HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Town Hall, 10 Central Street Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts

Transcription

1 MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Town Hall, 10 Central Street Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts MINUTES MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Meeting August 4, 2016 Members Present: John Round, Robert Hofeldt, Tracy Gothie, Richard Smith, Joseph Sabella, and Susan Wadia-Ells. Members Not Present: Rob MacNeille. Mr. John Round, the Chairman, called the Meeting of the Manchester-by-the-Sea Historic District Commission ( HDC ) to Order at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Round introduced the Board members to those in attendance. It is noted that this meeting is being digitally recorded by the HDC clerk, and the typed minutes represent the permanent record of the Board. The format of the hearing was explained to those in attendance by the Chairman. HDC Minutes from the June 23, 2016 and July 28, 2016 Meetings: Mr. Round stated that the minutes must be voted on prior to hearing any applications, because the minutes will be a matter of record and must be made official for those HDC members who were not present at the July 28, 2016 HDC meeting. The absent HDC members read the July 28, 2016 minutes, so they could vote on the applications presented this evening. HDC Minutes from the June 23, 2016 Meeting: Mr. Round asked the HDC members if they had any questions or issues with these minutes. Ms. Wadia-Ells stated that her name was misspelled. There were no other issues. Mr. Round made a motion to approve the June 23, 2016 minutes, as amended. Mr. Smith seconded the motion. Mr. Round, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sabella, and Ms. Wadia- Ells voted unanimously in favor of approving the minutes. HDC Minutes from the July 28, 2016 Meeting: Mr. Round asked the HDC members if they had any questions or issues with these minutes, and there were no issues with these minutes. Mr. Sabella made a motion to approve the July 28, 2016 minutes. Mr. Smith seconded the motion. Mr. Round, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Sabella voted unanimously to approve these minutes.

2 CONTINUED APPLICATIONS Mr. Round introduced the application of Manchester-by-the-Sea Historic Museum/Society for a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission, or other such relief as may be necessary, to construct/move location of a Singing Beach beach house on site behind the Trask House, at 10 Union Street, Assessor s Map No. 51 Lot No. 60 in District G, filed with the Town Clerk on July 20, Mr. Remko Breuker of Breuker Design introduced himself to the board members and the audience as the architect on this project and the representative of the applicant. Mr. Breuker explained that no changes have been made since the July 28, 2016 HDC meeting. The beach house is presently located on pallets on the back lawn of the Trask House, but will eventually be placed on concrete footings. The beach house is located so that it is intentionally visible from Union Street. The beach house will require extensive renovation, due to its age and the patch work that has been performed on it over the years, and the plan is to restore this beach house historically accurately as possible. The bottom of the beach house will require the most renovation. Mr. Round asked the HDC members if they had any questions or comments regarding this application, and they did not. Mr. Round stated that he must recuse himself from voting, because he is a member of the Manchester-by-the-Sea Historic Society. Mr. Smith made a motion to waive the public hearing on this application. Mr. Sabella seconded the motion. Mr. Hofeldt, Ms. Gothie, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sabella, and Ms. Wadia-Ells voted unanimously in favor of waiving the public hearing on this application, unless there is an abutter s appeal. Mr. Smith made a motion to approve the application of Manchester-by-the-Sea Historic Museum/Society for a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission, or other such relief as may be necessary, to construct/move location of a Singing Beach beach house on site behind the Trask House, at 10 Union Street, Assessor s Map No. 51 Lot No. 60 in District G, filed with the Town Clerk on July 20, Ms. Gothie seconded the motion. Mr. Hofeldt, Ms. Gothie, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sabella, and Ms. Wadia-Ells voted unanimously in favor of approving this application. Documents Produced: Plan A1.0 Proposed Plans & Elevations dated April 6, 2016 (1 page), and Site Detail Plan of Land, prepared by Rural Land Surveys, Danvers, MA, dated Aug 21, 2000 (1 page)

3 Mr. Round introduced the application of Adam Zaiger for a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission, or other such relief as may be necessary, to construct new doors, windows, deck, and skylights, at 21 Union Street, Assessor s Map No. 45, Lot No. 12 in District G, filed with the Town Clerk on July 20, Mr. Remko Breuker of Breuker Design introduced himself to the board members and the audience as the architect on this project and the representative of the applicant. Mr. Breuker explained that this is an existing barn that is barely visible from the street (only the far right portion of the barn, a portion of the garage door). The Zaigers would like renovate the interior to create an art studio on the first level and family room with a bathroom on the second level. This project will involve removing a window, a new triangular window on the top front of the garage, and the barn loft door in the front above the garage will not be removed, in response to the HDC members suggestions at the July 28, 2016 meeting. Mr. Breuker continued that there will also be skylights installed in on the top back of the barn, and not visible from the Historic District. Mr. Breuker stated that the plans presented this evening are exactly the same as the plans presented at the July 28, 2016 HDC meeting, with the exception of adding back the barn loft door. Ms. Wadia-Ells commented on the triangular window not being in keeping with the Historic District. Mr. Smith replied that this barn is not completely historic, because it has been through several renovations. In this case the HDC members should make some reasonable accommodations, and allowing the triangular window seems to be a reasonable accommodation, and Ms. Wadia-Ells and the other HDC members agreed. Ms. Gothie stated that the triangular window will allow more light into the second level. Mr. Round stated that many historic barns have vents that look just like the triangular window. Ms. Wadia-Ells asked if skylights were allowed in the Historic District. Mr. Hofeldt replied that there are skylights in the condominium building above Northcoast 2. Mr. Smith stated that the issue should be that the skylights will not be visible and therefore has no impact on the Historic District. Mr. Sabella explained that although skylights are not in keeping with the character of the buildings in the Historic District, the skylights in question would be an exception to the rule because they are not visible. Mr. Round asked the HDC members if this application should require a public hearing. Mr. Smith felt that the changes are significant enough to possibly require a public hearing, and the other HDC members agreed. The HDC clerk explained that the Open Meeting Law requires that for every application, a Notice of Waiver of Public Hearing must be sent to all abutters designated by the Manchester-by-the-Sea Assessor s Office, and there is a 10-day appeal period from the date of receipt of this notice. The clerk asked if it would be possible to just send out the notice as usual and wait to see if there is any opposition to this application, rather than continuing it again. Otherwise, the applicant will be responsible for the cost of the notices in the Manchester Cricket

