HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-01-14 Old Center Historic District Commission Minutes North Andover Historic District Commission
Meeting Minutes
January 14, 2025
Present: Roger Lawson, Lisa Roberts, Laurie Belsito, Michael Lenihan, Ryan Schruender
The meeting was called to order at 6.•01 p.m. in Conference Room #2 at Town Hall.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Discussion Item—Potential street si�na eg identifying the boundaries of the Old Center Historic
District
Jean Enright,Director of Planning, Planning Board was present to discuss identification
signage for the Old Center Historic District. This is an effort brought about by the Planning
Department and separate from prior discussion about signage for the Old Center Historic District
within the Commission.
J. Enright discussed the process of attaining signage for Machine Shop Village. She mentioned
the town completed a Wayfinding Plan this past year and signs for the Old Center Historic
District were part of that plan. She said there are five main entry points for the OCHD where
signs would be placed to welcome you into the district. The signs would be visible as you enter
on Osgood St., Massachusetts Ave.,Andover St., coming down from Salem and Johnson St. near
the fire station and from Great Pond Rd. which would be the only pole version of the sign (the
other four would be monument style.) She referred to maps and the CPC fund application in the
packet of meeting materials.
This project was specified to be contingent on getting funding from Community Preservation Act
funds through the CPC. She asked for a letter for support from the commission. There was
discussion of the location on the signs themselves. There was general support from the
commission with L. Belsito voicing reservations about the size of the signs, voicing that she
would recuse herself due to her property being included in the sign placement.
Public Hearing- Certificate of Appropriateness for 20 Johnson Street. This would allow for
removal and replacement of 6 windows
R. Schruender made a motion to open the public hearing for 20 Johnson Street and M. Lenihan
seconded the motion.
There was unanimous consent.
Lars Gomez-Champage, the contractor for this project was present and to discuss the
application. He said this project was requested due to the homeowner trying to get rid of lead
found in the current windows. He proposed new windows that would match the look of the
current windows with the same grid structure which is six over six divided light panes with exact
details in the packet provided. He said the trim would also stay the same.
There was general discussion and approval of the proposed replacements.
R. Schruender made a motion to approve the certificate of appropriateness for three windows
on 20 Johnson St. as presented and L. Roberts seconded the motion.
There was unanimous consent to approve the certificate of appropriateness.
Continued Public Hearing— Certificate of Appropriateness for 13 Chestnut Sheet. This would
allow for window and door replacement.
R. Schruender made a motion to open the public hearing and M. Lenihan seconded it.
Mark Richards, the homeowner specified that he was presenting the application in order to get
an idea of the commissions thoughts on the proposed changes before he invested anything into
the project. He mentioned the requested work was part of a kitchen remodel. The request was to
raise the sill of the existing first floor driveway-side window farthest from the road by around
three inches in order to have it be at the countertop height inside. There was also a proposal to
add another window directly beside it. He further proposed removing the existing door on the
same side and referred to the pictures presented in the handout packet.
There was emphasis from commission members on matching the outside of each new window
the same as existing windows in look and material and the replacement clapboard in place of the
door matching the existing clapboard. There was discussion of leaving a false door on the outside
to keep the original look of the house. There was concern about possibly being a fire safety code
issue if you were to do that.
There was general discussion about working with the homeowner on the proposal with the intent
to make the renovation match as close as possible to what exists. There was specification from
the commission that an ideal replacement window would be a wood window with the muntins
located on the outside of the window with equal divided light panes.
There was request for exact detail in the formal application with general agreement to withdraw
the current application.
R. Scheuender made a motion on the acceptance of the withdrawal of the application and M.
Lenihan seconded it.
Approval of the meeting minutes from 10/29/25 and 12/03/25
R. Schreunder made a motion that we correct an error found in the meeting minutes from
October 29, 2025 that he made a motion to open the public hearing for 4 Johnson St. and then to
close the public hearing for 20 Johnson St. once the application was approved with L. Roberts
seconding each motion.
There was unanimous consent.
R. Schuender made a motion to approve the meeting minutes from dates above and L. Roberts
seconded the motion
There was unanimous consent.
R. Schruender made a motion to adjourn and A Leary seconded the motion.
There was unanimous consent.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:S