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Lincoln Historical Commission
Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes
June 5, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
Board Members: Ruth Wales, HDC Chair, LHC/HDC; Lucretia Giese, LHC Chair, LHC/HDC, Ephraim Flint, HDC; Kerry Glass, LHC/HDC; Andrew Ory, LHC/HDC; Colin Smith, LHC/HDC
Alternate: Jack MacLean, HDC
Secretary: Elaine Carroll
NEXT ANTICIPATED MEETINGS: Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 7:30 p.m., Town Offices
The minutes of the May 1 meeting were approved as amended by Ruth Wales.
Demolition Review:
David Bau, 88 Lincoln Road – David O’Neil, Architect for Mr. Bau, came before the LHC members to request permission for the demolition of the structure at 88 Lincoln Road. Mr. O’Neil said that site plan approval has been obtained from the Planning Board for the new dwelling and they meet tomorrow night with the Conservation Commission. He said that the owners bought the property because of the land with its plantings and trees and park-like atmosphere with pastures behind it. There are conservation easements all around, which were given to the Town. The present house is approximately 3,500 s.f. and the proposed house would be 6,400 s.f. He said that the house was not a historic house. The chimneys are fakes and there is no fireplace in the house. It was
built on a slab on grade and is infested with mold. The owner wants to keep the trees but would like to remove the invasive plants. Mr. O’Neil said that the proposed house should fit into the neighborhood better and will have a compound feel to it. Pam Small,
61 Tower Road had a concern about the actual demolition of the structure and whether there may be lead paint or asbestos present in the house. Mr. O’Neil said that Garry Pharris, an inspector for the Division of Occupational Safety, had been called by someone and had talked to him and the owner. Mr. O’Neil said that the owner will hire a lead paint and asbestos specialist to give them an analysis and do lab sampling. If there are any hazardous materials found, the contractor will have to deal with whatever he finds in a proper manner. He also said that any concerns can be forward to Mr. Pharris as the report would be given to him. David Levy, 38 Tower Road also was concerned about health issues and wondered who watched over homes being torn down. He was informed that that the
Building Inspector has the job of overseeing the demolition of structures. Gary Davis, 20R Indian Camp Lane, voiced his concerns about the number of demolitions in Town especially anything near the Historic District. Lucretia Giese said that the Commission is also concerned but that under the by-law the LHC has to decide if the dwelling is historically significant or not historically significant. She said that a more stringent by-law was barely passed at Town Meeting in March extending the delay of a historically significant property from 6 months to 12 month. Ruth Wales said that the Commission sees it as a loss of the Town’s smaller stock of homes but there is nothing in the by-law that says a house cannot be demolished for that reason alone. Andrew Ory made a motion that this house was not historically significant, with Colin Smith seconding the motion. The motion passed unanimously by the LHC members. Mr. Ory said that this was yet
another house going from 3,500 s.f. to 6,400 s.f.
Stanley Rowin and Nancy Rigotti, 254 Concord Road – The owners and William Warren of Warren Design Associates came before the LHC members to request permission to demolish the structure at
254 Concord Road. Mr. Warren said that this is a rectangular ranch with a concrete block addition. There are 3 small bedrooms, one of which is just an entry room to the concrete block master bedroom, which was never insulated. The original house was built in 1950, the addition was built in 1954 and the garage was added in 1957. The proposed house is approximately 3,300 s.f. and will virtually be sited in the same location with a low impact approach. There are wetland issues on the property. The owners want to preserve the land, the view and cut no trees down. They plan to augment the plantings on Giles Road. They have spoken with the neighbors and found no objections. No abutters were present at the meeting. The owners said that there is no asbestos present in the
house. Ruth Wales made a motion that the dwelling was not historically significant, with Kerry Glass seconding the motion. The motion passed unanimously by the LHC members.
