HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
October 9, 2007
APPROVED AS AMENDED & CLARIFIED:
11/13/07 jrl____
AGENDA: HEARING FOR OBAID KHAN, 8 Central Square, #114-173
(Changed to PCC with Hearing scheduled for Nov. 13, 2007)
ATTENDING: Clay Dingman (Chairman), Larry Douglas (Vice Chairman),
Dorcas Gordon, Sandra Heaney
ABSENT: Rick Alpers (Sel. Rep. – away), Mark Greenwood (conflict),
Robin Fitzgerald (Alternate – away)
OTHER: -----
The meeting opened at 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES OF JULY 10, 2007: The minutes had been amended by the chairman and were passed around for each member to look at. Ms. Gordon added that, on page 2, under Planning Board Town Survey, 4th line, “she felt that is just important” should be changed to “she felt that it is just as important”.
S. Heaney made a motion, second by D. Gordon, to AMEND THE MINUTES OF JULY 10, 2007 AS PRESENTED THIS EVENING. The motion carried.
Mr. Dingman will e-mail the corrected copy to the secretary for distribution. It was further determined that the minutes will be handled as has been done with the Planning Board: the secretary will e-mail the draft copy and any amendments shall be done at the next meeting. The secretary will then make the necessary corrections and distribute the final copy.
HEARING: OBAID KHAN
Brooke Salom, sub-partner of Mr. Khan, was present and explained that there was a fire in the basement of their building last Sunday at 2:00 a.m. As this is a holiday for Mr. Khan, he chose to stay home with his family and Ms. Salom has come in his stead. As she had no documentation stating that she could represent Mr. Khan, and also that there are missing items from the application that have not been addressed, tonight will be handled as a Preliminary Conceptual Consultation (PCC) and the hearing can be moved to the next meeting. Mr. Dingman explained that they can have a temporary sign in the meantime. Ms. Salom stated that the town clerk that she spoke with told her that she could have a temporary sign for a year. It was explained that this is a wrong statement and Mr. Dingman will see that it is corrected.
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HEARING: OBAID KHAN continued:
Ms. Salom stated that one gentleman from the Pizza Restaurant has now gone. There were 3 brothers and there was a falling out with that one. She has gone over the historic guidelines and is not quite sure what the commission will allow. A discussion followed. Ms. Salom has tried to design a sign with the most basic lettering, she stated.
S. Heaney made a MOTION, second by D. Gordon, to CONTINUE THE HEARING OF OBAID KHAN TO NOVEMBER 13, 2007. The motion CARRIED.
PCC: BROOKE SALOM/OBAID KHAN:
Mr. Dingman stated that the HDC is trying to keep the aesthetic value of the Historic District. The Commission needs to know what the sign will look like, where it is to be placed and the dimensions (of the sign and of the area that it is to be placed on). The applicant can photograph the façade to show this if she would like, Mr. Dingman explained. Ms. Salom stated that they already have the wood, which is 16 x 1 ½, and is to have a glossy black background with gold letters. She would like to add clip art of a piece of pizza and of a cake to represent the two businesses (Pizza Restaurant and Bakery), both of which are occupying the same space. Ms. Salom gave the members her card which shows the piece of cake that she wishes to place on her section of the sign. Ms. Heaney asked why they don’t have separate signs. Ms. Salom answered that she has limited funds for that.
Mr. Dingman explained that the applicants will have 60 days to do a permanent sign after getting approval from this board. Ms. Heaney suggested that Ms. Salom purchase cut stencils to help with cost. She offered to get the information of someone to do this for Ms. Salom. Again Mr. Dingman expressed the items that the commission shall need: look of sign, location and dimensions. As to the dimensions, he added, these are of the sign and of the area where the sign will be located.
Mr. Douglas asked if the new awning is to be permanently open and was told that it is. It has a steel framework. Mr. Dingman offered to give the set types they accept to the stencil person Ms. Salom will be using. The original sign was mentioned and Ms. Salom stated that they still have the original sign and plan on painting over it. She again asked about the clip art. Mr. Dingman stated that the clip art is a concern and depends on what it looks like. Ms. Salom expressed her own concern of having a sign that would do justice to the District. Ms. Heaney thought that the clip art of the cake looks modern but is simple. Mr. Dingman stated that the clip art is okay if done tastefully. Ms. Heaney added that the commission needs a complementary drawing of the pizza. Ms. Salom said that the cake is from Staples clip art and Mr. Dingman thought that Staples might have one of a piece of pizza.
