ENFIELD HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 25, 2008
A Regular Meeting of the Enfield Historic District Commission was held on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 in the Council Chambers, Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut. Chairman Richard Tatoian called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Richard Tatoian, Chairman
Russell Meyer
Roman Polaski
Nancy Smyth
Marie Troiano
Sonja Dean, Alternate
Raymond Gwozdz, Alternate
ALSO PRESENT: Roger Alsbaugh, Assistant Town Planner
HDC#340 – Request for attached American Legion Dedication sign for EMS at the Old Fire House, 1296 Enfield Street. EHDO Section 8.
Mr. Alsbaugh stated there is no one present to represent this application. The sign is already up. He advised the Commission to hold their own hearing and make any observations of the sign. If there are any things about the sign that the Commission feels should be changed, the concerns would be submitted to the Town Manager’s Office.
Some discussion followed on the use of the building where this sign is located. Mr. Alsbaugh stated the front bay is used by the Enfield Historical Society. The left south bay is used by records management and the back of the building is used for EMS services.
Ms. Dean stated the office was taken back for EMS. She is referring to the little room to the side that the Enfield Historical Society uses for meetings. The bigger office has been reclaimed for EMS.
Mr. Alsbaugh asked if the items in the bigger office went into storage. Ms. Dean believes some of the things that were there were returned to where they came from. The office supply type items went back to the town.
Mr. Alsbaugh noted EMS has everything from the back of the front bays back. The Historical Society has the front north bay. They share the use of the little conference room with the glass windows. The records management has the south bay.
Ms. Dean stated there were some concerns about a lack of maintenance. The fluorescent bulbs are out and they cannot get anyone to replace them.
Some discussion followed of the Purple Heart Committee that once occupied this building. Ms. Dean stated the sign is gone and she doesn’t know if there is still a formal Purple Heart group. Chairman Tatoian stated the Purple Heart Committee still owns land that was given to them by the town. They have several acres behind the Parkway Pavilion to the water tower and it was given to the Purple Heart Museum subject to their building at that location. If the building was not constructed, the land was to go back to the town and state. Ms. Dean stated there was a real problem trying to get the Purple Heart medals and materials back to the owners.
Chairman Tatoian noted the sign under review is up. Mr. Alsbaugh stated he believes the town Parks and Recreation sign shop made the sign.
Ms. Dean asked for a picture of the sign in position.
Mr. Alsbaugh asked if anyone viewed the actual sign.
Chairman Tatoian stated the application doesn’t tell anything about the sign.
Mr. Alsbaugh stated the question he would have is with the shape of the sign, is it harmoniously placed within the gable end of the building.
Ms. Dean asked if it would make sense to table this application until more information is received.
Mr. Meyer asked what is the sign ordinance relative to size and is a four by eight sign the largest allowed. Mr. Alsbaugh stated it would be a special use permit approval and you would add the front of the building length times two to get the maximum sign square footage for the building.
Mr. Meyer stated you have two garage doors which are 16’ wide plus the space between them making it 17’. Then there is so much height from the top of the doors.
Mr. Alsbaugh stated you don’t consider the height. You take into the calculations the length of that setback because that’s the front of the building. It would be 27’ x two which would be 54 square feet which would be allowed for site signage.
In response to a question from Mr. Meyer, Mr. Alsbaugh stated residences can only have signs of two square feet. This is a special use permit approval use in a residential zone. They are allowed a different calculation for signage.
Chairman Tatoian stated the sign application says attached sign 55” x 103” which is approximately forty square feet. Mr. Alsbaugh stated that should fall within the guidelines.
Mr. Meyer asked if the town came to Mr. Alsbaugh and asked what the Historic District felt about this sign. Mr. Alsbaugh stated the town was in a hurry because the ceremony for dedication was that weekend. It came to him mid week prior to the placement of the sign.
Mr. Meyer asked if Tony’s Store wanted to put up a sign the width of their building, the Commission would have no authority over that. Mr. Alsbaugh stated the Commission has the authority over either sign.
Mr. Meyer stated the request is to approve the sign after the fact. He doesn’t know if this is an approved area or not. It is his understanding that there is a 32 square foot limit. Mr. Alsbaugh stated that is for a freestanding sign.
Mr. Meyer stated in as much as this is not a freestanding sign, they can choose to do anything that they want. Mr. Alsbaugh stated that is not true. The town will do whatever they will do. The zoning ordinance limits the size of the sign. The Commission determines whether the design and materials and the location of the sign are appropriate. The zoning issues would be handled after the fact. If the Commission approved a sign for the Historic District, it would have to come to Mr. Alsbaugh for a sign permit. In this case, since it is the town and because it has happened the way it has happened, he would turn it over to the Planning Commission and let them do it. Mr. Alsbaugh stated it is this Commission’s decision what they want to do at this point. When those installing the sign came to him and asked what he thought they should do, Mr. Alsbaugh noted the impending dedication ceremony would require installation before approval could be achieved. That action does not negate the Commission’s authority. They can, after the fact, decide that it is an appropriate sign or it is not an appropriate sign. Another option is to decide it is appropriate but put on certain conditions that need to be addressed before final approval can be given. After that, they still have to come to the Planning Department for a sign zoning permit. The HDC application is merely the first step in the approval process.
