01/06/2022 Historic District Commission Minutes

Meeting date: 
Thursday, January 6, 2022

 

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

 

Town of Simsbury, Connecticut

 

REGULAR MEETING-Thursday, January 6, 2022

 

Zoom Meeting / Simsbury Community Television

 

I. CALL TO ORDER

 

The Regular Meeting of the Historic District Commission was called to order at 7:02 P.M. via Zoom Meeting.

 

II. ROLL CALL

 

Commission members present were: Chad Alfeld, Heather Goetz, and Mark Nyquist.

 

Commission members absent were: Patty Hyyppa, Dianne Mead, and Scott Wilson.
 

Also present were Laura Barkowski, Code Compliance Officer; and other interested parties.

 

Chad Alfeld was appointed as a regular member for today’s meeting.

 

III. APPLICATIONS

 

1. PUBLIC HEARING

 

a) Application #21-09 of Robert McCusker, Owner for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install 27 rooftop solar panels on the roof of home located at 45 East Weatogue Street (Assessor’s Map H14, Block 108 Lot 008). Zone R-40.

  • Mr. McCusker commented on how he was very excited to do his part in solar energy.
  • Ms. Goetz inquired if some of the solar panels would be south-facing and the others on the back of the house.
  • Mr. McCusker responded that solar panels are primarily south-facing, and the one solar panel on the lower portion is facing west.
  • Mr. Nyquist commented that he saw Mr. McCusker’s property on Google Maps and said that the solar panels would be highly visible to anyone traveling north on East Weatogue Street.
  • Ms. Goetz inquired to Mr. McCusker if he has had any solar panel studies done to see if there are any other possible locations to position the panels so they would not be seen from the street.
  • Mr. McCusker responded that the only other place would be the barn, but it is complicated for the solar panel company.
  • Mr. Alfeld commented that the solar panels are so visible and out of character for the historic district and he would be open to further discussion for another location other than the south-facing portion.
  • Ms. Goetz inquired to Mr. McCusker how much energy could he get from the solar panels on the west-side.
  • Mr. McCusker responded that if he only had that one panel on the west-side that it would not generate enough electricity, and the barn is far away from the house.
  • Mr. Nyquist commented that although solar panels can be a good thing, it is not for every location, and this is one of them. The Historic District Commission’s job is to make the residents happy but also to preserve the historical areas and the homes’ architecture.

 

2. DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION

 

a) Application #21-09 of Robert McCusker, Owner for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install 27 rooftop solar panels on the roof of home located at 45 East Weatogue Street (Assessor’s Map H14, Block 108 Lot 008). Zone R-40.

 

  • Ms. Goetz commented that they had another application for solar panels that they denied for the same reason. The way solar panels currently look makes it difficult for the Historic District Commission to approve. They have a responsibility to preserve different homes from different time periods and she does not think the district is ready for solar panels to be visible from the road.
  • Mr. Alfeld agreed, despite being very supportive of solar and green energy.

 

            MOTION: Ms. Goetz made a motion to approve Application #21-09 of Robert McCusker, Owner for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install 27 rooftop solar panels on the roof of home located at 45 East Weatogue Street (Assessor’s Map H14, Block 108 Lot 008). Zone R-40. The motion was not seconded. The motion was voted against unanimously.

 

IV. GENERAL COMMISSION BUSINESS

 

1. Election of Officers

 No other members were present. Election of officers will occur at the Historic District Commission Regular Meeting, Thursday, February 3, 2022, at 7:00 P.M.

 

V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of the December 2, 2021Regular Meeting

 

Mr. Alfeld made a correction that he was not present and should be removed from the “Commissioners who were present,” list.

 

            MOTION: Ms. Goetz made a motion to approve the minutes as amended from the December 2, 2021 Regular Meeting. Mr. Nyquist seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

VI. ADJOURNMENT

 

Ms. Alfeld made a motion for adjournment. Mr. Nyquist seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:20 P.M.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Amanda Blaze

Commission Clerk