The Wethersfield Historic District Commission held a public meeting on January 27, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Conference Room of the Town Hall, 505 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield, Connecticut.
Chairperson Logan called the hearing to order at 7:30 p.m. and Clerk Wolf read the Legal Notice as it appeared in the Hartford Courant on January 16, 2004
APPLICATION NO. 3164-04. Michael Irace seeking to remove garage and replace with 10' X 20' garage style shed at 20 Rosedale Street.
Mr. Michael Irace, 20 Rosedale Street appeared before the Commission requesting permission to remove the 1 car 12' X 24' garage beside his home, which he explained was beyond repair. He did not use the garage to house a vehicle and this new building wouldn't either. He described it as having a wooden floor, Dutch lathe tongue and groove siding and asphalt shingles with a pull-up style overhead door that was difficult at best to open. Once the structure was removed he proposed to box in the perimeter and fill with processed stone to the level of the driveway; he estimated that this would be a depth of at least a foot. Then he would replace the garage with a Carefree 10' X 20' shed with double arch-top swing out doors in front, the same siding as the original which would be painted to match the house. The roof would have asphalt shingles also matching the house.
Commissioner Ovian mentioned that some people will cut swing out doors about 1/4 way up, in order to be able to still get into the building even when there was snow piled up in front of the doors.
Commissioner Miglus was concerned that what was being proposed was the taking down of a vernacular garage acting as a shed, and replacing it with just a shed which he felt would stand out and not fit into the other structures in the neighborhood. He explained that the two major differences between the garage and the proposed shed were that the shed had no overhangs, unlike the garage, and the roof of the garage was substantially steeper than the shed. He suggested that if the applicant had the means, perhaps the garage could be lifted up, and then the base put down and whatever repairs needed to be done to make it sound.
Mr. Irace said that he had looked at some options and been told by his contractor that the repair cost would far exceed that of the replacement cost. He produced a photograph which showed his garage and the garage next door, and illustrated the two structures were quite different.
Commissioner Miglus pointed out that although the styles are different the pitches of the rooftops are very similar while the shed is something completely stripped down, with no overhangs. He thought that if Carefree could offer something with overhangs, he would feel less uncomfortable about replacing a garage with a shed.
Mr. Irace asked how one defined a garage versus a shed. Commissioner Miglus answered that what he felt uncomfortable about was replacing a building that has some character with one that has none.
Mr. Irace asked if it would still be an issue if the overhangs were put on. Commissioner Miglus said that if there were overhangs and the pitch matched there would be no issue and added that while the existing garage does not have a lot of added on details, the new building will go in the same location as the old and right next to the neighbor's garage. The shallower roof he said tends to reflect more modern construction and the lack of overhangs will be very apparent in that location. He said that if the building were going somewhere else, or the roof matched, they would not be having this discussion.
Mr. Irace said that the garage was a safety hazard the way it was and he had to do something, and wondered if he removed the garage and did not replace it all, if it would still be a problem. Commissioner Miglus said that he could commiserate with the applicant's need for storage.
Chairperson Logan asked if the suggestion were that the shed might be more acceptable placed in a different location. Commissioner Miglus said that the end of the driveway was the ideal location for an outbuilding, but that the roof pitch and lack of overhangs were a concern to him.
Mr. Irace said that he had wanted to hear what the Commission's concerns were and he could find out if roof pitches or other things could be altered.
Commissioner Garrey thought that the overhangs or lack of would be less of an issue for him, but that the roof pitch will certainly look more severe on the neighbors garage placed right next door to the new one and he thought it would be good to know if there were other options.
Commissioner Courchaine wondered if they were proposing that garages in certain locations all had to have a somewhat uniform look. He also wondered what the historic significance of this garage was that warrants the Commission telling the applicant to change the pitch of the one he proposes.
Commissioner Ovian said that while all the Commissioners may not share Commissioner Miglus' concerns, he felt that the building itself did not have to have historic significance if it contributes to the overall look of a neighborhood. He said that the Hubbard style of garage is a distinctive option of the homes and because this home is in the heart of the Hubbard neighborhood and right next to what appears to be another Hubbard garage, that it was worth preserving the lines if not the entire building. Addressing the issue of the building not being salvageable on its own, he said that as a matter of record he would be uncomfortable taking any one contractors opinion of whether it would be cheaper to repair it or buy a new one, adding that any particular individual could have set biases toward older constructions or new. He also said that if the applicant were not interested in saving the building even if it were to cost more to replace than to repair it, then the Commission should know that.
Mr. Irace said that he would be more interested in replacing the garage rather than saving it.
Mr. Cook mentioned that the Historic District Handbook suggests that the roofline of the garage match that of the home.
There being no one else who wished to speak in favor or against this application, this portion of the hearing was declared closed.
APPLICATION NO. 3165-04. Jay Amoruso seeking to install fences at 30 Main Street.
Mr. Jay Amoruso, 30 Main Street appeared before the Commission and indicated on a plot plan of his property where he wished to erect a split rail fence from the curb to the rear southern property line. He said that the property is already fenced on the opposite side and across the rear with split rail, and he wished it to be neatly boxed on 3 sides by split rail fence. In addition he wanted to erect 15' of 6' tongue and groove board fence with rounded cap rail painted to match the house and perpendicular to the house beginning behind the bay window on the same side as the new split rail fence but not all the way across the property because there is another 13' from the end of the fence to the property line and a 40' pine tree. He added that the split rail fence on that side may not be a continuous run because of the existing trees on the property line.
Mr. Amoruso told the Commissioners he had a photograph of the home in 1920 which showed shutters on the windows and he wondered whether he would have to come back before the Commission if he wanted to put those original wooden shutters which had been removed years before, back onto the house.
