BHDC Minutes November 4 2015 - ApprovedBeverly Historic Commission
Draft Minutes — November 4, 2015
CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Board: Historic District Commission
Date: November 4, 2015
Location: Beverly City Hall, City Council Chambers, 191 Cabot Street
Beverly, MA
Members Present William Finch, Chair, Suzanne LaMont, Wendy Pearl, Martin Lian
Members Absent: James Younger
Others Present: Allison Crosbie, Staff Planner
Recorder: Eileen Sacco
Finch called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Community Preservation Plan
Pearl reviews the Community Preservation Plan, Historic Preservation category of the plan with
the Commission. She explains that this is a draft and she is looking for input from the
Commission on the plan noting that they want to develop some guidelines for the consideration
of historic preservation projects.
Pearl reviews the types of historic resources described in the plan noting the types of historic
properties and what the needs are. She states that there are opportunities for preservation and
rehabilitation. She also notes that they have included artifacts and the preservation of city
records which will cover any collections that should be preserved.
Pearl states that this does not take the place of criteria that has to be met and notes that all will
still apply to be given preference.
Pearl explains that she wanted to start a conversation with the Commission on the priorities,
noting that she will be writing that section and that she would like it to be basic information that
takes into consideration what the needs are. She notes that there needs to be some discussion
about non city owned properties noting that there is some controversy over in Salem about a
request from the House of the Seven Gables for CPA funding. She notes that she would like
guidelines that allow for feasibility studies such as GAR Hall.
Finch states that the CPA should be funding projects to restore and maintain historic facilities.
He suggests that for City properties the Planning Department should administer it.
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Beverly Historic Commission
Draft Minutes — November 4, 2015
Pearl stated that she would like to see projects funded that preserve the character of the
downtown and projects that fall under that should be a priority. She mentions the downtown
area and Beverly Farms.
Pearl also presents a draft list of active and vacant municipal properties that should be included
noting the Powder House, the Dead House, cemetery properties including structures and
landscaping, historic buildings, coastal properties noting the Lynch Park Carriage House. She
states that there are beaches with very minimal access, noting Brackenbury Beach. She also
notes that landscapes and vistas that the public can enjoy should be included as well.
Pearl reviews the list of projects that are being considered by the CPA and indicates where the
BHDC will have to review, noting the Hale House specifications and details would have to come
to the Commission for administrative sign off.
Pearl also reported that the Hale House could be considered a preference noting that the criteria
calls for them to show funding from other sources. She also notes that the historic inventory of
properties is important for the foundation of the program for preservation planning.
Massachusetts Historic Commission Planning and Survey Grant 2015
Consultant Wendy Frontiero and Pamela Hartford met with the Commission to discuss potential
survey work related to the Great Estates Ordinance that is currently under development by the
Planning Department.
Staff Planner Allison Crosbie explains that they are looking at a Great Estates ordinance to look
at zoning and provide guidance for the restoration and reuse of some of the larger estate
properties in the city. She also notes that they want to preserve historic properties without
circumventing zoning. Hartford reported that they are looking at 30 properties in the city and
notes that they found another property to add to the list.
Crosbie states that they are thinking of using the name "Cultural Heritage Properties" for these
estates. She explains that they want to preserve the buildings and landscapes, while allowing for
mansions to be redeveloped into multiple units. She also notes that they would prefer that a
portion of the sites be left untouched.
LaMont suggests that untouched portions should be considered open space.
Pearl suggests that they should prioritize properties with historic buildings or landscapes.
Hartford agrees, noting that there are lot of historic properties in Beverly that they are looking at.
She notes that they are not McMansions with no historic significance.
Pearl questions how many schools were surveyed. She also notes that current municipal-owned
buildings should be included.
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Beverly Historic Commission
Draft Minutes — November 4, 2015
LaMont notes that the Cabot Cinema should be included as well noting that it has spurred some
discussion in the past.
Finch suggests that Prospect Hill is important and further notes that the Montserrat area is
woefully undocumented. He suggests that the survey include a review of various neighborhoods
throughout the city and the homes that are located in them.
Crosbie agrees and states that she will provide a list to the consultant.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Beverly Historic Commission this evening,
Lian moved to adjourn the meeting. LaMont seconds the motion. The motion carries (4-0).
The meeting was adj ourned at 9:00 p.m.
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