Historic District Commission

Meeting of

September 1, 2004, 4:00 PM

Town Hall, Provincetown, MA 02657

 

Members Present: John Dowd, Chairman; Meg Stewart; Polly Burnell; Carol Neal; Paul Church; and Eric Dray (Alternate)

 

Excused Absence: Tom Boland

 

Town Hall Representatives: Maxine Notaro, Permit Coordinator.

 

The Work Session commenced at 3:35 PM.

 

Work Session

 

Administrative Reviews/Amendments/Discussions

 

Maurice Grunberg – 87 Bradford Street – To install original etched glass in front door. Mr. Grunberg stated that renovations have been made on the house for the last 3 years. The previous tenant made changes to the door that was inappropriate. He had the etched glass to show the HDC. A motion was made to restore the etched glass to the door. This is covered by Guideline #6.

 

Moved by: John Dowd                   Seconded by: Polly Burnell                          Yea: 5  Nay: 0

 

Leslie Burnell on behalf of Nancy Scott – 539 Commercial Street, Unit #10 – To replace a bathroom casement window with a casement window. The window is visible from Bradford Street. A motion was made to approve the request. This is covered by Guideline #5.

 

Moved by: John Dowd                   Seconded by: Meg Stewart                                    Yea: 5  Nay: 0

 

Skyline Contracting on behalf of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Fall River for a roofing permit. The paperwork submitted was not adequate. Maxine Notaro will call the applicant.

 

Review of Previous Cases

 

Gary Locke on behalf of George Flammer – 172 Bradford Street – For the relocation of a cottage. Mr. Locke supplied new drawings with changes from the previous submission. There is now 1-½ floors with a 3’ knee wall. There were no public comments. Eric Dray was concerned with the height of the foundation. Mr. Locke stated that it is one foot above average grade. The HDC members made comments regarding the preserving of historic size and scale. Meg Stewart stated that she was against the plan because the new structure would be higher than the existing one. A motion was made to accept the application as the old building is not an historic structure and is a secondary structure and should be kept to the 1-½ floors.

 


Moved by: Polly Burnell                 Seconded by: Paul Church                         Yea: 4  Nay: 1

                                                                                                                                    Meg Stewart opposed.

 

Case #2004-064 (continued from August 18, 2004) (Applicant requests continuance to September 15, 2004 meeting)

Application by Ruth Gilbert and William Costa on behalf of David Silva and Paul Silva for a Certificate to be issued in accordance with the Provincetown Historic District Commission established under the General By-Laws, Chapter 15 of the Town of Provincetown.  The applicant seeks approval to demolish the existing structure and review the proposed building plans for the construction of a new three-bedroom single family dwelling at the property located at 19 West Vine Street, Provincetown, MA.

 

The applicants withdrew this Case and they will not be going forward with the project.

 

Public Hearings

 

Case #2004-065            Application by Neal Kimball on behalf of Kirk Carter and Anthony Price for a Certificate of Compliance to be issued in accordance with the Provincetown Historic District Commission established under the General By-Laws, Chapter 15 of the Town of Provincetown. The applicant seeks approval to add two doghouse style dormers, relocate existing windows, replace existing windows, add kitchen window, replace shed roof with flat roof, add deck area above, add skylights, and replace trim and siding at the property located at 11 Cottage Street, Provincetown, MA.

 

Neal Kimball explained the requested changes in detail followed by comments from members of the public.

 

Marie Tibault of 15 Tremont Street stated that she has problems with the changes to the front of the property. She feels that the front of the house should not be changed. Bill Docker of 12 Mechanic Street questioned the deck on the kitchen roof and asked which room will it be off of. He also questioned how many units will the building be. Mr. Kimball replied that it would be a single-family house. Mr. Docker then questioned the size of the deck to be built and was told it would be a 4’ x 7’6” landing.

 

Eric Dray stated that he has issue with the door surrounds and that they should be historically respected, as they would be too dominant. He has no problem with the doghouse dormers. Paul Church agreed with Eric Dray and felt that he could not approve stained glass windows as they are visible and he could not approve the skylight without knowing size and placement. Other HDC members agreed.

 

A motion was made to deny without prejudice and that Mr. Kimball would return to the next meeting.

 

Moved by: John Dowd                   Seconded by: Meg Stewart                                    Yea: 5  Nay: 0

 

Case #2004-066            Application by Neal Kimball on behalf of Karl Slabinski and Oliver Davis for a Certificate of Compliance to be issued in accordance with the Provincetown Historic District Commission established under the General By-Laws, Chapter 15 of the Town of Provincetown. The applicant seeks approval to demolish the existing one-story structure and reconstruct a new two-story structure within a similar footprint at the property located at 10A Pearl Street, Provincetown, MA.

 

James Veara, Attorney for the owners and Neal Kimball represented the owners. Mr. Kimball stated that the cottage was a one-car garage and converted to a cottage in the early 60s. It was not well constructed. His client wants to purchase the building, demolish it and construct a two-story structure in the same footprint.

 

Claire Sprague of 2 Baker Street and Susan Wasson of 12 Pearl Street read a letter against the project. The letter is on file. It contains 25 signatures of abutters.

