LOWELL HISTORIC BOARD

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Arthur Hammar Conference Room, JFK Civic Center

March 12, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT

Richard Lockhart, Chairman Jim Jozokos, Paul Davies & Associates

Adam Baacke Karen LeRow, 275 Andover Street

Rachel Edlund Kevin LeRow, 275 Andover Street

Jeffrey Harris Stephen Stowell, Administrator

Martha Mayo Kim Zunino, Assistant Administrator

George Villaras Jennifer Barrington, Intern

1. PUBLIC HEARINGS

A. ASND-12-01: 275 Andover Street

Application for an Historic Permit for construction of a detached three-car garage.

The Chairman read the published Public Hearing notice and declared the Hearing open to those wishing to speak in favor of the application.

The Chairman recognized architect Jim Jozokos of Paul Davies & Associates who is representing the applicant, Kevin and Karen LeRow from 275 Andover Street, who were also in attendance.

Mr. Jozokos presented plans for construction of the detached three-car garage, set back to the side of the existing home. He noted that the proposed structure was 1 ½ stories in height and that it would include a ½ story loft/

storage space. The siding is proposed to be wood rather than the Hardiplank and Azek noted earlier and that the roof would be asphalt shingles with a cupola and weathervane.

Having asked aloud 2 more times and hearing no one, the Chairman declared the Hearing closed to proponents and opened the Hearing to those who wished to speak in opposition.

Having asked aloud 3 times and hearing no one, the Vice-Chairman declared the Hearing closed to opponents and opened the Hearing to comments or question from Board members and the staff.

The Administrator said that Design Review had met with Mr. Jozokos and Mr. LeRow and that slight changes were made to the roof slope and windows. He also said that Carol Duncan and Sean Harmon, representatives to the neighborhood committee for the District were provided with the plans and thought the design was fine for the District.

Ms. Mayo asked if the driveway was existing or new. Mr. Jozokos said that the driveway is existing.

Ms. Edlund asked for clarification on the main vehicle doors, if they swung or were overhead doors. Mr. Jozokos said that they are simulated to appear as traditional, swinging doors but are in fact overhead doors.

The Chairman asked if there were any more questions from the Board and hearing none, opened the floor for a motion.

Motion by Mr. Baacke, seconded by Ms. Edlund, to:

vote to issue the Historic Permit for the construction of a detached three-car garage at 275 Andover Street in the Andover Street Neighborhood District conditional upon the following:

Work is consistent with Sections 3.10, 3.20, and 3.30 of the Andover Street Neighborhood District Design Review Standards.

Unanimously approved, 6-0.

Materials used in the review of this application included:

The Public Hearings were closed at 6:10 p.m.

ATTEST: _________________________________________________

Kim M. Zunino, Assistant Administrator

ATTEST: __________________________________________________

Stephen R. Stowell, Administrator

LOWELL HISTORIC BOARD

REGULAR MEETING

Arthur Hammar Conference Room, JFK Civic Center

March 12, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT

Richard Lockhart, Chairman Stephen Stowell, Administrator

Adam Baacke Kim Zunino, Assistant Administrator

Rachel Edlund Jennifer Barrington, Intern

Jeffrey Harris

Martha Mayo

George Villaras

2. OTHER BUSINESS

A. Enforcement/Violations Update

The Administrator said that there were positive responses to several minimum maintenance requests from the fall including masonry and downspout issues that were addressed at 169 Merrimack Street. As mentioned in the advance meeting notes, identification of other minimum maintenance items is ongoing as is identification of signage issues. Requests for Compliance will be drafted over the next few weeks.

B. Neighborhood District Minimum Maintenance

Discussion took place regarding the next steps in addressing demolition by neglect in the Board's neighborhood districts. Board members were in agreement that the trigger for the Board's enforcement would be if a property was listed on the City's vacant and/or foreclosed property list.

Mr. Baacke said that the trigger should not only be if a property is on the list but also if it is required to be registered and is not. He also noted that should the Board move in this direction, that the City Council should also be informed and provided opportunity to comment.

Motion by Mr. Baacke, seconded by Ms. Mayo, to:

submit the draft demolition by neglect neighborhood district Standards to the City Council for comment and hold a Public Hearing on their adoption at the Board's April 9 meeting.

Unanimously approved, 6-0.

C. Administrator's Report

The Administrator said that his report was included in the advance meeting notes and would be incorporated in the minutes for the record.

Review and Permitting Activity -

FY12 permitting continues to run approximately two months ahead of FY11. Work continues to be steady as many projects require post-permitting review and approval of design details and materials while several signage and maintenance applications continue to keep staff busy.

Two major projects at Massachusetts Mills III and Lawrence Mills are in the review stage presently and it is anticipated that public hearings will be held for both projects in April.

Board Member Updates -

Rachel Edlund (BSA/AIA) was reappointed by the City Manager. George Villaras (Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce) was appointed by the City Manager to replace Sue Zacharer who declined reappointment. Both were confirmed by City Council on 2/21/12.

Board members took the opportunity to welcome Mr. Villaras to the Board.

Doors Open Lowell -

The 11th annual Doors Open Lowell will take place May 17-19. Fundraising through the Lowell Heritage Partnership is ongoing and program development is ongoing including identifying buildings and possibly integrating a mobile component to the event the year in the form of the National Park's natural gas powered bus.

City Archives/Attic -

Work continues on creating digital indexes of the Veterans' Graves Registration Cards (WPA project). It covers all veterans listed as serving from Lowell and where they are buried in various cemeteries around the globe.

The digital index for the 6000+ individual records from the Overseers of the Poor which covers anyone who received aid in Lowell from that department from 1876 until approximately the 1930s is also still ongoing.

Newsletter -

The spring edition of the Board's newsletter was sent electronically the first week of March and is getting the usual positive feedback. If anyone has any ideas on what they would like included in the next edition, please let the staff know.

The Chairman mentioned the value of the electronic newsletter and encouraged Board members to submit ideas or provide contributions to it.

Ms. Mayo asked about the distribution list. The Administrator said that there are around 700 email addresses receiving the newsletter and that new ones are added upon request or added from business cards, email inquiries, or project contacts.

Miscellaneous -

In addition to work on a possible new National Register district in the Livingston-Harvard area, work continues

looking at a new district in the Clark Road area and at MHC's request, into including the section of Clark Road in Tewksbury. Clark Road runs through Tewksbury, past the Stadium Plaza and dead ends by I-495. It picks up

on the other side of I-495 and connects with Old Main Street and on to Route 38. There is a c.1850s farmhouse and a 1940s bungalow on the other side of I-495.

Staff continues to visit new and existing businesses, distributing informational packets including the Board's “open/closed” signs.

Next Meeting -

The Board's next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 9, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the DPD Conference Room.

3. ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Baacke, to:

adjourn the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Unanimously approved, 6-0.

ATTEST: ______________________________________________

Kim M. Zunino, Assistant Administrator

ATTEST: ______________________________________________

Stephen R. Stowell, Administrator