Lincoln Historical Commission
Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes
June 9, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
Board Members: Ruth Wales, HDC Chair, LHC/HDC; Lucretia Giese, LHC Chair, LHC/HDC; Kerry Glass, LHC/HDC; James Craig, HDC; Andrew Ory, LHC/HDC
Alternate: Jack MacLean, HDC
Secretary: Elaine Carroll
NEXT ANTICIPATED MEETING: Monday, July 13, 2009, 7:30 p.m., Town Offices
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. A motion was made by Kerry Glass to accept the minutes of the May 5, 2009 meeting as corrected. The motion was seconded by James Craig and unanimously approved.
Historic District Commission Hearing:
Certificate of Appropriateness Hearing:
32 Lincoln Road – Buckner Creel and Kathleen Nichols came before the members to request the replacement of 3 kitchen windows with more energy efficient units. These windows would match ones already replaced. The windows would be undivided glass to provide more of a view to the back yard. Mr. Creel also said that he would like to re-shingle the west side of the house, which is the only side that has not been repaired. This side is the original from 1929 and paint no longer adheres to these shingles. They would be doing the work this summer and will retain the same design and materials while renewing the exterior appearance. This work is considered to be routine maintenance. John Caswell of 2 Beaver Pond Road is in favor of the project and the Commission received a
letter from Casey Jennings of 36 Lincoln Road stating his support for the project. Lucretia Giese made a motion to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for the replacement of the 3 kitchen windows with the understanding that Mr. Creel will provide the Commission with a proper drawing of the replacement windows. The motion was seconded by James Craig and unanimously approved.
5 Sandy Pond Road – John and Jamie Atkins came before the members with Tim Taylor, Attorney and Gail Alden, Landscape Designer, to request the approval of 2 coach lighting fixtures on the right and left side of the garage doors, a white picket fence across the front of the house and to replace 3 approved windows with 3 French doors. The first discussion was regarding the coach light fixtures on the garage. Carla Flint of 8 Bedford Road stated that the light on the back of the house shines into her bedroom. Mrs. Atkins said that she would lower the wattage. Mrs. Lattimore of 2 Bedford Road questioned why they would need lights on the garage because the light from the kitchen window illuminates the driveway. The Lattimores also stated that they were against the 3 French doors.
Carla Flint also said that she was not in favor of the French doors. Andy Ory said that he approves of lights on either side of the garage with lower wattage. Ruth Wales informed Mrs. Atkins that since the HDC has no control over light fixture style, the two coach lighting fixtures will not need to be approved but suggested using 60 or 75 watt bulbs. John Atkins said that they do not need bright lights. The next item to discuss was the white picket fence. Mrs. Atkins took pictures of fences around the area and said that the Conservation Restriction states that a fence has to be 3 feet or under. The fence will be white spindles instead of pickets. It would be limited to the area shown on the plan and just on Sandy Pond Road. Mrs. Atkins said that the fence was needed because people park in the yard all the time and said that she still needs to go before the Conservation Commission for approval. Kerry Glass said that it fits
with the neighborhood. Lucretia Giese asked Mrs. Atkins to send the HDC the item number for the fence to be installed by Walpole Fence. Andy Ory made a motion to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for the fence as shown to the HDC. The motion was seconded by Kerry Glass and unanimously approved. The last item was changing 3 approved windows to 3 French doors, which had been installed without HDC approval beforehand. Mrs. Atkins started off by again apologizing to the Commission for not seeking approval before making changes to an approved project. She informed the Commission of the interior improvements that are being made to the former Chapin house, including rewiring and re-plumbing the house, as well as retrofitting the house with radiant heat. They have supported joist spans and basement beams and have not changed any architectural details placed in 1889. The original windows, with wavy glass, will be restored and most of the
lighting fixtures are being rewired and the woodwork is being restored. Mrs. Atkins spoke about the difference of light spillage onto the field with the 3 French Doors versus the 3 windows. There was also a discussion about the visibility of the proposed doors from a public way, Sandy Pond Road and a planned public trail in the field. Ruth Wales reviewed the history of the French doors going back to Nov. 18, 2008 when the owners were denied a Certificate of Appropriateness and told to remove the doors and replace them with the approved windows. The minor changes installed without prior permission were approved on January 6, 2009 but the doors were to be removed. The doors were denied because they were radically different from the approved windows. Mrs. Atkins said that the decking is now gone and there will be a stone terrace. Susan Welsh of Beaver Pond Road read a statement from Rev. Roger and Kay Paine of First Parish, which said that they
were in favor of the French doors and liked the glow of lights coming from the houses onto the field. James Craig said that the applicant was not presenting anything different from what was denied before. James Craig and Andy Ory wondered if there was some compromise or middle ground that could be reached. At this point, Mrs. Atkins stated that she wanted to withdraw the request for the 3 French doors and come back at a later date with a different design.
