Lincoln Historical Commission
Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes
July 11, 2006, 7:30 p.m.
Board: Colin Smith, Chair, Ephraim Flint, Lucretia Giese, Ken Hurd, Jack MacLean
Town: Elaine Carroll
NEXT MEETING: Tentatively set for August 8, 2006, 7:30 pm, Town Offices
The minutes from the June 6, 2006 meeting were approved.
Demolition Delay Review:
Ben Dubrovsky, 178 Weston Road Mr. Dubrovsky did not appear before the Commission. However, due to the fact that the LHC did not have a quorum and 30 days have elapsed since receipt of the application, the Lincoln Building Inspector may issue a demolition permit for this property under Section 3.4 of the Demolition Delay By-Law. Permission to demolish was not granted by the LHC but was received by default.
Certificate of Appropriateness:
Thomas Bray, 19 Trapelo Road Thomas Bray and his architect, Martin Dermady, came before the Commission on a continuation of the May 9 hearing with a new set of plans. The farmer s porch will not be built and the second floor addition has been set back to show less massing. Ken Hurd said that he appreciated the fact that Mr. Bray was taking away the farmer s porch but felt that the cut back of the second floor was a little too severe and suggested that he make the cut back a little less, which would make for a bigger room. Ephraim Flint suggested adding gutters or an overhang above the back door for protection from rain. Ken Hurd made a motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness upon submission of plans showing the suggested change to the second floor addition. Ephraim
Flint seconded the motion and it passed 5-0. Mr. Dermady said that he would make the change on the plan and submit the revised plan this week.
Giles Browne and Lorraine Fiore, 11 Trapelo Road Lorraine Fiore came before the Commission to request the installation of a railing on their back porch, which would match the existing stair railing for the accessory apartment on the garage. She said that she was getting to an age where she needs to hang on to a railing especially when taking the dog out. After a brief discussion, Lucretia Giese made a motion to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness to approve the railing matching the existing railing. Colin Smith seconded the motion and it was passed 5-0.
Other Business:
Demolition Delay By-Law The members discussed possible changes to the Demolition Delay By-Law. The issues of most concern were: 1) Requiring the applicant to make a presentation before the Commission. 2) Changing the deadline from 30 days after the date the application is submitted to possibly 30 days after the closing of the hearing. 3) Having the permission to demolish expire in 2 years. 4) Having the permission to demolish go with the owner instead of the property. If the house were sold before being demolished, the new owner would need to come before the Commission again.
There was also a discussion about changing the 6- month delay to 12 months as requested by Mass. Historical. Colin Smith will check with Mass. Historical to see how many towns have adopted the 12-month delay. Since there is a difference between the LHC granting permission to demolish and the Lincoln Building Inspector granting a demolition permit, wording in the by-law should state permission to demolish instead of demolition permit when referring to the Commission s decision. There was also discussion about changing wording to say that the structure was either found to be historically significant or not historically significant and to change the wording on the application form from “demolition approved” or “demolition denied” to “not historically significant” or “historically significant”. Lucretia also wanted more details on the application form, which would include a description of the history of the structure, the reason for the request for demolition along with
photographs. The members felt that the alternates should be part of the LHC as well as the HDC to avoid a quorum problem in the future. Jack MacLean said that the Town allows 2 alternates instead of the 7 that the state allows and would need to change the by-law. He said that when the LHC was established there was no Demolition Delay By-Law.
Copies for Members The members reviewed copies of 2 reports received from Ruth Wales regarding the Lincoln Center Historic District one report from the Lincoln Library and one from the National Register of Historic Places, along with a copy from the National Register of the Woods End Road Historic District. Ruth Wales felt that it was important for the members to see why these districts were created and what makes them special so that the philosophy of these districts could be understood.
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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine Carroll
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