All right. Good evening everyone. I'd like to call tonight's meeting of the Fall River Historical Commission to order. Um it is Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
0:08It is 6 o'clock. Uh and we are here in the first floor committee room for at government center. Um pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio uh may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.
0:25Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. Um and uh in addition to that the meeting is being recorded will be available on Fall River Government TV as well as their uh YouTube page afterwards. Um so with that said uh make it a roll call um to my right Ashley Duna president.
0:49Jonathan Lima present. Connie Soul present. Jason Buchard and Iraqi present. Rick Mancini present. Joyce Rodri's present. Thank you. Um, we do not have Elizabeth Del uh here tonight.
1:01Um, I did receive a uh resignation letter from Elizabeth uh dated June 15, 2025. Um, uh, dear Jason, I am writing to inform you of my decision to resign from the Fall River Historical Commission effective July 1st, 2025. I have sold my home and my husband and I are moving uh to New Jersey to be closer to family. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve my community in helping to protect our historic
1:26resources over the past three years. I have learned so much from the talented individuals who make up this board and I will carry this experience with me in my future endeavors. I hope to remain in touch and follow the progress of the local historic district district expansion as well as the many historic tax credit and CPC projects which the board supports. Fall River will always
1:45have a special place in my heart. I know the city has a bright future with great people stewarding its historic resources through this period of new growth and change. If I can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to ask warmly.
1:57Elizabeth Del.
1:59Um do I do we need a vote to accept? No. Um which is uh so Elizabeth um was our secretary uh for the past few years. So um an asset to the group. Um since it is a it will be effective July 1st, we will take a vote at our next meeting to for a replacement of the um the role of secretary. Um and I will inform the mayor's office um a
2:30replacement will be coming from the mayor. Um so um so with that um see it is sad. Um item number one for minutes.
2:44Uh we have to review and approve the minutes from March 18th, 2025. This was this was tabled on April 15, 2025. Um those were sent around uh from Elizabeth.
2:55I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from March 18th, 2025. I'll second them. All right. Seconded. All right. Uh motion by Connie, seconded by Ashley. All in favor?
3:06I I Thank you. Um, and next is to review and approve the minutes from April 15, 2025 tabled on May 20th, 2025. John had uh prepared those.
3:23I'll make a motion to approve. Thank you, Ashley. And we'll second that motion. Thank you. Um, all right. I have a motion by Ashley, seconded by Rick to approve the minutes from April 15th. Uh, all in favor? I I Joyce, are you voting?
3:38Yes. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Um item three to review and approve the minutes from May 20th, 2025. Those are not yet finished. So those will be on the next meeting. Okay. Um make it a motion to table.
3:55I'll make a motion that we table the minutes for the May meeting, May 20th meeting. Thank you. I'll second that motion. All right. Uh motion to table the minutes uh reviewing the minutes for May 20th, 2025. Uh motion made by Rick, seconded by Connie. All in favor? I I I Thank you. All right. Um do I have any citizens uh do we have any citizens input tonight?
4:19Okay.
4:22Um I did not receive any notices of intent to demolish. Um there are no there are no correspondences.
4:30Um under new business item four. Um this is an application uh for a certificate of appropriateness. uh for 710 High Street regarding a side entrance and staircase on the French street facade.
4:43It is a corner property. Um I didn't include the plans. Um do I have um Yes.
4:48Yes. Uh if you could come right to the table please.
4:55Hi, Pedro. Um can you uh um state your name and your address, please? Yes, my name is Pedro Vargas, 710 High Street in Fall River. Thank you.
5:05And um thank you for sending over the application well in advance so we can take a look. And I did forward those to everyone. Um so the questions I first off does anyone have any questions on the scope. So there's currently no staircase on the side of the property.
5:23Um Pedro when you purchased the property it did not have any did not it was just a straight drop to the Okay. Yes. Um, okay. And let's see. Um, the material will be wood. It It'll be wood. Yes. Pressure treated. Pressure treated.
5:45Okay. Um, and the only other thing I noticed, um, will the the support columns holding up the steps.
5:56um seen on the side elev or this is labeled the front elevation but um will are you will you be covering those up at one point or just leaving them open? Um so this would be I guess the 6x6 post. So the 6x6 posts I I believe they're going to be covered in um uh PVC type material white PVC. Okay. Yes. Um like a lattice. Uh I believe um so it'll be similar to the
6:25front what we used in the front porch.
6:27Okay. So something um very similar to what we did in the front.
6:34Um was it so is it paintable? Uh it it is paintable. Okay. So it's not it's not so much a is it like a composite or composite? Like composite. Okay. So it's not not plastic or anything like that.
6:46Composite. Yes. All right.
6:49I was going to say no. Um, that's standard one in material. Correct.
6:54Covering the Yeah, the post. You went by, but you'll be able to walk under.
6:59Yes. This deck. Yeah. So, it's not It's not going to have lattice. It will not have lattice. It will not be enclosed with lattice. It will not be enclosed.
7:05Oh, okay. Okay. Not enclosed.
7:11No, it's open here. Okay. Which which looks I think better. Yeah. Okay.
7:16um and pressuret treated and the the the front porch, by the way, looks great. Um thank you. You're welcome. Um I'm sure I'm glad that I'm I'm sure you're thrilled to have that up in um any questions? Um I and I did not get any comments from the building department. Um I know Eugene Gorgeous was reviewing it. Um he had received it.
7:40Um and he had no no questions on it. Um, and I believe he also went by to take a look at the porch due front porch. Yes.
7:47Um, just all the wood is going to be painted, correct? Yes. So, I I guess it it needs a period of time for the wood to dry, you know, I don't know, like a year. Yes. What is the period? A year. A year. Okay.
8:06Okay. Um, any questions at all?
8:10I might be misremembering, but I I I feel like when we last looked at this uh property and we we had approved the front porch with regard to the side door and and adding the porch, I I I feel like there was a question of replacement or relocation, some decorative pieces uh around the the window or something.
8:32You're right. Oh, is there Yeah, I and and there was a photo of it in the last package, but it's not in this package.
8:39It's the coral that was off to the left of the Yes, there was something there um on the the Thank you, John. on the front uh listed as front elevation. So, the above the door there's there was an overhang like a slight roof overhang. Is that still there? That's still present.
8:57Yes. All right. So, that is it's just not reflected in the drawing. Oh, sorry.
9:02Yeah, it's that's existing. It's still there. Yes. Okay. Um and are you will you be replacing um are you changing anything of that and moving? There's the question on the coral. Okay. No, just the portion. Well, it was the coral from that that window what stood out. Yeah. To move it to match the one that's existing there.
9:26Right. Right. Right. So that that existing and you're doing that, right?
9:30I'm sorry. with you. So, there was a corbal like on on the pot that sticks out like the the bumpout. Mhm. And you were going to move the one that was there to match the existing one over the door.
9:46Okay. Um, so that existing one is still there. I'm not sure where it's hard without having the picture of that. Um, we had a full discussion about it. Yeah.
