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ENFIELD HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 28, 2004
A Regular Meeting of the Enfield Historic District Commission was held on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 in the Council Chambers, Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut. Chairman Richard Tatoian called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
PRESENT: Richard Tatoian, Chairman
F. Russell Meyer, Vice-Chairman
Nancy Smyth, Clerk
Roman Polaski
Sonya Dean, Alternate
Raymond Gwozdz, Alternate
Lillian Troiano, Alternate
ALSO PRESENT: Roger Alsbaugh, Assistant Town Planner
PUBLIC HEARINGS
HDC#297: Michael Harrington: Restoration of rear porches and doors at 1130 Enfield Street.
Michael Harrington appeared before the Commission regarding this application. He noted he would make any corrections this Commission wants to see regarding the rear porches and doors at his home at 1130 Enfield Street. He noted some of the work has already been done because he noticed the deck was rotting along with the support beams and there were loose handrails. He addressed these because he felt there was a safety issue.
Chairman Tatoian noted Mr. Harrington replaced the doors, the 6x6 posts and the decking. He also removed some of the old plywood. He was then issued a stop work order by the Zoning Enforcement Officer and informed that he needed a building permit and a Certificate of Appropriateness from this Commission.
Chairman Tatoian recapped the work that has already been done which included the replacement of the hand railing, the porch on the north side or the Fairview Avenue side, and the replacement of the left door. The applicant stated this left door was replaced last year and the balance of the work was done in November, 2003.
Chairman Tatoian felt with the improvements made by the applicant that the appearance of the home has changed significantly. He noted the two elements of importance are the columns and the posts.
Mr. Polaski questioned why the applicant would replace round columns with square ones when the front is round. Mr. Harrington stated the previous owner replaced the front first floor columns with square ones.
Ms. Smyth asked if any work has been done on the upper porch of this home. Mr. Harrington stated no improvements have been made to the upper porch.
Mr. Polaski informed the applicant that sleeves are available to address the columns. He suggested the applicant explore these at Home Depot. He understands there is a safety issue but the applicant should also be cognizant of aesthetics regarding the improvements being made.
Ms. Dean also noted the importance of making the necessary improvements in a manner that is appropriate to the era of the home. She asked why the door was changed. Mr. Harrington stated the existing door created a draft and needed replacement. Ms. Dean suggested a storm door may have been more appropriate.
Mr. Polaski would like to see the snap grids on the window of one of the doors replaced. The applicant agreed that the second door is in need of replacement. Ms. Dean requested that the applicant consider a storm door with a full glass panel for this door.
Mr. Polaski asked if the posts are original. Mr. Harrington stated they have been boxed. Mr. Polaski asked if the applicant could reframe these posts. He further noted that the original home had more balusters.
Mr. Polaski asked about the material that will be used for the bottom of the porch. Mr. Harrington stated he plans to use 90 degree lattice. Mr. Polaski referred the applicant to Kelly Fradet, a retailer that carries lattice and may also have the materials for the posts.
Chairman Tatoian opened this hearing to the audience. No one spoke in favor or against this public hearing.
Chairman Tatoian closed this public hearing.
REGULAR MEETING
Chairman Tatoian called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:55 p.m. Chairman Richard Tatoian and Commission Members Russell Meyer, Nancy Smyth, and Roman Polaski, and Alternates Lillian Troiano, Raymond Gwozdz, and Sonya Dean were present.
MINUTES – November 26, 2003
Mr. Polaski made a motion, seconded by Ms. Smyth, to approve the Minutes of November 26, 2003. The Minutes were approved by a 3 – 0 – 2 vote. Mr. Meyer and Ms. Dean abstained and Alternate Troiano voted.
CORRESPONDENCE/STAFF REPORT
NEW BUSINESS
HDC#297: Michael Harrington: Restoration of rear porches and doors at 1130 Enfield Street.
Mr. Polaski made a motion, seconded by Mr. Meyer, to approve HDC#297, Application of Michael Harrington for restoration of rear porches and doors at 1130 Enfield Street subject to the following motion revisions and conditions:
(Motion made and seconded during Regular Meeting)
1. Approve the new rear door replacement to the 1st floor unit that has already been done (see condition 'a' below).
2. Approve the replacement of the 2nd & 3rd floor rear access door with the same style door as that noted in 1. above (see condition 'b' below).
3. Approve the decking of the 1st floor rear porch as has already been done.
4. Approve the replacement of the 1st floor rear porch balustrade (see conditions under 'c' below), including top and bottom rails, balusters, & square boxed balustrade posts.
5. Remove and replace the 1st floor rear porch tapered wood columns (see conditions under 'd' below).
6. Remove the plywood paneling around the bottom of the 1st floor rear porch, and replace it with wood lattice (see conditions under 'e' below)
Such products & materials to be installed, and the areas and manner in which they will be installed or used, shall be as determined and overseen by Historic District Commission staff utilizing on-site inspections, comparison with the previously existing conditions as photographed and documented on 6-21-2002, and in final discussions with the owner regarding material acquisition sources.
(Conditions applied by the Commission to the motion:)
a. The snap-in grids over the glass portion of the door shall be removed permanently.
b. The door shall be the same product as noted above, and shall also not have a grid system over the glass section.
c. 1) Additional balusters shall be added to replicate the spacing of the original balusters; 2) the stair corner posts shall be boxed in to the same dimensions as the original; and 3) caps, the design of which shall be finalized with Historic District Commission staff, shall be installed on the latter boxed posts after shortening the posts to the same relative height to the top rail as originally existed.
d. Synthetic or wood 'sleeve' columns shall be placed over the pressure treated posts that have been installed in replacement of the original wood columns. Acceptable design and scale shall be determined by Historic District Commission staff from available products as researched by the applicant. If the original column style, size and scale cannot be significantly matched with a 'sleeve'-type product, the applicant shall return to the commission under new application for a new determination regarding column replacement.
e. As proposed by the applicant, the enclosure around the bottom of the first floor deck shall be 90 degree design wood lattice. Framing will be flat wood stock of an appropriately sized board material. The final design of the framing, lattice placement, and finish framing shall be administered by Historic District Commission staff after on-site inspection of the porch and in consultation with the applicant. Final decision of compliance with the intent of the Commission shall be determined by staff. If such cannot be decided, the applicant shall return to the Commission under a new application for a determination.
(Reasons for approval)
It was determined that:
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Although the replacement door has unfortunately already been installed, any significant change in design from the original can be alleviated by removal of the snap-in window grids, and is therefore allowed to remain with such modification.
· Replacement of balustrade systems, and subsequent requirements to upgrade to current building code minimums, can and have been minimized under the conditions set forth above.
· Replacement columns or column sheathing systems can and will replicate the significant design elements represented by the original columns.
(Excluded work at this time)
· No work is to be done on any part of the 2nd floor rear porch until a new application is submitted containing precise drawings and material lists.
· No work has been proposed under this application on the rear porch staircase running from the ground to the 1st floor deck. Any changes, additions, or deletions of materials must be proposed under a new application for a certificate of appropriateness.
Commissioner Meyer suggested if the applicant recommends anything that is substantially different than what the Commission approved, that the Commission be informed of those differences by staff at the next Regular Meeting.
The motion was approved by a 5 – 0 – 0 vote with Alternate Troiano voting.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Polaski made a motion, seconded by Ms. Smyth, to adjourn. Following a unanimous vote, the Commission at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Nancy L. Smyth, Clerk
Enfield Historic District Commission
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