HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
APRIL 5, 2017
Alexa Silver, Chair, called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. In attendance were Commission members Ted Gallo, Nancy McGuire and Alice Ritchie, 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 March 1, 2017. Ms. McGuire moved to approve the minutes of March 1, 2017 as submitted, was seconded by Mr. Gallo and carried unanimously.
The Consent Agenda was as follows:
- BP2017-32 – Vansant, 105 Maple Avenue – barn roof replacement (ratify approval);
- BP2017-33 – Rasin, 106 Church Alley – fence;
- BP2017-34 – Keaveney, 102 South Water Street – storm door;
- BP2017-35 – Allstate/Licausi, 113 N. Queen Street – roof replacement.
Ms. McGuire moved to remove BP2017-34 from the consent agenda.
Ms. Ritchie moved to approve the following applications as submitted:
- BP2017-32 from Vansant at 105 Maple Avenue for a barn roof replacement as it was in keeping with Design Guidelines III.7: Roofs;
- BP2017-33 from Rasin at 106 Church Alley for a fence as it was in keeping with Design Guidelines V.5: Fences;
- BP2017-35 – Allstate/Licausi at 113 N. Queen Street for a roof replacement as in was in keeping with Design Guidelines III.7 Roofs.
The motion was seconded Mr. Gallo and carried unanimously.
Ms. Mulligan stated that application BP2017-34 was for a storm door at 102 S. Water Street. The application reflected a wood door and it should have read “wood storm door”. The wooden section would be painted black. Ms. McGuire moved to approve BP2017-34 as submitted as it was in keeping with the Design Guidelines III.6.2 Screen and Storm Doors, was seconded by Ms. Ritchie and carried unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP2017-28 from William Short and Eastern Interiors at 329 High Street for a sign. Ms. Silver stated that she visited the property today and after speaking with Mr. Short she supported the application and it was in keeping with the Design Guidelines. Mr. Andrew Short was present for the application. Ms. Ritchie stated that she would like to see the sign become a part of the building. Ms. McGuire stated that she thought the sign should be stretched and narrowed to better fit with the aesthetics of the building.
Ms. McGuire stated that the building was altered on the front façade and has a broken pediment. She said that if that was removed this property would be a landmark building because of the mansard roof. She said that the sign fights with the pediment and dentil molding.
Ms. Silver stated that the broken pediment was awkward. Mr. Short agreed stating that if they could remove the pediment they would. He said that the pediment was not original and he would like to find pictures of the original building so if they purchased the building it could be restored. Ms. McGuire stated that they should go to the Historical Society to find original photographs and said that if it was done properly this would be a landmark building. She suggested a temporary sign in the window until research was done on the property.
Mr. Short stated that the new sign and name was necessary to identify their business and said that their business would suffer without a sign. Mr. Short stated that he would love to remove the pediment but that should have nothing to do with his application for a sign. Ms. McGuire asked if the Commission was going to permanently allow a sign in front of something that the applicant even claims they would like to change.
Mr. Short stated that the proposed sign will remain at the location regardless of a change to the pediment. He said that 6 months has been spent on branding and the new sign and they would like approval for the sign without delaying the process due to the pediment. He said that right now the pediment could not be addressed.
Ms. Silver stated that nothing would be accomplished by disallowing the business to install their sign, even though it was not an ideal location. This sign would remain if and when the pediment was removed.
Ms. Silver stated that postponing approval of the sign until the pediment issue was resolved was unreasonable.
Mr. Gallo moved to approve BP2017-28 from William Short and Eastern Interiors for a new sign at 329 High Street as it was in keeping with the Design Guidelines, III.13: Signs, was seconded by Ms. Ritchie and carried with 3 in favor, Ms. McGuire opposed.
The last item on the agenda was BP2017-30 from Sultana Education Foundation for a window at 333 South Cross Street. Mr. Drew McMullen was present for the application. Mr. McMullen explained that this property was under contract to use as staff housing for the Sultana. Mr. McMullen explained that there would be three bedrooms on the first floor and two bedrooms on the second floor, each of which require a legal means of egress. There are hay loft doors on the second floor which they would like to open and insert a custom window. He said that the Sultana had no preference as to how the window would look but thought a single pane casement window would be the best option in a dark color to appear as an open hole. He said that the window would be Anderson to match the other windows in the building which were installed in 1983. The shutters will remain open.
Ms. McGuire stated that the applicant may want to think about removing the mullions in the existing windows for a simplified look to all the windows.
Ms. Ritchie moved to approve BP2017-30 for the addition of a window in the hayloft as presented as it was keeping with the Design Guidelines, III.6.3 Windows, was seconded by Mr. Gallo and carried unanimously.
Ms. Ritchie stated that she may not be able to make the May 3rd Historic District Commission meeting.
There being no further business, Ms. Ritchie moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:35 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Gallo and carried unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by:
Jennifer Mulligan Alexa Silver
Town Clerk Chair