10:00Um, and it's not on here, but um, I thought there was talk about moving a window or something that would require that, but it doesn't nothing. We have not you're not moving. We haven't moved anywhere. So, instead of having a door, it was going to be a window because you wanted a Yes, there's a door currently. So, I I think we talked last maybe about getting rid of that door and putting a window
10:25and that would require to match it.
10:27Yeah, that's it. But instead, you'll keep the door. Correct. Okay. Yes, that's it. Thank you. Thank you. Okay.
10:34Is that door being replaced? The door I think I'm gonna keep the door. Just resend it. Yeah, it's an old door. I think it's really nice.
10:43Um, so we um storm doors are not under our purview, but if you happen to replace that door uh down the line, we will need because it is on the corner and seen from the street, we will we do need to review that. Um but uh storm windows and storm doors are excluded from our review. Um but any other questions on that? Thank you for Yeah. The handrail the um rail
11:11guard rail here is 36 in. Yes. uh because of the nature of the home and the section that could be reduced a little bit if you if you want to in order to blend it in and keep that package small. Great. Smaller looking.
11:27So, good to know. You can make that decision with your contractor. Kind of match it up to the front what you did in front. You can reduce the height. Good to know. Thank you very much. Yeah. any uh any um houses that are listed um I either on our city city register or if they're included in a national register district etc. um they have allowances through um forget the code number but
11:49it's the Massachusetts existing building um code um so with regard to railing height and um okay okay the window to the right of the door is that is there a window there there is a window there um okay I don't have any other questions on that all All right. Um, no questions. Um, so this would be a certificate of appropriateness. Um, I'll make a motion that we uh issue the letter of
12:22appropriateness to complete the deck.
12:25Ashley. All right. I have a motion uh by Rick for a certificate of appropriateness uh for 710 High Street.
12:32Seconded by Ashley. Uh we'll do a roll call vote for this. Um Ashley, yes.
12:36John, yes. Connie, yes. Rick, yes.
12:40Joyce, yes. And Jason Bushard and Iraqi, yes. All right. Um, thank you, Pedro.
12:46Um, I will prepare that and send it. Um, I'll email you. I usually, uh, include it to Carrie in the licensing department and she will bring that over to the building department so that way you can get your permit. Thank you very much.
12:57Thank you very much. Nice color also. I appreciate that. Good.
13:02Very good.
13:05Um, all right. So, um, item number five, um, I don't have any material on it here. Um it is 637 High Street. Um a request for a C cert sorry certificate of appropriateness for a replacement asphalt shingle roof over the garage.
13:23Yes. Good evening. Good evening.
13:31And both properties are within the um Highlands local historic district. This is a copy from the insurance inspect.
13:39And this is Oh, excellent.
13:43Okay. Thank you.
13:47Okay. Um I will make a motion to accept the material, please. Motion. Motion to accept the material for number five. To accept the material. Okay.
14:02I'll second that one. Yeah. Thank you.
14:05All right. All in favor? Um we'll do a roll call on that just in case. Um Okay.
14:09So, this is just to accept the motion to accept the items uh presented by the homeowner. Um, and I'm sorry, can you uh state your name and your address, please? Yes. Joseph Nasala. I own the house on 637 High Street. Thank you.
14:27Um, so I have a motion by Ashley, seconded by John to accept the material for item number five. Uh, roll call.
14:34Ashley, yes. John, yes. Connie, yes.
14:38Rick. Yes. Joyce. Yes. And Jason Bashard and Iraqi. Yes. Thanks. Tell you what, we'll do this. We'll split these up.
14:48Yeah, we'll share them. So, Joyce has hers. Thank you. There you go. You guys can split. Okay. Sorry. While we get re organized here. Um, I'm sorry. There you go. Okay. Um, so this is in regards to the garage. Um so which the garage is in the back of the property. It is the roof line uh is visible from the street. Um so you are replacing the existing roof which is asphalt shingles with like in kind.
15:22And are these these are the three ply or not the three ply but the three tabs.
15:27Yeah. Three tabs. Yeah. Three tabs. And and architectural.
15:31Yes. Yes. Okay. Um and that shingles match the existing house. Mhm. Oh, okay.
15:36The same. Excellent. Um, and yeah, it's already asphalt and so everything that was in 2015, uh, from when the district was created was grandfathered in. Correct. Um, and and it's just a like and kind replacement, it appears. Y um, okay. And when will um I believe so I believe the work had already started to strip the roof and you have the rubber or the I didn't know like we have
16:08to go through all those right um and uh which that has happened a few times with with roofing. Um it's not necess some sometimes the contractors don't know that um especially in the the historic district that there's uh an add one additional step um just to ensure that the material is compatible and um so it's it's pretty straightforward. Um did the we had some rain over the weekend so the material held up over the
16:38we put ice and water all over you did.
16:41So okay to protect it. So okay all right this is pretty easy. Sure. I'm ready.
16:48Yeah. Make a motion. I'll move that.
16:50Okay. Uh I'll make a motion that we uh accept the shingles and the Okay. I'll second that motion. Seconded by Joyce.
16:58Okay. So, I have a and send a letter of appropriateness. Okay. All right. So, I have a motion by Rick, seconded by Joyce for a letter of I'm sorry, certificate of appropriateness for 637 High Street.
17:09Roll call vote. Ashley, yes. John, yes.
17:12Connie, yes. Rick, yes. Joyce, yes. and Jason Buchard and Rocky. Yes. All right.
17:18Um, Mr. Nostala, I will send over the certificate over to Carrie uh in the licensing department. The building department will have a copy of that tomorrow. Um, uh, Monday is a I'm sorry, not Monday. Thursday is a holiday. Um, so city hall is closed. Um, but uh, if you check back tomorrow around noon or so, they'll have it uh they'll have the certificate by then. No. Okay. Thank you very much. My pleasure. Have a good
17:42evening.
17:45Do you need a copy? Do you want these at all? No. Okay.
17:50Okay. Um item number six, uh we have uh the Fall River Congregational Church at 282 Rock Street, uh requesting a letter of support to accompany a C, uh Community Preservation Act grant application. Oh, good evening. Okay. Good evening.
18:08Um in your material Oh my gosh. My goodness.
18:13Thank you.
18:15Thank you. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Thank you very much.
18:20So, so the the scope of work is on page 24 as well and and uh which shows the kind of what what we're what we're working on in terms of the way ahead.
18:32And that's a kind of a kind of a complete history of the church up into about the year 2000 or so. So, if it gives you a sense of the both the building and the and um and the kind of the historic nature of the church within the city. Okay. Um if you wouldn't mind stating your names and your addresses.
18:47Sure. I'm Reverend Andy Stinson, 282 Rock Street. So, I'm Abby McQuain. I am assisting with the grant application. I don't live Gary Fernandes. I'm a member of the Congregational Church in Florida, head of the pastoral relations committee.
19:06uh property property and credential committee. Sorry.
19:11Welcome. Thank you. Welcome. Um great.
