HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
AUGUST 2, 2023
Ms. Victoria Smith called the Historic District Commission meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. In attendance were Commission members Barbara Brown, David Holman, Samantha Hollomon, Michael McDowell, Rebecca Murphy, and Kees de Mooy (Zoning Administrator), Lynda Thomas (Town Clerk) and guests.
Ms. 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.
Ms. Smith asked if there were any questions, comments, or additions to the minutes of the meeting of May 3, 2023. Ms. Murphy moved to approve the minutes as presented, was seconded by Ms. Holloman, and carried unanimously.
The items on the consent calendar were as follows:
- BP230142 – McGuire, 103 S. Mill Street – roof;
- BP230146 – Ramsey, 207 High Street, windows & door;
Ms. Holloman moved to approve the following as presented.
- BP230142 – McGuire, 103 S. Mill Street – roof;
- BP230146 – Ramsey, 207 High Street, windows & door;
The motion was seconded by Ms. Murphy and passed unanimously.
New Business
The next item on the agenda was BP230130 – Caringal, 336 Cannon Street – new construction. Ms. Nicole Caringal was present for the application. Work will consist of building a new single-story handicap accessible office.
Ms. Holloman asked about the roof material, siding material, and window specs. Ms. Caringal noted that the roof would be black 30-year asphalt shingles. The siding would be vertical board and batten siding. Ms. Holloman stated that her thought was that a horizontal material would be more fitting for that neighborhood given the section 4 guidelines. It was noted that the yellow building next door had vertical board and batten siding as well as various other buildings in the area.
Mr. Holman stated he liked the board and batten, but the windows did not match anything on that street. He noted from the guidelines, no single style is mandated for new construction, but design should complement and reflect the architectural heritage of the town. He stated that the 2/1 are not historical windows and felt that a 3/3 or a 2/2 would be more appropriate. Ms. Caringal stated that the 2/1 is like a lot of windows on Cannon Street.
Ms. Murphy made a motion to approve BP230130 – Caringal, 336 Cannon Street – new construction, first of the 2 applications for the construction of the building contingent upon changing the windows from their current 2/1 to 2/2 without a transom upon approval of the final version of the drawing. The motion was seconded by Ms. Holloman and passed.
Ms. Murphy recused herself from the next project.
The next item on the agenda was BP230141 – Hutchison, Lot 3 Cannon Street – new construction. John Hutchison was present for the application. Work will consist of building a new single-family residence on Lot #3, Cannon Square. He stated the house will be colonial in nature like the house at 520 Cannon Street.
Ms. Holloman stated she was opposed to the center column and felt that a chunkier column would even out the look. She also stated that she preferred a single material everywhere instead of the 2 different materials on the roof.
Ms. Holloman stated that given the visibility of the rear elevation of the structure, the rear railing should be a traditional vertical railing versus a modern horizontal metal expression.
Ms. Holloman made a motion to approve BP230141 – Hutchison, Lot 3 Cannon Street – new construction, approved as submitted for first review of two (2) contingent upon discussion with the client of cladding materials, rear handrail, and front elevation columns. The motion was seconded by Ms. Brown and passed.
Ms. Murphy returned to the meeting.
The next item on the agenda was BP230144 – Jones, 307 S. Queen Street – fence. Patrick Jones was present for the application. Work will consist of building an enclosure in cedar for trashcans and bikes to clean up the front of the property. He noted a change to the original plan to not include the roof to the enclosure.
Ms. Brown made a motion to approve BP230144 – Jones, 307 S. Queen Street – fence, the application with the modification that the shed roof will no longer be included but a more fence like structure to house the bikes. The motion was seconded by Mr. McDowell and passed.
The next item on the agenda was BP230145 – Coxe, 208 N. Queen Street – fence. Ronald Coxe was present for the application. Work will consist of installing a 5’ wooden fence to cascade down to 4’ with gates to separate the front and rear yards to block the view of trashcans and propane tanks.
