HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MAY 3, 2023
Ms. Victoria Smith called the Historic District Commission meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. In attendance were Commission members Barbara Brown, 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 March 1, 2023, and April 5, 2023. Ms. Brown moved to approve the minutes as revised, was seconded by Ms. Murphy, and carried unanimously.
Old Business
The next item on the agenda was BP230035 – Silcox, 312 Park Row – sign. Mr. Jay Silcox was present for the application. At the last meeting, the Commission asked Mr. Silcox to consider the placement of the sign. He presented changes to the location of the sign that will not obstruct traffic using the front steps to the building.
Ms. Murphy made a motion to approve BP230035 – Silcox, 312 Park Row – sign. The motion was seconded by Mr. McDowell and passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP230040 – Begley, 210 Washington Avenue – shed. Ms. Begley was present for the application. At the last meeting, Ms. Hollomon asked about the placement of the shed on property and its visibility to the public road. Ms. Begley submitted a site plan with clear measurement to show shed placement and visibility to the road.
Ms. Holloman made a motion to approve BP230040 – Begley, 210 Washington Avenue – shed. The motion was seconded by Ms. Murphy and passed unanimously.
New Business
The next item on the agenda was BP 230022 – Bazley, 515 Cannon Street – shed. Mr. Robert Bazley was present for the application. Work will consist of installing a prefabricated shed in the back yard.
Ms. Murphy made a motion to approve BP 230022 – Bazley, 515 Cannon Street – shed, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Ms. Brown and passed.
The next item on the agenda was BP230055 – Worth, 521 High Street, roof, fascia, and gutters. Ms. Temple Worth was present for the application. Work will consist of repairing or replacing the gutters, replacing the roof, and repairing fascia.
Ms. Hollomon made a motion to approve BP230055 – Worth, 521 High Street, roof, fascia, and gutters, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Ms. Murphy and passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP230061 – The Skipjack Art Studios, 329 Cannon Street, solar array, and battery. Mr. Thomas Dietz and a representative from Sunrise Solar, Inc. was present for the application. Work will consist of installing 14.4 kW roof mounted solar system and a 10kWh battery backup.
Ms. Murphy asked about the visibility from the adjacent buildings. Mr. Dietz stated that it would not be visible from the street, but it would be visible from the alley into the Cannon Street parking lot, and the building on the opposite side. Ms. Hollomon stated that the panels would also be visible to the residents on the second floor around the sides and back of building.
Ms. Hollomon asked about the reflective material and how the panels would be mounted. The representative stated that the panel is a sheet of glass that covers the solar panel and is mounted to follow the same plane as the roof and adds about 5” in height.
Mr. McDowell made a motion to approve BP230061 – The Skipjack Art Studios, 329 Cannon Street, solar array and battery, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Ms. Murphy, and passed, with Ms. Hollomon opposed.
The next item on the agenda was BP230065 – Grosse, 104 S. Queen Street, porch and foundation repair. Mr. Jay Yerkes was present for the application. Work will consist of leveling the porch, replacing the porch flooring using PVC material, repairing the roof and replacing a window on the back of house with an Anderson window.
Ms. Murphy stated that since it is currently wood it should be replaced with wood. Mr. Yerkes stated that the PVC is optimal since it is a damp, mossy area and the wood would need a lot of maintenance. Mr. de’Mooy asked what he would do with the end grain of the PVC material. Mr. Yerkes stated that he will cap it with an end band that has a solid finish front.
Ms. Hollomon made a motion to approve BP230065 – Grosse, 104 S. Queen Street, porch and foundation repair, as submitted with the exception of the synthetic porch flooring and recommended wood flooring. The motion was seconded by Ms. Murphy and passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP230069 – Grosse, 104 S. Queen Street, front porch roof. Mr. Matt Troyer was presented for the application. Work will consist of replacing the front porch roof, raising the house side of the roof, about six inches to increase the fall and installing a standing seam metal roof.
Ms. Murphy made a motion to approve BP230069 – Grosse, 104 S. Queen Street, front porch roof, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Ms. Holloman and passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP230066 – Chesapeake Bank, 245 High Street, lighting. Ms. Nina Fleegle was present for the application. Work will consist of installing sidewalk bollards in the flowerbed to illuminate the building and sidewalk. Installing up-lights in the flowerbed to shine on the side of the building. The entryway pendant will be removed to allow for rewiring and then re-installed. The dead box wood trees will be removed in the front garden to create a pocket park with benches and landscaping where people can sit and enjoy.
Ms. Murphy made a motion to approve BP230066 – Chesapeake Bank, 245 High Street, lighting, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Ms. Hollomon and passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP230067 – Bowman, 103 S. Cross Street, lighting. Ms. Nina Fleegle was present for the application. Work will consist of interior track lighting for two (2) display windows and exterior recessed lighting over the double doors and front window.
Ms. Hollomon stated that the building was A-symmetric, but the entry is not and to go with the down light solution for the far-right window, would take away from the display window and preferred a flush mount light for the far-right window.
Ms. Hollomon made a motion to approve BP230067 – Bowman, 103 S. Cross Street, lighting, as submitted, with the exception of the recessed down lights, if two (2) are needed use the guideline approved flush mounted fixture or one (1) down light at the entry to building. The motion was seconded by Ms. Murphy and passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP230068 – Ramsey, 307 High Street, lighting. Ms. Nina Fleegle was present for the application. Work will consist of installing interior track lighting in two (2) display windows, replacing existing exterior gooseneck sign lights with LED gooseneck lights and replacing entry ceiling lights with LED flush mount fixtures.
Ms. Murphy made a motion to approve BP230068 – Ramsey, 307 High Street, lighting, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Ms. Hollomon and passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP230071 – Porter, 225 Calvert Street, fence. Mr. Melvin Porter was present for the application. Work will consist of installing a six (6) foot fence to replicate the fence on the neighbor’s property.
Ms. Murphy made a motion to approve BP230071 – Porter, 225 Calvert Street, fence, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Mr. McDowell and passed unanimously.
There being no further business, Ms. Murphy moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:51 p.m., was seconded by Ms. Brown and passed unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by:
Lynda Thomas, Town Clerk Vickie Smith, Chair
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AGENDA
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MAY 3, 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 meetings, March 1 and April 15
- Old Business
- BP230035 – Silcox, 312 Park Row – sign;
- BP230040 – Begley, 210 Washington Avenue, shed;
- New Business
- BP230022 – Bazley, 515 Cannon Street, shed;
- BP230055 – Worth, 521 High Street, roof, fascia and gutters;
- BP230061 – The Skipjack Art Studios, 329 Cannon Street, solar array and battery;
- BP230065 – Grosse, 104 S. Queen Street, porch and foundation repair;
- BP230069 – Grosse, 104 S. Queen Street, front porch roof;
- BP230066 – Chesapeake Bank, 245 High Street, lighting;
- BP230067 – Bowman, 103 S. Cross Street, lighting;
- BP230068 – Ramsey, 307 High Street, lighting;
- BP230071 – Porter, 225 Calvert Street, fence;
- Adjourn