 

David Nicolau, Atlantic Bay Realty, spoke for the new building and said it falls into zoning requirements. He thinks the new building will have charm and suits the neighborhood. Brian Delaurentis asked what the use of the new building would be. HDC members stated that the use of no concern of the HDC, but the design was.

 

Another abutter of 6 Pearl Street felt that Zoning Board rules are not relevant for this part of town and the zoning rules do not care about the historic look of the Town.

 

HDC members read a letter signed by four abutters in favor of the new building.

 

Eric Dray explained the reasons for demolition and questioned the reasoning for this application. A general discussion ensued regarding the significance of a non-contributing structure. Meg Stewart stated that changes could be made to the existing structure to fit in with the neighborhood.

 

A motion was made to deny the demolition as no presentation for the justification of the demolition was provided as covered in Guideline #14.

 

Moved by: John Dowd                   Seconded by: Paul Church                         Yea: 5  Nay: 0

 

Case #2004-067            Application by Robert Valois on behalf of David Martin for a Certificate of Compliance to be issued in accordance with the Provincetown Historic District Commission established under the General By-Laws, Chapter 15 of the Town of Provincetown. The applicant seeks approval to lift the existing structure to allow for the construction of a new “first” floor and increase the footprint by approximately 35 square feet to allow for a new stair to new second floor and to rebuild the pier, bulkhead and foundation at the property located at 47 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA.

 

John Dowd had to step down from hearing this Case, as he is an abutter to the owner of the property. Carol Neal chaired the hearing. Lester J. Murphy, Attorney, representing the owner, spoke describing the owner’s request. He stated that the property was visible form the harbor. Robert Valois described the waterfront buildings and showed pictures of the surrounding structures from the waterfront. Mr. Murphy stated that the scale would be keeping within the area and the changes would improve the building historically.

 

Members of the public were asked for their comments either for or against the project. Mr. Peter  Gallagher of 45 Commercial Street (Jones Locker) submitted a letter from Mr. John Houston of 47 Commercial Street (Labrador Landing) against the project. Mr. Gallagher supplied some photos and spoke against the application. Richard Laws of 45 Commercial Street also spoke against. Tanya Layton of 45 Commercial Street was concerned with the way the harbor view is changing and was against the application.

 

Two letters were read into the record, one for and one against the applicant. Mr. Murphy answered comments in the letters as well as the residents of 45 Commercial Street.

 

Meg Stewart was against enlarging the structure stating that going to 13’ is too high. She stated that the proposal and design were not historically significant. Other members of the HDC agreed.

 

Eric Dray stated that the adding of the 2nd story to this early 20th century structure would not retain and preserve its historic character and would constitute an inappropriate increase in its size. The Commission found that this was a historically significant waterfront structure.

 

It was moved to deny the application as presented based on Guideline #s 2b and 15.

 

Moved by: Meg Stewart                Seconded by: Carol Neal                             Yea: 5  Nay: 0

 

Case #2004-068            Application by Robert Valois on behalf of Jane Gildersleeve for a Certificate of Compliance to be issued in accordance with the Provincetown Historic District Commission established under the General By-Laws, Chapter 15 of the Town of Provincetown. The applicant seeks approval to build a 10’ x 25’ addition (one story with deck above) on the rear of the house and construct a roof walk (deck) with spiral and wood stairs on the rear of the house at the property located at

30 Alden Street, Provincetown, MA.

 

Polly Brunell is an abutter to this property and stepped down from hearing the Case. Eric Dray, Alternate, sat in for Polly Brunell. Robert Valois presented the application. There was a discussion regarding the roof walk and spiral and wood stairs.

 

A motion was made to accept the plan as submitted with the omission of the roof walk and spiral and wood stairs.

 

Moved by: Paul Church                  Seconded by: John Dowd                           Yea: 5  Nay: 0

 

Case #2004-069            Application by John Hopkins of Augustus Construction on behalf of John Culver for a Certificate of Compliance to be issued in accordance with the Provincetown Historic District Commission established under the General By-Laws, Chapter 15 of the Town of Provincetown. The applicant seeks approval to add a deck 16” off grade with no railing, add two french doors, two 6/6 double-hung windows and one bay window at the property located at 288C Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA.

 

John Culver, owner, presented the Case and explained that the deck is not visible from the street.

 

The building is non-historic and Guidelines 5c and 6b pertain to the application. A motion was made to approve the plan as submitted.

 

Moved by: Paul Church                  Seconded by: John Dowd                           Yea: 5  Nay: 0

 

Minutes

 

A motion was made to accept the minutes of the August 18, 2004 meeting as corrected.

 

Moved by: John Dowd                   Seconded by: Meg Stewart                                    Yea: 3  Nay: 0

 

Additional Administrative Reviews

 

35 Alden Street – To replace green shingles to match white shingles on rest of the house. Polly Burnell stepped down from hearing this review as she is an abutter. A motion was made to accept the plan and was unanimously approved.

 

324 Bradford Street (Eastwood) – To replace a casement window with a new casement window. The replacement is in kind. A motion was made to accept the replacement and was unanimously approved.

 

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 PM.

 

Moved by: Paul Church                  Seconded by: Carol Neal                             Yea: 5  Nay: 0

 

Respectfully submitted by

Joel Glasser

                                                                                                Recording Secretary

 

 

 

Approved by: _________________________________________ on _________________________

                                    John Dowd (Chairman)                                                             Date