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PCC: SALOM/KHAN continued:
Mr. Douglas asked about a free hand drawing as Ms. Salom had said that she is an artist. Mr. Dingman felt that there would be no problem but cautioned that the lines need to be dense enough. He suggested that the sign have a black background for the lettering but gold where the clip art will be. He advised that they go the temporary sign route for now and then they shall have two months in which to do the permanent sign. Ms. Salom stated that she hates the temporary sign that they have up now.
A discussion of all the non-compliant signs that are up now in the District was held. Mr. Dingman expressed that neon signs are not in compliance. Ms. Salom asked what kind of sign could be had that would show up at night. Mr. Dingman answered that they would need a light to shine on it. He continued to say that he leaves tomorrow on a business trip for a week and will help with the lettering when he returns. In the meantime, he advised that she get all the other things prepared.
The secretary suggested that Ms. Salom come in on Friday afternoon to address the missing segments of the application for both she and Sheryl Montague, the interim Land Use Officer. Ms. Laferriere will need the correct fees, the signing of the application and then the drawings. Ms. Salom said that she will come in.
A discussion was held as to the temporary sign and Mr. Dingman stated that the temporary should look a lot like the permanent one.
DISCUSSION OF PCC’s:
Mr. Douglas asked if the commission can require that everyone have a PCC first as they come so unprepared. A discussion was held and it was thought that we cannot require this but it might be stressed.
SIGNS:
Mr. Dingman is concerned with all the non-compliant signs in the Downtown area and also mentioned the “sandwich” signs. He asked if the commission might need to amend the ordinance so as to be more specific. It was felt that we need to clamp down; perhaps talk to the Land Use Officer. Mr. Dingman stated that he plans on letting the Selectmen know that we need a full-time Land Use Officer when the commission goes in to see them on Nov. 8th. Ms. Heaney thought that we might wait to see if the Land Use Officer can get them into compliance before we change the ordinance.
Ms. Gordon stated that she thinks that the “sandwich” signs are kind of cute and is not offended by them. She feels that it is the signage in the windows that we need to be concerned with. Mr. Douglas stated that the “sandwich” boards began with The Mill when the commission allowed them to use it as a temporary sign. Ms. Heaney stated that the problem is that nobody knows the businesses are there. She mentioned that, in Sandwich, they have a cute little post with the various signs pointing in the direction of the businesses.
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SIGNS continued:
Mr. Douglas asked what recourse we have when a business leaves and the temporary sign is still there. Ms. Heaney felt that the owners of the building would then be responsible.
Mr. Dingman read the Historic District ordinance on interim signs (page 80) and then the temporary signs section in the regular town ordinance (page 25). He felt that, as it is a relief to the applicants for signs in the Historic District, that the section on page 80 would take precedence. Mr. Dingman also mentioned that, when the new Land Use Officer is hired, he would like this person to come in and speak with the commission so that we are all on the same page. He also stated that he had e-mailed Ms. Corrow (town manager) about the non-compliant signs and Ms. Corrow e-mailed back asking for a list. Mr. Dingman answered back asking that the Land Use Officer come in to meet with us.
HISTORIC DISTRICT SIGNS:
Mr. Dingman stated that Jeff Goodrum has not given permission to put a 3rd sign on his building and asked if the commission was okay with having 3 square ones on poles set along the street. The members agreed.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Memos asking for the report for the Town Report, the Selectmen’s meeting dates, and office hours were looked at. As the discussion series on Protecting our Heritage had gone by, the information was disregarded.
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion of a possible joint hearing with the Planning Board for The Mill was
by-passed as The Mill applicants have not applied as yet.
The secretary asked if this board should have copies of the NH Planning & Land Use Regulations. It was determined that Mr. Dingman gets his through the Planning Board and Ms. Heaney through the Zoning Board. Ms. Gordon has her own access to this information. Therefore, three books should be ordered (for Mr. Douglas, Mr. Greenwood and Ms. Fitzgerald).
NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting will be held on Nov. 13th with the hearing for Mr. Khan & Ms. Salom. Mr. Dingman would also like to discuss any ordinance changes that the commission might need.
With no other business, S. Heaney made a motion, second by L Douglas, to adjourn at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Laferriere, secretary