Renovation Project Not Up to Historical Standards

The Historic Preservation Review Commission deemed an application inappropriate Monday night to a renovation project on Brook Valley Road.

The project, represented by builder Nick Minoia, is intended to make additions to the house on 21 Brook Valley Road, Block 29, Lot 1. Two historic preservation professionals, Margaret Hickey and Tom Connelly, were in attendance at the meeting to articulate some issues with the current construction plans.

"I think through minor adjustments to the roofline and fenestration it could be made to comply," Connelly said.

Discrepancies arose between the current planned additions to the structure and the guidelines set forth by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards of Rehabilitation. Article 9 was cited in particular, which states "...the new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment."

Menoia repeatedly asked for suggestions on how to bring about the requested revisions to his plan, which the commission members are procedurally barred from providing. Connelly and Hickey acknowledged that this was not their intended function, either.

"I'm sorry," Hickey said. "That's something you're going to have to take up with your architect."

Contention flared up as Menoia said the he felt the commission was "casting stones" at his architect.

"That's ridiculous," Menoia said. "We're not going to design in a vaccuum here and we're not going to cast stones at my architect."

"Nobody's casting stones at any architect," Commission Chairman Mike O'Brien said.

Ultimately, O'Brien and the commission asked Menoia to consult with his architect and bring more specifics on the adjustments to the project sometime in the near future. O'Brien assured the applicant that the commission was simply following regulation, which the applicant disputed.

"I'm not sure that that's true, Mr. Chairman," Menoia said.

John Visco, the Planning Board's liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission, confirmed that the committee had acted in accordance with all proper rules and regulations.

"The insinuation of the gentlemen when he came before our board was that he was asking you for help and you were stonewalling him," Visco said. "Luckily, we were there to defend your position, that you could listen but you couldn't give suggestions."