Notes from HATS Meeting
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Discussion with Historic Commission (HC) and Historic District Commission (HDC) representatives from HATS communities
Distinction between jurisdiction of HDC’s and HC’s
HDC-established in 1960 under Chapter 40C; regulatory authority over defined area of special significance, greater control than HC; demolition forbidden, modifications tightly regulated
HC-primarily preservation and research activities, may manage properties, can impose demolition delay, but not prohibit destruction
Generally successful in working with owners to accommodate preservation
e.g. Harrington House on Concord –owned by Town, occupied and rent is used for preservation and maintenance
All communities depend on CPA funds for historical renovations and preservation
Bedford has $700K stabilization fund maintenance of historical assets
What is on inventory and how was inventory conducted?
Bedford –anything constructed before 1943, did not want to include post WWII buildings, veterans ‘ housing, etc.; inventory complete, conducted with funds from Town and Mass Historical Society (MHS)using consultants recommended by MHS
Lexington- inventory being updated with CPA funds, initial inventory started in 1975, conducted with funding from MHS and Trustees for Public Trusts; includes historical as well as architecturally significant buildings; inventory in general goes up to 1920 but includes several modern neighbors,
Lincoln-inventory in progress; some buildings on state registry were unknown to Town, Lincoln want MHS to inform Town
Concord—demolition delay adopted in 2000, 80 to 90 homes included, home owners have option of being included or not, inventory up to Civil War, 1875 cut-off
Demolition delay bylaws
What triggers delay by-law
Bedford-constructed prior to 1943
Lexington-inclusion in inventory, has caused some unhappiness
Concord-inclusion on list
Duration of delay
Bedford-1 year
Lexington -18 months;
Demolition by neglect provision approved by 2007 Annual Town Meeting; if owner neglects building, Town can stabilize at owner’s expense
Lincoln-1 year; HC has not had to deny permit, has generally been able to work with owners to preserve and maintain context of neighborhoods
Concord-
Archives
Lincoln—tying to expand archives, to make material easily accessible to public,
(Marlborough is the gold standard; has digitized all record and placed on line)
Lexington and Concord are making progress toward digitizing records
Bedford- Historical Society is custodian of records and has resources (staff) to maintain
Cell Towers
Concord has regulations to control placement of cell towers visible from historic or significant landscapes; requires Section 106 review?
Does federal regulation trump local control for cell tower siting?
Unknown -Cell towers are licensed by Federal Communication Commission (FCC); conventional wisdom—local regulation can control, but not prohibit i.e. limit height, require archeological review. Lexington’s cell tower by-law requires review by Design Advisory committee and permit from Board of Appeals
HDC activities
Bedford--Local district of 70-80, buildings, and national registry contains another 30-40, mostly vintage 1800-1830
Lots of time spent on signage
New construction within HDC
10 units of affordable housing, Local Initiative Project (LIP)—zoning board gave HDC power to review
Block of stores-designated for mixed use (residences, offices and restaurants); able to influence selection of materials and general appearance
Lincoln-has been asked to develop Historic District along edge of Minuteman National Historic Park to preserve historic context and viewshed ;
Raises question of jurisdiction of buildings within Park; Lincoln and Concord have holdings within Park, who controls feds or local authority? Park has to date worked voluntarily with local authorities;
Guidelines- HDC’s have authority to promulgate standards, which should make the process fair, reasonable and predictable
Lincoln and Concord are developing standards
Lexington has guidelines
Aeronautics Technology Museum
Save our Heritage is working to preserve Hangar 24, site of the former Draper Laboratories and develop a museum at the site. Hangar 24, located on Hanscom Field, is now on the Massachusetts historical inventory and is eligible to be included in the National Registry.
The list of achievements accomplishments achieved at Draper Labs is impressive including,
Invention of inertial navigation
Development of airborne collision avoidance system
Advanced radar
Daedalus human powered aircraft and
Solar voltaic powered system
Massport proposes to demolish Hangar 24 and replace it with a fixed based operations facility. The FAA has been asked to complete a Section 106 filing from which plans can be developed to mitigate the harm to the historic structure. The four HATS Towns will be asked to participate in the Section 106 process. The June 26 HATS meeting will be a tutorial on Section 106 presented by Marilyn Fenollosa.
Update for MMNHP
Management Plan to guide park over next 15 to 20 years underway
Neighborhood meetings being conducted
Minuteman Scenic Byway has won grant to conduct a corridor management plan within Lexington, Lincoln, Concord and Arlington.
Key recommendations
Traffic calming along RT 2a
Redesign of RT 2a
Use empty buildings e.g Noah Brooks House
Developing farm near Lincoln-Concord border for educational purposes to preserve agrarian landscape
Will be active farm, but not employ 18th century techniques but will conduct demonstrations,
Developed in conjunction with the Farm School in Athol
| 
