Historic District Commission
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Meeting Minutes
HDC members: Noel Greiner, Chair; Sarah Tibbetts, Vice Chair; Michael Price; Rex Baker; Kathy Scott, Select Board Representative. Absent: Kully Mindemann
Attendees: Akhil Garland; Lee Garland; Jon Richardson
Site visit – At 6:30 pm, HDC members met with the property owners of 9 Island Street to view the proposed locations of a wood shed and pergola and to ask questions related to the structures. Following the site visit, members and abutters traveled to town hall for the meeting and public hearing.
Chair Noel Greiner opened the meeting at 7:00 pm.
Agenda – Members moved in favor to approve the meeting agenda as prepared.
HDC # 2023- Akhil & Lee Garland, 9 Island Street (Map 32 – Lot 24), applying to construct a wood pergola on top of their open deck facing Harrisville Pond, and to construct a free-standing 11’ x 17’ woodshed on the existing concrete patio behind the barn on the north west side of the dwelling, also facing Harrisville Pond.
The applicants noted the woodshed would be constructed of wood similar to the barn wood and would have either a rolling or hinged door. The property owners also plan to remove two pine trees that are tilting toward the house. The chain link fence along the property line will remain.
For the pergola, the applicants noted Historic Harrisville, during the design review, recommended 6” diameter posts for the pergola rather than 4” posts, a recommendation the owners will heed. The height of the pergola will be 10 feet.
With no additional questions or discussion, Noel Greiner moved to approve the Garlands’ application to construct the pergola and woodshed as proposed. Michael Price seconded. All voted in favor.
Minutes of previous HDC meeting, 9/26. – Members voted to approve the minutes. Rex Baker and Kathy Scott abstained due to absence.
2024 Budget – Kathy Scott noted that funds remain in the 2023 budget if members are interested in training before year end. Following discussion of proposed budget amounts for 2024, members moved in favor to propose a total HDC budget of $2,000, down from $2250 for 2023.
Metal roofs – Rex Baker raised his observation that the town of Northfield now allows metal roofs in its historic district and asked if the Harrisville HDC would consider the same in the future. No decision was made.
Village Road Project – Kathy Scott shared the options for under consideration by the Road work and Transportation Committees, the Select Board and Historic Harrisville regarding drainage improvements and road repair for Church and Schools Streets and Church Alley. The HDC and all land use boards will receive a copy of the draft project plan for review and comment as soon as it is available.
The next meeting of the HDC is Tues 11/28. Because of the holidays, the December HDC meeting will be moved up to Tues 12/19, meaning applications for the December agenda are due by Friday, 12/1.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm.