Historic District Commission

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION, NORWICH, CONNECTICUT Minutes of September 21, 2016 Meeting The special meeting of the Historic District Commission was held on September 21, 2016 in Room 319, Norwich City Hall at 5:30 P.M. Members Present: Scott Learned, Chairman Richard Guidebeck Timothy Dowhan Pamela Muccilli Nancy O’Neil Carol Learned (Alternate Candidate) Members Absent: Judy Hamblen (excused) Damien Cregeau (Alternate Candidate) I. Public Hearing: COA 341 - 61 E. Town St – Fence: Add fencing along Mediterranean Lane to address safety issue. Replicate existing cedar fence style currently existing on opposite side of lot. Notes/Discussions: Existing cedar fence is natural color; existing picket fence in front of lot is white. Direct visibility from Mediteranean Lane. COA 342 - 8 West Town St – Front Door: Repair front door transom and sidelights with historical glass. Use 5/4” cedar and match current molding detail. Restoration will reflect previous finished state. Add storm door (2 choices presented: Option A – wooden, full view inserts. Option B – metalic material, modern style, full view.) Notes/Discussions: Current door is red. Proposed storm door and trim/molding replacement will match existing colors. COA 343 - 14 Scotland Rd – Back Landing and Stairs: Exisitng back door has no exit structure. Proposed adding landing & stairs (4). Material proposed is pressure treated wood (underlying structure) and either pressure treated wood or composite (“Trex”) for decking and stairs. Color to match the house. Notes/Discussions: House is circa 1825. Addition has limited visibility. 4 Steps. Paint application to match house. Propose square post and rail. Suggested that ‘Craftsman style posts and rails’ might be appropriate and are readily available . Applicant expressed interest in using “manufactured material” for decking and stair. COA 344 - 176 Broadway – Front Porch: Repair damaged material to restore to safe structure and current presentation. Includes decking, face board, and framing underneath. Material proposed is pressure treated wood. Pillars are undamaged and will remain unchanged. Notes/Discussions: House is circa 1850. Suggested using deck board width to match existing presentation (i.e. thin width, no bevel, butted to  reflect time period and current application). Applicants would prefer to use a stain vice current paint application. The commission entertained the following discussions: Question: Is there a “Downtown Historic District”? Response: The are eight (8) historic districts existing in Norwich. There are two (2) that are monitored by the HDC. Question: What is the process for becoming an HDC member? Response: As openings arise for member and alternate positions, candidates are proposed and presented to the Norwich City Council who has final decision. Typical progression is for an alternate to replace an existing member. Term lengths of membership positions are varied and posted. The HDC will maintain a list of proposed and interested residents for when a roster position becomes open. Question: The following example was presented: Resident would like make what he considers to be non-HDC related repair that needs a building permit (e.g. non-visible soffet in back of building). What is the procedure for getting permit through the Norwich building department in conjunction with HDC considerations? Response: Chairman will review for applicability if Norwich building department can/will not grant permit without concurrence of HDC. Question: Why does a proposed fence have to match an existing fence when examples within the district appear to violate this standard? Response: There is a preference to match with consideration to a proposal’s appropriateness to time period and style. The HDC addresses what comes before the commission. The HDC can suggest alteration but cannot ‘undo mismatched examples’ that have been approved via the proper process and have existed within the community and district. II. Regular Meeting: The Regular Meeting convened at 6:17pm A. Action on COAs: COA 341 - 61 E. Town St - Visibility from the Town Green too. - Use same color as barn? Same color as existing white picket fence? Remain natural? Preference is to limit the differences in style and color. - Ms. Muccilli made motion to approve COA 341 as presented with suggestion of natural color to match the existing fence of the same style. Ms. O’Neil seconded the motion. Approved (unanimous). COA 342 - 8 West Town Street - Preference for storm door was Option A (i.e. wooden, full view).  - Ms. Muccilli made motion to approve COA 342 as presented to maintain existing ‘Greek Style’ and with Option A as the storm door. Ms. O’Neil seconded the motion. Approved (unanimous). COA 344 - 176 Broadway - Stain is an acceptable alternative to paint. Blue/Gray Slate to match existing color is appreciated. - Concensus and concern is that thinner width boards are most appropriate and be used. - Ms. Muccilli made motion to approve COA 344 as presented with the following stipulation: 1) Deck boards width and presentation will be similar to current boards. 2) Stain may be used as an alternative to paint. Suggested Blue/Gray Slate color is appropriate. Ms. O’Neil seconded the motion. Approved (unanimous). - Due to the safety issues identified by the Norwich Building Department, Chairman Learned will notify the building department (Messrs. Arpin and Troeger) to facilitate permit approval so work may commence in a timely manner. COA 343 - 14 Scotland Rd - Composite surface was discussed. Concensus on use of composite material was not appropriate or acceptable to the commission. - Proposed structure would be visible from the road. There exists a similar portico on the front of the house. Consensus of HDC is to make the common back and front porch features match. - Ms. Muccilli made motion to approve COA 343 as presented with the following conditions: 1) Chair to visit and acertain back porch will match front porch in term of rail, lattice, etc style; 2) Material to be used will be wood and not composite (Trex) material. Ms. O’Neil seconded the motion. Approved (unanimous). B. Minutes: Mr. Guidebeck made motion to accept the August 2016 Meeting Minutes with noted name and spelling corrections applied. Mr. Dowhan seconded the motion. Approved (unanimous). C. Chairman’s Report: - No report presented. - Chair will consider alterations to COA form to include the new HDC email address. Chair will continue draft of the proposed HDC newsletter. Consideration of including accepting nominees for annual HDC restoration award. D. Old Business: - Damien Cregeau and Carol Learned are awaiting approval from City Council for HDC Alternate membership status. - New HDC email address is HDC@cityofnorwich.org. E. New Business:  - No COA has been resubmitted for backyard fence at 8 Town St. Previous COA for which the fence with steel pole rail was considered was rejected. Resident would like to re-submit a COA which includes a design that is appropriate to the HDC. Resident notes the fence is required for safety purpose. Some alternatives (consider Greek style of home; consider UCFS as an example) were discussed and due to time constraints, the HDC took action to consider alternatives for presentation to the resident. F. Next Meeting: October 19, 2016 5:30pm F. Adjournment: On motion made by Ms. Muccilli, seconded by Ms. O’Neil, the meeting adjourned at 6:58pm. Respectfully submitted Scott Learned Chairperson SL/td for rm