The Commissioners agreed that he could come to speak to them informally and should bring the photograph when he did.
There being no one else who wished to speak in favor or against this application, this portion of the hearing was declared closed.
There being no other business to come before the Commission, the public hearing was declared closed.
APPLICATION NO. 3164- 04. Michael Irace seeking to remove garage and replace with 10' X 20' garage style shed at 20 Rosedale Street.
INFORMAL DISCUSSION
The Commissioners continued to discuss the concerns of the overhangs and the difference in roof pitches. While Commissioner Courchaine pointed out that Wethersfield was not a historic museum, Commissioner Ovian pointed out that their charge was to preserve an evolving riverfront community and thought that if they disregarded all properties as unimportant except for those that carried historical significance, they would soon be left with only a few buildings. All agreed that the applicant should be given the opportunity to find out if other options were available to him.
Upon motion by Commissioner Miglus, seconded by Commissioner Ovian and a poll of the Commission, it was voted that the subject application BE TABLED, with the Public Hearing portion left open, to give the applicant opportunity to contact the manufacturer and assess his options.
Aye: Miglus, Logan, Wolf, Garrey, Ovian
Abst: Toomey, Hart, Courchaine
APPLICATION NO. 3165-04. Jay Amoruso seeking to install fences at 30 Main Street.
Upon motion by Commissioner Garrey, seconded by Commissioner Wolf and a poll of the Commission, it was voted that the subject application, BE APPROVED as submitted.
Commissioner Garrey thought that continuing the split rail fence would be an appropriate look and the board fence although very nice, was set back enough to make minimal impact to the District.
Aye: Garrey, Wolf, Logan, Miglus, Ovian
Abst: Toomey, Hart, Courchaine
APPLICATION NO. 3158-03. RMA Home Services seeking to install vinyl siding at 323 Garden Street.
INFORMAL DISCUSSION
The Commissioners were concerned because the next meeting of February 10, 2004 was also the last meeting they could act upon this application and a winter storm could potentially cancel the meeting and the application would automatically be approved. Information had been promised that was not yet delivered. In addition there were vinyl windows that had been installed without permit and that application had not been filed yet either.
Upon motion by Commissioner Miglus, seconded by Commissioner Wolf and a poll of the Commission, it was voted that the subject application be DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
Aye: Miglus, Wolf, Ovian, Logan, Garrey
Abst: Hart, Toomey, Courchaine
APPLICATION NO. 3159-03. Brian Levesque seeking to install stairs and a deck in the rear at 119 State Street.
INFORMAL DISCUSSION
The next meeting was also the last meeting this application could be acted upon by the Commission without an automatic approval. However Mr. Cook had been in contact with the applicant who was still not clear as to what they proposed to build.
Upon motion by Commissioner Garrey, seconded by Commissioner Ovian and a poll of the Commission, it was voted that the subject application be DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. The Commissioners agreed that no fee would be charged for reapplication since the applicant could not stake out the deck due to the weather.
Aye: Miglus, Wolf, Ovian, Logan, Garrey
Abst: Hart, Toomey, Courchaine
APPLICATION NO. 3162-04. RMA Home Services seeking to install 6 (six) vinyl replacement windows at 18 Kenwood Road.
The subject application remained Tabled.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF: January 13, 2004
Upon Motion by Commissioner Wolf, seconded by Commissioner Ovian, and a poll of the Commission, it was voted that the above minutes BE APPROVED as submitted.
Aye: Logan, Wolf, Garrey, Miglus, Ovian
Abst: Toomey, Courchaine, Hart
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Cook mentioned that although the Commission had stated as a stipulation in their approval of the plans for the Stillman Building that there would be no chain link fence on the property line, the Parks and Recreation Department still feels it is necessary, and so there will be more about that in the future. Chairperson Logan thought more injuries would result as a result of running into the fence than would be prevented by its presence. Commissioner Garrey commented that every time there is a game in that field the parking lot is loaded and it has never been a problem before. He couldn't help but question why it would be an issue now.
Mr. Cook wanted to know what direction to go in with regard to the fence. The Commissioners unanimously agreed- NO FENCE!
Commissioner Ovian passed out copies of an article on the sale of signs for historic buildings in the Historic District of Glastonbury. The Commissioners commented on the style of the oval sign and its cost, and compared it to the one which had been suggested by Anne Kuckro.
Commissioner Wolf mentioned that she had spoken to someone at the high school about the possibility of the signs for Wethersfield's historic buildings being made in shop class. She had not heard back yet.
Commissioner Garrey mentioned that he had brought this issue up with the former Town Planner, Ray Carpentino the fact that many other towns require building permits for windows. He thought it would solve a lot of potential problems in the District if this was a town wide requirement. The Commissioners discussed this.
Mr. Cook mentioned that Mr. Buck wants to make his barn on the corner of Hartford Avenue and Jordan Lane into an art academy. He also mentioned that he has been installing windows. It was discussed that he had been approved for windows quite some time ago but that he can only afford a window every so often and whenever he can, he buys it and then installs it.
Mr. Cook then mentioned that the new owners of the Grange Hall want to upgrade their electric service and were seeking approval to put an electric transformer in front of their building. They had been requested to put it in the rear out of sight, but they said that they didn't want it there because they wanted to leave that area open for a coffee shop they were going to open. But they hadn't been approved for a coffee shop, and said that they wanted to get approval for the transformer first, and then come in about the coffee shop. This sparked a lot of discussion and speculation as to what various Commissioners had heard about what the new owners were really planning to do.
Mr. Cook mentioned that an architect had been commissioned to do a study as to the feasibility of making the Comstock Ferry buildings into artisan shops.
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted
TOWN OF WETHERSFIELD
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
Jennifer Wolf
Clerk