HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 2, 2022
Mr. Kurt Smith, Chair, called the Historic District Commission meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. In attendance were Barbara Brown, Rob Busler, Rebecca Murphy and Alice Ritchie, Kees de Mooy (Zoning Administrator) and guests.
Mr. Smith stated that the Chestertown Historic District Commission takes its authority from Chapter 93 of the Code of the Town of Chestertown and operates under the Historic District Design Guidelines that were adopted by the Mayor and Council of Chestertown on October 7, 2002, and revised March 7, 2012.
Mr. Smith asked if there were any questions regarding the consent calendar. Ms. Ritchie stated that she asked Mr. de Mooy about the canvas awning. Mr. de Mooy stated that proof was shown that a previous awning existed. Ms. Brown moved to adopt the agenda as presented, was seconded by Ms. Smith and carried unanimously.
Mr. Smith asked if there were additions or corrections to the minutes of the Historic District Commission meeting of January 5, 2022. Ms. Murphy moved to approve the minutes of the January 5, 2022, meeting as presented, was seconded by Ms. Ritchie and carried unanimously.
The Consent Calendar contained the following items:
- BP2021-166 – Giron, 307 Washington Avenue – Canvas Awning
- BP2022-08 – Hegland, 213 N. Water Street – Roof;
- BP2022-09 – Lippincott/Cannon Street Studio Arts, 312 Cannon Street – Deck boards (maintenance)
Ms. Murphy moved to approve the following applications as submitted:
- BP2021-166 – Giron, 307 Washington Avenue – Canvas Awning
- BP2022-08 – Hegland, 213 N. Water Street – Roof;
- BP2022-09 – Lippincott/Cannon Street Studio Arts, 312 Cannon Street – Deck boards (maintenance)
The motion was seconded by Ms. Brown and carried unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP2021-160 from Washington College at 300 Washington Avenue for exterior renovations. Mr. Stan Yeakel of Washington College was present for the application. He said that the CELUKAPVC will mimic the wood in place now and will be caulked and painted to maintain the look of the original wood. Ms. Ritchie stated that she was hesitant because it might open the door to using similar materials. Ms. Murphy stated that this use was different than someone trying to use it to build a porch and that the material was not being approved wholesale. Mr. Busler stated that this was an effective use for this particular installation.
Ms. Murphy moved to approve BP2021-160 as presented for use only specified on this application, was seconded by Mr. Busler and carried unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP2021-186 from KRM and John Hutchison (architect) at 428 Cannon Street for a revision to an approved roof material on new construction. Ms. Murphy recused herself from the application citing a conflict of interest. Mr. John Hutchison and Ms. Claire Joseph (contract purchaser) were present for the application. Mr. Hutchison stated that a standing seam metal roof was approved for the screen porch on this build, and they would like to use asphalt shingle roofing instead. Ms. Brown moved to approve the revision for BP2021-186 as submitted, was seconded by Ms. Ritchie and carried unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP2022-01 from Margo Tilghman and Michael McDowell at 135 and 137 N. Queen Street for a change in material to the roof that connected both properties. Ms. Margo Tilghman, Susan Flanigan and Michael McDowell were present for the application. Ms. Flanigan stated that the cedar roof was contiguous across 135 and 137 North Queen Street residences and they wanted to reroof the entire property at the same time. Ms. Brown stated that it was difficult to see the cedar shake roofing due to the height of this building and, in this case, she thought it was appropriate to allow architectural asphalt shingles. Mr. de Mooy stated that newer cedar shakes did not have the durability that they had when houses in the Historic District were originally built. Mr. Busler moved to approve BP2022-01 as submitted, was seconded by Ms. Brown and carried unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP2022-03 from Kirsten Burgard at 103 S. College Avenue for window replacement. Ms. Karlen Murray of Andersen windows was present for the applicant. Ms. Murray stated that the fibrex product was wood composite and the windows would appear as they do currently. Mr. de Mooy stated that the existing windows were only ten to fifteen years old and have racked and were failing. Mr. Busler moved to approve BP2022-03 as submitted, was seconded by Ms. Murphy and carried unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP2022-10 from Carole Flynn at 105 S. Mill Street for a roof replacement, which included a change from cedar shake roofing to architectural shingles. Ms. Carole Flynn (owner) was present for the application. Ms. Flynn stated that the cedar shake roofing was replaced approximately fifteen years ago and was failing and leaking. She said that she was also having trouble with her homeowner’s insurance because she has three chimneys and that cedar shakes were now seen as a fire hazard. She said that many of the houses on her street have asphalt shingle roofs. Ms. Brown stated that since the cedar shake shingles were not original and for safety and insurance purposes she saw no problem with the application. Mr. Busler moved to approve BP2022-10 as submitted, was seconded by Ms. Brown and carried unanimously.
