HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
APRIL 5, 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, 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.
The items on the consent calendar were as follows:
- 230036 – Main Street, 227 High Street, light replacement;
- 230041 – Kanto, 321 High Steet, roof replacement;
- 230051 – Main Street, 321 High Street, light replacement;
- 230048 – Main Street, 210 S Cross Street, light replacement;
- 230049 – Main Street, 200 High Street, light replacement;
- 230050 – Main Street, 329 High Street, light replacement;
Ms. Hollomon stated that the fixtures at 210 S Cross Street were not ADA compliant. Mr. Hutchinson, represented the applicant, stated that there was a line item in the recommendations, to mount those fixtures at ADA compliant height.
Ms. Murphy moved to approve the following as presented.
- 230036 – Main Street, 227 High Street, light replacement;
- 230041 – Kanto, 321 High Steet, roof replacement;
- 230051 – Main Street, 321 High Street, light replacement;
- 230048 – Main Street, 210 S Cross Street, light replacement;
- 230049 – Main Street, 200 High Street, light replacement;
- 230050 – Main Street, 329 High Street, light replacement;
The motion was seconded by Mr. Holman and passed unanimously.
New Business
The next item on the agenda was BP 230031 – 117 Court Street – roof replacement and chimney removal. Mr. Bradshaw was present for the application. Work consisted of replacing the roof and removing the deteriorating chimney. He stated that the fireplace was no longer used to burn wood.
Ms. Brown noted that the chimney should be restored to keep the historical significance of the chimneys of the surrounding houses. The owner state that he was not going to restore the chimney since he’s not going to use it. Ms. Murphy asked if the visible part of the chimney could be sealed and restored for historical value. Mr. Bradshaw stated that he would look into it.
Ms. Hollomon made a motion to approve BP 230031 – 117 Court Street – the roof replacement only. The motion was seconded by Mr. McDowell and passed.
The next item on the agenda was BP230035 – 312 Park Row – signs. Mr. Jay Silcox was present for the application. Work consisted of placing a brushed aluminum 20” x 60”, glossy protective laminated coated sign and a brushed aluminum 12” x 18” glossy protective laminate coated sign. The signs were to be mounted from the wall with two (2) or three (3) aluminum 3/8” diameter dowel rods ~5” from the soffit.
Mr. McDowell noted that it would be better to have the signs mounted on the building wall. Mr. Silcox noted that there was not enough wall space on the building to hang a sign. Ms. Murphy asked about installing the sign in the grass area in front of the building and/or change the dimensions of the sign or make the sign contiguous to the soffit. Mr. Silcox asked about the required dimensions of a yard mounted sign. Mr. Ingersoll noted that a free-standing sign could be no taller than 5 feet and no bigger than 4 sq ft.
Ms. Brown made a motion to table BP230035 – 312 Park Row – signs. The motion was seconded by Ms. Murphy and passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP230037 – 329 Cannon Street – sign/mural. Mr. Thomas Dietz was present for the application. Work consisted of installing a 5’ x 6’ half hull model of the Skipjack Elsworth on the side wall of building. The hull was be made of wood covered in fiberglass.
The next item on the agenda was BP230047 – 329 Cannon Street – sign. Mr. Thomas Dietz was present for the application. Work consisted of installing a wooden cedar craved sign over the entrance to the kitchen.
Ms. Murphy made a motion to approve BP230037 – 329 Cannon Street – sign/mural and BP230047 – 329 Cannon Street – sign, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Ms. Hollomon and passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP230040 – 210 Washington Avenue, shed. The applicant was not present. Work consisted of installing an 8’ x 12’ x 7’ shed in the back yard.
Ms. Hollomon had questions about the placement of the shed on property and its visibility to the public road.
Ms. Murphy made a motion to table BP230040 – 210 Washington Avenue, shed. The motion was seconded by Mr. McDowell and passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP230042 – 108 Maple Avenue, storm doors. Ms. Ashley Files Flory was present for the application. Work consisted of installing custom storm doors on the front and back of house.
Mr. Holman made a motion to approve BP230042 – 108 Maple Avenue, storm doors, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Ms. Brown and passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP230052 – 412 High Street, roof and siding replacement. The applicant was not present. The Board had various questions.
Ms. Hollomon made a motion to table BP230052 – 412 High Street, roof and siding replacement. The motion was seconded by Ms. Murphy and passed unanimously.
Ms. Murphy recused herself from the following project:
The next item on the agenda was BP230008 – 114 High Street, exterior renovations. Mr. John Hutchison was present for the application. Work consisted of replacement of windows, roofing and siding. The plan involved the removal the cedar shingle siding on the front of the house and the restoration of the existing Dutch lap siding under the cedar shingles. The shutters would also be replaced on the front of the house with working shutters. He proposed to keep all the window frames, replacing the windows with inserts by Anderson. The plan involved replacing a window on the third floor with a smaller sash window. Mr. Hutchison proposed to replace the roofing on the porch with new standing seam and increase the pitch of the roof. The landing and roof on the back of the house would be removed and a new wood landing to be installed. The dormer windows would be replaced with half round sashes. The three (3) dormer side of the house, some windows would be appropriately relocated, and all window inserts would be replaced. Chimney would be removed.
Mr. Holman made a motion to approve BP230008 – 114 High Street, exterior renovations, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Ms. Brown and passed. Ms. Murphy recused.
Ms. Murphy rejoined the Commission.
Mr. Holman made a motion to reopen BP230052, since the application was present. The motion was seconded by Ms. Hollomon and passed unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was BP230052 – 412 High Street, roof and siding replacement. Mr. Gregory Dominick was present for the application. Work consisted of roof replacement and removal of asbestos siding. Mr. Dominick stated that the owner had amended his plan for the roof from seam metal on the front and asphalt shingles for the rest of the house to placing standing seam metal on the front porch and the rest of the house in 30-year asphalt shingles. The plan was to remove the asbestos siding and replace with cement Hardie board siding. Ms. Smith suggested finding out if the original siding was under the asbestos siding and see if it could be restored.
Ms. Hollomon made a motion to approve BP230052 – standing seam metal roof for porch, asphalt shingle for rest of roof, demo of asbestos siding. Owner to return for statement of wood siding condition and proposal of siding replacement or repair. Recommendation from Commission for wood siding at least on front elevation, full structure preferred. The motion was seconded by Ms. Murphy and passed unanimously.
Ms. Murphy brought up an issue about an email that was sent to Commissioners that it did not have anything to do with the proposal brought before them but on an entirely different topic.
There being no further business, Mr. Holman moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:15 p.m., was seconded by Ms. Holloman and passed unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by:
Lynda Thomas, Town Clerk Vicky Smith, Chair