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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOKH 02 11 26 Draft Minutes Town of Barnstable Old King’s Highway Historic District Committee MINUTES Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 6:30pm To all persons deemed interested or affected b y the Town of Barnstable's Old King’s Highway Historic District Act under Section 9 of Chapter 470, Acts of 1973 as amended. You are hereby notified that a hearing was held by remote participation via Zoom Meetings on the following applications: Bett McCarthy, Chair Present Erin Donovan Present Lesley Wallace Absent Wendy Shuck, Clerk Present Erica Brown, Administrative Assistant Present A quorum being met, Chair Bett McCarthy called the hearing to order at 6:30 pm. The Chair explained the hearing and appeal process and invited the public to address the Committee and view the plans of interest when the application is called. ______________________________________________________________________________ Roll Call Chair Bett McCarthy called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm and took roll call. Attendance Roll Call: Erin Donovan Wendy Shuck Bett McCarthy Continued Applications None APPLICATIONS Plumer, Stephen Whitney TR, 4073 Main Street, Map 335, Parcel 027, Built 1820 Convert barn to residential dwelling unit. Wendy Shuck moved to open the public hearing. Seconded by Erin Donovan. Roll Call Vote Erin Donovan- aye Wendy Shuck- aye Bett McCarthy- aye Stephen Plumer was in attendance for this item. Stephen noted that they have been working to restore and upgrade the property. The main dwelling has been updated with new shingles, windows, and trim. They’re now proposing to restore and renovate the garage/barn into an ADU. The barn would be updated with new shingles, trim, and roofing to match the house. On the front façade the garage door would be converted to a single door and some windows. There is a proposed small decorative porch on the front façade as well. Committee Discussion: Wendy- Felt that the renovation is an improvement and will fit in nicely with the house. Expressed her concern with the decorative pediment and felt that it is not appropriate for 6A or the property. Suggested the pediment be filled in with all shingles or clapboard. Stephen agreed to change the pediment. Erin- Agreed with Wendy’s comments. The renovation alongside the house will be a huge improvement for the property. She felt the decorative pediment was not appropriate as well. Bett- Agreed with the Committee’s comments. The renovation of the barn into an ADU is appropriate. With the applicant’s agreement to change the pediment, she felt that there is no issues with this application. Public Comment: None Wendy Shuck moved to close the public hearing. Seconded by Erin Donovan. Roll Call Vote Erin Donovan- aye Wendy Shuck-aye Bett McCarthy- aye Wendy Shuck moved to approve the certificate of appropriateness application for Plumer, Stephen Whitney TR, 4073 Main Street, Map 335, Parcel 027, Built 1820 to convert barn to residential dwelling unit with one modification to change the decorative pediment of the porch to all shingle or all clapboard otherwise as submitted. Erin Donovan seconded. Roll Call Vote Erin Donovan- aye Wendy Shuck- aye Bett McCarthy- aye Henderson, Matthew S & Eri A, 55 Augusta National Drive, Map 355, Parcel 015, Built 1970 Relocation of windows, creation of new entry, and redesign of the garage doors from one large door to two smaller doors. Siding, roofing, and materials update. Wendy Shuck moved to open the public hearing. Seconded by Erin Donovan. Roll Call Vote Erin Donovan- aye Wendy Shuck- aye Bett McCarthy- aye Morel Orta was in attendance for this item. Morel presented the existing 1970 dwelling which does not have a front entry which can be used. The proposal contains renovations to eliminate the front entry dormer and add a small addition creating an entry at the side near the garage to gain access to the house. The garage door would be updated to two doors, windows would be updated, and siding would also be updated with a mixture of textures including shingles and board and baton. The applicant noted that they would be willing to make changes if the proposal is not satisfactory. Committee Discussion: Wendy- Felt the design was not harmonious with the surrounding properties. The windows, porch area, materials, and long roof line design which makes this proposal more modern and contemporary in comparison with the neighborhood. Suggested that the applicant take a drive around the surrounding areas to garner some inspiration. Erin- Agreed with Wendy’s comments. The elimination of the front dormer/gable/entry way stands out. Suggested to find a way to either incorporate the element in the new design or a way to help break up the long look of the design. Morel noted that the front dormer is weighing down the rest of the dwelling and is causing some foundational issues. That front dormer or gable was an addition to the original dwelling at some point. Bett- Noted