19:14Um so this um so the application and uh Abby, thank you for sending everything over. Um so the when is the application period open, Rick, for CPC? Uh September. September. Okay. Yeah, you're ahead of the ahead of the game.
19:30Actually, you could you could put it in now.
19:33Wouldn't matter. It's just that we start the review. CPC starts the review in September. I'm just a member of that board. Okay, that's great to know. Thank you. Yeah. And I'm sorry. I know this isn't a CPC meeting, but is the application the same every year?
19:50You mean the the the form? Yeah. Yeah.
19:52Yes. Yeah. Oh, it is. Okay, great.
19:55Um, what I would recommend is this if you're involved in this to call Sandy Dennis. Yeah, I did. And she's actually the one who um referred me to Jason.
20:05Yes. Yes. You have to come here in order to get But you can ask her for a form, right? We made some changes in language.
20:13It doesn't change the form. Okay. It's only a few words. We just changed a bit, but you might want to just make sure that you've got the latest version.
20:22Exactly. Yeah, that was my concern.
20:24Okay. Wonderful. I appreciate that.
20:25Okay. Um, so for those that are um of the board that's not familiar with the So it's in the National Reg the Highland uh is it Highlands or local uh Lower Highlands? It's the Highlands. It is the Highlands. Okay. Um National Registered District. Um and um what's very significant too about the building um the architects that designed it were uh one of which were students under um HH
20:49Richardson who kind of fathered the uh Romanesque revival movement in America.
20:55Um, so which is I like to throw that in because it is it makes it adds to the uh importance of the building architecturally. Um, so this is pretty extensive regarding the the work. So I did see that scaffolding was already going up. Um, and this is all for weather proofing or not weatherproofing but uh repointing of the stonework. It's both repointing and and refashioning of the of the inner wall and the and the um
21:21where you know mortar is generally good for 100 years. We're at about 115 and so we're it's it's time to uh to address the both structurally and uh and the repointing of the tower. Okay. I noticed working on the south side, now they're on the north side of the tower, but they were on the south side of the building for quite a while. Are they are you repointing the entire building or is it
21:44just structurally compromised?
21:48So there so it's it's been kind of an unfolding process. they've been uh as we've gotten into it, it will be the the goal is that it will all be repointed at eventually, but we're at a point where um that's going to be an incremental process because of the both the the securing that needs to happen along the way because you don't want to point before things are secured so that so
22:09that the pointing doesn't move and that sort of thing. So, so we're kind of in that um so we're kind of taking it a bite at a time and uh it's going so our biggest focus was water ingress. So, we had the ventilation towers uh that we had some issues with and the main tower as well. Uh from a budgeting standpoint, we we tackled the ventilation towers.
22:33Those are watertight now. Uh and there's been some pointing on the outside of the ventilation towers as well. That portion of the project is done. We're focusing on the stairwell towers right now. Uh making those watertight, uh the roof and the pointing. Uh the next big project is a tower stabilization.
22:54And so on the uh paperwork that uh that Abby that you sent over um project cost estimate. So it says 1,759,400.
23:03Is that for the entire project or is that for per scope? I believe that's just for the tower. It's it's a it's a scope of the total project quoted in uh August of 2024 is approximately $4 million.
23:23So we're we're using a company architectural firm out of the vector called T2 architecture. T2. Okay. Uh there are um they're developing all the drawings for us preparing everything go out for bid helping us with contract identifying contractors those kind of things. But we're also partnering with John Wattney. Uh he's probably one of the best architects uh on the east coast anyway for historical buildings like
23:50this. Okay. Uh he's been working with our church for over 10 or 15 years now.
23:56His company is Structures North.
23:58Structures North. Structures North.
24:00They're they're working on uh the Statue of Liberty right now.
24:05So, we we did about a three $750,000 project 10 years ago. From a stabilization standpoint to uh support the bell tower roof, replace that roof.
24:17Uh make everything safe. We had to net some of the uh the traceyer work up top as well, just to keep it just to keep it safe. Okay. Uh and uh now we're focusing on the water ingress, stopping that, and also the structural work, all of the pinning and everything. Okay.
24:38I know you don't have questions. Um, all right. And what's the estimated timeline for the project?
24:46Well, part of that's going to we have a number of grants out and part of that's going to be contingent on on funding. I mean, we have a a we have some funds set aside for the project, but we're going to continue to write grants and work through the grant process. And so that's um you know the the I think even you know if it were to go kind of wide
25:06openen throttle it would be a year-long project. Um but I expect it will pro it will be you know I think with full expectation it'll be longer than that but phased in it be yeah we're we're kind of and and part of what it is is what we've discovered as we kind of get into the building we discover some things that need addressing before other things and that sort of thing. So okay
25:24it's um yeah but that's been unfolding.
25:27Um Rick on CPC is there um I'm trying to think like a minimum and a maximum in terms of the grant packages that have been approved from CPC dollars. Yeah. Just out of curiosity. Uh no. Okay. All right. It it all depends on how the funding how much funding we receive. Right. Okay. Okay. That that that dictates the amount of money that we have and then the number of projects.
25:57Okay. Okay. Yeah. Um Okay. I just asked because I I in past we haven't the projects that we've reviewed for letters of support. Um I don't believe they've the prices have fluctuated. So that's why I was just wondering. Yeah. We we won't be asking for $1.4 million. Okay.
26:16Um what what do you anticipate your the application the request to be then for CPC? Sure. Um, so I think right now we're estimating approximately 250K. Um, we also have there's another um, grant to which we've applied. Um, we won't hear back from them until the fall. Um, but they require uh, a 50% match and so we're hoping to use the CPC towards that matching. Okay. Um, is it um, it's not
26:43through to sacred places? Yeah. Um oftent times uh oh through national um so oftent times the uh any type of federal funding um the only allowed um uh like I guess federal match to that um is through CPC. Um we the I know the preservation society fall river just went through the whole process or I'm sorry the city went through the process uh for um uh the feasibility study for
27:11the bankstrew armory and um so they have an a grant application through the state and the um it's a match and the match would uh the only federal federally approved match would come from the city.
27:21Um, so that's just why I ask. Um, okay.
27:26Um, just for some background, uh, to date, we we've spent just about $600,000, a little bit more than that on the work that we've done, uh, the end of 2024 and and this year, uh, self-funded.
27:41Uh, so obviously the grants are going to be important to us to to continue. We've we've done uh I won't say the lower cost options, but the biggest bang for the bucks from a water ingress standpoint uh now and uh the expense really is coming when you start the the structural repairs of the pinning and ranking and especially as you said your um mortar is good for 100 years or so.
28:08You're running past that right now. So um Okay, great. Um, any questions from anyone else? No. What a great project. Thank you. Thank you for doing this. Yeah, it's really it's really an honor to do it. I mean, it's it's a it's one of the most I I I think it's one of the most beautiful builds in the city. So, um you know, and so we're it's really to to safeguard it for generations to come is
28:31really a gift. So, and for and especially in the Highlands, there's not a whole there's a few uh parishes that are still active um in these large massive buildings that you know were expected to stand the test of time and I mean and it's held up pretty well uh considering and um but we've seen other churches uh you know St. An's uh central congregational they've all needed extensive work so many of times I've
28:55used the church as a backdrop to pictures. Yeah, it's the most photographed doors in the city but uh It's beautiful.
