Dorchester Historic District Tuesday November 1, 2011 Approval of Minutes of 10-4-2011 Sandy Green motion, Elizabeth Houghton second, all approved Members Present: Sandy Green, Martha Walker, Elizabeth Houghton, John Morrissey, Regina Rinaldo and Darlene Oaks as alternate; Artie Burdette, Betty Ann Trought absent. Minutes: two copies of final approved minutes to Town Office for records Secretary responsible for posting approved meeting minutes for Town Office record, and town clerk file, a copy must be compiled in the secretary s binder. Secretary will send a copy of final approved minutes to the website liason for posting. All this must be completed within 5 business days of the meeting. Review of Minutes by Chair: Secretary sends draft of meeting minutes to Chair and must receive response within 3 days; otherwise the Vice Chair may take on the task of reviewing the draft minutes. Alternates: The commission needs two alternates; we have only one. Elizabeth Houghton will talk to some residents. Schoolhouse Restoration: Town has received $5,000 to restore this building. The funds must be used within 2 years (unclear of date of issue of funds-artie Burdette will find this date). Select Board has suggested that under the auspices of the heritage commission that the funds are received and any other funds directed toward to the schoolhouse be given to the heritage commission. Discussion of powers and duties of a heritage commission and the possible need for more formality from the Select Board to the DHDC. We reviewed the 1999 Annual Report that approved the DHDC as a heritage commission. Others expressed concern about raising more funds within the 2 year time frame, and allotting enough time for finding contactors to proceed with proper historical restoration. Sandy made the suggestion to begin a contractor search. We need more copies of the revised Preserving Community Character book. John will volunteer to begin a search for contractors with expertise; RR will find the name of the man who did renovations for the Church on the common. Should the fundraising be done under the umbrella of the heritage commission, the questions is whether we would like to do this, since the heritage commission consist of the members of the DHDC. Darlene Oaks mentions the Historical Society as a possible aid for raising or contributing funds. The Greens have formerly requested that the Historical Society provide an accounting of their $5,000 earmarked donation with a request that any remaining funds be directed to the schoolhouse restoration. Artie is in contact with Maggie of the Preservation Alliance about giving presentation.
Spruce Tree in front of Schoolhouse: Utility Company has funds to take down trees/trim branches infringing on the lines. Discussion of burying the power lines within the Common. John will look into the options. Budget for 2012: We would like to ask for the same funds from Select Board as last year. Funds to be used for sign to demarcate the center of Common (estimated $300), posting and other expenses related to the public hearing for revised regulations, updated Preservation Planning Handbook (NH Preservation Alliance), burial of power line within Common, mailing and correspondence estimated budget proposal is $800. All are to review Draft of Regulations for discussion at Dec. 6 meeting (Attached) Regina Rinaldo motion to adjourn, Martha Walker second, all approved. Adjourned at 9pm APPROVED 12-06-2011 Motioned by Regina Rinaldo; All approved. 12-13-10 Draft Regulations for the Dorchester Common Historic District 1) Within the Dorchester Common Historic District no building or structure shall be erected, reconstructed, altered, restored, moved, demolished, or changed as to use except in accordance with these regulations, unless a Certificate of Approval shall have been issued by the Dorchester Historic District Commission. An Application for Certification of Approval, which may be obtained from the Permit Office (804 River Road, Dorchester, NH, townofdorchester@earthlink.net, 523-7119) must be completed and submitted to the Dorchester Historic District Commission. Any site plans, building plans, elevations, photographs, sketches, data as to material, color and texture, or other information reasonably requested and required by the Commission to determine the appropriateness of the project in question shall be made available by the applicant at the time of the evaluation. However, the foregoing approval shall not be required for routine maintenance and repair of existing structures, nor for interior alterations or improvements, provided the work to be performed does not change the exterior appearance or the use of the building. These regulations shall apply to both municipal and private property within the Historic District. 2) Within a period of forty-five (45) consecutive calendar days after the filing of an application, or within such further time as the applicant may in writing allow, the Commission shall determine whether the action or usage proposed will be appropriate within the Dorchester Historic District. The Commission shall file an approved or disapproved Certificate of Approval with the Town
Clerk of Dorchester, with copies to the Selectmen and to the applicant. If the Commission fails to act in the 45 day period, the application will be deemed approved. A Certificate of Approval is good for one (1) year from date of issuance. At the completion of the work for which a Certificate of Approval has been granted, the applicant shall notify the Commission in order to schedule final review of the work. One or more members of the Commission shall then review the work on site to verify that the completed project matches the approved application. On so finding, the Commission shall send a written notice to the applicant. The issuance of this notice closes the file on the application. If the work does not match the approved application, the Commission will require that it be corrected before issuing the final notice of approval. 3) Any work performed must conform to the plan for which a Certificate of Approval was issued. 4) Approval by the Historic District Commission shall not in any way relieve or excuse the applicant from conformance with other applicable Federal, State, or local regulations. 5) Permitted Use of Buildings and Land a) Single family residential, agricultural and municipal uses are permitted without limitation as long as architectural and environmental criteria are met. b) Multi-family use is permissible as long as architectural criteria are met. However, multi-family use of structures shall not be permitted where it would result in violation of environmental criteria or where it would be conducive to physical conditions (noise, parking, traffic, congestions, etc.) incompatible with the characteristic appearance and atmosphere of the District. c) Institutional uses are limited to museums, libraries, churches and Town Hall. d) Professional occupations may be practiced either as a combined residence/office or solely as a business office as long as architectural and environmental criteria are met and traffic flow constitutes no hardship or annoyance to residents of the District. e) Businesses consistent with the character of the District are permitted as long as architectural and environmental criteria are met, and such factors as level of employment, traffic flow, parking, and noise constitute no hardship or annoyance to residents of the District. f) Factory type manufacturing operations and the use or outdoor storage of heavy machinery, equipment and/or accessories are not permitted. Other outside storage consistent with the character of the District is permitted with approval of the Historic District Commission.
