HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
JULY 5, 2017
Alexa Silver, Chair, called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. In attendance were Commission members Ted Gallo, Barbara Jorgenson and Ed Minch, Kees de Mooy (Zoning Administrator), Jennifer Mulligan (Town Clerk) and guests.
Ms. Silver 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. Silver asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the meetings of June 7, 2017. Ms. Jorgenson moved to approve the minutes of June 7, 2017 as submitted, was seconded by Mr. Gallo and carried unanimously.
Application BP2017-67 for a storm door at 238 Cannon Street was the only item on the consent agenda. Mr. Minch moved to approve BP2017-67 for a storm door at 238 Cannon Street as it was in keeping with the Design Guidelines Section III.6.2 Storm Doors, was seconded by Mr. Gallo and carried unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP2017-62 from the Kent County Arts Council at 101 Spring Avenue for a roof replacement. Mr. John Schratweiser and Ms. Leslie Raimond of the Kent County Arts Council and Matthew Yerkes of Yerkes Construction were present for the meeting.
Mr. Schratweiser stated that the Kent County Arts Council recently purchased the building at 101 Spring Avenue. He said that there was a lot of work to be done but right now they were focusing on the roof. Mr. Schratweiser said that the original section of the building dates to 1790 and was listed as circa 1830 in the Kent County Historic Houses Book as the “Mansfield-Eliason House”. He also found through research that the building was directly tied to a published escaped slave narrative by Isaac Mason.
Mr. Schratweiser stated that he hoped this building would become a center for arts encompassing the entire county.
Ms. Jorgenson moved to approve BP2017-62 from the Kent County Arts Council at 101 Spring Avenue for a roof replacement as described in the application as it was in keeping with the Historic District Design Guidelines Section III.7 Roofs, was seconded by Mr. Gallo and carried unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP2017-59 for window replacement at the Emmanuel Church Rectory located at 208 East Campus Avenue. Mr. Brad Holloman and Ms. Nancy Dick of Emmanuel Church and David Blitzer, Esquire of Hoon & Associates were present for the application.
Mr. Holloman explained that Reverend Darcy Williams was frequently alone at the rectory and there were some windows that did not open and some windows that would not close. He said that the church thought the most sensible option was to replace all the windows at once. The storm windows would be removed. Mr. Holloman stated that the house was built circa 1940 and was a non-contributing structure.
Ms. Jorgenson moved to approve BP2017-59 for replacement windows at 208 East Campus Avenue as outlined in the application as this was a non-contributing building in the Historic District and the application was in keeping with Historic District Guidelines, Section III.6.3 Windows, was seconded by Mr. Gallo and carried unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP2017-66 from Hearn/Menard at 114 North Queen Street for a fence. Ms. Sallee Hearne was present for the application. She said that there were minor changes to the permit in that the applicant is going to paint or stain the fence, post caps will be added and there was a small area that was left out of the fencing plan that was drawn back in.
Mr. Gallo asked if the applicant knew when the fence would be painted. Ms. Hearne stated that she would follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for when to stain or painting.
Ms. Jorgenson moved to approve BP2017-66 for a fence at 114 N. Queen Street to be installed with the drawings as amended at the meeting, noting that the fence will be painted or stained at the appropriate time, was seconded by Mr. Minch and carried unanimously.
The last item on the agenda was BP2017-69 from McDowell/Stoltzfus to remodel an exterior rear porch at 137 North Queen Street. Mr. Eugene Stoltzfus was present for the application.
Mr. Stoltzfus stated that the roof will remain as it is and the side of the house towards Rt. 213 will have cedar siding to match the rest of the house. The other side of the porch and inside toward the yard will have double windows. The existing door on the house will be reused. Mr. Stoltzfus stated that he would try to use the existing railing and steps but he may have to rebuild them and, if so, they would be replaced in kind.
Ms. Silver stated that she thought it was important to know that this sunroom was being extended into an existing porch and there was no change to the footprint.
Mr. Gallo moved to approve BP2017-69 for an exterior remodel as proposed in the application it was in keeping with the Design Guidelines Section III.8 Porches and Section III.6.3 Windows, was seconded by Mr. Minch and carried unanimously.
There being no further business, Ms. Jorgenson moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:28 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Gallo and carried unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by:
Jennifer Mulligan Alexa Silver
Town Clerk Chair