Historic District Commission

NORWICH HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Minutes of the August 17, 2022 Regular Meeting The regular meeting of the Historic District Commission was held Wednesday August 17, 2022 at 5:30 PM via Zoom virtual meeting. Members Present: Timothy Dowhan (Chairman) Regan Miner Gregory Johnson Jacob Stahl Gregory Farlow Members Absent: Nancy O’Neil Guests: Timothy Dowhan reviewed the rules of a virtual meeting and clearly notified participants that the meeting would be recorded. I. Public Meeting The public meeting was convened at 5:31 pm. The order of COA presentations and discussions are at the discretion of the commission to accommodate all participants. ● COA 496 - 2 Elm Avenue (Todd Keating) - Reconstruction, Other, AC Unit Todd Keating stated his home currently has two Lennox central air condition units composed of condensers and an air handling system. Todd Keating stated the units are over 20 years old and one condenser now has a leak in the coolant. Todd Keating stated his contractor cannot locate the leak so he is requesting to replace the one condenser unit, associated air handling system, some plastic conduit and copper tubing. Todd Keating stated the new American Standard condenser and air handling system would sit in the same space as the previous unit so there would not be any  changes to the area or exterior of the home in the transition. Regan Miner asked for clarification on the location of the existing unit. Todd Keating responded that both condensers are to the right side of home if facing the front from Elm Avenue. Todd Keating stated there are snow storm spirea plants that hide the condensers from the street view which will remain in place. Todd Keating added that the air coolant used in the existing Lennox condensers is no longer approved by the EPA so he would be looking to replace the second condenser at some point in time. Gregory Farlow asked if the new unit is larger or smaller than the current one. Todd Keating responded the new unit was slightly large in height and diameter by a few inches. Timothy Dowhan asked if the condenser and air handling unit were a single unit. Todd Keating responded the condenser is on the exterior of the home while the air handling unit is within the attic of the home in the duct work. Todd Keating, in response to a question by Timothy Dowhan, stated the replacement tubing would be positioned the same as the existing. Todd Keating stated the tubing is on the interior of the home as it goes from the condenser into the home at the ground level. Todd Keating added that the second condenser unit was about a foot or so away from the unit that would be replaced. II. Regular Meeting The regular meeting was convened at 5:41 PM. A. Action on COA’s ● COA 496 - 2 Elm Avenue (Todd Keating) - Reconstruction, Other, AC Unit Gregory Johnson made a motion to approve the COA as written and presented. Jacob Stahl seconded. Gregory Farlow, Gregory Johnson, Jacob Stahl, Regan Miner and Timothy Dowhan voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. B. Minutes of the Wednesday July 20, 2022 Meeting Minutes ● Regan Miner made a motion to approve the meeting minutes as written, with minor amendments. Gregory Farlow seconded. Regan Miner, Timothy Dowhan, Jacob Stahl and Gregory Farlow voted in favor. Gregory Johnson abstained. The motion passed. C. Chairman Report  ● Timothy Dowhan stated he was contacted by the homeowner of 128 Broadway who was inquiring if their home was located within a historic district. Timothy Dowhan stated he referred them to the design guidelines’ coverage on national and state registry guidelines as the home was not under the purview of the HDC. D. Old Business ● Timothy Dowhan discussed finding a new member to fill the recent vacancy. Discussion ensued on moving an alternate member to a full membership placement by reapplication. E. New Business ● Timothy Dowhan and Regan Miner discussed the timeline for the HDC budget. Timothy Dowhan questions if the inclusion of restoration awards should be reconsidered. Regan Miner stated she felt it was a good idea as she got frequent inquiries regarding them. Gregory Farlow agreed. Regan Miner discussed the city’s purchasing process. Timothy Dowhan also discussed reviewing the 2023 HDC meeting schedule at the next regular meeting. Regan Miner stated she received a call at the Historical Center regarding an upcoming COA for 4 Old Cemetery Lane, which may be on the next agenda. Regan Miner stated she also had a conversation with the new owners of 171 Broadway, in the Little Plain historic district, who were looking to get an idea of the design guidelines and what is allowed within the district. Regan Miner reported that the homeowner mentioned a lot of work needed to be done to the property. F. Next Meeting Date ● Scheduled for Wednesday September 21, 2022 at 5:30 PM. G. Adjournment ● Gregory Farlow made a motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting at 6:08 PM. Gregory Johnson seconded. Gregory Farlow, Gregory Johnson, Regan Miner, Jacob Stahl and Timothy Dowhan voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Katherine Rose Recording Secretary