Mr. Holman made a motion to approve BP230145 – Coxe, 208 N. Queen Street – fence, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Ms. Murphy and passed.
Ms. Holloman recused herself from the next project.
The next item on the agenda was BP230151 – Kent Cultural Alliance, 101 Spring – sign. John Schratwieser was present for the application. Work will consist of installing a 5.34 sq ft sign in brushed satin aluminum letter, 2” high letter for Vincent & Leslie Prince, 4” high for Raimond Cultural Center in Goudy extra bold font. Background for the upper letters to be in Sapele wood, lower background to be darker gray powder-coated aluminum. Work will also consist of a message board cabinet, 4” deep, 31” wide, 54” high with safety glass door. Cabinet to be painted and mounted to the right of the front door.
Ms. Murphy made a motion to approve BP230151 – Kent Cultural Alliance, 101 Spring – sign, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Ms. Brown and passed.
Ms. Holloman returned to the meeting.
Old Business
Mr. Holman recused himself from the next two (2) projects.
The next item on the agenda was BP230027 – Dietz, 117 N. Queen Street – roof design change. Thomas Dietz was present for the application. Work will consist of adjusting the roof line to the house, raising the roof to the second story of the garage.
Ms. Holloman reviewed the historic guidelines, section 4.6 (page 55). She stated that it recommends not making new interior space co-plainer with the existing historic structure. Having walls inset as needed to very clearly denote new additions. She noted that the previously submitted roof line did have the new wall co-plainer with existing wall. She stated that it did speak to the original geometry of the building. She stated that the original roofline, approved in March, still expresses the original frame of the building.
Ms. Holloman noted the guidelines and how an accessory building should relate to the primary structure. The plans show that the garage would be almost equal in height to the primary structure.
BP230027 – Dietz, 117 N. Queen Street – roof design change, was tabled.
Ms. Murphy recused herself from the following project.
The next item on the agenda was BP230150 – Hutchison, 114 High Street – rear covered porch. John Hutchison was present for the application. Work will consist of constructing a cover porch on the back of house that does not conform to the rear setbacks and is scheduled to go before the Board of Zoning Appeals. He also reviewed window changes from the original plan which were to allow for a third-floor apartment that was illegal. The third-floor apartment plans were changed to be included into the second-floor apartment.
Mr. McDowell made a motion to approve BP230150 – Hutchison, 114 High Street – rear covered porch, windows, roof and skylight, as discussed. The motion was seconded by Ms. Holloman and passed.
Ms. Murphy and Mr. Holman returned to the meeting.
Mr. Holman noted that the Town is working the strategic plan and asked if the Historic Guidelines would be updated. Kees noted that the modifications that need to be made are specific to sections such as new materials and solar.
Ms. Brown noted that a complete revision may need to be done and would like to see bullet points with simplified examples. Ms. Murphy suggested looking at other jurisdictions’ historic district commission guidelines. She also suggested to setup a special meeting to go over the material.
There being no further business, Ms. Murphy moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:52 p.m., was seconded by Ms. Brown and passed unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by:
Lynda Thomas, Town Clerk Vicky Smith, Chair
***************************************************************************
AGENDA
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
AUGUST 2, 2023
4:00 p.m.
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.
- Minutes of previous meeting – July 5, 2023
- Consent Calendar
- BP230142 – McGuire, 103 S. Mill Street – roof;
- BP230146 – Ramsey, 207 High Street, windows & door;
- New Business
- BP230130 – Caringal, 336 Cannon Street – new construction;
- BP230141 – Hutchison, Lot 3 Cannon Street – new construction;
- BP230144 – Jones, 307 S. Queen Street – fence;
- BP230145 – Coxe, 208 N. Queen Street – fence;
- BP230151 – Kent Cultural Alliance, 101 Spring – sign;
- Old Business
- BP230027 – Dietz, 117 N. Queen Street – roof design change;
- BP230150 – Hutchison, 114 High Street – rear covered porch;
- Adjourn