2024.07.29 Staff Report.pdf
To: Historical Commission
From: Sarah LaValley
Re: July 29 2024 Historical Commission Staff Report
5:30 PM. Exempt Project Presentation: Bus shelters within Elm Street right-of
way, Elm Street at Franklin Street
Overview:
The Office of Planning and Sustainability is working with Pioneer Valley Transit Authority to
install two bus shelters, one each for east and westbound routes at the intersection of Elm and
Franklin Streets. The work is exempt from local historic district permitting as projects within the City right-of-way, when undertaken by the City or its agents or designees, after consulting
with the Commission (but no permit or approval is required), but the Commission can review
the work and provide feedback.
5:40 PM, Public Hearing. Request for a Local Historic District Certificate of Appropriateness pursuant to Section 195 of the Northampton Code for parking
space creation. David Reckhow, St. John’s Episcopal Church. 48 Elm Street, Parcel 31D-101.
Overview:
The application proposes paving a 1,000 sf area in the front yard of St. John’s Episcopal Church
to be used for parking; primarily for the Manna Soup Kitchen program.
Recommendation:
The Commission should review the design standards, specifically those for parking, page 34.
Most older buildings were not designed with parking in mind, so the storage of today’s vehicles
may detract from historic districts. Providing off-street parking may be a significant
alteration to a property, thus applicants are encouraged to consider parking alternatives and
design options carefully. Enlarging areas for parking usually results in reduced green space. Front yards and front entry walkways shall not be converted to parking areas. Parked
vehicles dominating the view of the structure from the public way are discouraged. Landscaping should be integrated with parking areas to minimize the visual impact of the
parking surface area, and especially to shield the view of stored vehicles from the street. All
vehicle parking shall be on designated stabilized areas. Parking must also conform to the City
of Northampton’s zoning regulations.
If the Commission finds that the work does not meet the design standards and is inappropriate
for issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness, “it shall consider whether a certificate of
hardship should be issued. The Ordinance specifies that a hardship can be issued if “owing to
conditions especially affecting the building or structures involved, but not affecting the historic
district generally, failure to approve an application will involve a substantial hardship, financial
or otherwise, to the applicant and whether such application may be approved without
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substantial detriment to the public welfare and without substantial derogation from the intent
and purposes of the Historic District Ordinance.”
5:55 PM, Public Hearing. Request for a Local Historic District Certificate of
Appropriateness pursuant to Section 195 of the Northampton Code for
replacement of 65 windows. Shaul Perry/Sunwood Builders, 3 Elm Street, former
rectory building, Parcel 31D-103.
The application proposes replacement of 63 existing wood, single-pane double-hung windows,
and 2 wood, single-pane awning windows with 63 new wood, double-pane, aluminum-clad,
double-hung windows, and 2 new wood double-pane, aluminum-clad awning windows. The
application indicates that replacement is necessary due to the need for asbestos abatement for
adaptive reuse of the structure.
Recommendation:
The Design Standards specify that “Original or later windows, trim and features should be
retained and repaired except in cases when they are beyond repair. In such cases, replacement
must be based on physical, photographic, or documentary evidence.
The Standards also provide guidance for replacement windows for instances where repair is not
feasible. The Standards specify that “The complete replacement of all windows in a building in
which only a few are in disrepair will not be approved” and that “Divided light options (muntin
bars) should be limited to the following: - Authentic divided light or Simulated divided light with
spacer bar between insulating glass.” The proposed window replacements are simulated divided
light, with exterior spacer bars. A full window assessment was not provided, but the application
includes photographs of existing conditions. If the Commission agrees that the windows are not
able to be retained and repaired, and that work meets the standards and is appropriate for the
character of the District, a Certificate of Appropriateness could be issued. Windows not visible
from any public ways are not subject to the Ordinance, and the Commission should clearly
identify any exempt windows in the decision (if any).
If the Commission finds that a project is inappropriate (certificate is disapproved), it shall
consider whether a certificate of hardship should be issued. The Ordinance specifies that a
hardship can be issued if “owing to conditions especially affecting the building or structures
involved, but not affecting the historic district generally, failure to approve an application will
involve a substantial hardship, financial or otherwise, to the applicant and whether such
application may be approved without substantial detriment to the public welfare and without
substantial derogation from the intent and purposes of the Historic District Ordinance.
Rehabilitation and reuse of the structure could be a factor in consideration of a certificate of
hardship.