:
Priscilla Poehler and Carl Mittnight - Alternate Member
Others Present:
Nancy Lamb, Gary Lorden and Heidi Lorden
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kim Saunders
Topics of Discussion:
Mr. Blodgett opened the meeting at 7:00 PM.
Mr. Gary Lorden the owner of 115 West Street agreed to allow the Commission to take the
agenda out of order and review 194 Summer Avenue request first.
The Commission appointed Mr. D'Orazio as a voting member.
115 West Street - Addition
Mr. Lorden explained he will be renovating the property at 115 West Street for himself.
He provided pictures of the existing dwelling and said the property was built around 1920.
Ms. Adams said the property is actually older than 1920 and read the history of the property
that has the property being converted in 1922 and built as early as 1830. Mr. Blodgett said
the addition on the right side of the dwelling was around 1970.
Mr. Lorden presented Architectural plans:
• A second story will be added onto the existing family room to create a master bedroom,
bathroom and walk-in closets;
• There are currently two bedrooms on the second level;
• An existing garage/barn will need to be razed, it is his opinion the structure is
deplorable and unsafe;
• A proposed two-car garage in place of the existing open deck;
• The removal of the garage/barn will create a passage to the garage;
• The garage will allow a safer and easier vehicle route - the existing driveway is too
narrow and the vehicles have to back out onto West Street;
• Proposing shake-shingles on the top and clapboard on the bottom - it will match the
addition;
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• The pitch of the roof will be similar;
• The proposal is for vinyl siding;
• A fire egress window is required to be in the bedroom - window will be added on the
gable end and not in the front of the dwelling;
• No changes to the left side of the dwelling;
• To create better curb appeal, Frieze Board is proposed on the bottom with a colonial
drip;
• There are several windows that have been already replaced with vinyl windows and the
proposal is to replace the remainder with vinyl windows - the grid pattern will match
the existing and the existing casing will remain; and
• The proposal meets zoning setback requirements
Ms. Adams asked if the driveway is shared. Mr. Lorden replied it is not a shared driveway.
Ms. Adams asked if the structure will be demolished. Mr. Lorden replied it will not be
demolished, only a second level is proposed.
Ms. Adams asked where the chimney stacks are located. Mr. Lorden pointed out the
location of the chimney stacks.
Ms. Adams asked if the proposal is for the garage to have a second story. Mr. Lorden
explained the second story is just the pitch of the roof - it is a one-story garage with no
storage space above.
Mr. Maganzini asked if the Applicant considered adding a bedroom above the garage? Mr.
Lorden pointed out several different options that was considered and said this proposal was
the best.
Ms. Adams complimented how the proposed plan does not interfere with the main structure
of the house.
Mr. Lorden confirmed he is the current owner of the property. He explained his profession
is a builder and intends to stay in the house until the school year is over and look for the
next property in Reading to renovate.
Mr. Blodgett informed the Applicant the Commission has no jurisdiction over the interior of
a home.
Mr. Lorden affirmed the chimney will be painted the same as the existing color.
Mr. Blodgett said the Commission has jurisdiction over the demolition of the garage, unless
the Building Inspector deems it unsafe and requests it to be razed immediately.
Mr. Blodgett said the previous owners did receive approval for work on the sun porch in the
rear, wood doors and screening.
Mr. Blodgett said the Commission has jurisdiction over the general property and visibility.
The proposed design will change the ambiance and the approval is important.
Ms. Adams asked if the Applicant is aware there is a carriage house bylaw that allows the
existing to be converted into living space.
Ms. Adams asked if there was post and beam in the garage and questioned the age of the
garage/barn. Mr. Lordon said he is not sure the age of the garage/barn but there is a 5-
foot basement.
Mr. D'Orazio asked if the driveway will be extended to the area of the existing barn.
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Mr. Blodgett said the Commission has to approve the demolition of the garage/barn.
Motion made by Ms. Adams, seconded by Mr. D'Orazio, to approve the demolition
of the existing garage/barn at 115 West Street. Vote: S-O-o
Mr. Blodgett asked the Commission if they like the ambiance of the dwelling and the
addition to the second story. Ms. Adams gave her opinion the roof line on the addition is a
good feature - it is reduced from the main house.
The Commission spent some time and reviewed the propose plans and discussed with the
Applicant:
• Windows;
• Siding;
• Shutters; and
• Chimney use
Motion made by Mr. Blodgett seconded by Mr. D'Orazio, to approve the general
appearance/ambiance and find the architectural design appropriate for the
property at 115 West Street. Vote: 5-0-0
Ms. Adams gave her opinion the window mixture does not matter since the house lost its
historic integrity due to the previous renovations and changes. She added the owner is
installing replacement vinyl windows at their own risk, the house has evolved so much she
is not going to fuss - she would be fussier if they were the original windows.
