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2003-07-29 CITY OF BEVERLY Public Meeting Minutes BOARD: Historic District Commission SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: July 29, 2003 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: William Finch, Matt Lewis, James Younger, John Condon & John Frates BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Leah Zambernardi RECORDER: Diane Presutti The Historic District Commission meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Younger, the Co-Chairman, begins the meeting in Mr. Finch’s absence. 1. Dennis & Kathleen Corbett - 38 Front Street/Certificate of Appropriateness Mr. Corbett approached the Board asking for a COA to replace the front door and to replace his front stairs. He states that he wishes to replace the door with a 6 panel door with two bullseye glass lights for the upper two panels. The current door is a 6 panel wood door. He states the door needs replacement because he can see through the cracks. Mr. Finch arrives at 7:03 p.m. and recuses himself from the discussion. Mr. Finch is an abutter to an abutter to Mr. Corbett’s property. Mr. Corbett continues to explain the granite steps he wishes to install. The steps will have an 8” riser and a 12” tread. They will be 66” wide. Mr. Younger addresses the public for any comments for or against the Application for COA. There being none, Mr. Younger asks the Board for further questions or discussion. Mr. Lewis asks Mr. Corbett if the existing stairs are concrete. Mr. Corbett states they are. Mr. Frates asks if 8” riser is to code. Mr. Younger states it is. Mr. Younger commends Mr. Corbett for following the HDC bylaws and for providing accurate materials for the Board to view. Mr. Lewis motions to grant a COA for a replacement front door and granite front stairs. Mr. Frates seconds the motion. Motion carries 4-0. Historic District Commission Public Meeting Minutes - July 29, 2003 Page 2 2. Montserrat College of Art - 23 Essex Street/Certificate of Appropriateness (continued from July 1, 2003 meeting) Mr. Finch leads the discussion by commending the Montserrat College attendees for working with the HDC for a solution. He also states that both dimensions of windows shrink. The difference is 3/16”. He questions the dimension of the muntins they will use. The Board finds that the structure is a large-scale masonry institutional building with a large number of windows (about 120 – many of which have diminished visual and physical integrity due to past replacement of glass with plexiglass, poorly detailed storm windows with fogged plexiglass, and severe lack of maintenance over an extended period by previous users), and is substantially set back from the street. The substitution of the original windows with aluminum windows with the specified muntin structure is acceptable in this specific case. The large institutional scale of the building and its substantial distance from the street (particularly its primary façade) is such that the replacement windows approved herein will not detract significantly from the historic appearance of the building. Mr. Condon motions to grant a COA for replacement windows per the shop drawings submitted tonight. The replacement windows shall be the EFCO brand, aluminum, single light, double-hung windows. The muntin structure shall be 6 over 6 with interior and exterior applied muntins and an internal spacer set in a single, double-glazed pane. Motion seconded by Mr. Younger. Motion carries 5-0. Mr. Beauvais asks the Board to address the possibility of bricking up the basement windows which were discussed during the July 1, 2003 meeting. Mr. Finch asks how many windows would this involve. Mr. Beauvais states 8 or 9 windows, 4 in the front, 4 on Essex Street, 3 or 4 in rear. Mr. Younger states that the Board is more concerned with the windows seen from the street side. He also asks if the windows that need bricking up are already covered with plywood for darkness. Mr. Beauvais states that only the rooms that need darkness will be bricked up. Mr. Condon questions the air circulation if such a thing is done. Mr. Beauvais states that there is 100% air exchange in the rooms. He also states that the vent system is site specific. Mr. Frates states that if the Board accepts this, then the Board would want the bricks to match the existing bricks on the building. Historic District Commission Public Meeting Minutes - July 29, 2003 Page 3 Mr. Beauvais states he will provide a brick sample to the Board for approval if necessary. He also states that the bricking up of the basement windows will make the building’s appearance be better and that is their goal. Mr. Younger asks Mr. Beauvais if he could use MDO plywood instead of the bricks to eliminate stains if bricks need to be removed in the future. Mr. Beauvais states that a bond breaker could be used. He also states he can use ½” brick and push it back as far as possible. Mr. Younger motions to grant a COA for using matching bricks and mortar to block up basement windows. The new brick shall be set back as far as possible allowing minimal space between the existing window jam and the brick, so as to maintain a profile of the former window. A bond breaker shall be set between the new brick, the window jam, and the existing brick so that the new brick may be removed with minimum disturbance to the underlying historic fabric. The applicants shall match the new brick and mortar to the adjacent existing brick and mortar to the best of their ability. Only windows that are currently covered by plywood and have no underlying basement window may be “bricked up.” Mr. Lewis seconds. The motion carries 5-0. 3. Approval of Minutes Mr. Finch addresses the Board on the minutes of May 21, 2003. He asks the Board members to review them.The Board reviews the minutes and Mr. Younger motions to accept with several amendments. Seconded by Mr. Frates. Motion carries 5-0. Mr. Finch asks for a motion to accept minutes of June 10, 2003 and July 1, 2003. Mr. Younger motion to accept as submitted, seconded by Mr. Lewis. Motion carries 5-0. 4. Adjournment Mr. Condon motions to adjourn at 8:05 p.m., seconded by Mr. Frates. Motion carries 5-0.