the contemporary design although lovely is not appropriate for the area. The Old King’s Highway aesthetic must be kept in consideration. She suggested the applicant continue the proposal and send in an updated proposal for the Committee to consider at the next meeting. Morel noted the Committee’s comments and thanked them for their input. Morel agreed to a continuance of the application to the next meeting. Public Comment: None Wendy Shuck moved to close the public hearing. Seconded by Erin Donovan. Roll Call Vote Erin Donovan- aye Wendy Shuck-aye Bett McCarthy- aye Wendy Shuck moved to continue the certificate of appropriateness application for Henderson, Matthew S & Eri A, 55 Augusta National Drive, Map 355, Parcel 015, Built 1970 to the February 25, 2026 meeting at 6:30pm to be held remotely via Zoom. Erin Donovan seconded. Roll Call Vote Erin Donovan- aye Wendy Shuck- aye Bett McCarthy- aye Gruhn, Martha, 34 Second Way, Barnstable, Map 319, Parcel 003, Built 1940 Install 9 roof mounted solar panels. 3.645 kW. Three panels and battery/inverter equipment will be visible from the street. Wendy Shuck moved to open the public hearing. Seconded by Erin Donovan. Roll Call Vote Erin Donovan- aye Wendy Shuck- aye Bett McCarthy- aye Martha Ghrun was in attendance for this item. Martha presented nine solar panels. Six panels are located on roof planes at the rear of the dwelling and would not be visible from the road. Three panels are located on the garage, are perpendicular to the road, and would be visible from the street. The electrical equipment would be located on the side of the dwelling. Committee Discussion: Wendy- Noted that this proposal meets all the exemption criteria other than the age of the dwelling. Noted that there are other solar panels within the neighborhood and area. She felt the proposal was appropriate but questioned the equipment shown on slide 13 of the proposal at the front of the garage. Equipment located there would not be appropriate. Martha answered that she did not want equipment in the front and was not aware that equipment would be located there. Martha noted her agreement to a modification stipulating no equipment would be located on the street facing side elevation of the house or garage. Erin- Agreed with Wendy’s comments. Suggested the panels on the garage be pushed back to make them even less visible from the street. Also expressed her concerns about the equipment shown in slide 13. Noted that otherwise the proposal is appropriate. Bett- Agreed with the Committee comments. Noted that panels may be visible as long as they are in a contiguous rectangle and not visible from a designated scenic road which this proposal meets. No concerns about this proposal. Public Comment: Bett noted two letters of opposition (Richards and Tirrell letters) were received. Committee members noted they had reviewed the letters prior to the meeting. Janice and Bruce Richards- Objected to the project due to the visible solar panels. After some clarification on the visible solar panels, they noted their support with the modifications. Julie Tirrell- Noted her objection to the proposal as submitted. Also, would agree to support the application with the stipulated modifications. Johnathan Gilmore- Would support the project with the modifications as stipulated. Wendy Shuck moved to close the public hearing. Seconded by Erin Donovan. Roll Call Vote Erin Donovan- aye Wendy Shuck-aye Bett McCarthy- aye Wendy Shuck moved to approve the certificate of appropriateness application for Gruhn, Martha, 34 Second Way, Barnstable, Map 319, Parcel 003, Built 1940 to install 9 roof mounted solar panels. 3.645 kW. Three panels and battery/inverter equipment will be visible from the street with two modifications: the converter/inverter or any other electrical equipment would not be placed on the street facing elevation of the house or garage and the three solar panels located on the left-side of the garage will be shifted toward the rear roof line otherwise as submitted. Erin Donovan seconded. Roll Call Vote Erin Donovan- aye Wendy Shuck- aye Bett McCarthy- aye EXTENSIONS None MINOR MODIFICATION None OTHER: None Approval of Minutes January 14, 2026: Wendy noted two edits: Change the word chair to clerk in the nomination for clerk motion and Erin Donovan abstained from the votes regarding 43 John Maki Road. Wendy Shuck moved to approve the January 14, 2026, minutes with two edits otherwise as submitted. Erin Donovan seconded. Roll Call Vote Erin Donovan- aye Wendy Shuck- aye Bett McCarthy- aye January 28, 2026: Wendy Shuck moved to approve the January 28, 2026, minutes as submitted. Erin Donovan seconded. Roll Call Vote Erin Donovan- aye Wendy Shuck- aye Bett McCarthy- aye Next Meeting Date: February 25, 2026; March 11, 2026 ADJOURNMENT- Wendy Shuck moved to adjourn the meeting Wednesday February 11, 2026. Erin Donovan seconded. Roll Call Vote: Erin Donovan- aye Wendy Shuck- aye Bett McCarthy- aye Meeting adjourned at 7:32pm. Respectfully Submitted, Erica Brown, Administrative Assistant Planning & Development