10/05/2023 Historic District Commission Minutes

Meeting date: 
Thursday, October 5, 2023

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
Town of Simsbury, Connecticut
Regular Meeting – Monday, October 5, 2023, at 7:00 P.M.
Main Meeting Room, Town Hall
933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070

I. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Goetz called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

II. ROLL CALL

Present: Assistant Town Planner, Brittany MacGilpin; Code Compliance Officer, Joseph Hollis; Chair Heather Goetz; Commission Members: Elaine Lang, Erin Leavitt-Smith, and Ieke Scully.

Absent: Vice Chair, Dianne Mead; Commission Members: Chad Alfeld, Patricia Hyyppa, and Mark Nyquist.

1. Appointment of Alternates

Commissioner Scully was appointed as a regular member for tonight’s meeting.

III. APPLICATIONS

APPLICATION #23-03 Robert Pomeroy, Owner/Applicant for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace 7 windows with wood windows and replace the roof with fiberglass asphalt shingles on the property located at 16 East Weatogue Street (Assessor’s Map H14, Block 109, Lot 015), Zone R-40.

Mr. Pomeroy stated that:
• Chris Arnold will be redoing the current asphalt roof and wants to preserve the way it looks and reinforce the corners and beaming.
• The front window is metal clad, and another window is missing, so for uniformity he wants to replace all the windows with single-paned wood windows.

MOTION: Commissioner Leavitt-Smith made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Lang, to close the public hearing for APPLICATION #23-03 Robert Pomeroy, Owner/Applicant for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace 7 windows with wood windows and replace the roof with fiberglass asphalt shingles on the property located at 16 East Weatogue Street (Assessor’s Map H14, Block 109, Lot 015), zone R-40. The motion carried unanimously. (4-0-0).

The Board agreed on the necessity and manner of renovations.

MOTION: Chair Goetz made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Lang, to approve APPLICATION #23-03 Robert Pomeroy, Owner/Applicant for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace 7 windows with wood windows and replace the roof with fiberglass asphalt shingles on the property located at 16 East Weatogue Street (Assessor’s Map H14, Block 109, Lot 015), zone R-40 as outlined in the draft motion provided by Staff. The motion carried unanimously. (4-0-0).

IV. GENERAL COMMISSION BUSINESS

Certificate of Appropriateness Expiration Discussion

Chair Goetz stated:
• The current Certificate of Appropriateness expires after one year.
• There is no standard for the State Code.
• Town Staff favors a longer period of duration.
• With supply shortages one year is very restrictive.

Commissioner Lang stated:
• In the previous meeting 3-5 years was the duration the Board members were suggesting.
• While building there are unexpected issues that need to be addressed, compromising precedence, and extending the plan.

MOTION: Chair Goetz made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Leavitt-Smith, to replace the existing provision of one year, and to amend the handbook to recommend a five-year period, with one extension approved by the Commission for an additional five years, on applications that are approved by the Board. The motion carried unanimously. (4-0-0).

V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

August 7, 2023, Special Meeting

MOTION: Commissioner Lang made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Leavitt-Smith to accept the Minutes of the August 1, 2023, Special Meeting as written. The motion carried unanimously. (4-0-0).

VI. ADJOURNMENT

MOTION: Chair Goetz made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Leavitt-Smith, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously. (4-0-0).

Chair Goetz adjourned the meeting at 7:18 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Amanda Blaze
Commission Clerk