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2012.08.27 Northampton Historical Commission Meeting Notice DATE: Monday, August 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.April 30, 2012 3.Review of Significance for Community Preservation Act application - Northampton State Hospital Fountain 4.Plans for State Hospital Artifact 5.Section 106 Reviews a.I-91 Bridge Replacement b.Pleasant and Conz Street Intersection Improvement c.Soldier On Veterans Housing, VAMC d.Roundabout Construction, North King and Hatfield Streets 6.Continued discussion of Addition of Partial Demolitions to Demolition Ordinance 7.Historical Commission/Local Historic District Commission Staffing and Composition 8.Review of Mail 9.Other business not foreseen when agenda was prepared Adjourn 10. Northampton Historical Commission Minutes DATE: Monday, August 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 called the meeting to Order at 5:30 PM. Public Comments None Approval of Minutes a.April 30, 2012. Ms. Blumenthal moved to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gaffney, and carried unanimously. Other business not foreseen when agenda was prepared The Commission discussed a request to support an application for Historic Rehabilitation Tax credits at the Clarke School property. Demetrios Panteleakis, Opal Real Estate, provided an overview of the project. Interior work will be done to retrofit the buildings, but the outside of the structures will not be disturbed. Tax credit applications are being done for each property separately, the first is for Rogers and Hubbard Halls. Mr. Kriviskey asked whether National Register listing will be sought for the entire campus, or for individual buildings. Mr. Panteleakis replied that a campus-wide nomination, although there are some buildings that are non-contributing, would be preferred, but the details have not yet been worked out. Janet Gross, Round Hill Road, noted that there are 42 residential units planned for Rogers/Hubbard and asked about parking. Mr. Panteleakis stated that will be discussed during the planning board permit process. Chairman Drake noted that this process is separate from pursuance of a Local Historic District. Mr. Kriviskey moved that the Historical Commission provide a letter of support for the tax credit application. Seconded by Ms. Blumenthal, the motion carried unanimously. Historical Commission/Local Historic District Commission Staffing and Composition Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Development, stated that several staff positions have been lost over the past few years, and that combining the boards would allow the City to maximize resources. Mayor Higgins had not wanted to either push or hinder any effort to combine, so there are several vacancies in both boards that have not been filled. Chairman Drake suggested that combining the boards seems to be a necessity to provide adequate staffing. Mr. Feiden stated that the Local Historic District would become part of the Historical Commission, with 4 additional members added. Mr. Krviskey, a member of both Committees, pointed out that the ‘Local Historic District Committee’ is just Elm Street at this point, but this will change if new local historic districts are added. Mr. Feiden added that the workload for staff under the existing setup would not be possible if new districts are created. Marisa Labozzetta, Chair of the Elm Street LHD Committee, stated that she would like some delineation between the LHD and Historical Commission, since some communities with combined Committees have noted that the duties of the Historical Commission suffer. The Committee discussed specifics, including meeting scheduling, design guidelines, and demolition review. Chairman Drake stated that the Historical Commission would do what is needed to facilitate a combination, but somewhat reluctantly. Mr. Della Penna suggested that this could be a positive change to re-energize both Committees. Mr. Kriviskey moved that staff prepare a report detailing implications for membership, ordinance changes, and the City Council approval process. Seconded by Mr. Della Penna, the motion carried 4-1. Review of Significance for Community Preservation Act application - Northampton State Hospital Fountain Mr. Gaffney moved to find the fountain significant. Seconded by Mr. Kriviskey, the motion carried unanimously. Section 106 Reviews 2 a. I-91 Bridge Replacement b.Pleasant and Conz Street Intersection Improvement c.Soldier On Veterans Housing, VAMC d.Roundabout Construction, North King and Hatfield Streets Mr. Kriviskey suggested that it appears that none of the projects will disturb historic resources, and moved that the Commission provide response letters indicating this decision, with the addition to the Soldier on letter that the Commission requests that any visual impacts to Look Park be minimized. Seconded by Mr. Gaffney, the motion carried unanimously. Plans for State Hospital Artifacts Ms. LaValley stated that the cupola is being stored in the leachate facility at the landfill, where it is in the way of the decommissioning process and must be moved. The Commission suggested that it be offered to Historic Northampton and other groups, potentially to remain at the state hospital, that staff should inquire of MassHistoric about suggestions, and should also look into temporary storage. Continued discussion of Addition of Partial Demolitions to Demolition Ordinance No discussion. Review of Mail None Other business not foreseen when agenda was prepared John Skibiski stated that Elizabeth’s Rock, a well-known historic Connecticut River vantage point, is located near the proposed Hatfield Street Roundabout, and provided some background information. Mr. Kriviskey moved that the Section 106 letter suggest that this site should be provided a historical marker if appropriate. Seconded by Ms. Blumenthal, the motion carried unanimously. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 7:29. 3