DRAFT
Historic District Commission
June 14, 2007
Members attending: Fitzwilliam, Guild, McHugh, Luddy and Yon, Selectmen’s representative.
CTO: 3:30 PM.
William Van Valkenburg application for an addition to his home at 9 Rhododendron Road, Map 30, Lot 07.
Commissioners discussed where the home is located. It was built in the 1850s and is a Greek revival cape with 1 ½ stories. The 16X20 foot addition will add one room on the first floor and one room and a bath on the second. The original windows were replaced in the past.
Mr. Van Valkenburg plans to match the original house with siding (traditional wood clapboards), windows (like the replacements), roofing (asbestos shingles) and paint color (pale yellow).
They are considering adding a small farmer’s porch on the back sometime and will bring in plans at that time.
Yon moved, Guild seconded and the Commission voted to approve the application as presented, subject to approval of the farmer’s porch when they decide to build it.
Sharon Esper application to build a shed on property located at 22 Richmond Road, Residential and Historic Districts.
Brian Luddy recused himself as an abutter.
Ms. Esper showed a picture of a shed similar to the one they plan to build. The shed will be located directly behind the house, which probably can’t be seen from the road she said. The shed is to store equipment and will have wood clapboards painted the color of the house and asphalt shingles like the house. In response to a question about the doors, she said they will be wide wooden doors like a barn, with old fashioned hardware. There will be one window in the shed. He husband and father in law are the builders.
McHugh moved, Guild seconded and the Commission approved the plan as proposed.
Appointment with Emily Paulus. The Commission met with Emily Paulus, Preservation Planner with the NH Division of Historical Resources, to discuss historic districts in general and the new draft design guidelines for the Fitzwilliam Historic District. She emphasized that historic district commissions are a positive influence for a community and design guidelines send the message that the Commission wants applicants to succeed with their projects. Guidelines educate the community about the historic district too. She distributed guidelines from other towns and cities to use as models.
She suggested increasing public education about historic districts, including holding workshops by local providers on topics of interest like repairing wood windows, etc. Design guidelines talk about the defining characteristics and features of a town, the things that reinforce the character of the district.
Asked about new construction, Ms. Paulus said that the Commission shouldn’t feel they have to approve new construction that reflects any changes made to a home previously that may not be historic (like replacement windows), but should consider how the new construction reflects and complements the historic character of the original dwelling. The Commission should encourage new designs that are compatible with historic dwellings and encourage owners to return any previous modern replacements to their historic look.
The Commission should promote the positive qualities of living in an historic district. She outlined the statutes authorizing the creation and responsibility of an historic district and suggested several things to include as the Commission works on the guidelines: creating a local ordinance that will support decisions legally; stating the purpose of the district; and outlining the district boundaries. An ordinance can be based on and incorporate documents that already guide the Commission.
Ms. Paulus suggested a table of contents, numbered sections and pages, a user-friendly format arranged logically, and an introduction with the purpose, philosophy and characteristics of the historic district spelled out. Make it a friendly educational document. She added it’s helpful to have bullet points illustrating what’s acceptable and what is not, what’s encouraged and what is not, with photos of projects that are successful.
She added that a decision needs to be made about what is contained in the document – just design guidelines or include regulations and procedures as well.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 PM.
The public presentation “The Ten Myths about Historic Districts” began at 5:00 PM. About nine historic district residents attended with the Commissioners.
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