HDC 2-22-24 Beverly Historic Districts Commission
February 22, 2024 Meeting Minutes
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CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Historic Districts Commission
LOCATION: Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street, 3rd Floor,
Conference Room A
DATE: February 22, 2024
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair William Finch, Vice Chair Suzanne LaMont, John
Leahy,Wendy Pearl, Caroline Baird Mason
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Gregory Howard
OTHERS PRESENT: Associate Planner Jared Contrada
RECORDER: Naomi Moca
Call to order
Chair Finch opens the meeting at 7:06 p.m.
8. Review of minutes
a. November 20, 2023
The members review and offer edits to the November 20, 2023 draft meeting minutes.
b. December 13, 2023
The members review and offer edits to the December 13, 2023 draft meeting minutes. Contrada
agrees to listen to both meeting recordings to clarify some items.
LaMont: Motion to continue review of the November 20, 2023, and December 13,
2023 meeting draft minutes to the March 28, 2024 meeting. Leahy seconds.
Motion carries (5-0).
1. TAP application update
Associate Planner Contrada states that he and Director of Planning and Development Darlene
Wynne are researching whether the MAPC Technical Assistance Program(TAP) is appropriate
for the Commission to pursue. Contrada states he has learned that TAP focuses on projects
involving environmental justice communities and environmental justice groups. Contrada states
that he discussed the Commission's idea of applying to TAP for the purpose of historic
preservation with Sarah Scott of MAPC, who stated that while TAP is open to different projects,
she felt the topic was somewhat broad in scope. The Commission discusses whether TAP aligns
with the Commission's goals and discusses that if it does not, there may be other modalities
offered by MAPC that are appropriate. Pearl observes that it may be beneficial for a member of
MAPC to attend a future meeting to discuss how it may help the Commission to meet its goals.
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Beverly Historic Districts Commission
February 22, 2024 Meeting Minutes
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The Commission discusses Salem's Historic District ordinances compared to the City's. The
Commission discusses whether it is a worthwhile endeavor to strengthen the existing ordinance
language to include:
1. Increased demolition delay time to 18 months for buildings over 100 years old.
2. Prior to the Building Inspector issuing the demolition permit at the end of the 1 S-month
period, the building owner is required to demonstrate what steps were taken in the interim
to preserve the building, such as consulting with a real estate agent.
3. Require that the building be stabilized,
Contrada observes that the Planning Department's project of updating the ordinance for the use
of public sidewalks is similar in that it is strengthening the existing ordinance language instead
of proposing new language. Contrada agrees to discuss the item with Wynne.
2. Website updates
Contrada asks the members for suggestions to update and enhance the website. The Commission
discusses adding information on the district that the Commission oversees, a link to research the
history of a building, a link to the Department of Interior standards, links to survey forms, a link
to Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System(MACRIS), a link to meeting minutes,
adding a summary of the Historic Preservation Plan status, adding a summary of the history of
the Historic Districts Commission, removing the names of members and staff that are inactive,
and removing outdated information such as the Powder House project.
3. Cabot House and Historic Beverly
Contrada states that the Cabot House has recently re-opened, and the Committee is invited to
visit and view the work that was done.
Contrada states that Historic Beverly invited the Commission to hold its meetings in the Cabot
House, The Commission discusses that while a thoughtful gesture,parts of the building are not
ADA compliant, so it is not possible.
4. Reappointments
The Commission discusses the member terms that are ending on April 1, 2024, and that if the
positions are not filled, there will be four sitting members remaining.
5. New/Other Business
a. Other discussion or action items related to Commission business,if any
The Commission discusses the unsightly billboard at the intersection of Dane Street and Cabot
Street, which is within the Historic District, and whether any measures can be taken to remove it.
Leahy proposes that the agenda for future meetings always include two topics from the priority
list that the members agreed on. The Commission discusses refining the process for setting the
agenda while still complying with Open Meeting Law.
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Beverly Historic Districts Commission
February 22, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Page 3 of 3
Adjourn
Pearl: Motion to adjourn. Leahy seconds. The motion carries (5-0).
Meeting adjourns at 8:32 p.m.
The next meeting will be Thursday, March 28,2024.
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