APPROVED
Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes
November 9, 2006
Members attending: John Fitzwilliam, Lottie Guild, Eileen McHugh
CTO: 4:05 PM.
Sharon Esper to discuss signage for her home business located at 22 Richmond Road, Map 32, Lot 25, Village Center Business District and Historic District.
Ms. Esper plans to open a one chair barber shop in her home. She will meet with the Planning Board on November 21, 2006. Her business sign will be designed and constructed by the person who designed the business sign for her neighbor Brian Luddy’s antique business. The background color will be the same as the house, a light sage green. She distributed a graphic of the hanging sign. It will be located near the road in the middle of the property. Commission members agreed the sign looked fine.
Guild said it looked appropriate for the business and the District.
Guild moved, McHugh seconded and the Commission approved the application. Ms. Esper will apply for a sign permit from the Selectmen.
Nancy Roehl and Suzanne Gray came in to discuss the Filipi subdivision.
They presented their concerns that the homes that may be built in the proposed subdivision are appropriate to and fit in with the older homes in the neighborhood. Mr. Filipi will present his application for a subdivision on November 21st to the Planning Board. Proposed new homes will be located in the Historic District.
Fitzwilliam said the Commission’s responsibility is to influence the architecture so the development doesn’t look like ‘cookie cutter colonial.’ They noted that there are good examples in town of new homes that fit the town’s architectural style, giving the Chaplen’s home on Route 119 W and the Bluhm’s home also on Route 119 as examples.
Fitzwilliam noted that Upper Troy Road, where the subdivision will be located if approved, is a historically sensitive area, which is the heart of the town. He said good design doesn’t have to cost more. Mrs. Roehl said that if the town isn’t careful the whole area may begin to like a subdivision is the homes are all alike, noting there are already several new homes that look alike. She added that the design needs to be proportional, with gables in proportion for example.
Both Mrs. Roehl and Mrs. Gray said they liked the house that Mr. Filipi built for himself. It is a larger custom cape design.
Mrs. Gray noted that the Master Plan and the Community Forum report emphasize the need to preserve rural character and historic look.
Fitzwilliam said what the Commission does today has repercussions into the future, and members must be mindful of that. We and the town will have to look at it for a long time. He’d like to encourage the retention of trees and vegetative buffers.
Mrs. Roehl called attention to the Beacon Hill historic regulations, as an example of the kinds of oversight that commission exerts.
Appointment: Carole Langer to discuss her appeal of the Commission’s decision regarding the canvass awning and signage on the old schoolhouse, located at 22 Route 119W, Village Center Business District.
Ms. Langer apologized for missing the last meeting. She asked the Commission for a 30 day stay for enforcing their decision so she can complete the appeal process. Fitzwilliam noted that lack of enforcement does not present a health or safety issue. Mc Hugh moved, Guild seconded and the Commission voted to add 30 days to the deadline so Ms. Langer can exhaust the appeals process.
Minutes: Guild moved, McHugh seconded and the Commission approved the minutes of the October 12, 2006 meeting as written.
Fitzwilliam suggested beginning to collect a library of reference books for Commission members. McHugh will research books and make a list for purchase.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM.
(Commission requested clarification of Esper sign colors, post approval of minutes.)
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