Historic District Commission

NORWICH HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Minutes of the April 19, 2023 Regular Meeting The regular meeting of the Historic District Commission was held Wednesday April 19, 2023 at 5:30 PM via hybrid meeting in Room 319 of City Hall and via ZOOM. Members Present: Timothy Dowhan (Chairman) Jacob Stahl Regan Miner Dayne Rugh Gregory Johnson Gregory Farlow Nancy O’Neil Members Absent: None. Guests: Richard Revere, Denise Audet and Sandra Nadolny. 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 5:34 pm. The order of COA presentations and discussions are at the discretion of the commission to accommodate all participants. ● COA 514 - 189 Broadway (Austin Gilmore) - New Construction, Perimeter The applicant was not in attendance. ● COA 515 - 7 Harland Road (Denise Audet) - Preservation, Reconstruction, Masonry, Other - Siding, Door Denise Audet provided pictures and an explanation of the accident that occurred on St. Patrick’s Day when a car struck the corner of her home. Denis Audet stated she is looking to repair her home to look as it previously did with like-for-like materials. Dayne Rugh asked if the antique granite posts mentioned in the repair contract were originally there. Denise Audet responded they were, presumably to protect the home. Denise Audet stated she noticed the remnants of the posts when she moved in but did not realize they were posts that had been sheared up. Denise Audet stated she re-erected them but the car sheared them off again, as they are fragile. ● COA 516 - 6 Ox Hill Road (Michelle Bosco & Sandra Nadolny) - Reconstruction, New Construction - Replace & Extend Existing Privacy Fence Sandra Nadolny stated she submitted the COA due to the passing of the  extension deadline on her original COAs. Sandra Nadolny stated that everything was the same as the previous COAs. Sandra Nadolny stated they had some problems getting supplies and the building permit that was supposed to be forwarded quickly was only received a month ago. Sandra Nadolny reiterated that nothing was changing from the original COA, they just needed additional time to complete the work. Timothy Dowhan reminded that the COA is for like-for-like material to replace a damaged existing wooden fence. ● COA 517 - 23 East Town Street (Damien Cregeau) - Preservation, Chimney Richard Revere, the contractor, reported that both chimneys needed to be repaired to fix the existing joint deterioration issues. Richard Revere stated he would be removing all loose paint, which was not much, to deal with the deteriorated joints and repair the cement crowd atop the chimney. Richard Revere stated he would be using his own mortar, composed of 1:2 parts cement and lime, to match the existing mortar the best possible. Richard Revere stated he and the homeowner believe there may have been a fire in the left chimney previously, as the chimney had been rebuilt with flue liners. Richard Revere stated when he replaces the cement crown he is hoping to be able to raise the height of the flue to prevent water from seeping into the chimney, as they are currently below the height of the cement crown. Richard Revere continued that the chimney on the right is wide open with only brick lines, so the only option is to repair the cement crown and replace it the same height where it currently sits. Gregory Johnson clarified that the crowns are cement and not slate. Richard Revere confirmed they were cement and there were blue stone caps as well, but the cement crown sits on top of the brick at the top of the chimney. Timothy Dowhan asked how many inches would they bring the flue height up if possible. Richard Revere responded they could only raise it a couple inches as he must leave five inches of space from the top of the flue to the bottom of the bluestone to allow for airflow. Richard Revere stated it would be dictated by the amount of play in the one flue that has an existing stainless-steel liner. Regan Miner asked if the paint on the chimneys would be replaced with the same color. Richard Revere stated he would not be replacing any brick as it is all sound, he would only be replacing the mortar in the joints. ● COA 518 - 110 Union Street (Mathew Guthrie) - Restoration, Roofing The applicant was not in attendance. ● COA 519 - 61 East Town Street (Erin Ricciardi) - Fixtures, Other - Electrical The applicant was not in attendance. II. Regular Meeting The regular meeting was convened at 5:54 PM. A. Action on COA’s ● COA 514 - 189 Broadway (Austin Gilmore) - New Construction, Perimeter  Nancy O’Neil made a motion to discuss the application. Gregory Johnson seconded. Timothy Dowhan stated did not receive any additional information regarding the application other than what was distributed to members. Timothy Dowhan stated he did not feel the chain link fence was a historical material. Regan Miner noted on page 40 of the Historic District design guidelines it is stated to “Avoid vinyl fences, chain link, light gauge metal and similar materials in the vicinity of the public right of way,” and that they only may be considered if minimally