Historic District Commission Minutes – June 1, 2022

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

JUNE 1, 2022

 Mr. Kurt Smith, Chair, called the Historic District Commission meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.   In attendance were Commission Members Barbara Brown, David Holman, Michael McDowell and Rebecca Murphy, Kees de Mooy (Zoning Administrator), Jennifer McCann (Town Clerk) 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 welcomed Michael McDowell and David Holman to the Commission.

Mr. Smith asked if there were any questions regarding the agenda.  Mr. Smith stated that he would like to move old business to the end of the agenda.  Ms. Murphy moved to accept the agenda incorporating Mr. Smith’s changes, was seconded by Ms. Brown and carried unanimously.

Mr. Smith asked if there were any questions or comments of the minutes of May 6, 2022.  Ms. Brown moved to approve the minutes as presented, was seconded by Ms. Murphy and carried unanimously.

The items on the consent agenda were as follows:

1. BP2022-56 – Emmanuel Church, 101 N. Cross Street – Signage;
2. BP2022-59 – Scott’s Point Condominiums, 215-225 S. Water Street – Fence;
3. BP2022-60 – Ireland, 418 Cannon Street – Screen door;
4. BP2022-61 – 123 High, LLC – 123 High Street – Ext. Renovation.

Ms. Murphy moved to approve the consent agenda as follows:

1. BP2022-56 – Emmanuel Church, 101 N. Cross Street – Signage;
2. BP2022-59 – Scott’s Point Condominiums, 215-225 S. Water Street – Fence;
3. BP2022-60 – Ireland, 418 Cannon Street – Screen door;
4. BP2022-61 – 123 High, LLC – 123 High Street – Ext. Renovation

The motion was seconded by Mr. McDowell and carried with four (4) in favor, Ms. Brown recused.

The next item on the agenda was BP2022-54 from Washington College (Casey Academic Center) at 300 Washington Avenue for window replacement.  Mr. Smith stated that this application was more a courtesy by the College as it was not included on the Historic Register.  Mr. McDowell moved to approve the application as submitted, was seconded by Ms. Brown and carried with four (4) in favor, Mr. Holman recused.

The next item on the agenda was BP2022-55 from Peter Rice at 129 N. Queen Street for an extension of the back deck.  There was no one present for the application.  The Commission had no questions of a representative.  Ms. Murphy moved to approve application BP2022-55 as submitted, was seconded by Ms. Brown and carried unanimously.

The next item on the agenda was BP2022-57 from Justin White at 107 S. Queen Street for the removal of three (3) chimneys.  Mr. White stated that all chimneys are non-functional and that this house was actually two (2) different houses that had been joined together at some point in time.  The rear structure was in its original location, but the front structure had been moved from High Street and joined onto the original house, at which time tall flutes were installed on the chimneys.  He said that the brick from the chimneys has corroded on the exterior and was crumbling.  One of the front chimneys is leaning and becoming a danger, although he thought both were dangerous.  He said that his contractor advised him that the only way to remove the flutes is to crack and break them.  Mr. Smith stated that in addition to the chimneys being non-functional, only one has a hearth but it never worked. Mr. White stated that the estimate for rebuilding the chimneys came in at $6,000.00 per chimney.  He said that since the chimneys do nothing he would prefer to remove them altogether.  Ms. Murphy moved to approve BP2022-57 as submitted, was seconded by Mr. Holman and carried unanimously.

The next item on the agenda was BP2022-62 from Joe and Kate Van Name at 108 Spring Street for a porch roof replacement and deck work.  Mr. Joe Van Name was present for the application and said that all replacement was in kind, but the original had deteriorated and needed replacing.  Ms. Murphy moved to approve BP2022-62 as submitted, was seconded by Ms. Brown and carried with four (4) in favor, Mr. Holman recused as he was the contractor for Mr. Van Name on this project.

The next item on the agenda was BP2022-64 from Jeff Maguire for a roof replacement at 353/355 High Street.  There was no one present for the application.  After brief discussion and no questions, Ms. Brown moved to approve BP2022-64 as submitted for a standing seam metal roof, was seconded Ms. Murphy and carried unanimously.

The next item on the agenda was BP2022-65 from KIT Team, LLC at 341 High Street for final approval of the project.  Mr. Chris Frank of Hammond Wilson Architects presented for the owners.  Mr. Frank stated that the building was being torn down and he reviewed the changes he was requesting since his last appearance for the new structure.

Mr. Frank stated that they had tried to save some of the front facade, but nothing was salvageable except the front door frame and transom.  He had photos of the condition of the property that were taken while the building was being dismantled.  He said that they did find steel beams under the crawl space indicating a previous owner tried to stabilize the building.  Mr. Frank stated that the brick foundation was a crawlspace wall and a buttress wall had been built at the base to keep the adjacent building from moving inward.

Mr. Frank stated that an ADA ramp will be installed from the High Street sidewalk and the building will be raised by 5’6” in order for the ramp to meet code.  There will be ADA access to the first floor from the rear of the building with a lift.  Additional stair risers were added to the front façade.  He showed the elevations proposed.

