2016.06.27 Staff Report
To: Historical Commission
From: Sarah LaValley
Re: June 27 2016 Historical Commission Staff Report
Please note that staff recommendations are based on the paper record. Applicants may present
other information that could be persuasive.
5:30 PM, Public Hearing: Request for a Local Historic District Certificate of
Appropriateness pursuant to Section 195 of the Northampton Code for building
renovation. Work to include window replacement, signage, accessible entrance
and side porch repairs and upgrades. Trustees of Smith College, 146 Elm Street,
Parcel 31B-242.
Application Overview:
The application proposes renovation of an existing building to allow for use as faculty offices.
Replacement windows with matching muntin patterns, relaingment of the first floor porch, and
accessibility, and a small wooden sign are all proposed.
Recommendation:
All work appears to meet applicable design standards. If the Commission agrees that the work
will be compatible with preservation of the Local Historic District, a Certificate of
Appropriateness, with any required conditions to ensure compatibility, can be issued.
5:40 PM, Public Hearing: Request for a Local Historic District Certificate of
Appropriateness pursuant to Section 195 of the Northampton Code for new
entranceway signage. Work to include installation of new bronze lettering on an
existing wall. Trustees of Smith College, 20 Elm Street, Parcel 31D-011.
Application Overview:
The application proposes installation of bronze ‘Smith College’ lettering on the entranceway wall
that was previously approved by the Commission as part of a larger landscaping project.
Recommendation:
The materials of the work proposed meet the performance standards for materials. The
guidelines limit signage to 12 square feet for non residential buildings; one sign with letters
painted on wood. The carved signage also seems to be compatible with the district.
If the Commission agrees that the work will be compatible with preservation of the Local
Historic District, a Certificate of Appropriateness, with any required conditions to ensure
compatibility, can be issued.
5:50 PM, Public Hearing: Request for a Local Historic District Certificate of
Appropriateness pursuant to Section 195 of the Northampton Code for building
conversion. Work to include window relocation and entrance reconfiguration.
Trustees of Smith College, 1 Henshaw Avenue, Parcel 31B-169.
Application Overview:
The application proposes conversion of a student residence building into a center for media
production. Work includes installation of painted panels over existing windows, installation of a
small wooden sign, and accessibility work.
Recommendation:
The design standards specify that ‘the blocking up of original openings (is) not allowed”
The Commission should discuss details of the window closure with the applicant to ensure that
the work visible from public ways retain the original appearance. Other work appears to meet
applicable standards. If the Commission agrees that the work will be compatible with
preservation of the Local Historic District, a Certificate of Appropriateness, with any required
conditions to ensure compatibility, can be issued.
6:00 PM, Continuation: Request for a Local Historic District Certificate of
Appropriateness pursuant to Section 195 of the Northampton Code. Work to
include demolition of the Galbraith Center, installation of parking area and
related landscaping and site work; renovation of Gawith Hall including and
rebuilding of the ‘kitchen addition,’ and a new addition to the structure.
1924LLC, 46 and 52 Round Hill Road, Parcels 31B-004 &006.
Application Overview:
The applicant proposes to demolish the 1965 Galbraith Center (determined by the National Park
Service not to be a certified historic structure for purposes of rehabilitation, creation of a
parking area in the former gymnasium location, renovation of Gawith, partial demolition and
rebuilding of a kitchen addition, and a new addition to Gawith. The work also requires review
by the National Park service as part of the Historic Tax Credit program, and site plan approval
from the planning board, which was granted on June 9. This work will also need Historical
Commission approval in a separate agenda item pursuant to the Preservation Restriction held
by the City, as a major alteration.
At the May 23 hearing, the Historical Commission voted to approve demolition of the Galbraith
Center and , finding that both of these elements comply with the Ordinance and Design
Standards. The Commission continued the hearing to allow the Planning Board, which has
detailed site plan review standards for landscaping, to determine whether the proposal included
sufficient landscaping and screening.
The Planning Board, in granting site plan approval, found that “the requested use protects
adjoining premises against seriously detrimental uses.…The Board evaluated the changes to the
site including a new stormwater treatment system for the new parking lot and landscape buffers
to be located where the former gym/pool building is located as well as a stone wall to block the
view of the parking from properties on the east side of the street. Relocation of the principal
access will create even greater separation of the activities from the immediate abutter to the
south of the site.”
The Board also included several conditions to ensure that lighting from the project will be
compatible with neighboring uses, including requirements an as-built plan demonstrating
compliance with brightness standards, that exterior building lights and parking lot lights on the
west side of the road be timed to go off at 9:00 PM, and that existing post lamps be disconnected
from power
Recommendation:
The Commission should review the parking lot and its design components for compliance with
the Elm Street Historic District Design Standards, including standards for: landscaping,
lighting, and parking . The Commission has already determined compliance with the standards
for demolition and new construction.
Parking:
The design guidelines note that enlarging areas for parking usually results in reduced green
space. The parking area will be created in the area previously taken up by Galbraith, so the
amount of greenspace will be approximately the same. The guidelines include provisions that
Landscpaing should be integrated to reduce overall visual impact of the parking surface
area, and especially to shield the view of stored vehicles from the street.
Parked vehicles dominating the view of the structure from the public way are
discouraged
Landscaping and walls are included in design plans
Landscaping:
The guidelines encourage the preservation of mature trees and suggests preference for native
trees plants and flowers, and indicate that careful consideration of the role of vegetation in
screening should be given if vegetation is proposed for removal.
The plans include planting of native species in excess of current conditions, and the Planning
Board’s permit requires that a certified arborist be involved in tree protection. Additionally,
a
berm with evergreen trees was extended along the northern edge of the property to create a
more significant screen than originally submitted.
Lighting:
The guidelines include several standards (pages 21 and 22). Many of these are also addressed in
site plan review criteria.
If the Commission determines that the work will be compatible with preservation of the Local
Historic District, a Certificate of Appropriateness, with any required conditions, can be issued.