Motion made by Mr. D'Orazio, seconded by Mr. Maganzini, to approve vinyl
windows that will match existing and new windows at 115 West Street.
Vote: 5-0-0
The Commission agreed the roof shingles on the addition can be architectural shingles.
The Commission discussed the Applicant's proposal for vinyl siding and agreed vinyl is not a
material that the District encourages. After the discussion, the Commission determined the
siding material should be wood, which the Applicant agreed.
Motion made by Mr. Blodgett, seconded by Ms. Adams, to require the material on
the addition to match the existing style, dimensions and natural wood product on
the main dwelling for the property at 115 West Street. Vote: 5-0-0
Mr. Blodgett read the guidelines on shutters. Mr. Lorden said the new shutters will match
the existing shutter - he showed pictures of the existing vinyl shutters. He said there are
not shutters on the back of the house currently.
Ms. Adams asked if the house is post and beam, and provided an explanation on the
strength of the beam.
Motion made by Mr. Blodgett, seconded by Ms. Bornstein, to allow the new
shutters to match the existing for the property at 115 West Street. Vote.- 5-0-0
Mr. Blodgett asked the Commission for their thoughts on requiring a public hearing. Ms.
Adams responded a public hearing is necessary due to the extent of the project. Mr.
Blodgett said the footprint is not changing and the garage/barn is being demolished. Ms.
Bornstein commented the abutters might express concern about the sunlight being blocked
from their property. Mr. Lorden said he would like to start the project before winter season.
Ms. Adams read the bylaw on requiring a public hearing.
Motion made by Ms. Adams, seconded by Ms. Bornstein, to hold a public hearing
under section 7.3.7.4 of the General Bylaw for the property at 115 West Street.
Vote: 5-0-0
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The Commission discussed the timeline on the public hearing. Mr. Blodgett will contact
Amanda Beatrice, Senior Administrative Assistant to make sure of the process.
194 Summer Avenue - Shed
Ms. Nancy Lamb owner of 194 Summer Avenue informed the Commission she would like
approval to install a 10x16 shed in the rear of her property. The trees and garage will
shield the shed from being seen from the roadway.
Ms. Lamb and her contractor Matt provided the following information about the shed:
• Cedar clapboard;
• Asphalt roof;
• Storm door;
• 3-bay window;
• Azek material for the trim;
• A-frame roof;
• Sono-tubes with crushed stone;
• Garage door on the right side;
• No trees will be cut down; and
• The shed and the trim will be painted to match the main dwelling
Mr. Blodgett warned the Applicant darker colors on Azek creates an illumination reflection of
heat that could cause problems.
Ms. Adams pointed out the Applicant has received approval from the Commission in the past
for the front porch.
The Applicant said the top of the shed is the only part that will be seen from the roadway.
Ms. Lamb pointed out the location of the shed and said it will be 15' away from the pool.
Ms. Adams said she has no problem with the Azek material for the shed, even though she
has expressed skepticism of the product in the past.
Ms. Adams said the main structure was built in 1891 and the exclusions will apply.
Mr. Maganzini gave his opinion using only cedar material would be appropriate. The
contractor explained the material at the bottom on the shed will help prevent deterioration
and the Azek will match the house trim.
Mr. Blodgett explained to Mr. D'Orazio why a Certificate of Appropriateness applies to the
application - the shed can be seen from the roadway.
The Commission agreed a public hearing would not be necessary but the abutters will be
required to be notified. Mr. Blodgett went over the process with the Applicant.
Motion made by Ms. Adams, seconded by Ms. Bornstein, to grant a Certificate of
Appropriateness for 194 Summer Avenue to install a 10x16 shed in the rear of the
property. A public hearing is not necessary but the abutters are required to be
notified. Vote: 5-0-0
Ms. Bornstein left the meeting at 8:55 PM.
Minutes
3anuary 14 and July S. 2019 Minutes
The minutes were tabled until the next meeting.
Other
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Mr. Blodgett said he has not received any updates on the properties for Biggio at 116 West
Street or Callan at 201 Prescott Street.
Mr. Blodgett said the email address that should be used by the Commission is
hdc(dci.readino.ma us. He asked that if any members have issues to let him know.
Ms. Adams informed the Commission the property at 176 Summer Avenue has been sold.
The Commission discussed 186 Summer Avenue and expressed concern it does not appear
work has started even though a building permit was issued in June 2019. Mr. Blodgett said
he heard the owner is looking for a new contractor. He added the grass has been cut but
the trees in the rear of the property are overgrown.
After a discussion, Mr. D'Orazio agreed to contact lean Delios, the Assistant Town Manager
to review the reasons why the owner of 186 Summer Avenue has not lost the right to use
the Dover Amendment since the business at this location is halted until the renovation is
complete.
Motion made by Mr. Maganzini, seconded by Mr. D'Orazio, to adjourn the meeting
at g:30 PM. Vote 4-0-0
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