The Town of Lincoln, MA - Minutes

Kimberly Soukup has a purchase and sale agreement to buy this property with a closing date of Feb. 15, 2007. She has been looking for a special spot for 3 years to build a house for a family of 6. She needs a few more bedrooms and is planning on building a shingle style rambling farmhouse, which will probably be 2 stories. She has lived in Lincoln for 7 years. The existing house is a Deck House, which is in very good condition. She said that a Deck House is difficult to add onto. She did not know the history of the neighborhood. Lucretia Giese said that the area was conceived with a particular relationship of small scaled houses surrounded by open space. Constantin Pertzoff built the other houses in the area. Some houses have been added onto but on a single level and in keeping with the neighborhood. Lucretia feels that when we have a historical pedigree, we need to be cognizant of the character of the neighborhood. Jack MacLean said that the neighborhood was designed with the houses being low to the ground with large lots and surrounding Conservation land. Eleanor King, 97 Weston Road, felt that the greenhouse next to her has already damaged the character of the neighborhood. Bob Cunningham, 7 Woodcock Lane, said that this was a lovely house with beautiful landscaping with a trail going right by it and it upsets him to destroy a Deck House in good condition and was wondering if it could be moved. Mrs. Soukup said that Habitat for Humanity is willing to take the windows. She said that she does not want to be out of sync with the neighborhood and wants to keep the landscaping. She is willing to donate the house but it is not what she wants or needs for her family. She wants to stay in Lincoln and this is the first lot that she has loved. Dana Robbat, 151 Old Concord Road, said that the whole concept of teardowns is upsetting and we owe something to our forefathers who built the wonderful space for the whole town to enjoy. There was some question about the legality of a non-owner to apply for a demolition since there is only a purchase and sale agreement and the bylaw says that an owner, tenant or occupant may apply for an application to demolish. Colin Smith said that he would check with town counsel about the legality. Jane Moss, 123 Weston Road said that because these houses were created for moderate incomes, she was able to afford to live in Lincoln. There was a question about how the Wise house at 121 Weston Road, which was a Pertzoff house, could be torn down and a big house put in its place. Eric Harris said that this happened before the Demolition Delay By-law and the Town is limited as to what it can do. Colin was asked to read a letter from Mrs. Moss of 14 Woodcock Lane who was not in favor of the demolition. Maurice Torti, 119 Weston Road, was pleased with what Kimberly had said and had a problem with considering a Deck House as historically significant. Lucretia said that it was historically significant in the context of the neighborhood. After more discussion, Lucretia Giese made a motion to find that the house was historically significant contingent on the decision of the town counsel that this is a legitimate application. The motion passed 4-0 with Andrew Ory wanting to see the location before voting. If it were determined by town counsel that this is not a legitimate application then the process would begin again after the sale of the property.