Lincoln Historical Commission Hearing:
Demolition Plan Review:
9 Tabor Hill Road – Mark and Elizabeth Wilkinson and his architect, David O’Neil, came before the members with the plans for the proposed house at 9 Tabor Hill Road as requested at the May 5 meeting. The members reviewed the plans, which are the same as the model shown to the members at the last meeting. Lucretia Giese said that their decision was based on seeing plans for the proposed house. Mr. Wilkinson questioned whether this house should be considered architecturally significant because of its poor condition and the fact that FoMA when conducting its inventory had never asked to see the inside of the house. He also said that he thought that Ruth Burke was a landscape architect and said that the house felt like it was designed by a landscape architect. Lucretia Giese said that
Ruth Burke had been associated with John Quincy Adams and the house had been looked at by an outside professional hired by FoMA who considered it part of a historical neighborhood with significance architecturally. Lucretia wanted to make that statement for the record. Ruth Wales said that from the State’s perspective any house 50 years or older can be considered significant because there are not that many left and to slow down the demolition of smaller houses. Lucretia Giese made a motion that based on review of the plans asked for of the proposed dwelling the applicant has permission to demolish the existing house. The motion was seconded by Ruth Wales and unanimously approved.
Other Business:
18 Twin Pond Lane – Lucretia Giese discussed the new draft of the Hollingsworth property from the Selectmen and asked for the Commission’s opinion of the changes. There is now a no teardown clause that allows repairs and alterations. The Commission was specifically asked if there were any interior features of the house it felt should be preserved. One feature mentioned in Gary Wolf’s report is the existing paneled wall with a fireplace and window above it. Ruth Wales said that there is the problem of what can be seen and someone would need to oversee this. Jack MacLean was inclined not to include this because it does not stand out to him. Lucretia said that the Selectmen are going to begin with restrictions in the agreement, but if they can’t get the price
they want they will take them out and, therefore, adding more restrictions may not be good. There was also a discussion as to whether to restrict the demolition of the garage. Any replacement would need to complement the rest of the house. Mr. Wolf did not restrict it but the Selectmen did. At first the Selectmen did not place restrictions on the existing building but have now at the Commission’s request. Lucretia will check with Gary Wolf’s report about the garage. Lucretia made a motion that the Commission should approve the Preservation Restriction Agreement and the Conservation Restriction Agreement on the Hollingsworth property as of May 14, 2009 and respectfully decline the offer to comment on the interior as stated under F2. The motion was seconded by Kerry Glass and unanimously approved.
First Parish Church – Ruth Wales said that the First Parish Church hearing scheduled for July 14 with the Planning Board has been withdrawn. She said that they may go to the Zoning Board of Appeals first.
61 Bedford Road – Lucretia said that Paul Marsh would be glad to open up his house to the Commission under the provisions of the PRA. She will see what she can set up and get back in touch with the members.
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There being no further business, Kerry Glass made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Andy Ory and unanimously approved. The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elaine Carroll
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