Heritage Commission

CITY OF LACONIA HERITAGE COMMISSION 5:00 PM City Hall - Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber Accepted February 10, 2021 11/12/2020 - Minutes 1. Call to order Chair Michael Sweet called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM 2. Salute to the flag Chair M. Sweet led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Roll call Members present: Chairman Michael Sweet, Lois Kessin, Catherine Tokarz, Jane Whitehead Members absent: Dorothy Duffy, City Council Liaison Mark Haynes 4. Recording secretary Ashley Ruprecht, Conservation Technician 5. Staff in attendance Planning Director Dean Trefethen 6. Acceptance of Minutes from previous meeting 6.I. Acceptance of minutes from October 14 Motion to accept the minutes by J. Whitehead, L. Kessin seconded. All voted in favor. 7. City Council Liaison Report There were no updates at this time. 8. Planning Board update D. Trefethen gave an update on the 41-63Elm St/9 Park Ave Site Plan and CUP application. A public hearing for the application will take place at the December Planning Board meeting. C. Tokarz asked about a site visit to the property, with special interest in the Park St property. D. Trefethen said he was told a site visit wouldn't be allowed at this time but that he will inquire again and let the commission know the response. 9. Old business 9.I. 76 Lakeside Ave (continued from Oct 14 meeting) Christopher Csendes spoke on behalf of the demolition permit. They are looking to demolish the property. Long term the plan is to redevelop but the pipes burst in the house and it is not in good condition. Chair M. Sweet said the outside doesn't look that bad. C. Csendes responded that the pipes burst inside of the house and that it had been winterized. L. Kessin noted the house is 150 years old. C. Csendes said the abutters have not been notified yet of the possible demolition, and provided the commission with photos of the inside of the house. There is consensus amongst the commission that they would like abutter input as well as input from the Weirs Action Committee. Jane commented that the NH Preservation Alliance has funding opportunities to rehabilitate buildings of this sort and that the City/Commission must find a way to publicize this information for the general public. L. Kessin motioned to hold a public hearing at the next Heritage Commission meeting and to provide notice to the abutters and the Weirs Action Committee. There was discussion about a site visit. Property owner permission would be required for a site visit to occur. C. Csendes will discuss with others and let the Commission know if they will allow for a site visit to occur. J. Whitehead seconded the motion by L.  commission with photos of the inside of the house. There is consensus amongst the commission that they would like abutter input as well as input from the Weirs Action Committee. Jane commented that the NH Preservation Alliance has funding opportunities to rehabilitate buildings of this sort and that the City/Commission must find a way to publicize this information for the general public. L. Kessin motioned to hold a public hearing at the next Heritage Commission meeting and to provide notice to the abutters and the Weirs Action Committee. There was discussion about a site visit. Property owner permission would be required for a site visit to occur. C. Csendes will discuss with others and let the Commission know if they will allow for a site visit to occur. J. Whitehead seconded the motion by L. Kessin. All voted in favor. Tara Shore, Chair of the Historic District Commission, said she is for reuse rather than demolition of the home. She spoke about the history of the property and information she gathered by contacting historian Warren Huse and Robert Ames from the Weirs Action Committee. T. Shore read from a response provided by Robert Ames that said the demolition of the property will negatively impact the historical character of Lakeside Ave, and that it would mark the first time a historical building was purposefully removed from Lakeside Ave as 2 others were previously lost to fires. T. Shore said there are funding opportunities that exist to rehab historic buildings and that reusing the home is less harmful to the environment and creates jobs. 10. New business 10.I. 98 Tower Street There was discussion about a vote that took place on the demolition permit via email and in one by phone. M. Haynes, D. Duffy, and Lois Kessin voted to approve the demolition permit. Chair M. Sweet said he did not vote and C. Tokarx said she was not notified of a vote at the time. J. Whitehead voted no on the demolition permit. Because 3 members did approve the demolition permit, D. Trefethen signed its approval. There was discussion among the members and Director Trefethen concerning how the vote occurred and the result. Concern was expressed that the members did not want to do this type of vote and decision in the future. L. Kessin motioned to no longer vote on demolition permits via email, text, or phone calls. J. Whitehead seconded. All voted in favor. 11. Public comment John and Johanne Paula, Vice President and Secretary of the Weirs Action Committee, spoke regarding the demolition permit for 76 Lakeside Ave. They do not want to see the building torn down. T. Shore shared correspondence that she has had with the Weirs Action Committee with the Paula's. The Commission informed them that they plan to have a public hearing at the next meeting, which may be done via Zoom due to the number of people. 12. Other business J. Whitehead spoke about the archaeological studies that were conducted at the State School property and the possible archeological affects from the test pits. Results may be in by the next meeting. She spoke about the "Seven to Save" and T. Shore's presentation about Saint Joseph's Church. NH Preservation Alliance had a road trip last week and there were 5 spots that they stopped at in Laconia. Several speakers spoke about Lakeport and its industrial manufacturing significance. T. Shore spoke further about the Seven to Save and NH Preservation Alliance tour. The St. Joseph Church received this designation which is given to structures the NH Preservation Alliance deems worthy of saving from demolition. The City Council's next meeting on the 23rd is to discuss the sale of the buildings of The Busiel House and the former Holy Trinity School. There was discussion about whether the building may be demolished. T. Shore explained that once the ownership of the building changes hands from the City it will be under the jurisdiction of the Historic District. T. Shore said she knows that there are interested buyers that are looking at the property who are interested in reuse, as well as others who want to demo and is hopeful the City will factor that into their selection of a buyer. J. Whitehead provided dates for various webinars and meetings the NH Preservation Alliance is hosting. 13. Adjournment L. Kessin motioned to adjourn. J. Whitehead seconded. All voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 5:40PM. 13. Adjournment L. Kessin motioned to adjourn. J. Whitehead seconded. All voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 5:40PM. Respectfully, A. Ruprecht