Lincoln Historical Commission
Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes
November 18, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
Board Members: Ruth Wales, HDC Chair, LHC/HDC; Lucretia Giese, LHC Chair, LHC/HDC; Kerry Glass, LHC/HDC; Colin Smith, LHC/HDC
Secretary: Elaine Carroll
NEXT ANTICIPATED MEETING: December 2, 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 Kerry Glass to accept the minutes of the Oct. 7 and Oct. 28, 2008 meetings as written. The motion passed unanimously.
Demolition Delay Review:
158 Bedford Road – Christopher Kalish came before the members to request the demolition of more than 25% of the roof at 158 Bedford Road in order to add a second story onto the house. This addition would extend 8 feet towards the street in front of the house, which would still leave 54 feet of frontage. Mr. Kalish said that the 8 feet in front is to accommodate the stairway to the addition and an entry. This is a tiny house with one bedroom and one bathroom. He said that the abutters are happy with the addition, which will make the house more visible from the street. He also said that the records show the house as being built in 1900 but he can see no evidence of it being that old and believes that it may have been a barn at one time. After a brief discussion, Kerry Glass
made a motion that the house was not historically significant and the section of the roof structure could be demolished to allow for the addition of a second floor. The motion was seconded by Ruth Wales and passed unanimously.
16 Old Sudbury Road – Timothy Burke, architect, came before the members representing the new owners, Lisa and Carlos Gutierrez, to request the removal of a portion of the house, the detached garage and the roof of the barn at 16 Old Sudbury Road. The owners purchased the house this summer and planned on putting a new house there but have decided to keep the original section of the house instead. There is not much left of the original interior. A family room /living room space and art studio were added to the original house. The owners would like to incorporate the barn into the house. They would also like to remove the garage with the approval of ConCom since it is within the 50 foot buffer zone. They would remove the 2 most recent additions and open up the view to the pond. Mr. and Mrs. Gutierrez said that they would keep the original house intact and create a courtyard in the middle of the house. They would like to put an inground pool where the addition was and bring the
original house back to prominence. The barn was built around 1910 and the original house around 1908. They would raise the roof in the barn because elevations are too low. Peter Conrad of 20 Old Sudbury Road said that the project looks pretty interesting but asked if the pool would be enclosed and was told that it would not be. The barn would be converted into a dining room and kitchen on the first floor and there would also be an upper level. The living space would be about 10,500 sq. ft. and they would be going before the Planning Board. Ruth Wales made a motion that the portions of the house, garage and roof of the barn were not historically significant and could be demolished. The motion was seconded by Colin Smith and passed unanimously.
Certificate of Appropriateness Hearing:
5 Sandy Pond Road – Jamie Atkins came before the members as the result of a complaint regarding work being done, which was different from the approved plan of January 24, 2008. The many changes consist of removal of an access door on the east elevation of the new detached garage. Three windows have been changed to 3 French doors on the rear of the new addition and a deck added. On the east elevation of the house, a triangular window has been added to the roof line and a window changed to a door. They have also started re-roofing the dwelling, which Mrs. Atkins said she was not aware would need HDC approval. Mrs. Atkins said that nothing is completed and can be changed back if necessary and that the changes came about during the construction. She realized that the second access
door from the garage was not needed and the extra wall space would be better. They decided that the stairway was too dark, which is why the triangular window was added to the roof. Mrs. Atkins also said that the window on the east elevation was marked incorrectly on the plan and should always have been a door. She said that in September she realized that she needed more access to the outside and saw a picture of 3 French doors and realized that this is what she wanted. Ruth Wales asked if she had informed the Building Inspector of her change in plans and she said that she had not. She said that they have taken great pains and TLC to renovate the house, which they agreed to buy from the Flints two years ago. She decided when she moved in that what they had planned wasn’t everything she wanted. The addition of a deck brings the square footage over the 500 sq. ft. that she is allowed to add to the house according to the Conservation
Restriction. She said that the deck can be taken off and they can use landscaping to create a landing with a step down by stone. Ruth Wales said that any changes in the plan needed to come before the Commission again. Mrs. Atkins said that she was not aware that the Building Inspector told her husband to stop construction on the French doors and had them installed a week ago because of the cold weather. Carla Flint at 8 Bedford Road read her letter to the Commission, which said that the illumination from the French doors is like a whole wall of glass. Mrs. Atkins did not realize that the land behind the house was public hand. Mr. and Mrs. Lattimore at 2 Bedford Road were concerned that the driveway turnaround was too close to the lot line. According to the plan it should be 10 feet from the lot line. Mrs. Atkins said that this is just for grading purposes and that the turnaround would not be closer than 10 feet and then the area around
it would be filled in. Ruth Wales said that she was sorry if the Commission didn’t make it clear that any changes had to come back to the Commission, but this puts the Commission in a difficult position with regard to approving changes after they have been done. Lucretia Giese felt that the French doors were a major change and Ruth said that the principle is what they need to deal with. Mrs. Atkins was willing to pay a fine but there is no provision for a fine in the by-laws. The only penalty is to deny a Certificate of Occupancy but they are already occupying the house. The members felt that they did not want to set a precedent of approving changes after they have been made. Mrs. Atkins asked if they could put the original windows back in and come in later to replace them with French doors, which she really wants. The members felt that they had to take the package as a whole and cannot approve the changes at this time. Ruth Wales made
a motion that no Certificate of Appropriateness will be given for any of the revisions already started. The motion was seconded by Colin Smith and passed unanimously. It was understood that the doors would need to be removed and returned to three windows and the deck removed. Mrs. Atkins asked if she could come before the Commission at the next scheduled meeting with a new application to seek approval for the changes to the east elevation and for the re-roofing of the structure. Ruth Wales will check with Town Counsel for advice on legal concerns.
Other Business:
Historic District Signs – Kerry Glass showed the members a copy of the proposed Lincoln Center Historic District signs prepared by the DPW. The members reviewed the signs and decided that the nub on top of the sign should be removed and the lettering should be lowered and the “Lincoln Center Historic District” letters should all be the same size. Kerry will get back to Chris Bibbo with the changes.
Codman Community Farms – The members discussed a letter received from Codman Community Farms asking the Commission to support the farm’s request to the CPC for CPA funds to do repair work on the barns. The members said that this was a totally worthwhile project but felt that it was not appropriate for the Commission to endorse this project because the HDC is also applying for CPC funds. Ruth will suggest to Sarah Andrysiak that CCF try for funds from other sources such as Codman Trust and Mass. Preservation Project Fund. Lucretia Giese said that she got a proposal from the consultant for $11,000 to do inventory work for the Town for which the LHC was also applying to the CPC for funding.
First Parish Church – It was learned from the Planning Board that their informal discussion with the First Parish regarding their proposed addition has been put off until January 21, 2009.
Neighborhood Conservation District – Lucretia Giese said that the Brown’s Wood Neighborhood District Committee had its first meeting and will meet again in December and she said that the project is moving along.
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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine Carroll
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