With the addition of new commissioner Peter Graham, the Historic District Commission had a full panel of seven for the first time in months. Commissioners just barely had time to settle into their chairs, however, as a short agenda kept them at the table for only 11 minutes.
The sole application before the commission came from 52 Wall St., where Meghan Morris asked to enclose a rear porch with lap siding to match the rest of the house. Morris also asked approval to lime-wash a stone wall.
City Historic Preservation Officer Kylee Hevrdejs said the all-natural product Morris planned to use would be porous, unlike paint. Commissioner Marty Cogan asked if the product was similar to traditional whitewash, which would only last a couple of years. Hevrdejs said this product should last five to 10 years between applications.
Hevrdejs also noted in her assessment that the porch in question was not a prominent feature, and all approved the application.
The HDC will next meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1. Level III applications were due May 19, and other levels are due May 26. The agenda for that meeting will include consideration of some procedural changes, recommended by the state Preservation Office and the consultant revising commission guidelines. Hevrdejs said the guideline review is almost complete, but she would like to see more public feedback. The draft guidelines are available at espreservation.org.