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WHC Final Minutes, November 7, 2009

Present 
Member:  Janet Jones, Norma Judson, Jane Loos, Geraldine Millham
Alternate: Bette DeVeuve, Chris Vezetinski

Absent
Member:  Sharon Connors, Jim Collins, one vacancy
Alternate:   Anne (Pete) Baker

Geraldine Millham (GM) Acting Chair called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall basement meeting area.  GM named Alternates Betty DeVeuve (BDV) and Christine Vezetinski (CV) as voting members, for a total of six votes.    Others in attendance included:

 Sal “Trey” Bianco                             2  Carter’s Way, WPT
 David Hobart                                   711 Drift Road, Westport
 Ed Jackson                                      1806 Main Road, WPT
 Chris Kinton                                     1993 Main Road, WPT
 Cat Reppert                                     1990 Main Road, WPT
 Betty Slade                                      2037 Main Road, WPT 

 A.   General Business.

1.   Minutes of October 5, 2009 Meeting.  Jane Loos (JL) explained that a draft was circulated by email.  GM noted a correction to the time of the meeting’s adjournment.  Janet Jones (JJ) moved and Bette DeVeuve (BDV) seconded a motion to approve the draft minutes as revised.  The motion was approved, unanimously.

2.   Treasurer’s Report. The meeting agreed to defer consideration of the report until next month.

3.   Correspondence.  

(a) Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS), letter to Planning Board concerning survey of sites potentially visually impacted by placement wind turbines off-shore – naming two sites on Horseneck Beach. GM suggested, and the meeting agreed, that this seemed to be in the mandate of other Town bodies.

(b)  1813-1815 Main Road.  GM summarized a letter received by the Building Inspector concerning the possible extension of the building permit for this property.  Given some of the comments concerning WHC included in the letter, the meeting agreed to consult with the Town Administrator before discussing this matter further.

(c)   GM informed that WHC had received a CD from MHC, which includes all the basic information about historical commission arrangements.  It will be in WHC files for those who wish to consult it.


(d)  2 Carter’s Way.  GM read to the meeting the letter sent by Jim Collins (CV) as a follow-up to the discussion on October 5, 2009  (Attachment 1)

4.  Administrative Matters:

(a)  GM named CV and herself as monitors for 21 Cape Bial Lane.

(b)  GM informed that she had received a call from the Town Accountant’s office to discuss a reduction of WHC’s budget, due to the budget shortfall facing the Town.  The meeting agreed that WHC should be prepared to reduce expenses in the same proportion as other Town departments.

5.    Application for a Certificate of Non-Applicability for 1933 Main Road.   Chris Kinton represented owner John Moriarty.  They would like to secure and repair the barn, especially the south part of the granite foundation and retaining wall.  This would entail bracing the barn, removing the granite blocks, putting in improved drainage, putting the blocks back as they were, repairing/replacing rotten sills, and reshingling that part of the exterior that is removed to work on the sills.  GM advised that a good photo should be taken of the existing walls, to provide the guide for putting them back.  Mr. Kinton confirmed that the method of rebuilding the wall would be dry, not parged.

6.  CV moved and BDV seconded a motion to approve a Certificate of Non-Applicability for repair of the granite foundation and retaining wall, sill repair and reshingling (like for like).   The motion was approved unanimously.   GM named CV and herself as monitors for this work.

6.  Preliminary Review for 1893 Main Road.   JL recused herself from the table, and informed that she in considering replacing the existing sky light on the south roof of the garage and adding another (both larger than the current skylight).  She explained that this would be as an alternative to building a green house.  The meeting advised her to look at using traditional skylight design, more like a window, rather than installing a velux model.  JL also informed that she is considering installing solar panels on this roof as well, noting that MGL 30.c advises historical commissions to take into consideration Massachusetts’ policy to encourage energy savings. 

 7.  Preliminary Review for 2 Carter’s Way.   Trey Bianco and his contractor, David Hobart, presented the history, as they understood it about how the house ended up looking like it does now.  They noted that the house was not built by the previous owners exactly as shown in the 1989 WHC-approved plans, identifying a number of window and door changes mainly on the south and east sides.   Building Permits were issued in 2001 and 2004 (with no WHC involvement) for some repairs and other work.   The expanded west patio, walkway and pergola were built,
also without WHC involvement.  The Biancos subsequently purchased the property and, in 2005, built the balcony off the second-floor master bedroom on the south side.    They did receive a building permit from the Town Building Department, again without WHC involvement.

8.  WHC discussed the various deviations from approved plans and the unapproved changes.  WHC reviewed/took votes on the changes in three packages – the house, the patio, walkway and pergola, and the new balcony.  JL moved and NKJ seconded a motion to approve all existing modifications to the house, JL moved and JJ seconded a motion to approve the patio, walkway and pergola with some changes to the pergola, and JL moved and NKJ seconded a motion to approve the balcony with some changes.  The votes in favor for all three motions were unanimous.  The following were vetted and approved, ex post facto, with some modifications:


(a) House Exterior
(i) South side
 –second floor gang of 3 windows instead of 2 as approved
 -second floor four-pane window positioned further east than approved
 -first floor gang of 4 windows instead of 3 as approved 
 -turret basement level southeast face added one window
 -first floor porch middle French doors changed to double bank of windows
 -first floor porch screened in
 -second floor off master bedroom, two middle windows changed to French doors, and balcony built into porch roof  -- accepted with the following modifications – porch post bases to be boxed in and all trim on balcony, windows and doors to be painted to match existing trim color on rest of house
(ii) East side
 - attic lunette window changed to 2 ganged rectangular windows

(b)  Other changes:
Pergola and walkway connected to the west end of the house accepted with the following changes --- peaked roof structure and weather vane to be removed, and roof structure replaced with flat open cross-pieces no higher than 12 inches above the plate
 
9.   Mr. Bianco presented his plans to expand the first floor south deck at the same grade, using the same materials, under a preliminary review.   WHC comments were generally favorable, and included a suggestion to use benches, instead of a railing on the east elevation of the patio.

10.   Mr. Bianco also informed that he plans to build a post and beam barn on the site.  He noted that a barn had been approved as part of the original Certificate of Appropriateness issued to the Sharps, but that he would locate it to a slightly different location and reduce the number of doorways.  The meeting suggested he look at typical barns of the area before completing his plans, including the types of materials used.

Adjournment.    The meeting adjourned at 9:06pm.  The next meeting will be at 7pm, Monday, December 7, 2009 at the Town Hall.


Drafted by Jane Loos, approved December 7, 2009 

Attachments:
1.   JC’s letter re 2 Carter’s Way

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