Laserfiche WebLink
5. Add new side entry porch, stair, and ramp on North side of kitchen wing of the <br />house; <br />6. Build eight foot tall wood fence to North of property; <br />7. Remove certain large trees; <br />8. Remove the one of two existing garages that is closer to the house. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />1. Regarding the proposed front vestibule, staff can imagine no circumstance in which such a <br />significant alteration to the character defining shape and rhythm of the primary fagade of <br />such a significant and lovely building could be approved by a historic commission. <br />2. Regarding the proposed canopies, Staff recommends denial of this proposal because the <br />existing shutters are a character defining element of the house, and the existence of both <br />awnings and shutters is conflicting and illogical. Additionally, there is no evidence of such <br />awnings ever having been on this house. Staff notes that canopies similar to the proposed <br />were common on Italianate houses built at the very end of the Victorian Era, but our <br />research finds no evidence of such awnings on any home built during the period of this <br />structure. However, architecture books of the period do recommend louvered shutters <br />(which were also called "Venetian Blinds" in the 19`h Century). This house has had <br />louvered shutters during all the years that we have records of it, though at some point those <br />on the side and back were removed, and those on the front were fixed in place and the hinges <br />apparently removed — though it is also possible that they were always decorative, and never <br />had hinges. The paint on the front of the house and around the other windows obscures the <br />witness marks. <br />3. Regarding the proposed rear addition: More detailed architectural drawings are necessary <br />for final HPC approval to be granted. However, Staff believes that the building of an <br />addition at this place offers the opportunity to remove some weird and inappropriate <br />alterations to the original milk house or summer kitchen, possibly restoring some of the <br />remaining original out building, while simultaneously giving the new restaurant a great deal <br />of new space. Staff would recommend allowing the rear addition to be either frame or <br />masonry, at the owner's option. <br />The existing kitchen wing on the main house has been extensively remodeled, and part <br />of the exterior has been stuccoed, probably to blend old and newer construction. The <br />existing building immediately behind the kitchen wing, which would have originally been a <br />milk house and/or summer kitchen, has also been extensively altered, in ways which make <br />one wonder what in the name of heaven the builders could have been thinking, but which, <br />fortunately, leave traces of the lovely and interesting original structure. <br />4. Proposed parking. Staff recommends approval of the proposed parking plan, conditional <br />upon the preservation of the large maple tree and landscape bushes at the North of the house. <br />From the plans submitted, staff believes these landscape elements are intended to be, <br />preserved; however, the plans should be revised to show them. The drawings submitted also <br />show significant alteration of the existing driveways, and removal of a large front yard tree <br />(or two?), though this is not listed in the text of the application. Staff would not recommend <br />approval of such changes, if they are intended to be included in the Application. <br />5. Proposed new side entry and porch. There are witness marks on the North wall of the <br />kitchen wing and the back wall of the front wing of the house which indicate that there used <br />to be a classic Italianate porch at this location, somewhat smaller that the proposed, but at <br />least twice the size of the presently existing porch. (The existing side porch and the shed - <br />roofed thing on top of the kitchen wing may have been built at the same time.) Staff would <br />