4 Mr. Smith made a motion to waive the public hearing on this application. Mr. Sabella seconded the motion. Mr. Round, Mr. Hofeldt, Ms. Gothie, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sabella, and Ms. Wadia-Ells voted unanimously in favor of waiving the public hearing on this application, unless there is an abutter s appeal. Mr. Smith made a motion to approve the application of Adam Zaiger for a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission, or other such relief as may be necessary, to construct new doors, windows, deck, and skylights, at 21 Union Street, Assessor s Map No. 45, Lot No. 12 in District G, filed with the Town Clerk on July 20, Mr. Sabella seconded the motion. Mr. Round, Mr. Hofeldt, Ms. Gothie, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sabella, and Ms. Wadia-Ells voted unanimously in favor of approving this application. Documents Produced: Plan A1.0 Proposed First and Second Floors, dated July 14, 2016 (1 page); Plan A2.0 Proposed Elevations, dated July 14, 2016 (1 page); Plan E1.0 Existing Conditions, dated July 18, 2016 (1 page). Mr. Round introduced the application of Martin & Lauren Hahn for a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission, or other such relief as may be necessary, to renovate the rear deck and railing to bring it up to code, at 18 Bridge Street, Assessor s Map No. 44, Lot No. 10 in District G, filed with the Town Clerk on April 19, Mr. and Mrs. Hahn could not attend the meeting tonight, but Mrs. Lauren Hahn was present at the July 28, 2016 HDC meeting and addressed questions from the HDC members in attendance to their satisfaction (see July 28, 2016 HDC minutes for detail). Mr. Round stated that the Hahns have sent the HDC members all the photographs and specifications regarding the Hampton Extruded Rail System that they have chosen to install at their home. Ms. Gothie stated that she is in favor of approving this application, because she likes the railing system chosen, and added that the Hahns have made a concerted effort to comply with the suggestions from the HDC members, and Mr. Round and the rest of the HDC members agreed. Mr. Sabella made a motion to approve the application of Martin & Lauren Hahn for a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission, or other such relief as may be necessary, to renovate the rear deck and railing to bring it up to code, at 18 Bridge Street, Assessor s Map No. 44, Lot No. 10 in District G, filed with the Town Clerk on April 19, Mr. Smith seconded the motion. Mr. Round, Mr. Hofeldt, Ms. Gothie, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sabella, and Ms. Wadia-Ells

5 Documents Produced: Photographs and specifications of the Hampton Extruded Rail System (2 pages). ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Signage in Manchester-by-the-Sea: Mr. Smith distributed copies of the draft of the suggestions on how to proceed with this project, the revised Signage section for the HDC Guidelines, and a draft letter to the merchants in the Historic District. Mr. Smith explained that he has met with Greg Federspiel, and Greg suggested that, just as a courtesy, we put our final plan before the Town of Selectmen for their approval. Greg also thought that having a hearing to give the business community the opportunity to ask questions and discuss matters is also a good idea. Mr. Smith suggested that the HDC finalize the HDC Signage Guidelines and cover letter and send them to the business community in advance of the hearing. The HDC had a discussion regarding revisions to the documents, procedure, and enforcement. Ms. Wadia-Ells proposed having an open meeting, inviting the business merchants and other town residents in for a discussion prior to finalizing the Signage Guidelines. Ms. Gothie agreed and added that the HDC should make it clear that we want to work with the community and bring back the integrity of the Historic District. Mr. Smith suggested that the HDC have such a meeting, make a modest announcement of the meeting in the Cricket. Mr. Smith added that the first people the HDC should hear from is the members of the business community in the Historic District, because they will have valuable input. Mr. Round suggested that the meetings be done sequentially first the business community, and then the rest of the community at a separate meeting. Mr. Sabella stated that he will get in touch with his contacts in Marblehead and Rockport to inquire about their enforcement policies and procedures. Mr. Round adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Adele Ardolino, Clerk Manchester-by-the-Sea Historic District Commission These Minutes were approved by the members of the Historic District Commission on August 25, N.B. These minutes are not verbatim. They are the clerk s interpretation of what took place at the meeting