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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-27 Historic District Commission MinutesTown of Reading 5 Y Meeting Minutes JfIN( RECEIVED TOWN CLERK READING, MA. 2021 NOV 15 AM 8: 33� Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Historic District Commission Date: 2021-10-27 Building: Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Meeting Time: 7:00 PM Location: Conference Room Session: Version: Attendees: Members: Pino D'Orazio, Chair; Amelia Devin -Freedman, Vice Chair; Everett Blodgett, Greg Maganzini, Ilene Bornstein; Associate Members: Virginia Adams, Carl Mittnight, and Priscilla Poehler Members - Not Present: Others Present: Jerry & Nancy Lamb, Jason Przybycien, Allison Maganzini, Patricia Newell u�.....e� ceeeeetfully Submitted By: Kim Saunders Topics of Discussion: Chair D'Orazio called the meeting to order at 7:08 PM. 168 West Street Addition Public Hearing Mr. D'Orazio opened the public hearing for the addition at 168 West Street. He said the application was received on August 23rd and read section 7.3 of the General Bylaw. Mr. D'Orazio said the applicants are Greg and Allison Maganzini. Mr. Maganzini will be recusing himself, and Mr. Mittnight will be elevated to voting member. He explained the protocols for the public hearing. Mr. Maganzini gave a brief overview of the proposal: A two -car garage with a master bedroom and bathroom above; The fence will be moved; The existing shed will be moved to the back of the property; The proposal is for black vinyl windows, one vinyl garage door and a new roof on the existing dwelling and new addition; The front of the dwelling will be repaired, which includes the existing architectural feature repaired in-kind; and The driveway will be extended and repaved Mr. D'Orazio opened the hearing to public comment. Mr. Jason Przybycien, 174 West Street, asked about the proposal. Mr. Maganzini showed the plans on the computer and explained: The 2700 addition is set back and will be 15' from the property line; There will be 3 small windows on this side of the property that you will not be able to see out or in; The white siding will match existing dwelling; and Greenery will be planted R Town of Reading 3 Meeting Minutes �0j• �x�m••°f Mr. Przybycien said the that he has received enough details and he has no further concerns. Mr. Maganzini replied he will email Mr. Przybycien the plans. Mr. Jerry Lamb, 194 Summer Avenue, asked if the commission has changed their stance on plastic material allowed in the District. He clarified he has no problem with the proposal, but when he wanted to replace a few of the wood trim siding on the bottom of his home with Azek it was denied. The commission requested pine material even though the proposal was to paint the trim. Mr. Blodgett responded the commission is trying to maintain the same material on a building. If the existing siding was vinyl then vinyl would have been discussed. Mr. Maganzini explained wood doors were looked into, but learned that wood is hard to upkeep and are triple the cost. Mr. Blodgett opined wood garage doors do not last, and there is a difference between the West Street and Summer Avenue ambiance. Mr. Lamb reiterated the trim is painted and you cannot tell the difference between vinyl siding and cedar siding. Mr. D'Orazio commented "fair point". Mr. Blodgett commented the commission has struggled with allowing vinyl siding for a while. Mr. D'Orazio said the commission approved the proposal at the last meeting and asked if there are any questions. Mr. Blodgett asked about a piece of fence that camouflages the shed. Mr. Maganzini responded that the fence will be removed. Mr. Blodgett made a motion to close the public hearing for 168 West Street. Mr. D'Orazio seconded. Vote: 5-0-0 Ms. Devin -Freedman said she will draft the Certificate. Ms. Adams arrived at the meeting. 257 West Street Fence Mr. Shehan De Silva the owner of 257 West Street called into the meeting, and presented the proposal to install a 7' wood fence: • Moved into the house a month or two ago with a 3 -year old child and dog; • The fence is for privacy and safety from traffic on West Street- and will help with road noise; • He respects the moving into the District and the General Bylaw, and that is the reason for proposing wood material; • The existing chain link fence will be replaced by a 7' wood fence with New England post caps, and will wrap around the whole property with a gate at driveway; and • The fence will be painted white to match the house and be setback from the roadway The Commission discussed the height of the fence and asked if the applicant would consider a 6' fence? Mr. De Silva responded his neighbor has the same height fence, and that height is considered standard. The commission talked over if the neighbor received approval for the 7' fence. Mr. D'Orazio said the commission will vote on the fence installation and explained the process if approved - stamped envelopes and notifying the abutters is required. Mr. D'Orazio made a motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for a white cedar fence up to a 7' tall at 257 West Street as outlined in the application. Mr. Maganzini seconded. Vote: 5-0-0 The commission agreed a public hearing is not needed to install a fence. Town of Reading 9 q• Meeting Minutes Mr. D'Orazio made a motion to waive the public hearing to install a fence at 257 West Street. Ms. Devin -Freedman seconded. Vote: 5-0-0 Ms. Devin -Freedman said she will draft the Certificate by Monday. Mr. D'Orazio said due to an emergency repair, he approved the bay window to be replaced at 257 West Street. He said for the record the applicant should submit a brief application for the bay window. The applicant responded he would. 