Certificate of Appropriateness:
David Jacobs and Louise Akillian, 2 Weston Road – The owners said that they have lived in Lincoln for 20 years and recently bought 2 Weston Road. They are proposing a kitchen renovation and as a result of that would like to change the windows at the rear of the house, removing a plant window and replacing the windows with ones that would match the existing windows in the house. Colin Smith made a motion to accept the windows as shown on a sketch. Andrew Ory seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously by the HDC members. A Certificate of Appropriateness will be sent to the owners.
Informal Discussions:
First Parish Church – Frances Clark, Samuel Perkins and Jona Donaldson came before the HDC members for an informal hearing on the proposed addition to the rear of the White Church. The proposed plans were presented at a meeting last night but they have not had a discussion about various models with the congregation as yet. What they are proposing is to open up the entry to the Stearn’s Room and open up with windows to the fields behind the church. They need an extra meeting place and more elbow room in the kitchen. They have seen at least 11 models and are showing 3 to the HDC members. One model was very close to the footprint. The second model showed a different location for the same needs and would be seven feet out from the original structure, which would make it
about 12 feet from the property line, Frances Clark said it could be pushed back to get it away from the neighbor. It is not firm yet but the concept is to keep it as traditional as possible from the street. There was also a third more modern model, which met with opposition from the HDC members. The members felt that this is a very tight location and central to the District and Town. Frances Clark said that they have tried to echo the main building and she does not think that the present addition is any prize. The HDC members would like to keep it as simple and understated as possible. Jack MacLean said that there is a stone wall left over from horse sheds, which may be of archeological interest, in which case Mass. Historical could get involved. Frances felt that this wall may have already been disturbed in the 1960s. Ephraim Flint said that a version has been taped out on the ground if any members are interested in looking at
it. The group was encouraged to come back before the HDC members for another informal discussion when plans are a little more along.
Friends of Modern Architecture (FoMA) – Dana Robbat came before the LHC members to make a presentation of modern houses in Lincoln. She said that FoMA concentrated on 4 National Register historic districts of modern houses – Beaver Pond Road, Brown’s Wood, Woodcock Lane and Old Concord Road. She said that in 2005, FoMA was awarded a grant to do surveys of modern architecture in Lincoln and they just completed the survey in January of 2007. Dana Robbat read a letter from Kathleen Broomer, Architectural Historian, with the results of a review of Mass. Historical inventory forms prepared by FoMA, identifying the 4 potential National Register historic districts. She also presented a letter from Oakfield Research hired by FoMA to generate a survey of contemporary
architecture in Lincoln. She said that there were 66 houses on the list but 35 to 40 more houses could be added for their significant architectural style. FoMA wants to preserve these houses through education of the public. They hold 4 events a year – 2 open houses, 1 house tour and 1 education event/panel discussion. A Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD) is another tool for preservation and may have some advantages by not being restricted to vantage point issues. A NCD needs to have a strong membership in the neighborhood and needs to have someone do the legwork to bring it to the Commission. The members felt that this survey has some significance as to the Demolition Delay By-Law. The National Register Historic District does not have nearly as many teeth – can still tear it down but must go through the process. There are additional forms that must be filled out before Mass. Historical will send anything in to
the National Register. Dana will get the list of remaining modern houses to be inventoried to Jack MacLean. Ruth Wales said that Dana should be congratulated for starting the process and educating the public. The bottom line is that it is generating a lot of interest in Town.
Steering Committee – Jack MacLean said that the Steering Committee of the Comprehensive Long Range Plan Committee is putting on a public meeting on June 19th at 7:00 p.m. at Bemis Hall to provide reports on the current status of the planning. The Commission will have a chance to say what is important to them in the next 10, 15 or 20 years and come up with some bullets that might motivate the public to demonstrate interest and priority. Some priorities may be a long range plan to incorporate new Historic Districts in Lincoln, provide a cultural pamphlet available to residents, to include the roles of the Commissions.
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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine Carroll
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