29:03Well, we very we're very thankful for your support as we move forward. Um, yeah, just a few questions and I'm sure that when you go before the CPC, there'll be a lot of questions regarding the materials and things, but u it's I'm just looking here going to demolish existing asphalt copper coated roof. So, the roof is going to be removed in its entirety.
29:27the the the tower roof. The tower roof.
29:31Yes. Okay. And those have been replaced.
29:33Actually, those have been replaced. So, those aren't visible from the street.
29:36These these are within the tower where the where the bell is is placed. Okay.
29:41Uh there was a roof 10 years ago that some work was done on, but there was a lot of water and grass from that area.
29:48So, that roof was removed and replaced with all copper flashing. It's actually beautiful. Yeah. Okay.
29:56And so most of this work is or is not visible from the street. Nothing except the pointing would be visible from the street. Okay. Um and and the window work which is going to be ongoing over time.
30:11Oh yeah. Um and any uh uh for CPC or any grants through CPC or the CPA rather um the they just um the requirement also is that any work uh has to adhere to the secretary of the interior standards for the treatment of historic properties which uh if you're dealing with an architect who's working on Statue of Liberty, you should have that. had many many conversations with structure north
30:36and T2 and they're they're extremely familiar with you know with all the guidelines and we're we're using uh very skilled craftsmen that are doing the techniques that were you know developed 200 years ago. Okay. Yeah. Great. Wow.
30:51Well, that answers a lot of the questions.
30:55Some of this material is actually is kind of foreign to me at this point. So, I'm gonna just do my own research, but Well, anytime you want to walk around, just stop in love to show it off. Are you familiar with this material? I've heard of it before. Yeah. I haven't We haven't used it. Um, but yes.
31:14Okay. You ask about the roof roofing material. Yes. Yeah. Roofing and the contract called the Cadillac of roofing systems. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Yeah. We're like, can we get a Buick? But no, it's a Cadillac. So, yeah. Great. No, this is this is incredibly in very detailed.
31:33Thank you. Um good job. Yeah, thank you.
31:36Nice job. Um so, um any other questions for and I will probably be within the next week or two swinging by just from a historic commission viewpoint. Glad to show it off. Yeah, absolutely.
31:50I will make a motion to um provide a letter of support for the CPC grant application. I'll second that motion. All right. Thank you. Um so I have a motion by Ashley, seconded by Connie for letter of support uh for the congregational church. Uh roll call. Ashley, yes. John, yes.
32:11Connie, yes. Rick, yes. Joyce, yes. And Jason Bashardi, yes. And thank you.
32:16Thank you very much. Thank you. One one question. Thanks. Thank you for this letter of support from a standpoint of uh Richard from asking for how much to ask for. Uh what's your recommendation or what is the standard for for that? I mean, we could ask for 250 like Abby mentioned and try to get another matching 250. That would help tremendously for us. Uh are we asking too little? Are we asking too much? Uh I
32:44I I couldn't comment on that. Uh, and I don't think I should be in that position to do that here, but that's a very good question that you should bring up when you're sitting before the CPC. I will I will say I know this is a massive project. Yeah. And what you should and it's your legacy really to the church and to Fall River.
33:11I mean, this is just the tower. Imagine I I've walked the church. I've been in the church. I know how many areas are visible. Imagine what isn't.
33:24And it's a massive, massive undertaking.
33:28Congratulations.
33:30Thank you. I guess just as a guide.
33:33Look, you're doing a great job. You're putting things together. You're heading in the right direction. just use good basic thought about the the issue and and you'll be okay and then bring it before the CPC. And this is not the most that has come before us for a letter of support. We've had requests for much higher. So it's not that's just a guide.
33:57Okay.
33:59Thank you so much. Thank you. You're welcome.
34:03Good question though. I just All right, thank you everyone. Um, so item number seven, um, this is for discussion. Um, regarding 550 to 570 Rock Street. Um, this is a boundary change to the lot within the Highlands uh, local historic district. Um, at our last meeting, we um, received a letter from um, uh, Jason Kmin, Jason and Aaron Kimidi. Um, did you wanna uh, as we discussed, did you want to come um, do
34:40you want to come forward? Come forward and Yeah, we'll discuss. Okay. I don't have the letter, but Okay. Have they given this to us? Yes. That's amazing.
34:48These are beautiful. Mhm. Collected copies. Mhm. I don't have anything to present. No, no, that's okay. That's okay. That's okay. No gifts. You're not bearing gifts. Um, I did include in your packet there's this map. So um regarding the boundary change, so I did reach out so at our last meeting uh we had the letter um regarding the there was a question over the change at the boundary of the lot because um this so the
35:18property at 55570 Rock Street had included a large sideyard. Um that sideyard had uh been was subdivided was a standalone lot uh lot from my understanding and then the lot line uh merged to 492 Rock Street which is just south of 5570 the and and you can see that here on the map. Um so it's here in the corner. um here in the corner the um but the question that we had because there's
35:50a whole process um through the mass historical commission um oh and the state ordinance um it's chapter 4C I think section three any reduction of a local historic district there's um there's procedures for expanding and reducing but um and it's not the same so reducing uh requires uh notification to the historical commission. Um the uh all the property owners within the local historic district need to be notified of
36:22the intent to reduce the boundary line.
36:25Um there's obviously a public meeting that would have to be held for that or public meetings depending. Um and then uh basically a new uh more or less a new study report or notification to the state with a completely new map uh drawn up. Um so the the ma mass historical commission still views the grass lot in the 40C district. Um but in the city um uh the city G uh the um uh tax assessor it
37:02shows that the property is now uh what is the sideyard um it's still it's not within the 4DC. So there's some question on that. Um so I did reach out to um the state for clarification um because the map that is in the city ordinance was very hard to read. Um, not that this is any better, but this is what they had provided. Um, and I did inquire regarding uh because we are in the process of
37:31expanding the district. Um, and whether or not the homeowner, the property owner at 492 wanted to keep the sideyard in the 40C. Um, their intent, I believe, is that they do not want the sideyard in the 40C. Um and just to keep it um I think just for simplicity purposes because the the state will show the yard as being in the 4DC but um it's technically one lot. So like one
38:04lot halfway down the line is being excluded and part of it is being included. Um and so that's it gets it's a little it it seems complicated. Um but the um the state did uh indicate that if we as we are in the process of expanding the district, we can have the map uh redrawn um if necessary to exclude it.
38:27We I mean our we will be notifying all the property owners in the 40C anyways regarding this. So I think this um uh regarding the expansion but also to indicate that there will be the reduction in the 40C uh in that little that little corner. Um but from my understanding I the uh the property owner wishes to not have the that that grass lot 550 570 will remain in the 40C. Um but the side lawn will
38:59they're they're asking for to not be included in the 40C. owns the sidewalk.