96 West Street Step Replacement Ms. Patricia Newell, 96 West Street, said her front cement block steps are in disrepair and would like to replace them with brick & granite and to paint the railings. Ms. Adams said the house was built in 1941 and is over 80 years old. Mr. Maganzini opined the proposal looks nice. Mr. D'Orazio made a motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the replacement of steps at 96 West Street with brick & granite and railings painted black. Ms. Bornstein seconded. Vote: 5-0-0 Mr Blodgett cautioned the applicant that the material on the steps will be slippery in the winter. The commission discussed if the abutters are required to be notified. Mr. D'Orazio read the General Bylaw and said it his understanding the abutters always have to be notified. Mr. D'Orazio made a motion to waive the public hearing to replace the front stairs at 96 West Street. Mr. Blodgett seconded. Vote: 5-0-0 Ms. Devin -Freedman explained the process on how to notify the abutters. The Commission discussed if a public hearing is always needed to be voted on. Mr. Blodgett said an emergency is the only time a public hearing will not be necessary. 186 Summer Avenue Mr. D'Orazio said recently the commission attended a site visit at 186 Summer Avenue, and asked the members who did attend for an update. The commission reviewed pictures and gave their opinion on the existing condition of the exterior and interior of the property. The commission expressed concern that the Structural Engineer was not able to access the attic, basement or barn area; and it was agreed a letter will be sent to the property owner from both the Reading Historical Commission (RHC) and Historic District Commission (HDC) requesting access. It was agreed that the property owner should be invited to attend a joint meeting held by the RHC and HDC. Mr. D'Orazio said RHC will be meeting on November 17, 2021 to further discuss 186 Summer Avenue. Other Business Ms. Bornstein asked the commission how the 75 years old reference in the General Bylaw transpired, and said 100 years is antique. Ms. Adams responded there is such an age difference and variety of houses on West Street, and said 75 years old is an arbitrary Town of Reading ? r Meeting Minutes number. It allows leeway on the cape style homes on that street. Mr. Blodgett explained it basically gives the younger house time to develop some character. Ms. Bornstein asked for clarity on why mini -split and outside piping is more objectionable than a satellite dish on an older house. Mr. D'Orazio replied satellite is excluded from the commission's purview. Mr. Blodgett explained satellite is temporary. Ms. Bornstein opined satellite is a more objectionable feature on a historic home. Ms. Adams replied "intrusive" is a better word than objectionable. New Business • Mr. D'Orazio said an application was submitted for a leaky roof at 149 West Street. The proposal is to match existing roof shingle, and is an emergency and is in-kind. Mr. Blodgett cautioned using the word in-kind, the existing roof shingles can be 3 -tab and the applicant is seeking architectural shingle. • Mr. D'Orazio said there is an application to install AC at 169 Summer Avenue. Ms. Devin -Freedman said the installation is not an emergency. Mr. D'Orazio explained the location of the units and said it is not seen from the street. The commission agreed to invite the applicant to attend a meeting to discuss the proposal. • Ms. Devin -Freedman said at the last meeting she received the HDC application from Mr. Carbone, the contractor for the UU Church, to replace the roof but the contractor has not submitted a building permit. • Ms. Devin -Freedman brought forward a request from the property owner at 62-64 Woburn Street to create a new historic district. The commission discussed and it was noted the process is long and will require Town Meeting approval. Mr. D'Orazio will reach out to the owner to let her know of the process. • Mr. D'Orazio will reach out to Julie Mercier, Community Development Director to schedule the November HDC meeting - ternately on November 10, 2021. Minutes- 09/20/2021 and 10/14/2021 Mr. D'Orazio made a motion to approve 09/20/2021 and 10/14/2021 minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Ms. Devin -Freedman and approved with a 5-0-0 vote. Adiournment Mr. D'Orazio made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 PM. The motion was seconded by Mr. Maganzini and approved with a 5-0-0 vote. Documents Reviewed at the Meeting: o Application for 257 West Street o Application for 96 West Street