Mr. Frank stated that the roof facing the Retriever would house the HVAC units and they would be hidden from public view. Mr. Frank stated that he was requesting to remove the two (2) windows on the second floor nearest the Retriever to allow for egress.  He said that the existing windows were not to code. He said that the other windows on the second floor would be replaced because they were not tempered glass and were vinyl clad so not original to the former structure.  Mr. Frank stated that the north side of the building would also have two (2) windows installed on the second floor.

Mr. Frank stated that the proposed materials were discussed previously.  The original pressed tim metal roof tiles were salvaged and would be used on the rear patio bar at the Retriever.  He said that the Commission had approved fiberglass shingles, rubberized slate and standing seam metal.  The owner has asked that the Commission also consider fiberglass slate as an option, as it has become difficult to get materials due to Covid.

Mr. Frank state that Dutch lap Boral siding or wood would be used for the siding and trim and would be painted.  Windows will be Marvin architectural clad casements and double hung.  He showed samples of the proposed shutters, adding that he would like to do paneled shutters for maintenance purposes.  All shutters would be operable.  There would be a vegetative roof on the rear of the building.  Mr. Frank stated that doors and column with a straight shaft and simple cap were also proposed.  The railings would be painted wood.  He said that the HVAC consisted of seven (7) split system units by Mitsubishi that were 30” tall.

Ms. Murphy moved for final approval of BP2022-65 for the renovation project at 341 High Street, incorporating the modifications presented at this meeting, was seconded by Ms. Brown and carried unanimously.

The last item on the agenda was BP2022-63 from Kent Attainable Housing at 423 High Street for demolition of the rear additions.  Mr. Bob Ingersoll was present on behalf of Kent Attainable Housing.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that the property was gifted to Kent Attainable Housing, and they were looking to get the building to the point where it can be sold.  He said that the additions in the back do not appear to be original to the building, were unappealing, and not worth trying to save.  He said that the structure underneath is collapsing.

Ms. Murphy asked what impact removing the additions would have on the structural integrity of the building.  Mr. Ingersoll stated that this would help to save the building because the additions were poorly built and were pulling the rear corner of the main building.  He said that the building has already sunk by 2”.  Mr. Ingersoll stated that there were remnants of two (2) concrete structures on the site which they think was a garage at some point.  He said that that he believed the garage had been removed before the additions were constructed.  Mr. Ingersoll stated that the rear stairway was an illegal and had to be removed.

Ms. Emily Moseman, who owned the adjacent property, stated that she was concerned about asbestos and asked how removal would be managed.  Mr. Ingersoll stated that they would check for asbestos and that it would be carefully bagged and removed.  He added that if there was a sublayer on the building they would have controls put in place for removal, but he did not think that was the case.

Ms. Moseman asked if there was any thought of tenting the building before work began to kill any rodents that might be in the building.  Mr. Ingersoll stated that the building was open, and he had not seen any evidence of vermin on the property.  Ms. Moseman stated that there were birds on the property in the main portion of the house.  Mr. Ingersoll stated that he did not have a plan for that at this time as there was no way to get a manlift between the buildings.

Ms. Moseman asked about maintenance of the building and how they envisioned its maintenance. Mr. Ingersoll stated that every opening will be closed off.  He said that if he opted to raise the building he would need a plan for something to go in the empty lot.

Ms. McCann stated that the application was to demolish the rear additions and the discussion should only be on the subject matter.  Mr. Smith stated that although the issues were important, they were not under the purview of the Historic District Commission.  Mr. de Mooy continued discussion of the matter with Ms. Moseman outside of the meeting room.

Ms. Murphy moved to approve BP2022-63 for demolition of the two (2) rear additions and back stair as submitted, was seconded by Mr. Holman and carried unanimously. 

There being no further business, Ms. Murphy moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:55p.m., was seconded by Ms. Brown and carried unanimously. 

Submitted by:                                                                                     Approved by:

Jennifer McCann                                                                                Kurt Smith

Town Clerk                                                                                         Chair

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  AGENDA

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

JUNE 1, 2022

4:00 p.m.

1. Minutes of previous meeting of May 4, 2021
2. Consent Calendar
   1. BP2022-56 – Emmanuel Church, 101 N. Cross Street – Signage;
   2. BP2022-59 – Scott’s Point Condominiums, 215-225 S. Water Street – Fence;
   3. BP2022-60 – Ireland, 418 Cannon Street – Screen door;
   4. BP2022-61 – 123 High, LLC – 123 High Street – Ext. Renovation
3. Old Business
   1. BP2022-64 – KIT Team, 341 High Street – Final submission
4. New Business
   1. BP2022-54 – Washington College (Casey Academic Center), 300 Washington Avenue – Window replacement
   2. BP2022-55 – Peter Rice, 129 N. Queen Street – Back porch;
   3. BP2022-57 – Justin White, 107 S. Queen Street – Chimney removal;
   4. BP2022-62 – Van Name, 108 Spring Street – Roof replacement and deck work;
   5. BP2022-63 – Kent Attainable Housing, 423 High Street – Demolition of rear additions;
   6. BP2022-64 – Jeff Maguire, 353/355 High Street – Roof replacement;
5. Adjourn