39:03Um that will be the um the 490 492 council and he owns 550 and 570. Oh, he owned all of that. He owns the whole the whole line there now. Yeah. So he removed it from 550 to put it out of the district into 492. I'd like to see some proof that it was a separate lot because uh we it's very difficult online to find that information, but um it looked in
39:25the agreement that it was separated from the lot. Right. And I um I think the the previous owners of 570 55570 had initially subdivided I believe his request was like right um and but I think for a period of time the the grass lot was separate was completely separate. I don't know. I'd like to see the proof on that. Um but it may have been separated by them. I mean the Holy
39:49Union sisters did the separation but that's right. Yeah. Who really did it?
39:55Um, and because I looked on the the the city's um GIS map just to see and it shows 492 is the whole that the property where the house is plus the side sideyard. Um, but uh because there's a I know the I think 55570 is coming before zoning at the at the end of this month.
40:15I believe June 26th was 26th. 26th 26th.
40:18Okay. Um and um nothing has been brought to us uh from the owner regarding their zoning application if they need like a letter of support or anything like that.
40:30Nothing's been brought to us. So um but um yeah, I'm confused. Why are we talking about this? Like what is the what's the problem? Is is there an issue? We're very upset because first sorry I'm sorry Jason we own 544 high street we reside in the44 yeah it's not on the um we're just we would be you're just in the area4 so you are positioning that you want to keep it right so standing would be that
41:06we would be an agrieved party as an owner in this 40C district that we would have standing to contest the matter um but we would yes we would argue to keep it for a number of reasons, but um just simply removing it through a GIS map doesn't um fit the criteria to get approval through um the Massachusetts.
41:25Yeah. The state um the city council who drew the map approved the map. So, it totally circumvented all that. So, any perceived reduction of that space is invalid. Like on the GIS map, sure it shows out of it. Um but it didn't go through any of the the requirements to get it out of there. And I and um in seeing what we've we what we've had in in the past when it comes to any
41:47property owners in the 40C, for somebody who buys in the property, um we have a lot of property owners who if they purchase, they have no idea that they're in the 40C. It doesn't come up on their um on the the property map. What's that?
42:01Point of order. He was the co-chair of the historical commission, so he knows.
42:05I know. Yes. Um just want to read that.
42:07Yes. Um, so with regards to just um for that purpose though, it's not an overlay zone. It doesn't come up on the property tax card or uh anything of that nature.
42:19Um, so uh I think had the had it been uh structured a little bit differently and um like every other community uh around us that have local historic districts, it's it's a it's an overlay. Why isn't it here? I don't know. Is something preventing it? like what can we do to make that happen? Is that city red tape that has prevented that from moving forward? Um I it's I don't think it's
42:45necessary I'm sorry. I don't think it's necessarily um being prevented from the city. I've asked um trying to figure out who the proper party is to to ask and I um I have brought it up with the building department. and I have brought it up with um the uh planning engineering department um on how to effectively create a historic district overlay um that one it will help the building department too when they have
43:16to and when somebody comes in for a permit um because right now they're doing they're going through a manual list even though everything is online and and and digital basically um when if there's an address on the high street rock street prospect I will always get an from the uh from the licensing department for clarification. Is this property in the 40C? Um when if it was just listed on the property the the
43:39property card, the tax card, they will have that information ready to go. Right now with the building permit, you they ask you is it in the historic district?
43:47It's archaic.
43:49Yeah. Um, and like I said, other communities uh that I that I have experienced and I'm sure you have experience and they all um it comes up instantly when you go to reference a property um because it it's a a formal uh zone. Um and we've had problems in the past when people have come before us after they've started work because they weren't aware they were supposed to.
44:14It's been 10 years, right? Yeah. And for like new new buyers, like people that move in, we've requested that like um at the registry of deeds, there'd be some kind of information or even when the house is put up for sale that that be disclosed and even then it's not happening. It's really a problem within the city. like it's and I did ask the owner if they if they were aware if the property was
44:45in the um the 40C they said no the the lot the side lot who says that the owner of the property really the the co-chair former co-chair yeah okay the former co-chair of former co-chair yes of the historical commission doesn't know that the lot that was in the map was in the district you understand how that sounds yes the head of the organization leading legal in the city does it. Okay. So,
45:11with regard to that when if the property had been adequately zoned then it would I I mean I'm just playing devil's advocate here. I think that would then it would have come up that there was a an overlay um that it is in the 40C. Um, so, um, I don't think they have any intentions for the property. Um, it's why would you remove it from the district if he didn't have intentions,
45:40right? He has intentions of putting 15 apartments across the street from one member of the board right there. Why wouldn't he have something up his sleeves? Of course, he does.
45:50But that would have to come before us, correct? Zoning.
45:55Um, dep Yeah. So, so as it stands, if there's any for 550, 570, if there's any work to the exterior of the building, um, yes, then it comes before us. uh parking that parking lots I looked that up in the guidel driveways are excluded. Um the only thing that would um that we can stress would be uh landscaping to conceal something up um which we've done in the past. Um but
46:30um aside from that um if there's any changes to the exterior of the building, yes. um anything that's seen from a public way. Um and I think also to the walls, any structural walls like uh there's a I believe in the back of 550 there's a or yeah there's a big retaining wall that would also come before our review. Um who's the owner of this property? Can I ask that? Um Alan Ramsey, Corporation
46:54Council, former co-chair of the historical commission. So 55570 is owned it's owned by the technical owner is an LLC but it is owned by Yes.
47:07Um sort of pierce pierce the veil on that one a little bit. Um so at our at our last meeting we did um we had agreed to bring this up for discussion because we couldn't discuss the matter at our last meeting. It was not on the agenda.
47:21So um that's why it's on our on our agenda for review. Um and but as far as I know, there was no notification to the state or and even to us. Um uh yeah, and the property was changed in 2020. I think it was a property 20 September 25th, 2020. And um I believe that it was illegally done because it changes the setting of the the possible setting of this neighborhood and it can
47:49be fined up to half a million dollars right now based on $300 a day. I'd also question what his reasoning is for removing it from the district.
47:59I don't know because he has to have that, right? Um so that's what it but this all takes place at should have or did or whether we know or not takes place at a state level. We get notified first. We should we should be getting notified first and then we notify the state of the intent to reduce we um so we have to approve the reduction on the city level and then it goes to the state
48:25level. Correct. But there's stuff when was that done? It was not done. It was not done. No. So we're just pretending that it was done not us just like the GIS map and all the other things. The city's information is wrong. The city's information is showing that it's been done but it actually wasn't done. I suppose just to answer your question, it goes to you, then it goes to the city
48:45council and then this never came. Not really on No. No. Okay. So, it skipped a step. Skipped a bunch of Okay. With regard to um the property line though, if there's a change outside of the 40C, um if there's a change to any property line, don't the abuters get notified? They should.
49:08You're on a butter. I never was notified. Also, uh the um because we're in the district, it would be anybody in the district and probably anybody 100 feet from the district parties. And you never received anything? No. Okay. Um Okay. So, All right. Um I heard about it after it was done, right?
49:30Um what are our what can we do um as a commission to I guess prove that it was done correctly but we know it wasn't done correctly because it wasn't brought here and that's step one. So, how do we go work through backwards to have that done or to have the state say it's okay? I would say that the city has to undo what they did and stop from square one. So, it's the proper steps
50:05are taken. You're going to need some legal input from the city.
50:11He is legal in I know, but we're going to need legal input from the city. Uh the city council is probably going to get involved in this because they should have been involved originally. Uh and then I would then think we would go to the state to get the state's opinion. Uh and the state is very rigid in these matters and and they they want to show due cause and and they want to show item
50:40by item and and moment by moment of how all of this, you know, transition.
50:46Uh so that's that's sort of the the steps that we have to take. But it you you we've got to get legal involved in this first.
51:00What what is the Oh, you what is the end effect? I know you did cuz I got all these that is, you know, for me like I get the principle of it, but uh if it stays in the local district, does that make it nonbuildable or what is the net effect? It's it's it's it's buildable to an extent like we would have we would review any new construction that goes on
51:24that property um as it pertains to the design guidelines. Um and I mean that's that's being as simple as possible. It's a little complex because sorry the two he actually combined the property 492 with it's a non district with a historical district property. So he made a rose gone mango he made it very difficult to and I'll also point out in his variance and special permit requests for 550 570
51:50where he wants to put in 15 Rockview wants to put in 15 apartment units. Uh there is a request for a waiver of non-conforming space. So, he's going to pave and asphalt a very small space that is non-conforming. Whereas, had he had I don't support the 15, just full disclosure, I don't support the 15 apartments, but if he had more space, he wouldn't then need as much of the variance and waiver to build up this
52:18parking lot he's putting in there. And then, Go ahead. Sorry. I'm not an attorney, but if you take a piece of property and you annex it to your property, the boundary lines of the 40C has not changed. So you what you probably have is a larger piece of property with a boundary line where a certain section is under the 46 provisions. You know, I can't see how that would change. So the it it almost
52:49appears to be two actions. one, the land was put into one large piece of property and and merged, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the boundaries for the 40C have been changed. No, they haven't. Yeah. According to according to the state, they have not been changed.
53:09City council, I I requested from the city clerk the any changes in the original. And I got two things back, both laws, one from 2020 2014, one from 2022, and they both have the same map.
53:19Mhm. Yep. Yep. But I'm sorry. We understand from your conversation that the intent is to his plan intent is to take it out of the district. The separate law. Yeah. The separate law. He he wishes to have it removed from that's I I don't know if that's if he's if that's his final decision, but at the time when I had spoken with him, yes. Um to be on the record that I'm fully
53:44against anything being removed from this historical district. And if it is, I'm not being anymore. She can also put my request in remove. So I we should probably ask the property owner to appear perhaps at our next meeting. Um his representation as as you know from 268A he can't represent himself that's going to matter. um just so we have some clarification from him um from them
54:14anyways uh on the intent of the property um uh with regard to the parking although even though we don't have that's excluded from us I do know I believe it has to go through conservation because it's a sizable increase of um what is it impervious is that the word surface um and it's on the top of the hill with significant downs slope behind it. Um so yeah um it will get reviewed. That's great. Yeah, it's
54:46just a concept of trying to remove green space permeable surfaces and then um overbuild on a lot.
54:56Um okay just they there there are ways they can they can use an asphalt that's that's perable. All right. Or you can put those drains out there out in the yard and drain the water off. Yeah, there are ways to do it. It's just a con there are many. Yes. So they someone can come in and and give you a whole series of examples. But what's going to happen when the building gets
55:26or when the property is changed? What do you do then? That's a whole other uh scenario, right? the design might be completely different from the conversation.
55:38So it's it's first of a kind for the 40C. Right.
55:43Yeah. I don't think it fits with the neighborhood at all what he's trying to do. So I mean right now it's possible. I um the and I mean this this further supports the need to have um an overlay zone. Um, so we've had Yeah. Would it would it be an order for this commission to ask our legal counsel for some sort of explanation or or opinion. Uh, we could go that route probably first and see
56:19what kind of response we get back. Mhm.
56:22Um, so yeah, it would be a letter from this commission going out to our legal saying, "We need some representation here. We need some legal advice and let's find out."
56:35And hopefully we could have that for our next meeting.
56:40This is for discussion. So, we can't take a vote on there's nothing to vote to approve.
56:47Um, but I could reach I mean it just seems foolish, right? You're asking the person making a mistake how to fix their mistake. Well, there there are associates within the department. There are associates within the department.
57:05So, yeah. All right. And there are it's worth a shot. I mean, I that's probably our first step. That's probably the only control that we have, right?
57:14Unfortunately, I totally understand. You can find $300 a day. I'm sorry. You can find $300 a day from 2025. That's your power. That is not the coverage of council has nothing to do with that.
57:24That's your power. That's $500,000 because of the egregious nature of what he did. Yeah. I think trying to do it under the under the covers kind of. You see, and that's where that's where I I I I it would be probably incumbent upon us to go out, reach out for legal counsel. Yeah. And see what kind of response we're getting back.
57:51That's going to give us better direction as to which way we want to move. Right now, we're in a quandry, right? Uh but but we get some legal opinions back now. Now, we got a little we get some definition. We got some some movement going. Those legal opinions are team.
58:09Well, what's yes, but unfortunately those are the avenues we have to take being as a commission for the city of Fall River. Your hands. Again, I understand. Um, however, I also don't think that we can speak to what his plan is or his apartments or any of that.
58:26None of that has come before us. So, as far as I'm concerned, I know nothing about it and it's not my business. Um, however, changing the boundary line is our business and I think at this point that's probably the only thing we can attempt to address. Right. So for our next meeting, I can I will request for him to the owner to appear before us regarding that. So we have their plans
58:48before us. Yeah. And I think as as a property owner, not as a city employee.
58:54Right. Yeah. And then we'll have a definition of this of the legal council's opinion as to where this boundary is and and whether it's still established or not.
59:07At that point, the next step would be to talk to the state and get the state's opinion on the same issue. Okay.
59:18Let us move forward a little bit. And as Ashley says, we the the amount of apartments at this point is not what's in question here at this commission.
59:30It's the change of the boundary line.
59:31Good point. Exactly. Um so because yeah, we don't we don't have it written right on record. So and it may come back from um the city's legal that it's a conflict of interest and they can't help us which then will have to go to the state level.
59:52Okay. I also have another concern regarding the zoning board. Um I don't think they understand what the historic commission does and what the 40C district um how it's protected and I feel like um we need to do something about that because they at the zoning board meeting talked about that the property could be demolished. Correct. And um I think they said something like four homes could be
1:00:20built on the property instead.
1:00:24Well, they were talking about the ADUs being added to the properties. So, I do think the zoning board um I think a I know we can't vote on this subject, but I do feel like a letter to the zoning board or someone representing the historic commission should educate them on what you can and cannot do in a 40C district.
1:00:50at the um there is a process for the demo like we have I mean unless the building is structurally unsound and we have the there's a um a written notice from the the director of inspectional services um that it's a public public safety hazard or something um like we have the ability to deny a demolition permit in the 40C um and that's outside of the six-month demolition delay like
1:01:20we have the ability to deny it, but we also have the um the right to ask for an engineer's study, a structural analysis.
1:01:29We have the uh ability to ask for those things. um yeah when faced with a but I think clarity or clarification for them so they understand what they're voting on because there seem to be a lot of confusion and um and I think the confusion actually came from I don't even know what his title is city planner I don't know what he is uh at the zoning board meeting that was uh Dan yeah Dan
1:01:58Aguary he's the director of uh planning and engineering yes so there seem to be a lot of confusion and guidance coming from him to the board.
1:02:06Okay.
1:02:08Okay. Um a a personal presentation from the commission would be better than a letter because the letter would be too specific here for a certain item. Whereas uh that type of open that type of meeting is open to discussion and it's going to be a lot of questions and a lot of diversity. It could be reference to that that that brought it to our attention that education is actually needed
1:02:38regarding it because of the statements that were made regarding that property.
1:02:43And then a formal appearance so that you can get questions and answers from from their board and and and you know be explained properly because there's going to be a lot of questions asked which would perpetuate more questions. And we can ask uh for uh engineering planning to attend our meetings too. So we can ask for that as well. Um if there's any questions and you know we have questions
1:03:10all the time. So I think this will be that's a good opportunity. Um okay. Um would this I feel like it should be this almost is like a grounds for like a special meeting of some sort for this. Um whether or not we can get it before zoning, I don't know. But I mean it'd be great if we could get it before zoning. So before the zoning meeting. Yeah. Okay. Um because I think
1:03:38it does warrant some conversation about what the historic commission is and u how this is protected uh versus other properties. Right. Okay.
1:03:51Um and I um we do have I do have the ability to call for a special meeting if necessary. So um okay. Um if if we were to have a special meeting with the owner of the property with the um representative from the planning and zoning board um I think that would be I think that would be in our best interest to have that um because this is a big
1:04:15topic as it is. Um I mean that that the zoning meeting was very well attended for I believe that particularly for that matter. Um so um Okay.
1:04:30All right. When is the next meeting for the 26th? So 26. 26. Okay. Um yeah, that's coming up. That's next week. Um Okay. Um, you can ask them to delay their meeting.
1:04:48Okay, why not? You can ask anything.
1:04:52Um, okay. I will have to we'll have to figure this out. Um, okay. And see what their availability is to and everyone's availability to do this. Um, okay. Um, all right. So, we'll continue this. Any other questions or concerns on the matter? Um, we could continue this for spe uh for a potential special meeting. We can't take a vote on anything, but um I mean this discussion can get we'll continue it and tabled.
1:05:27We should be able to uh make a motion to have the local our city attorneys give us some representation here because we're discussing this. Yeah.
1:05:40this situation. Um, no, I can reach out separate, I can reach out separately for technical assistance. Same thing with the state. Um, so yeah, um, if there's a question on this, um, I can ask for clarification and guidance and then we can move forward with that. Yeah. Um, and we can do that. Because we, you know, I'd like to see an opinion as quickly as possible from the city to request a formal opinion. Yeah. That
1:06:05then we would need a vote. um for um it to do you want to take that tonight? We can do that because it's a point of discussion now.
1:06:17I don't know if we can do that though.
1:06:18Um with regard to if it's under new business, right? So why couldn't we? Yeah. Okay. Right. I would think so because Okay.
1:06:32When does it get on the agenda for voting, you know? Okay.
1:06:36Um, so this is to seek legal guidance from the city regarding this matter.
1:06:43Mhm. Okay.
1:06:46Okay. So, can someone form a well-worded motion?
1:06:53Yeah. Well, I don't know. I I would uh Well, yeah, I would look for a formal opinion. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So this is to seek a formal opinion from the legal department from the city regarding the the boundary change the changing of boundaries of a 40C district without follow in Massachusetts.
1:07:17Yeah. And ramifications of same. Okay.
1:07:23All right.
1:07:25Is that your motion? Are you making motion? I'll make the motion. Okay. I'll second and you can change or add or delete whatever you feel necessary.
1:07:33There's a discussion. Okay. Um, so I have a motion by Rick, seconded by Ashley for a um legal opinion from the uh law department from the city of Fall River uh regarding the boundary change, lack of notification um and the ram ramifications regarding the uh property at five I think originally was 550 Rock Street. Yes.
1:08:03Okay. or 55570 Rock Street. Okay. Um, may I get a roll call? Oh, sorry. Excuse me. Go ahead. Do we need to specifically address an address? Do we want to do that or just get a general opinion? It's on the map. So, it's 55570. But do we want that or do we want the general opinion? General. General. Exactly. The two would be the same. It works for one.
1:08:28It works for all. That works. Okay, that works for me. All right. So this is a motion. Okay. So we have a motion by Rick, seconded by Ashley for a um seeking legal guidance from the law department from the city regarding boundary changes made within the 40C without notification to the historic to the historical commission as well as the state historical commission. Okay. And and possible ramifications and
1:08:55ramifications. Thank you.
1:08:58Okay.
1:09:01Okay, roll call, please. Ashley, yes.
1:09:04John, yes. Connie, yes. Rick, yes.
1:09:07Joyce, yes. And Jason Bashard Rocky, yes. Okay.
1:09:13Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much for your time. Do you have any questions before you leave? No, you're all set.
1:09:21Okay. To the city. Thank you. Thanks so much. Have a good night. Good night. Um, let's see. Uh, regarding register of significant structures, there's no updates. Um, old business, wasn't sure if you had anything, Rick, for item eight regarding steep rope bio reserve.
1:09:38No, that's that's we the CPC gave an extension uh as I reported in the last uh meeting and the uh the uh actually properties and all of the sites are being reviewed. Okay. So, it's it's it's a work in progress. Okay.
1:10:00Thank you. Um all right, regarding uh item number nine, um this is the Highlands local historic district expansion update. Um so the Google form surveys were sent out. Um they had a date uh for June 30th to have the responses in by um so they had a little more than a month and a half to estimate. We've only received I think three of them back. Um, so even with the the um QR code um so
1:10:33uh which I was I'm a little surprised it wasn't more but um but um the preservation society has um Alex do you mind coming to the front please and just stating your name and your address please?
1:10:52Hello, Alexander Silva, 148 Purchase Street, president of the board of directors of the Preservation Society of Fall River. Hello. Um, did um the letters you sent out letters to the property owners? We're about to send them out. Yeah. I didn't know if the commission had any uh suggested changes.
1:11:10I don't know if you had received a copy or not, but I can I could read to you the draft. Um, essentially the letter is just going to go to, I believe, the existing district and the target expansion area and any other any other properties really that we think would be interested in it. Um, essentially just announced that the project will be starting soon this summer. Um, Jason and
1:11:29I are in the process of coordinating a meeting with our consultant PL public archaeology lab out of Pucket who will be doing the site work this summer. Um, we're just in the process of trying to schedule out a date where they'll start doing the field work. Um the and yeah, the letter just basically does a quick recap of the district, its 10-year anniversary sort of thing, its expansion, and then we also included the
1:11:51QR code to the historical commission's uh survey. Um so I could actually put that June 30th deadline too in the letter if if it's not in the QR code uh Google form already. I think it is though. Okay. Um but yeah, so any feedback to the letter. I could read it verbatim if you wish. Um, and yeah, hoping to get this started soon. Why don't you read that so that it's being
1:12:14televised so the general public can get an idea for anyone who watches is going to receive it. Uh, so it's just dear friends, 10 years ago, the Preservation Society of Fall River led an effort to establish Fall River's first and only protected historic district, the Highlands Historic District. This district, also known as a 4DC local historic district, is a protected twob block piece of Fall River history.
1:12:36Residents within the neighborhood tend to not only appreciate the surrounding historic properties, but also understand that together they hold a value for the entire community that's worth protecting. What a protected historic district means is that properties located within the district agree to abide by a set of design guidelines that pres preserve the core exterior historic characteristics of their properties.
1:12:58This this ensures that neighbors work together to preserve the historic charm of their homes and the architectural value is preserved for all to enjoy.
1:13:07Now, thanks to a community preservation act grant, the preservation society and the Fall River Historical Commission are working together to expand the Highlands Historic District. You may have already received a survey from the Historical Commission to gauge your interest in being a part of the district. If not, you can scan the QR code below to learn more about it. Soon you may see our
1:13:26consultants from the public archaeology lab of Pucket, Rhode Island, taking photos and spending some time getting familiar with the history of the neighborhood to help us complete the documentation needed for district expansion. If you'd like to learn more, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. Sincerely, the board directors of the preservation society.
1:13:44So yeah, uh any thoughts feel free to add. I generally try to keep it one page front, so keep it brief. Um but yeah, thank you. Um and on the QR code the um there's a uh frequently asked questions and I believe there's also a link to the um a publication from the state commission. Um it's called uh there's a difference. So there's a difference between the national and the the local.
1:14:08So they have that's all built into.
1:14:10Yeah. No, thank you very much for sending that uh for putting that together and um sending that out. Yep.
1:14:16So, if you if the commission would just like to send us uh the finalized um area of targeted expansion, yeah, we can just get those in the mail ASAP. Um just to make that June 30th deadline so we don't have any stragglers or anything like that. Okay. Um and actually that brings us to um U 9C, an update of the survey area. Um thank you. You all done? I'm sorry. Oh uh yes, I'm all done. Sorry.
1:14:40Thank you, Alex. Thanks, Alex. Um so regarding the updates so the surveys that we have received back so far there are some full streets that have not responded is it premature of us to um by like say June 30th June 30th is it um before then or at least is that is it too soon for us to omit as they send their letter out omit like say um like I know we didn't receive any responses
1:15:08from anyone on Winter Street, Walnut Street that might Those the only two that we have. Oh, and it's interesting on Walnut Street because I know someone reached out to me saying they did not receive anything and they wanted to be Okay.
1:15:22Yes. Okay. So, it's interesting that they didn't get a letter or they were all provided. Yeah. I stamped every single one myself. So, further down.
1:15:35Yeah. We only went up to depending on where they are on Walnut Street. Um because I think we went one property in. We didn't form a corner anywhere. So, one one property in off.
1:15:46So, walnut from Rock to Winter Street. So, if they're beyond Winter Street, I think it's the next block. It's the next block. So, then they wouldn't have received anything from us.
1:15:59Why Why are we doing a corner? I thought I mean, why aren't we doing a corner? I thought that was approved. Now, it was, but I'm sorry. So, we um we we I'm sorry. We did form a corner one property in each uh uh we're not running the boundary lines down the middle. The only place where I thought that was approved.
1:16:16It was it was allowed. It is allowed from the state. So the um they've changed that that um that rule. I know 10 years ago we couldn't, right? Um and they now they will allow that um for the for the expansion area. We went one property in um to form a corner. Um but the only area where the the boundary line runs down the middle of the street is um Highland Avenue along the hospital
1:16:42because that's already excluded from the Highlands National. Um the only properties that uh I believe that the hospital owns that's within the national is um 360 Prospect and 229 Highland. Um just two out of three. Just those two.
1:16:57Yeah. Um, oh, and there might be like a I think there's a smaller newer auxiliary building behind it on Prospect Street, but we didn't include that in the target area. Um, I I don't know. I don't think we would might be acting prematurely if we start reducing the scope at this point. I think there's still a lot of input out there to pick up yet. So, okay, that would be my recommendation. Just in
1:17:24case. All right. So, it will then All right. So the the mailer from the society would go out to the full list.
1:17:31Okay. Um Okay. Um and then once we have the survey results then we will take those into consideration and correct. Yes. And that's kind of where how it was done.
1:17:45Okay. All right. Um because I believe the uh the consultants from um PL um believe they quoted we have to add um I think they initially quoted 50 um so once we start 50 properties to consult or to survey so once we have an idea um once the any surveys come back we can tighten the the boundary line. Yep.
1:18:15Okay. Um I did ask um the state in uh regarding the the creation of the map um and so if there's any other boundaries that have to get changed but and that's the previous from the previous discussion but um that can be included as well but um okay and there's always the opportunity if we feel that we get a good response back uh to leave the original guidelines original boundaries
1:18:46and approach a CPC or see if we can get a little extra funding to to pick up the extra. So, you know, we've got till September or October to work in that direction. Okay. Yeah, we'll have time.
1:19:00So, um if we have a cut off on the 30th of this month, uh July, we'll be looking at the results on a map to see Oh, and thank you very much for the map, by the way. um and um and going through that to see where we have the the most support.
1:19:17Um okay.
1:19:20And excluding the areas that we don't have the support. Okay. Okay. Um and then at that point then we'll have um the representative from PL to go through and start their field survey.
1:19:36Okay.
1:19:38Hi. Hello.
1:19:40just recent upstairs. Okay.
1:19:43Um any questions uh at all on that? No.
1:19:47Okay. All right. Um so with that said, um we go ahead. I was just going to say you're just in time for us to adjourn to take a recess. Okay. Um so we are scheduled next to meet on one, two, three. Um Tuesday, July 15th.
1:20:07Um, so with that said, um, make it a motion to adjourn. It is 7:20 p.m. I'll make a motion to adjourn. I'll second that motion. Connie. Rick. Motion by Connie, seconded by Rick to adjurnn at 7:20. Uh, roll call. Ashley, yes. John, yes. Connie, yes. Rick, yes. Joyce, Joyce, yes. Uh, and Jason Bashard and Iraqi. Yes. Right. Thank you very much everyone.