Mr. Alsbaugh summarized that the Commission is determining the appropriateness issue, while the legal zoning questions would come through the Planning Office. In this case, Mr. Alsbaugh would turn it over to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Ms. Dean thought it would be beneficial to have more information. She would like to know the dimensions of the sign and the dimensions of the building. She would like to see a visual representation to determine how it fits in with the architecture of the building.
Mr. Alsbaugh stated he can take a photograph over the weekend and email it to the Commission.
Ms. Dean stated she would like to see the sign actually in place.
Ms. Dean stated it would be beneficial to have the materials recorded for the record. The materials and determining their appropriateness in this case is probably addressed by a drive by and knowing what they are.
Mr. Alsbaugh stated he will send an email to Dave Tuttle at Parks and Recreation to request a parts and material list for the sign. Mr. Alsbaugh agreed it doesn’t hurt to build a record within the Commission’s file so that they have a legitimate body of information that they reviewed.
Ms. Dean would like to be cautious given the number of phone calls she received over the last few weeks. She felt the Commission should have everything documented. She recommended tabling this until the Commission gets the additional information.
Mr. Polaski made a motion, seconded by Mr. Gwozdz, to table HDC#340 until the size, location and materials of the sign are submitted to the Commission as well as a photograph. The motion was approved by a 5 – 0 – 0 vote.
Executive Session – Matters regarding pending litigation, specific employees, acquisition of real estate, and/or matters exempt from disclosure requirements, as needed. The specific reason should be stated for each session. HDC#309 Order to Restore, 1443 Enfield Street.
Ms. Smyth made a motion, seconded by Mr. Gwozdz, to go into Executive Session to discuss HDC#309 which is a pending legal matter. Following a 5 – 0 – 0 vote, the Commission went into Executive Session at 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Meyer made a motion, seconded by Mr. Gwozdz, to come out of Executive Session. Following a unanimous vote, Executive Session ended at 8:20 p.m. No votes were taken or decisions made during this Executive Session.
Mr. Alsbaugh noted the consensus of the Commission was to approach the Mayor to come and speak with the Commission about the court case for HDC#309. Mr. Alsbaugh will arrange this meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Meyer stated last month the Commission received a print out of the proposed changes to the ordinances. Due to the lateness of the hour, he would like a discussion of the proposed changes on the agenda for next month. He asked that Mr. Alsbaugh provide the Commission with the ordinance for Suffield. He has several questions about what agreements the Commission had come to.
MINUTES
Mr. Gwozdz made a motion, seconded by Mr. Meyer, to approve the Minutes of June 12, 2008. Ms. Smyth made a correction on page 7, second to the last paragraph. 11415 Enfield Street should be changed to 1415 Enfield Street. The Minutes, as amended, were approved by a 3 – 0 – 2 vote. Ms. Smyth and Mr. Polaski abstained.
Ms. Smyth made a motion, seconded by Mr. Gwozdz, to approve the Minutes of May 28, 2008. The Minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.
STAFF REPORT
Mr. Alsbaugh will have an update on the Grange Building. It appears that the Land Trust and the Scantic River Watershed Association are both interested in some form of agreement to take over the building which would allow the Grange to stay there.
Mr. Alsbaugh stated a lot of information is coming up about Shaker Resources on DOC property. He thinks it is going to be well worth the effort to do a needs assessment and a survey of the structures and remains that still exist.
Mr. Alsbaugh will address the staff report items listed on the agenda at the next meeting.
Mr. Alsbaugh reported the Land Trust has expressed a firm interest in committing to partnering on the current open space parcel that is under negotiation for acquisition. If they do take over the Grange building, then both groups will be actual residents of Enfield.
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Alsbaugh stated the Commission has the Berger approval letter. Everyone should read that to reaffirm what was required under the approval. There are a number of specific conditions that the Commission discussed and made part of the approval.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Ms. Dean stated she had a call about the Thomas Abbey statue and that it needs cleaning and the deterioration has increased. The question was is there anything the Commission can do to not lose that statue over time. Ms. Dean asked that this be put on the next agenda.
Ms. Dean had some calls asking if the Commission had a say in approving the Tanguay marker that was put at the Old Town Hall. It is a flat marker in the ground and there were questions from two homeowners who wanted to know if a permit was needed for that type of marker. It is a marker commemorating Bob Tanguay’s contributions to the Old Town Hall. It is located in the front of the building on the ground.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Meyer made a motion, seconded by Ms. Smyth, to adjourn. Following a unanimous vote, the Commission adjourned at 8:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________
Nancy Smyth, Clerk
jmr Enfield Historic District Commission |