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HDC Minutes_8.25 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES COMMISSION: Historic District Commission DATE: August 25, 2022 LOCATION: Google Meet(Virtual) MEMBERS PRESENT: William Finch (Chair), Suzanne LaMont (Vice Chair),Wendy Pearl, Caroline Baird Mason;John Leahy MEMBERS ABSENT: Gregory Howard STAFF PRESENT: Darlene Wynne, Planning Director;Victoria Healey,Associate Planner OTHERS PRESENT: Jeffrey Burbank;Jo Broderick;Alec McDougall; Ben Nutter; Brian Hromadka; Gerald Sullivan; Scott Graham;Tom Wu RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury Call to Order Chair Finch calls the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. Recess for Public Hearing. 1. Demolition Delay Reviews#280—Stephen Howell a. Demolition Delay Review#280—Demolition of a building located at 140 Hart Street (Assessor's Map 61—Lot 1 Jeffrey and Cindy Burbank purchased the home in May 2022 and are the current owners.They purchased the home from the descendants of John Caswell and William Caleb Loring.The home sits on 21.7 acres with 19.8 in an Essex County Greenbelt Conservation Restriction.The existing structure is believed to have been built in 1894. There have been many modifications through the years with minimum upgrades.The current owners are asking for demolition permit without delay since expert analysis proved demolition was appropriate.The property is set back with no visibility from the street. Burbank attempted to research any historical listings national, state, and local. He maintains there were no indications the structure is eligible for such listings. No indication it was associated with a historical event or person, part of architectural, cultural, economic, political, or social history of the city.There is no support that the structure is associated with a historic builder or architect, and it is not within 150 feet of a federal, state, or local historic district. Building plans include the teams from Benjamin Nutter Architects, LLC and Howell Custom Building Group. Burbank intends to build an energy efficient and sustainable New England style farmhouse and barn. Burbank desires to bring farms back to Beverly. Reconvene regular meeting. 2. Determinations for Demolition Delay Reviews#280—Stephen Howell Leahy brings to the attention of the omission the Zillow review which boasts the home was designed by renowned architect William G. Rantoul. Burbank responds that they followed up with the family for documentation for that claim.The family did not possess any such documentation to support those claims. Burbank could not confirm the home was from the famous Rantoul architect. LaMont concurs with Burbank's findings that the main part of the home is not attributed to William G. Rantoul. Members Historic District Commission August 25,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 appreciate the owner's intention to salvage architectural material as much as they can. Finch appreciates the attempt for architectural salvage, however, notes that these pieces should not be used at random in other homes where it provides a false sense of history. Finch believes this home is historically significant but was not noted because of the setback and was not easy to find.This home was not on the historical survey because the surveyor could only survey ones that she could gain access to.Therefore, the home was not included during the 1993 inventory and should have been. LaMont agrees with Finch in that there are many homes that are historically significant but have not been reviewed yet. LaMont discusses the late 19t" century country estates in relation to the industrial revolution.There are not a lot of these types of homes. Late 19t" century homes were built as a response to the people escaping the city in lieu of a gentrified country life.They are a generation before the opulence of the 20t"century estates. Motion: LaMont moves to determine 140 Hart Street historically significant based on the architecture and social significance to the city in relation to the late 19t"century country estates. Pearl seconds. Motion carries 5-0. Finch states that a home mentioned previously was visible from the water, but not from a public way. It does not mean the home is not historically significant. Mason does not believe the building should be preferably preserved. Leahy makes the case that this home would be preferably preserved if more people knew of its existence. Pearl concurs with Mason. Members and the design team briefly discuss retrofitting historic homes to be energy efficient. Motion: Mason moves to determine 140 Hart Street preferably preserved. LaMont seconds. Motion fails 2-3. Leahy, Mason, Pearl dissent. 3. 