visible from the public right of way, which was not the case with this COA. Dayne Rugh stated it appeared there would be a section of fence in the rear of the home perpendicular to the home extending to the property line, in addition to another long section that ran the length of the property line, making it so that one would be able to see some, if not all, of the fence from the public right of way. Jacob Stahl stated at six feet high the fence would stand out. Jacob Stahl added the COA states there will be a double gate on the front of the fence facing the road and another along the property line leading to the driveway. Jacob Stahl didn’t feel it fit the development in a historic sense. Dayne Rugh stated he did not feel the fence would be appropriate for maintaining the aesthetic and suggested the commission work with the homeowner to find a better solution. Gregory Johnson made a motion to deny the COA as written. Dayne Rugh, Jacob Stahl, Nancy O’Neil, Gregory Johnson, Gregory Farlow, Regan Miner and Timothy Dowhan voted in favor. The motion to deny the COA passed unanimously. ● COA 515 - 7 Harland Road (Denise Audet) - Preservation, Reconstruction, Masonry, Other - Siding, Door Nancy O’Neil made a motion to approve the COA as written and presented. Dayne Rugh seconded. Dayne Rugh, Jacob Stahl, Nancy O’Neil, Gregory Johnson, Gregory Farlow, Regan Miner and Timothy Dowhan voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. ● COA 516 - 6 Ox Hill Road (Michelle Bosco & Sandra Nadolny) - Reconstruction, New Construction - Replace & Extend Existing Privacy Fence Dayne Rugh made a motion to accept the COA as written and presented. Jacob Stahl seconded. Dayne Rugh, Jacob Stahl, Nancy O’Neil, Gregory Johnson, Gregory Farlow, Regan Miner and Timothy Dowhan voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. ● COA 517 - 23 East Town Street (Damien Cregeau) - Preservation, Chimney Dayne Rugh made a motion to accept the COA as written. Gregory Johnson seconded. Dayne Rugh, Jacob Stahl, Nancy O’Neil, Gregory Johnson, Gregory Farlow, Regan Miner and Timothy Dowhan voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. ● COA 518 - 110 Union Street (Mathew Guthrie) - Restoration, Roofing Gregory Johnson made a motion to approve the COA as written. Jacob Stahl seconded. Dayne Rugh, Jacob Stahl, Nancy O’Neil, Gregory Johnson, Gregory Farlow, Regan Miner and Timothy Dowhan voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously.  ● COA 519 - 61 East Town Street (Erin Ricciardi) - Fixtures, Other - Electrical Jacob Stahl made a motion to discuss the COA. Nancy O’Neil seconded. Jacob Stahl questioned if it was clear what work was being proposed without seeing an example of the home itself. Dayne Rugh questioned if the electrical box was being replaced or just the wires leading to it. Jacob Stahl agreed it was unclear. Timothy Dowhan stated it appeared it would be a portion of the electrical cabling as the electrical panel was not referenced. Regan Miner stated on Page 49 of the Historic District Guidelines electrical equipment is referenced and it is just requested that it be as inconspicuous as possible. Regan Miner stated the application did mention willingness to paint the wires to match the home. Jacob Stahl stated the application references new materials but questioned what would be new aside from the cabling. Gregory Johnson made a motion to approve the COA for the replacement of the exterior electrical wiring, with the stipulation it be painted to match the home, per the design guidelines. Gregory Farlow seconded. Dayne Rugh, Jacob Stahl, Nancy O’Neil, Gregory Johnson, Gregory Farlow, Regan Miner and Timothy Dowhan voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. B. Minutes of the Wednesday March 15, 2023 Meeting Minutes ● Nancy O’Neil made a motion to approve the meeting minutes. Dayne Rugh seconded. Dayne Rugh, Jacob Stahl, Nancy O’Neil, Gregory Johnson, Gregory Farlow, Regan Miner and Timothy Dowhan voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. C. Chairman Report ● Timothy Dowhan reported there was an attempt to replace the roof on the back of the shed at the bed and breakfast operating at 380 Washington Street. Timothy Dowhan stated the building department sent a stop-work order to the property owner and that he had not seen any related correspondence as of yet. Timothy Dowhan stated it appeared as though the wood shingles were being replaced with asphalt shingles. D. Old Business ● None. E. New Business ● Timothy Dowhan will continue to hold hybrid meetings in City Hall in Room 319. F. Next Meeting Date ● Scheduled for Wednesday May 17, 2023 at 5:30 PM. Timothy Dowhan noted he would be on vacation and in the chance he cannot connect remotely Regan Miner would run the meeting.  G. Adjournment ● Nancy O’Neil made a motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting at 6:29 PM. Gregory Johnson seconded. Dayne Rugh, Jacob Stahl, Nancy O’Neil, Gregory Johnson, Gregory Farlow, Regan Miner and Timothy Dowhan voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Katherine Rose Recording Secretary