Town of Redding
Historic Review Committee
MINUTES OF MEETING
Thursday, May 18, 2017
7:30 PM, Old Town House
Present: Vice Chairman Matt Lecher, Secretary Anda Cumings, alt. Jean Taylor seated for Raymond D’Angelo, alt. Sherry Karraker.
Absent: Chairman Ray D’Angelo. Meeting is chaired by Matt Lecher.
Vice-Chairman Matt Lecher calls the meeting to order at 7:35PM.
I. Approval of Minutes, Meeting of May 4, 2017
All present go over the minutes of the last meeting.
Anda Cumings motions to accept the minutes as submitted. Seconded by Jean Taylor. The motion is accepted unanimously.
II. Demolition Application- 354 Black Rock Turnpike– Current owners are Noel and Liza Cooke. A portion of this home was first built in 1928, meriting its inclusion on Stuart Reeve’s list of older houses. There have been numerous modern changes to the building over the decades. Inquiry with historian Charles Couch has yielded no information to report. Anda Cumings motions that the Demolition Delay Ordinance not be enforced for this application, as despite the age of the house, it is not historically sensitive and has no architectural significance. Seconded by Matt Lecher. All vote in favor. Anda Cumings will inform the Land Use Office and the applicants.
III. General Discussion-
A. Jo-An Brooks of the Land Use Office has brought to the attention of Ray D’Angelo and Anda Cumings what she sees as incorrect use of the word “Building Official” in parts of the proposed revisions to the Demolition Delay Ordinance. She urges that Peter Olsen be asked to review her concerns before anything is put before the Selectmen. This is discussed at length, but the Committee is not certain of what changes the Land Use Office is suggesting and is hesitant to engage legal counsel without a specific course of action. Anda Cumings is to speak to Jo-An for further clarification. Anda also advises the Committee to wait for Chairman Ray D’Angelo to return from his trip, as possible Ordinance revisions should not be raised without his input.
B. Jean Taylor brings up the need for the Committee to have follow up procedures. She observes that when mitigation steps are agreed upon with an applicant, and the demolition delay is lifted, there does not seem to be a process by which the demolition project is revisited and adherence to the agreement is confirmed. Adding this to the Committee procedures appears to be appropriate. Action on the issue should be added to the next meeting agenda.
Matt Lecher moves that the meeting be adjourned. Seconded by Anda Cumings. The meeting is adjourned at 8:45PM.
Submitted by: Anda E. Cumings
Secretary, Historic Review Committee