Lincoln Historical Commission
Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes
September 9, 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, Colin Smith, LHC/HDC
Secretary: Elaine Carroll
NEXT ANTICIPATED MEETING: October 7, 2008, 7:30 p.m., Town Offices
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. A motion was made by Colin Smith and seconded by Ruth Wales to accept the minutes of the July 1, 2008 meeting as written. The motion passed unanimously.
Demolition Delay Review:
61 Beaver Pond Road – On July 7, 2007 the house at 61 Beaver Pond Road was voted by the Commission to be significant in the context of the Beaver Pond Road neighborhood of modern houses built in the 1940s – 1950s. Jamey Pope, owner, came before the members to again seek demolition permission. He said that some of the issues with the house are moisture and mold. They did mold removal in January of 2004 for a cost of $54,000, which didn’t solve the problem. Mr. Pope said that they were unable to come before the members earlier because of a change in architects. He showed the members a model of the proposed house and said that it would go from 78 feet long to 102 feet long with a second story but that the square footage would only increase by about 800 sq. ft. The lot is
non-conforming and they still have to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board for final approval. Mr. Pope also brought in a paper with the signatures of the neighbors who are in favor of the demolition and reconstruction. James Craig said that the owners met informally with the Planning Board several weeks ago and the member of the Planning Board were pretty much in favor of the proposed dwelling. He said that the Planning Board did have some concerns with the chimney stack being too high and the driveway but Mr. Pope said that these can be worked out. There is no documentation of an architect for the existing dwelling. Colin Smith made a motion to approve the design as submitted and approve the demolition of the house at 61 Beaver Pond Road. The motion was seconded by Kerry Glass and passed unanimously.
164 Sandy Pond Road – Michelle Lim-Watson came before the members to request the demolition of more than 25% of the roof structure. She said that they have lived in the house for 3 years. The house is cinder blocks on one level and is approximately 1,200 sq. ft. There is only 1 bedroom and one other room which could be used as a bedroom and the basement floods. They have informally met with the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. They would like to knock down part of the walls and the roof and rebuild on the same footprint. They would preserve part of the basement slab and build a garage down under the new addition. She said that the architect is unknown. The members reviewed the plans of the house and James Craig said that at the preliminary meeting with
the Planning Board the members had an issue with the overall height, which the owner said architect is addressing. There was also an issue of storm water runoff. Mrs. Lim-Watson said that the architect took her inspiration from a couple of barns on Sandy Pond Road. The living space would go from 1,200 to 2,800 sq. ft. and they would move out during the construction. Ruth Wales made a motion that this house is not significant and can be demolished. The motion was seconded by Kerry Glass and approved unanimously.
Other Business:
Focus Group – The Focus Group on Lincoln’s Cultural and Historic (C&H) Institutions will meet on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Lucretia Giese has been asked to be on the group. She passed out a paper for the members with questions for discussion and asked for comments from the members. There was a discussion about the lack of paid staff. Ruth Wales said that many towns have some degree of paid staff. There is a need for someone who could spend a few hours a week on inventorying and putting things on the website
New Inventories – New inventory forms have been completed for 67 Baker Bridge Road and the South Lincoln Industrial section and will be sent to the State with a cover letter.
CPA Funds – Lucretia will be applying on behalf of the Commission to the CPC for funds to hire an outside preservation consultant to inventory areas of the Town designated by the Commission and including houses built between 1900 and 1930. The consultant will be asked to inventory more modest houses built after the bigger mansions built before 1900. Jack MacLean would still be in charge of the list of properties before 1900. Lucretia made a motion to approve the payment of $2,081.90 to pay Jack MacLean for the preparation of the inventory forms and National Register recommendations and assorted other charges. The motion was seconded by Ruth Wales and approved unanimously. Jack MacLean has estimated that it will cost $8,000 to complete his work.
18 Twin Pond Lane – Ruth Wales and Lucretia Giese will present the Commission’s findings on the Hollingsworth property at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on September 15.
Preservation Restriction Agreements – Lucretia informed the members that she, her brother and sister have placed 154 Trapelo Road in a Preservation Restriction Agreement with Historic New England. The members feel that the Commission should have visitation/oversight rights to properties with Preservation Restriction Agreements, and, in that respect, Colin Smith will try to set up a time with Henry Flint to visit the Flint homestead on Lexington Road on a Saturday afternoon. Lucretia has been in touch with Paul Marsh.
Friends of Modern Architecture – The FoMA inventories have been amended and submitted to Mass. Historical. Mass. Historical will have an internist do the substitution of corrected pages.
Bills Paid – Ruth Wales for reimbursement for inventory paper in the amount of $25.18 and Jack MacLean for inventory work in the amount of $2,081.90.
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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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