The last item on the agenda was BP2022-11 from Genevieve McWilliams, 200 Court Street for exterior renovations. Mr. John Hutchison (architect) was present for the application as well as Genevieve McWilliams (owner). Ms. Murphy recused herself from the application. Mr. Hutchison stated that this building, which was a former law office, would now be used as a residence by the new owner. He said that the building is industrial in nature and was made to look residential over time. He said that the windows were from the 1950s and not original to the building.
Mr. Hutchison stated that he was proposing a sunroom addition to the back of the property. He said that all windows and doors would be replaced with Andersen 400 series casement windows. The existing front roof is original and made of pressed metal. It has been coated with tar many times and is rusting, with no way to salvage it. He was planning to replace the roof in standing seam metal. The surround on the front door entrance would be removed. New Andersen 400 series wood casement windows would be painted black and installed throughout the structure. A steel awning with frosted glass insert would be installed over the mahogany front door and on the side entrance. The rear flat roof over the addition will be removed and replaced with a new flat roof in a different pitch to allow water runoff. The rear chimney will be removed. A sunroom, which include a side entry door will be built off the existing addition. The sunroom mimics the form of the parapet on the building and nickel gap siding, which is like shiplap, will be used in lieu of brick. There will be a new window added to the gable in the front of the building on the side façade to allow natural light for an art studio. Skylights will be added to the sunroom roof and on the original roof at the rear of the house. A metal cap will run on the top of the parapet wall to mimic the brick on the original parts of the building.
Mr. Busler asked if the window placement on the building had changed over time or were the openings the same that were in place when the original building was constructed. Mr. Hutchison stated that he was using the existing window openings and that they were original openings, adding that they had higher placement than typical windows would. He said that the brickwork on the main building appeared to be original but there were areas where brick had changed out for the installation of air conditioning units. Mr. Busler stated that the windowpanes looked large to him and asked his reasoning. Mr. Hutchison stated that the windows were 3’ wide and he wanted to have a more vertical look to the pane to keep them proportional to the opening.
Mr. Busler moved to approve BP2022-11 as submitted, was seconded by Ms. Ritchie and carried unanimously.
Mr. Hutchison stated that there was still quite a bit of work to do on the construction plans and he would return to the Commission if there were any changes.
Mr. Smith stated that Ms. Ritchie has decided to resign from the Historic District Commission and thanked her for her years of service. Ms. Ritchie stated that her service has been a pleasure and it was an honor to have served on the Commission.
There being no further business, Ms. Murphy moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:12 p.m., was seconded by Ms. Ritchie and carried unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by:
Jennifer Mulligan Kurt Smith
Town Clerk Chair
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AGENDA
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 2, 2022
4:00 p.m.
- Minutes of previous meeting of January 5, 2021
- Consent Calendar
- BP2021-166 – Giron, 307 Washington Avenue – Canvas Awning
- BP2022-08 – Hegland, 213 N. Water Street – Roof;
- BP2022-09 – Lippincott/Cannon Street Studio Arts, 312 Cannon Street – Deck boards (maintenance)
- Old Business
- BP2021-160 – Washington College, 300 Washington Avenue – Exterior Renovation;
- BP2021-186 – KRM/Hutchison, 428 Cannon Street – Revision to approved roof material;
- New Business
- BP2022-01 – Tilghman/McDowell, 135 & 137 N. Queen Street – New Roof (material change)
- BP2022-03 – Burgard, 103 S. College Avenue – Window replacement;
- BP2022-10 – Flynn, 105 S. Mill Street – Roof replacement;
- BP2022-11 – McWilliams, 200 Court Street – Exterior Renovations
- Adjourn