6) Architectural Criteria a) New building sizes shall be no larger than those prevalent within the District and new buildings shall be consistent and harmonious in shape and design with the architectural attributes of existing structures. b) Roof lines of all new buildings or additions shall be gabled with a minimum 7 rise per foot and outbuildings can be shed with a 4 rise per foot. c) Fenestration (windows) shall agree with generally established patterns in the District. d) Height of new structures shall be no greater than 35 feet. e) The general and basic requirement for exterior surface materials and finish is that they shall be authentic and harmonious in appearance in relation to the architecture of the structure to which they are applied. Traditional materials, following, are considered as standard but will require specific consideration and approval by the Commission before work is begun: 1) Main vertical surfaces shall be wood, clapboards, shingles or aluminum/vinyl siding with the appearance of clapboard. 2) Roof surfaces shall be of slate, wood shingle or any dark colored composition/material, with the appearance of slate or wood shingle. 3) The exterior paint color shall be a white and trim or shutters a dark green or black, which were common to the period. Any deviation from this color scheme involving the main surfaces, trim or shutters must be submitted to the Commission for approval before work is begun. 4) Fences shall be no higher than four feet and shall be of stone, hedge, or wood. Wood fences shall be picket or rail. f) Radio and television antennae shall be hidden from view from the street insofar as is reasonably possible. The erection of transmitting or receiving antennae or towers other than those used in normal broadcast reception requires specific approval of the Commission. g) All external lighting requires specific approval by the Commission. Criteria include down lighting, being non-reflective into the night sky and in keeping with the style of the 1850ʼs. 7) Signs a) For institutional and governmental uses involving multiple buildings, one primary sign is permitted, the total area of which does not exceed twelve square feet. Secondary signs, the total area of which do not exceed two square feet per sign, are permitted to indicate essential directions or to identify a single structure. (Requires specific approval by the Commission) b) For professional and business uses, one primary sign shall be permitted, the total area of which does not exceed two square feet. (Requires specific approval by the commission) (Possible Planning Board no criteria) Tabled to see criteria for signs in Dorchesterʼs Land Use Regulations. c) All signs shall be attached to the buildings and designed in a manner consistent with the 1790-1850 period. Dark colored letters on a white
background are preferred, and any deviation from this, or any use of a commercial trade-mark or device in a sign requires specific approval by the Commission of the proposed design. d) No neon, gaseous type signs or flashing lights are permitted. Illumination of all signs shall be placed so that no direct light can reach any street or adjacent property. e) One For Sale sign (per realtor) shall be permitted upon any lot of land within a single ownership. f) All signs shall be constructed of durable material, shall be lettered in a professional manner and shall be maintained in good repair. 8) Environmental Criteria - a) Reference Dorchesterʼs Land Use Regulations b) No new construction or addition shall be so placed as to constitute an annoyance or impose undue hardship upon adjacent property owners. c) * Roads within the district shall be no wider than their present width of 15 feet traveled way. d) No driveways shall be permitted along the westerly side of the Dorchester Common without specific approval by the Commission. Reference (k) of Dorchesterʼs Driveway Standards: Any proposed driveways in a Historic District will be reviewed by the Historic District Commission. A copy of the Commissionʼs findings will be submitted with the permit application and their recommendations will be satisfied at the completion of the driveway. 9) Appeals Within 30 days after any order or decision of the Commission, the applicant or any person directly affected may file for a rehearing with the Historic District Commission, stating the grounds for appeal. Appeal from the Commissionʼs decision on rehearing will be made to the Dorchester Board of Adjustment within 30 days under RSA 677:17. (RSA 677:17 empowers the board of adjustment to hear appeals from decisions of the historic district commission and provisions of the district regulations.) 10) Enforcement a) The Commission shall administer and enforce the provisions of this ordinance, provided that they may delegate these duties to the Board of Selectmen. b) In the event of a violation of any of the provisions of this ordinance the Board of Selectmen shall determine whether to proceed with enforcement by way of civil or criminal penalties as provided in RSA 676:17 or injunction as provided in RSA 676:15 11) General
a) These regulations shall supersede existing regulations in the Dorchester Common Historic District. b) The invalidity of any section or provision of these regulations shall not invalidate any other section or provision thereof.