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HDC minutes_ 10.27 DRAFT CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES COMMISSION: Historic District Commission DATE: October 27, 2022 LOCATION: Google Meet(Virtual) MEMBERS PRESENT: William Finch (Chair), Suzanne LaMont (Vice Chair),Wendy Pearl,John Leahy, Caroline Baird Mason, Gregory Howard MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Victoria Healey,Associate Planner OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury Call to Order Chair Finch calls the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. Finch recesses for Public Hearing. 1. Demolition Delay Review#282—Carolos Delgado a. Demolition delay review#282—Demolition of a building located at 28 Bow Street (Assessor's Map 11—Lot 194) Tom Alexander represents the applicant, Carlos Delgado.The real estate broker did not notify Delgado of the history of the building. Alexander states that the building lacks structural integrity and that structural issues include and are not limited to knob and tube wiring, asbestos, aluminum siding, interior damage and destruction. Presently a single-family home in an RHD (residential high-density district), shallow ceilings are cost prohibitive. Delgado would like to demo the building and replace it with a 3-unit structure. Dutch Norton, contractor/builder speaks on behalf of Delgado.The house is not safe, it is toxic, a fire hazard.They submitted a 29-page environmental report where scientists found several environmental and health hazards.There is no real foundation and is comprised of loose bricks. Cost would be three times as much to renovate and the building would still not be brought up to building code. Finch details the history of the building and its revolutionary significance.The property was moved and not in its original location. Finch closes the public hearing. Finch reconvenes regular meeting. Pearl asks when the last occupancy of the house was. Delgado,the previous owner vacated property about two months ago. Mason recalls a previous scenario where the was considerable decay and the home was abandoned on Ober Street.The new Ober Street owner requested the demolition due to extensive repairs for the dwelling. Pearl initially does not believe the Bow street house should be preferably preserved.There are other areas and buildings in the city that the Wallis legacy is preserved and can be highlighted. Pearl acknowledges the home has been neglected. LaMont initially determines it is historically significant to the city. Finch considers the house to be historically significant. Historic District Commission October 27,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 Motion: Howard moves to find the property is historically significant. Mason seconds. Motion carries 6-0. Determination: Determined to be historically significant. Finch advocates for giving the home a second chance, he questions what is underneath the siding,the clapboards, and whether other 18t" century architectural details may have managed to survive. Norton asks if there are acceptable lots to move the house to. Members guide Delgado and Norton on where to find information. Members discuss on when to have the applicant return with their efforts to preserve or move the existing structure.They suggest the applicant return within a reasonable amount of time to provide a plan and details on preserving the structure. Motion: Leahy moves to determine the property is preferably preserved due to its historic ownership, 18t"Century history and location. Howard seconds. Motion carries 6-0. Determination:The building is determined to be found preferably preserved. LaMont suggests moving the Larcom Theatre item before the COA(Certificate of Appropriateness) review.The Larcom Theatre applicant is present. 2. Determination of Historical Significance—Larcom Theatre Lisa Crowell, owner addresses the commission. Crowell asks the commission to find and determine the property is historically significant. She is applying for the historic preservation project. Her purpose is to restore the original marquee on Wallis Street. Crowell provides a brief history of the original owner Lucy Larcom,the theatre (c.1912) and relatable occurring historic events at the time, such as the sinking of the Titanic.There are only 250 active Vaudeville theaters in the US. Beverly has two them. Motion: LaMont moves to determine the Larcom Theatre historically significant to the city of Beverly through its history, architecture, and culture. Motion amended by Pearl for descriptive language. Leahy seconds. Motion carries 6-0. Finch recesses for public hearing 3. Certificate of Appropriateness—Cheryl Austerman a. Certificate of Appropriateness for the addition of a fence at 45 Bartlett Street (Assessor's Map 2, Lot 51) Finch recuses from the agenda item.The applicant is absent. Members discuss the application,which is to build a 6' wood fence. Mason's concerns are if the addition of a fence will conform to the neighborhood. Members discuss and find the addition of a fence to be a simple request and unobtrusive to the neighborhood. LaMont closes the public hearing. Historic District Commission October 27,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 LaMont reconvenes regular meeting. Motion: Pearl moves to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for the addition of a fence at 45 Bartlett St(Assessor's Map 2, Lot 51). Leahy seconds. Motion carries 5-0-1. Finch abstains (abutter). 4. Lynch Park National Nomination Discussion Healey provides the updates. Wendy Frontiero is hired by the city to discuss the Lynch Park national nomination in detail with the mayor. Mayor Cahill has hesitations about preparing a registry nomination. LaMont suggests that Erina Keefe, Sustainability Director, should also be part of the discussion since the nomination would concern sustainability and environmental factors. 5. Staff updates b. Abbott Cemetery Healey provides the updates based on a conversation with Sue Goganian. Sue Goganian prefers to do all the research for this cemetery National Registration. She has concerns with how Veteran Affairs have handled the stones (headstones). Councilor Scott Houseman is working on a plan for Central Cemetery. LaMont would like a scope of work for the Central Cemetery to be applicable to all cemeteries in the city. Pearl points out the landscapes for each cemetery is different which would make a centralized or generic scope of work not applicable or conducive to all cemetery projects. Pearl would like to know what the current inventory is, and what is on the inventory. Members will have a robust discussion for cemetery preservation at the next meeting. c. CLG Application Healey provides the updates informing members the application was sent back with edits, which Healey completed.The document is signed. d. NCD Ordinance Healey does not have updates on this. Mason echoes concerns by Ward 2 Councilor Estelle Rand regarding the progress status of the ordinance. Both would not like to see the ordinance delayed. Healey relays the city solicitor has a large workload for review. Mason recaps City Council meeting October 24, 2022 for members who were not in attendance. Councilor St. Hilaire proposed before city council a 35' height limit city wide. Mason recaps the Planning Board (PB) meeting October 25, 2022. Mason informed the PB the HDC does not have any authority to compel obedience with historic preservation standards or to impose limitations on such entities acting by right within an existing ordinance; even if that project is out of character with the neighborhood, district or disenfranchises residents. Mason recalls Thad Siemasko of SV Design concurred Cabot Street should not have several 5 story buildings.The cavern effect must be proportionate with building height and street width. Siemasko compared Rantoul Street to Cabot Street point out the development for Rantoul is appropriate for street width. Cabot Street is too narrow from a design perspective. Finch points out that the 222 Cabot project is technically considered "behind" Cabot.The front fagade and brick will be renovated and preserved at a 2-story max. Mason strongly reiterates that an ordinance of 55' height by right on Cabot should not continue to the detriment of the city history and neighborhood character. Pearl left the meeting. Historic District Commission October 27,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 Healey updates the commission Steve Frederickson retired and the city is acquiring a new building inspector. e. 2023 Schedule Healey will create a schedule to present at the next meeting. 6. Approval of minutes To be reviewed at the next meeting November 10, 2022. 7. New/Other Business a. Project Update: Restoration of the staircase between Gillis Park and Pleasant View Beach LaMont asks if Bruce Doig submitted updates on the masonry work for the staircase. No updates at this time. b. CLG Application LaMont asks for follow up for applying for certified local government status.There are no updates per Healey. 8. Adiournment Motion: Mason moves to adjourn. Leahy seconds.The motion carries 5-0. Meeting adjourned 8:34 pm. Next meeting scheduled 11/15/2022.