Lincoln Historical Commission
Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes
June 3, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
Board Members: Ruth Wales, HDC Chair, LHC/HDC; Lucretia Giese, LHC Chair, LHC/HDC; James Craig, HDC; Kerry Glass, LHC/HDC, Ken Hurd, HDC, Andrew Ory, LHC/HDC; Colin Smith, HDC/LHC
Secretary: Elaine Carroll
NEXT ANTICIPATED MEETINGS: July 1, 2008, 7:30 p.m., Town Offices
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. After reviewing the minutes, a small change was made by Lucretia Giese. A motion was made by Kerry Glass and seconded by Colin Smith to accept the minutes of the May 6 meeting as corrected. The motion passed unanimously and the correction will be made.
Demolition Delay Review:
39 North Great Road – Robert and Rosilind Stowe came before the LHC members to request the demolition of the dwelling at 39 North Great Road. They do not own the house at this time. Lot A and B are in the name of Global Country of World Peace and her brother, Kingsley Brooks. Her brother has approval to build a house on Lot B and Mrs. Stowe is planning on purchasing the 1941 house on Lot A and would like to tear it down and move the proposed house about 10 feet up the hill on a flatter part of the land, which will be further away from the wetlands. The existing house is approximately 2,000 sq. ft. and she would build one a little bigger approximately 1,100 sq. ft. larger but only increase the footprint by 300-400 sq. ft. The house would be for her, her husband, her mother and two
older children. The mother would be going between her house and her brother’s house next door. The existing house is on a steep hill which is hard for her mother to get in and out of. Also the house layout is not what she wants. They are looking for a Vedic design from India, which has to do with the placement of the rooms. The lot is non-conforming with no frontage on a public way and there are wetlands present so she knows that she will have to go to the ZBA, ConCom and Planning Board. They would like a 4 bedroom house with one bedroom on the first floor for her mother and 3 bedrooms on the second floor. The members looked at a map which showed the house located completely surrounded by the National Park and conservation land. Ruth Wales asked how far away the house is from the Joshua Brooks house. After looking at several different maps of the area and discussion with Nancy Nelson of the National Park, it was determined
that it may be within 200 feet of the Joshua Brooks house. Lucretia read from the Demolition Delay By-Law, Section 2.11(A), which states “it is listed on, is within an area listed on or is within 200 feet of the boundary line of an area listed on, the National or State Register of Historic Places, or is the subject of a pending application for listing on said National or State Register”. The members felt that the visibility of the new house is critical to the area and wanted to be sure that the new house would have no more of an impact on the location than the present one. Ruth Wales made a motion that the existing house at 39 North Great Road, which is over 50 years old, is significant because of its siting in relation to the Minuteman National Historical Park. In accordance to the intent and purpose of the Demolition Delay By-Law, the Commission may consider the detrimental effect of demolition of an existing building on the historical resources
and character of the Town. Therefore, the applicant must return to the Commission for a demolition plan review, as specified in the By-Law, submitting specific plans for the new structure. Given the proximity to the Park, special consideration of its visibility and appropriateness of scale with respect to the Park must be demonstrated before a demolition permit will be granted. The motion was seconded by Ken Hurd and passed unanimously. Mr. and Mrs. Stowe can come back within 60 days with a demolition plan review. They were given a copy of the Demolition Delay By-Law.
Certificate of Appropriateness Hearing:
15 Lincoln Road – Robert Soluri and DeAnna Mori came before the members with their architect Andrew Reck seeking approval to add an entryway to the side of the house and an addition on the rear of the house visible from Sandy Pond Road. They have lived in the house for almost 6 years and have put a lot of thought into the improvements they wanted to make. The addition will consist of a mud room, kitchen and family room to make the house more serviceable. There is presently a non-functional kitchen. For the entryway, they will be changing a window, which is not original to the house and adding a door with a small canopy. A covered entry will be changed to a laundry room. The existing first floor is 1,620 sq. ft. and will become 1,896 sq. ft. After a brief
discussion, Ken Hurd made a motion to approve the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the additions as shown on a plan dated March 18, 2008. The motion was seconded by Andrew Ory and unanimously approved. Because this is a non-conforming lot, they will also need to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Other Business:
The members reviewed a letter from Mass. Highway requesting that the LHC review material and comment on their proposal to replace a small, existing stone drainage culvert extending from westbound Route 2 across the Hoar Tavern property. They would be removing a stone wall section and rebuilding it using the existing field stones. The members saw no problem with the project and Lucretia Giese said that she would write to Mass. Highway to acknowledge their letter and thank them for keeping the LHC informed on these matters and to express the concern that every effort be made to return the land it its previous condition.
The members reviewed a draft of the new Historic District map, which will be recorded in the Registry of Deeds. After a brief discussion and a couple of minor changes, Ruth Wales made a motion that the HDC accept the new Historic District map for recording in the Registry of Deeds after a Mylar is prepared with the minor changes approved at the meeting. Lucretia Giese seconded the motion and the motion was unanimously approved. Angela Seaborg will make the necessary corrections and prepare the Mylar for recording. The members also wished to thank Angela for all her help on this project.
The members had a discussion with Nancy Nelson regarding the National Park area and the best way to protect the Park. She said that there is a difference between the Legislative boundaries and what the Park actually owns. Massport land and Lincoln land are within those boundaries. The National Park would have to buy those properties except for Massport. She said that she would give the HDC a map of the Legislative boundaries. Nancy said that the entire Park is on the National Register and that Congress considers the property significant even if it isn’t owned by the Park. The National Park has development guidelines for historic properties within their boundaries even if privately owned. They need to go to the National Park first for approvals. Their primary
jurisdiction is structures but includes stone walls. Nancy said that their 50th anniversary is coming up in 2009 and they want to have a celebration at the Pierce House. Ken Hurd suggested that they have a float in the July 4th parade. Ken also asked if the National Park wanted to be in the Lincoln Historic District but Nancy wasn’t sure they could do that at this time but she would think about it. There was also a discussion about the character of Rt. 2A and Battle Road.
Lucretia Giese informed the members that she received an e-mail from Tim Higgins that said he received an e-mail from Rep. Thomas Conroy saying a hearing has been scheduled for June 5 at 11:00 a.m. regarding an act relative to the Historical Commission of the Town of Lincoln. This refers to the article approved at Town Meeting, which calls for alternates to the LHC as well as the HDC. Lucretia said that she would be attending the June 5 hearing and report back to the members.
The members discussed the Hollingsworth property, which was given to the Town for employee housing and what role the HDC would play as far as the restrictions being placed on the house for any prospective buyers. Lucretia Giese said that she would draft a recommendation to the Selectmen, which would outline what is significant about the house and present it to the members for review.
Bill Paid – One bill was paid to Allied Geographics, Inc. in the amount of $340, which is the Commission’s share for having a mapping done of the entire Town showing the house locations on the parcel. This expense is being shared between the HDC, Assessor’s Office, Conservation Comm. and Planning Board and will be a total contribution of $1,000 from the HDC.
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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine Carroll
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