HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-01-23 West Street Historic District Commission MinutesJanuary 23, 2006
Approved 211410-6
rn 5-0
_U
WEST STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MIN U hj
Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA 01867
Michael T. Gray, ALA, Chairman, Susan Patterson, Vice-Chairman, Kathryn Greenfield, Secretary, Dorotli O~so 1 WOW Kf f?:
Members present: Members absent:
Michael Gray none
Kathryn Greenfield
Dorothy Casolaro
David Kruh
Susan Patterson
The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m.
Approval o Minutes
The minutes of the December 12, 2005 meeting were not available, and will be reviewed at
the next meeting.
General Business
➢ MG will contact Joe Delaney and Chris Reilly with our next meeting date, and see if
either can attend to present the plan for West Street improvements.
➢ SP informed the Commission that the owners of 237 West Street are planning an
addition. The owner had been in contact with the Building Inspector, and was told to
call the Historical Commission. The owner is a friend of Susan's and called her
instead. She explained the review process to him, and will mail/deliver an
Application and Guidelines to him. SP will also talk to Glen to remind him to send
such applicants to the WSHDC.
➢ The Commission reviewed the letter to property owners, prepared by KG. Several
suggestions were made which will be incorporated in the next draft. They include:
delineating the district and including a map; adding contact information and a
statement that the guidelines are available at Town Hall/Building Inspector. KG will
redraft the letter and add a chart-like attachment outlining projects that would and
would not be subject to review, as well as those which need a permit vs. those that do
not.
➢ MG will inquire about obtaining an email address for the Commission.
➢ The Commission reviewed the PowerPoint presentation materials prepared by DK.
Various elements were discussed, including the use of a logo or the Town seal - the
group liked the idea of using the seal, at this time, and perhaps switching to a graphic
of a sign when there is one. There was consensus that the seal be at the bottom of the
page, with a slogan under the words West Street Historic District Commission,
reading: Preserving the Unique Character of Reading.
January 23, 2006
Approved 2113106, 5-0
➢ DC volunteered to head-up the signage effort for the District.
➢ SP will talk to Roberta about the possibility of a joint effort walking tour of the
District on Patriot's Day.
Documentation
➢ MG did not previously drop off revised copies of the Certificates (from the 11/21
mtg.) to Town Hall. He will do so this week.
➢ MG will resend, via email to the Commission, a 10/31/05 draft of the Rules &
Regulations that will govern the Commission. Members will review the Reg.s for
comment at the February 13 meeting.
➢ KG will bring the notebooks of information that were provided to the Commission in
June 2005, by members of the Ad Hoc committee, including property inventory
sheets. The Commission will look into how to complete the inventory. (To be done
at either the Feb. or Mar. meeting; at whichever meeting the improvement plan is not
being presented).
➢ The Commission continues to plan to hold a public hearing to adopt the Design
Guidelines at its June meeting.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the WSHDC is scheduled for February 13, 006 at 7:00 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
F`