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2012.02.27 Northampton Historical Commission Meeting Notice DATE: Monday, February 27, 2012 TIME: 5:30 PM PLACE: City Hall Hearing Room 18, 210 Main Street For questions contact: Sarah LaValley, staff: slavalley@northamptonma.gov, or David Drake, Chairman: davidd321@yahoo.com Agenda 1.Public Comments 2.Approval of Minutes a.November 21, 2011 3.Election of Chair and Vice-Chair 4.Hopkins House Update 5.State Hospital Memorial Bench 6.Section 106 Review, Route 9 Transit Signal Priority System Installation 7.Ordinance Referred by Council – “Adaptive Reuse of Historical, Educational, and Religious Buildings” 8.Local Historic District Expansion Update 9.Continued discussion of Addition of Partial Demolitions to Demolition Ordinance 10.2011 Recap, Planning Goals for 2012 11.Commission Projects Update 12.Review of Mail 13.Other business not foreseen when agenda was prepared Adjourn 14. Northampton Historical Commission Minutes DATE: Monday, February 27, 2012 TIME: 5:30 PM PLACE: City Hall Hearing Room 18, 210 Main Street Members Present: David Drake, Barbara Blumenthal, Bruce Kriviskey, Craig Della Penna, Dylan Gaffney Staff Present: Sarah LaValley Chairman Drake opened the meeting at 5:30 PM. Public Comments Fred Zimnoch asked if a Form B was prepared for the former Shaw’s Motel as part of the historic inventory project. Sarah will follow-up. Fred stated that a forum is being planned to discuss the property. Craig volunteered to attend. Steve Strimer raised the possibility of a potential National Register district on South/Old South streets. Approval of Minutes a.November 21, 2011. Ms. Blumenthal moved to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gaffney, and carried unanimously. Election of Chair and Vice Chair Ms. Blumenthal nominated Mr. Drake to serve as Chair, seconded by Mr. Krviskey. With no additional nominations or discussion, the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Kriviskey nominated Ms. Blumenthal to serve as Vice Cjair, seconded by Mr. Gaffney. With no additional nominations or discussion, the motion carried unanimously. Local Historic District Expansion Update Wayne Feiden provided a background on the timeline and process for the district expansion. The Local Historic District Commission will vote on the draft expansion report on March 1, then distribute for comments by other boards and committees and MassHistoric for a 60-day comment period. After that, the report will be referred to City Council, likely for a first reading in June. Wayne stated that the current Clarke School developer is in favor of the expansion, though Clarke has some concerns about future development potential if a different developer is needed. The process is moving slowly to engage the public and build consensus prior to a Council vote. Janet Gross, Round Hill, asked about buildings to the rear of Round Hill Road. Wayne replied that the plan for the district expansion is consistent with the current district, which also only extends one property deep from street level. The Commission discussed the permitting needed for development of the Clarke School. Chairman Drake asked whether placement of Historic Preservation Restrictions on some of the Clarke buildings is planned instead of the expansion. Wayne replied that the buildings could have both HPR and be part of a district. Mr. Kriviskey added that if a developer plans to request historic tax credits they will be held to a very strict standard. Ordinance Referred by Council – “Adaptive Reuse of Historical, Educational, and Religious Buildings” Wayne Feiden provided an overview of the proposed Ordinance, which would expand the range of uses allowed in pre-1940 buildings that were used for at least 20 continuous years for educational or religious purposes, were used within the past ten years, and are no longer used for those purposes. It would create additional flexibility to encourage reuse of the existing structures by allowing more uses, and removing prohibitions on first floor residential in commercial zones. Chairman Drake asked whether the Ordinance would reduce the authority of the local Historic District Commission or the Historical Commission. Wayne replied that it would not, it is a citywide Ordinance that would apply to all vacant institutional buildings, and zoning and historic districts are separate. Chairman Drake noted that there is some overlap with the proposed Ordinance and the proposed historic district expansion to Round Hill. Mr. Kriviskey suggested that the 1940 date is arbitrary, and that flexibility to include other structures should be added, to include those listed on or eligible for listing on the National Register. Ms. Blumenthal expressed her support for that addition, and moved to recommend approval of the proposed ordinance with substantive changes, to include structures built prior to 1940, or those listed on or determined eligible for listing on, the National Register of Historic Places. Seconded by Mr. Gaffney. The motion carried unanimously. Hopkins House Update Steve Strimer and Tris Metcalfe discussed the Hopkins House, which was subject to a demolition delay that has now expired. 2 Steve stated that the building must be moved by May 31. Plans are underway to say goodbye to the house in April during the Erastus Hopkins birthday celebration. The Commission discussed Northampton as an Underground Railroad Resource, possibilities for moving the buildings, and ideas for a farewell. Mr. Gaffney moved to declare April 7 2012 Erastus Hopkins Day in Northampton, seconded by Mr. Della Penna. The motion carried unanimously. The Commission discussed photo documentation of the house, which is not required by the Ordinance, but all agreed should be done before it is demolished. Continued discussion of Addition of Partial Demolitions to Demolition Ordinance The Commission discussed the possibility of including partial demolitions within the umbrella of the demolition review ordinance. Commissioners noted the need to comply with state law, the need to work with the building commissioner and eliminate unnecessary discretion, and the difficulty of ensuring the change will not create a de facto citywide local historic district as issues. Ms. LaValley will distribute the report on other community’s bylaws and ordinances prior to the next meeting. Section 106 Review, Route 9 Transit Signal Priority System The Commission reviewed the letter from MassDOT regarding the signal installation, noting that plans or photos were not included. Ms. Blumenthal suggested that new signals would improve the look of the area if painted black. Mr. Kriviskey moved that the NHC provide comment that the Commission agrees with the concept of signal improvements, but requests that signals be designed to be historically appropriate, painted black to be sensitive and less intrusive to the historic streetscape. Seconded by Mr. Della Penna. The motion carried unanimously. State Hospital Memorial Bench The Commission looked at photos of the bench taken by Ms. Blumenthal. The bench has severely deteriorated since it was first installed. Ms. Blumenthal will investigate whether Smith Vocational can remove the wood and add granite blocks in its place for seating. 2011 Recap, Planning Goals for 2012 Commission Projects Update Review of Mail Other business not foreseen when agenda was prepared No discussion on these items Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 7:30 3