2021.05.24 Staff Report To: Historical Commission
From: Sarah LaValley
Re: May 24 2021 Historical Commission Staff Report
Please note that staff recommendations are based on the paper record. Applicants may present
other information that could be persuasive.
5:30 PM: Request for a Local Historic District Certificate of Appropriateness
pursuant to Section 195 of the Northampton Code for proposed chimney
removal, railing removal and eave modification. Trustees of Smith College, 41-
45 Elm Street, Chase-Duckett House, Map ID 31B-224.
Broader renovation work to the Chase-Duckett house includes some elements subject to local
historic district review as detailed in the application; eave modification to accommodate
insulation, and removal of a deteriorating wooden railing that is no longer necessary for safety.
The chimney removal is no longer being proposed.
The Commission should review the Design Standards for each proposed piece of regulated work.
Excerpts below:
Steps, stairways and railings are important features of entryways and porches. Where possible, original features and detailing shall be retained or repaired in the same design and
material. When existing features are not original, replacement design and materials shall be appropriate to the style of the building.
The Commission should discuss whether the feature is original with the applicant.
The roof shape and slope shall be preserved as integral to the period of the building. In new
construction, harmonious roof pitches are a major consideration. The roof shape, slope, and materials should be appropriate to the style of building or structure
If the Commission agrees that all or portions of the work meet the standards and is appropriate
for the character of the District, a Certificate of Appropriateness can be issued. The Commission
should also refer to the Design Fundamentals on page 19 of the Standards.
If the Commission finds that a project is inappropriate (certificate is disapproved), it shall
consider whether a certificate of hardship should be issued in accordance with the Ordinance.
Request to Review S106 Decision, Hatfield Street Roundabout
Update - This project was cancelled by MassDOT on May 18. No discussion
needed. A new Section 106 filing can be considered if a project is proposed.
The Historical Commission reviewed the roundabout project under Section 106, the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, in 2012. The NHPA requires federal agencies to consider the
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effects on historic properties of projects they carry out, assist, fund, permit, license, or approve
throughout the country. The Commission found unanimously at that time that the project would
not have a negative impact. The archaeological site was unknown at the time of the
Commission's initial review. A request was made for the Commission to review this and
consider issuing a new comment. The Commission should be aware that following an initial
archaeological investigation, a finding of adverse impact has already been made. This resulted
in an MOU between MassHistoric and the Federal Highway Administration, under which a
more comprehensive archaeological dig was completed.