[MassHistPres] Sidewalks in the historic district

[Gretchen Schuler]

Sidewalks are considered structures and I believe that most HDCs could make an arguement to review - we certainly have in Wayland - and played a major role when the town several years ago received an enhancement grant from Mass Highway to install sidewalks and other improvements and yes we required concrete sidewalks with a brick edge.

Gretchen Schuler
Wayland HDC
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Carol 
  To: Dcolebslade at aol.com ; MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu 
  Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 4:18 PM
  Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Sidewalks in the historic district


  Sorry if you get this more than once, having email program troubles.  cmc

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "Carol" <Carolmcarl at comcast.net>
  To: Dcolebslade at aol.com
  Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 4:11:13 PM
  Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Sidewalks in the historic district




  Because Bedford has amended (via Town Meeting vote and approval from the State Legislature) it's own HDC "Acts of l964" to incorporate all significant landscaping changes in the district that can be viewed from a Public Way, any Town or State plans for major changes to public areas must come before the Commission for approval, as would private property owners.   This has often been challenging, but well worth the amendment.  Trees, blacktopping driveways, topography, and sidewalks (to name a few items) all come under the purview of landscaping.  


  I presume this is not the case in Westport.  However, I would have the Commission encourage the Town to attend a special advertised meeting (not a legal hearing) to discuss in a friendly and open way what the sidewalks would look like in the District.  Do your homework, and have photos of walkways that you deem appropriate ready to view on some type of overhead projector, and with luck and good will, you might find the Town willing to cooperate and still meet legal requirements.


  Good luck on this.
  Carol M Carlson
  Bedford HDC



  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Dcolebslade at aol.com
  To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
  Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2011 2:32:42 PM
  Subject: [MassHistPres] Sidewalks in the historic district


  The Highway Surveyor in Westport has obtained Chapter 90 State funds to redo the sidewalks in town and he wants to do those in the historic district on Main Road.  They need work, there are safety issues, and the town has no other funds to do this.  However, many residents are very worried about the fact that all the existing sidewalks will be ripped out, and new ones, with 6 inch granite curbs and all the other things that they have to do to utilize that funding will have a serious impact on the look of the district.  Many say it would be too "suburban".  My question is if there are any dispensations which are possible from all the requirements of Chapter 90 funds for a historic district.  If you have any such information, please let me know.

  Thanks,  Betty Slade,  Westport

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