CBA minutes August 3, 2009
Central Business Architecture Committee
7:00 PM, Monday August 3, 2009 Minutes
City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street
Members present: Barry Steeves, Aelan Tierney, Bruce Kriviskey, and Bob Walker
Staff present: Wayne Feiden
Chairman Bruce Kriviskey opened the meeting at 7:05 PM and opened the public hearing on a
request by Joseph Blumenthal/J-Barc, Incl to construct an egress and storage addition on the rear
of 21, 23, 25 and 27 Pleasant Street, Northampton, Map IDs 32C-20 and 21. He noted that the
proper public notice was advertised, posted, and mailed.
Jonathan Wright of Wright Builders, Joe Blumenthal, Barbara Blumenthal and Peter Wells of
Berkshire Design presented the application.
James Thompson of the 29 Pleasant Street condo association, said he and the association
supported many aspects of the project, including the design of the mesh and windows, but had
concerns about how hardiplank siding fit with a brick building.
Bob Walker said that he thought hardiplank was appropriate given that the addition is an
accessory structure and not trying to match the historic brick building.
There was no other public comment.
Upon motion by Barry Steeves and second by Aelan Tierney, the committee voted unanimously
to close the public hearing.
Upon motion by Bob Walker and second by Barry Steeves, the committee voted unanimously (4-
0-0) to issue the requested permit with the condition that “Prior to issuance of a building permit,
the applicant must submit to the Office of Planning and Development a revised plan 2.1 showing
revision date of August 3, 2009 and showing final configuration of the glass windows and wire
mesh and specs of precise materials for wire mesh as presented before the CBAC.”
At 8:05 PM, upon motion by Aelan Tierney and second by Bob Walker, the committee voted
unanimously to adjourn.
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NORTHAMPTON PUBLIC MEETING/ Legal Ad /Agenda
FOR Monday Aug 3, 2009
CENTRAL BUSINESS ARCHITECTURE COMMITTEE will hold a public hearing in
Council Chambers, Puchalski Municipal Building, 212 Main Street, Northampton, MA:
7:00 P.M. Request by Joseph Blumenthal /J -BARC, Inc. for Central Business Architecture
Review to construct an egress and storage addition on the rear of 21, 23, 25 & 27 Pleasant St.,
Northampton, Map IDs 32C -20 & 21.
Publish: July 20 and July 27, 2009
Bill: Office of Planning & Development
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The applicant seeks to add a storage space and secondary egress to the rear of a theme commercial building.
This is visible from Kirkland Alley, which some might argue is not a public street. In any case, it is a way on which
the public has the right to pass.
There are several applicable guidelines that should be considered in the review. For the most part guidelines or for
facades facing major streets and not alleys. Therefore the Committee may wish to provide some latitude in
interpretation of these relative to this minor project in the alley.
Guideline S: Roofs
• Traditional roof features of historic buildings should be preserved where visible. These include roof style and
pitch, historically authentic materials in good repair, overhang proportions and details, and corbelled masonry or
pressed metal cornices.
• Roofs for new theme buildings should not usually be visible from streets, and should normally be screened by
raised parapet walls with decorative cornices. Mansard roofs which encompass the top floor may be used for theme
buildings of at least 3 stories.
Guideline 9: User Floor Windows for Theme Buildings
New window openings on a given floor should be no taller or wider than those on the floor below.
-The actual windows on the storage portion fo the building are much smaller than those above. The
detailing to "mimic" the scale of the window therefore becomes more important.
Guideline 10: Facade Materials
• Historic building materials should be preserved when present. Such materials include wood, stone, brick, cast
stone, cast iron, and pressed metal.
- -The Board should consider whether or not this would be less applicable to the rear of a
building.
• For theme and landmark buildings, wall surfaces which are visible from streets should be predominantly brick
and/or traditional varieties of stone. Ornamental metal detailing may be used if historically appropriate. Facsimile
materials which replicate an appropriate historic appearance of brick, stone, or metal are also acceptable. Stucco is
an acceptable surface for walls not fronting on a street.
• For all construction, materials should be combined in historically appropriate combinations.
- -Board should consider if "hardie plank" and chain link are appropriate combinations.
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STAFF REPORT
TO:
CBAC
FROM:
Carolyn Misch
APPROVED: Wayne Feiden
RE:
August 3, 2009 CBAC Meeting
DATE:
July 23, 2009
1.
CBAC Review:
Addition to rear of building
Project Address:
21 -27 Pleasant St.
Zoning
Central Business
Adjacent Uses:
Mixed commercial /residential
The applicant seeks to add a storage space and secondary egress to the rear of a theme commercial building.
This is visible from Kirkland Alley, which some might argue is not a public street. In any case, it is a way on which
the public has the right to pass.
There are several applicable guidelines that should be considered in the review. For the most part guidelines or for
facades facing major streets and not alleys. Therefore the Committee may wish to provide some latitude in
interpretation of these relative to this minor project in the alley.
Guideline S: Roofs
• Traditional roof features of historic buildings should be preserved where visible. These include roof style and
pitch, historically authentic materials in good repair, overhang proportions and details, and corbelled masonry or
pressed metal cornices.
• Roofs for new theme buildings should not usually be visible from streets, and should normally be screened by
raised parapet walls with decorative cornices. Mansard roofs which encompass the top floor may be used for theme
buildings of at least 3 stories.
Guideline 9: User Floor Windows for Theme Buildings
New window openings on a given floor should be no taller or wider than those on the floor below.
-The actual windows on the storage portion fo the building are much smaller than those above. The
detailing to "mimic" the scale of the window therefore becomes more important.
Guideline 10: Facade Materials
• Historic building materials should be preserved when present. Such materials include wood, stone, brick, cast
stone, cast iron, and pressed metal.
- -The Board should consider whether or not this would be less applicable to the rear of a
building.
• For theme and landmark buildings, wall surfaces which are visible from streets should be predominantly brick
and/or traditional varieties of stone. Ornamental metal detailing may be used if historically appropriate. Facsimile
materials which replicate an appropriate historic appearance of brick, stone, or metal are also acceptable. Stucco is
an acceptable surface for walls not fronting on a street.
• For all construction, materials should be combined in historically appropriate combinations.
- -Board should consider if "hardie plank" and chain link are appropriate combinations.
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Guideline 13 Mechanical Equipment
• For historic buildings, fire escapes, window - mounted air conditioners, or other mechanical features should not be
installed in ways which irreversibly damage historic features or materials. On masonry buildings, mounting
hardware should be attached to mortar joints rather than to the masonry itself.
-- Board should confirm how the addition will be attached.
• Rooftop mechanical equipment should not be visible from street views.
NOTE: Planning Board voted to approve addition but voted to recommend to CBAC that alternatives to the chain
link enclosure be considered.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval with a condition that a material other than chain link be used for the egress secured
enclosure.
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