23 Essex Street—Montserrat College of Art Inc. a. Solar installation project—preservation restriction considerations Finch informs the commission the city holds a preservation restriction on the building as a condition of part of the sale.The commission is charged with determining if the addition of solar panels meets and fits within the acceptable treatment as part of the city conditions. Wu addresses the board and discusses installation project and proposed design. Wu asks the commission to take into account recently signed MA legislation for energy efficiencies and renewables by Governor Baker with mandates the electrification of the Commonwealth. Wu addresses the visual aspect and the installation aspect for members based off photos submitted to the commission. All components of the module will match in color and the attachments are easily removed.The racking system is minimally invasive.There are no visible or permanent fixtures to the building itself. Wu addresses the concerns for the cable runs to be minimally intrusive.The intent is to have all conduits on the interior. Motion: Leahy moves to determine the proposed installation for the Hardie School is acceptable within the terms of the preservation restrictions that the city holds for the building. LaMont seconds. Motion carries 5-0. 4. Beverly Golf&Tennis a. SSV Architects and CBRE presents railing options for the Beverly Golf&Tennis Club Historic District Commission August 25,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 Finch recuses from the agenda item. Brian Hromadka presents 3 options to the board for consideration. Option A pertains to the original discussion previously seen at a prior meeting. Option A is a reinterpretation of existing elements.The columns sit on the pilaster pedestal,whereas original columns run all the way to the base. Option A is to bring out more of the original American Arts &Craft style. Option B the tapered columns pike and flare at the base compared to existing columns with the addition of glass panels. Option C keeps the columns from Option B with the in-fill different from the glass panels. Option D keeps the columns from Option B with cable railings.The wire is lighter than the wood railing and does not require as much maintenance as the glass railing. LaMont draws attention to the lack of arches on Option D. It's lackluster. Pearl likes the cable railings with the straight floor across. Creates a cleaner lighter look. Hromadka appreciates comments and feedback from the members and reiterates the expense associated with these renovations as they pertain to the Secretary of Interior Standards. Members discuss each option as it meets the standard. Pearl prefers the last option; it allows for new architecture to reflect as modern. New elements should be distinguishable from the old. Members concur and overall prefer D with a clean appearance and excellent contrast. Motion: LaMont moves to determine options B, C, and D conform to the Secretary of Interior Standards. Leahy seconds. Motion carries 4-0. Motion: Pearl moves that Healey draft a letter of support affirming that the changes to the design conform to the Secretary Interior Standards. Leahy seconds. Motion carries 4-0. 5. Abbott Street Cemetery Members discuss the consideration of a single filing for a Ch. 40C nomination. Finch and members discuss the formal process and guidelines from the state historic commission. Currently there is no formal process. 6. MHRTC Support Letter request for August 2022 Round/Beverly High School/Briscoe Middle School project Healey provides a summary of the tax letter and an example letter formerly drafted by Hutchings for the commission to review. Motion: LaMont moves that Healey renew the MHRTC support letter as written. Mason seconds. Motion carries 5-0. 7. Demolition Application#279 for 478 Rantoul Street—Vincent Orlando Finch informs the commission the owner withdrew his application. Motion: LaMont moves to accept the request to withdraw the demolition application#279 for the project at 478 Rantoul Street without prejudice under the Ordinance. Leahy seconds. Motion carries 5-0. Motion: LaMont moves to close the public hearing on Demolition Application#279 for 478 Rantoul Street. Leahy seconds. Motion carries 5-0. Historic District Commission August 25,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 Pearl left the meeting. 8. Approval of minutes a. May 26, 2022 b. June 23, 2022 c. July 13, 2022(special meeting) Motion: LaMont moves to continue all minutes to the September 22, 2022 meeting. Leahy seconds. Motion carries 4-0. Mason left the meeting. 9. New/Other Business Leahy asks members if they are ready to convene in person meetings. Members agree to switch to an in- person meeting with Finch calling in. 10. Adiournment Motion: LaMont moves to adjourn. Leahy seconds.The motion carries 3-0. Meeting adjourned 8:59 pm. Next meeting scheduled 9/22/22.