HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-21 Historic District Commission MinutesTIWNEiVED
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Meeting Minutes AM 9: 23
e Historic District Commission
Ph: 781-942-6654 or Fax: 781-942-9071
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Historic District Commission
Date: 2024-02-21 Time: 7:15 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members -Present:
Location: Lower Level Conference Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Virginia Adams (VA), Everett Blodgett (EB), Ilene Bornstein (IB), Pino D'Orazio
(PD), Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF). Associate member Ann Ward (AW) called
into the meeting via the Mullen Rule.
Members- Not Present: Greg Maganzini (GM)
Others Present: Andrew MacNichol (AMJ—Town of Reading Community
Development Director, Reading Historical Commission (RHC) Members:
Virginia Adams (VA), Jonathan Barnes (JEB), Sarah Bruldlacchio (SB), Samantha
Couture (SC), Pino D'Orazio (PD), Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF), and Christine
Keller (CK)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Pino D'Orazio
Topics of Discussion:
PD called the joint meeting of the RHC and HDC to order at 7:17PM. PD elevated VA to a voting
member of HDC.
Joint Meeting with RHC: MBTA Communities Act
PD gave a brief introduction stating the purpose of the joint meeting was to discuss the MBTA
Communities Act and its potential impact on historic structures and historic districts within the
Town. AM stated that the Town's desire was to pause the drawing of MBTA zoning maps to
explore other alternatives. The RHC and HDC held a wide-ranging discussion with AM that
touched on the following topics:
- The current demolition delay bylaw and its lack of effectiveness;
- National Historic Register designations and their lack of protections; and
- Three major tools that are used in the Town that protect historic structures:
Preservation Restriction Agreements, the demolition delay bylaw, and historic
districts.
1B asked about possibilities to relieve the West Side of some of the MBTA regulations,
specifically moving some of the proposed zoning changes to the Industrial Area off of Walker's
Brook Drive. AM described the intricacies of the Smart Growth District and the Industrial
District and some of the drawbacks of moving the proposed zoning changes to these areas.
SC left the meeting at 7:55PM
The parties discussed the demolition delay bylaw and the potential to reexamine the 6 month
limitation as part of the MBTA Communities Act compliance process.
PD outlined protections that the Town's local historic districts present
AM left the meeting at 8:30PM.
Motion by PD to enter Executive Session to approve prior Executive Session minutes; seconded
by IB; roll call vote 5-0. The HDC entered Executive Session and approved Executive Session
meeting minutes for February 28, 2022 and March 16, 2022. Motion by PD to exit Executive
Session; seconded by EB; roll call vote 5-0.
HDC returned to open session. RHC adjourned their portion of the meeting and RHC members
that are not on HDC departed the meeting room.
HDC meeting continued in Open Session.
146 Summer Avenue: The Commission reviewed an application to replace a small section of
rotting wood on one of the house port cochere columns. PD moved to approve a Certificate of
Appropriateness. IB seconded. Certificate of Appropriateness was approved by a 5-0 vote.
HDC discussed several future agenda items.
PD moved to adjourn the meeting. IB seconded. Meeting adjourned after 5-0 vote.
Next Meeting: February 28, 2024—Joint Meeting with HDC on 186 Summer Avenue