Historical Commission Considers Revision of Demolition Bylaw

Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Historical Commission (11/9/20)

The meeting was held as a Zoom webinar and was recorded.

Participating
Commision Members: Jane Wald (Chair), Jan Marquardt, Pat Auth, Robin Fordham, Hetty Startup (arrived around 8 PM). Town Staff: Planner Ben Breger

Demolition Bylaw Revision
The Commission continued its discussion of a revised demolition delay zoning bylaw, “The Preservation of Historically Significant Buildings,” to replace Article 13 of the Zoning Bylaw that was criticized by some members of Town Council and developers. The current bylaw states its purpose is to preserve and protect “significant buildings which are part of Amherst’s streetscapes and neighborhoods which constitute or reflect distinctive features of the architectural, cultural, economic, political or social history of the Town and encourage sustainability through the redevelopment of historic structures.” Owners of buildings deemed significant are encouraged “to seek out alternative options that will preserve, rehabilitate, or restore such buildings.” All buildings more than 50 years old will be subject to this bylaw.

The following section regarding exemptions from these regulations was suggested:

The Building Commissioner may issue a Building Permit for Significant Alterations as defined in this Bylaw, without Historical Commission review if proposed Alterations are limited to any of the following: 

• Removal and replacement of exterior architectural features, excluding roofing and siding materials, that replicate significant historic design detail with exact or similar material. 
• The reconstruction, substantially similar in exterior design, of a building, structure or exterior architectural feature damaged or destroyed by fire, storm, or other disaster, provided such reconstruction is begun within one year thereafter and carried forward with due diligence. 

Public Hearing on 1530 South East Street
A public meeting was held for the property at 1530 South East Street owned by Bill Tunnell, an architect and planner, to determine whether a concrete block milking shed and two partially demolished post and beam barns have enough historical significance for demolition to be delayed while options for preservation are studied. A earlier Historical Commission had approved the demolition. Three accessory farm structures with a expired demolition permits will be preserved.

A house will be built at the location of the largest barn, which was previously used for farm equipment, and has a spectacular view of the Mt. Holyoke range. The barn will be moved to a neighboring farm and restored so that farm equipment can be kept there. The other two structures will be adapted for re-use; the smaller barn will be turned into a garage and the milking house will have a different accessory use as already approved by the ZBA. Members of the Commission seemed pleased that the buildings, part of South Amherst’s agricultural heritage, will be preserved and that materials from them will be re-used.

Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) Survey and Planning Grants

Next, the Commission discussed projects that might be eligible for a Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey and Planning funding. A Letter of Intent to apply for  a grant must be delivered to the MHC by 5 p.m. November 16, 2020 for spring 2021 funding. 

Civil War Tablets
Town staff are still fulfilling bureaucratic requirements to have the Civil War marble tablets moved from storage at a Ruxton gravel pit building in North Amherst to the Pole Room in the Bangs Center until a permanent location is decided on. The tablets list Amherst soldiers who served in the Civil War, and are an important aspect of Amherst’s history because of the many Black citizens who served.

 The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for December 9, 2020 at 6:30.