Committee Report - Leg Matters - 11-16-10 — File 190443

November 16, 2010 Legislative Matters Committee Page 1 of 2 Printed 11/17/2010 REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE MATTERS COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Thomas F. Taylor Chair Present Rebekah L. Gewirtz Vice Chair Absent Robert C. Trane Ward Seven Alderman Absent John M Connolly Alderman At Large Present Bruce M. Desmond Alderman At Large Present Monica Lamboy OSPCD Present Robert May OSPCD Present Kevin Allen Historic Preservation Commission Present (ID # 1446) - Ordinance Amending the Local Historic District Map to Create Five (5) New Districts (East Somerville, Hinckley-Magoun, Orchard Street, Prospect Hill, and Union Square) and Add Seventeen (17) Properties to These Districts, and to Add Five (5) Properties to Central-Atherton-Spring-Summer (CASS) District (Group C): A Public Hearing was held to discuss the proposed amendment. Ms. Lamboy discussed the benefits of designating certain properties as historic, the process involved and of lost opportunities in declaring some properties as historic. Ms. Lamboy discussed the historical attributes of each of the 22 properties affected by the proposed amendment. Public Hearing: Three individuals spoke in favor of historic designations for 380 Somerville Avenue, 22 Summer Street and 24 Summer Street. Two individuals spoke against designating 7 Central Street as historic so that development possibilities might remain open. That property is owned by the Greek Orthodox Church and is currently undergoing renovations. Other individuals spoke in opposition to designating the properties at 23 Fiske Avenue and 14 Harvard Place. The Public Hearing was closed. The committee discussed the methodology of designating church properties as historic, past appeals made as a result of historic designations and comments received from affected property

Committee Meeting November 16, 2010 Legislative Matters Committee Page 2 of 2 Printed 11/17/2010 owners. Chairman Taylor asked that the Historic Preservation Commission reach out to property owners to inform them what the designation entails. Chairman Taylor will leave the record open until the close of business on November 19, 2010 to receive additional public comment. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE