Old Kings Highway Committee approves multiple certificates of appropriateness, tables large renovation at 189 Center Street

The Old Kings Highway Committee on Feb. 24 approved a series of exterior-improvement applications — including additions, siding and window replacements, front-porch repairs and two rooftop solar arrays — and tabled a comprehensive renovation at 189 Center Street for a site visit and more detailed materials.

Committee members approved applications for work at 979 Route 6A, 20204 Setauket Road, 72 Nob Hill Road, 38 Brush Hill Road, 87 Freeboard Lane, 27 Minnetuxent Way, 36 Bent Bluff Lane, 164 Merchant Avenue, 73 Bray Farm Road South and 43 Summer Street after applicants and agents presented materials and answered brief questions. Each approval was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote. The committee tabled the most complex application, for 189 Center Street, requesting a site visit and additional samples before taking action.

The approvals covered a range of exterior work the committee routinely reviews. Among them: a roughly 700-square-foot, one-bedroom addition at 979 Route 6A for the owner Karen Lane; full replacement of 14 windows at 20204 Setauket Road; two rooftop solar installations — 50 panels proposed for a barn at 72 Nob Hill Road, and 20 panels split across two side roofs at 38 Brush Hill Road; siding replacement on a garage elevation at 87 Freeboard Lane; a new garden shed at 27 Minnetuxent Way; a 20-by-20 addition at 36 Bent Bluff Lane; window, siding, deck and paint work at 164 Merchant Avenue (amended to include two sliding doors shown in the elevation photos); front-porch decking and traditional-style railing replacement at 73 Bray Farm Road South; and removal of a metal storm door and repainting of a front door at 43 Summer Street.

Agents and owners provided brief clarifications on materials during the public hearings. Karen Lane said the addition at 979 Route 6A is “for my special needs sister” and confirmed exterior finishes will match the existing house; Chris de Louise, owner at 20204 Setauket Road, told the committee the existing 12-over-12 grill pattern is being replaced for consistency with 2-over-2 grills; Leah of Catuit Solar said Craig Williams received a $50,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to support the farm’s 50-panel installation at 72 Nob Hill Road; and several applicants confirmed use of composite or Azek/Azek-brand trim or decking where specified in their applications.

The committee asked follow-up questions on visible details in several applications (grille patterns on windows, whether proposed deck railings match existing elements, and whether proposed sliders are explicitly included in applications). For 164 Merchant Avenue the applicant amended the application at the meeting to explicitly include two sets of sliding doors shown in the plans before the committee voted to approve the work.

The committee unanimously moved to table the application for extensive exterior work at 189 Center Street, where the agent, Joseph Stafford of Lewis Bay Builders LLC, and owner Kelly McGill asked to replace some windows, repair trim and replace decking while keeping most historic trim. Committee members requested a site visit and specific gutter and trim samples, including a suggested profile that would mimic historic cedar gutters (a “Duragutter” or similar profile), and asked the applicant to bring those samples to the next meeting. The applicant agreed to coordinate with staff to schedule a site visit soon.

Votes at a glance

- Application 25-A012 (979 Route 6A): Construct addition (one-bedroom, one-bath, ~700 sq. ft.). Outcome: approved (voice vote). Agent: Scott Jones. Owner: Karen Lane. - Application 25-A013 (20204 Setauket Road): Replace 14 windows (proposed 2-over-2 grills). Outcome: approved (voice vote). Owner: Chris de Louise. - Application 25-A014 (72 Nob Hill Road): Install 50 rooftop solar panels on barn (black-on-black). Outcome: approved (voice vote). Owner: Craig Williams; Agent: Catuit Solar (Leah). Applicant noted a $50,000 Mass. DOER grant for the installation. - Application 25-A015 (38 Brush Hill Road): Install 20 rooftop solar panels (split 12/8 across side roofs). Outcome: approved (voice vote). Agent: Sunrun (Steve Kelly). Owner: Philippe Generoso. - Application 25-A016 (87 Freeboard Lane): Replace right-side garage elevation siding with hardy/clapboard to match existing. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Owners: Dennis Brisson and Maureen McAdam. - Application 25-A017 (27 Minnetuxent Way): Construct new garden shed (replacement of a removed existing shed). Outcome: approved (voice vote). Owners: Mark and Robin Nason; Agent: Jim Bassler. - Application 25-A018 (36 Bent Bluff Lane): Construct 20x20 addition; applicant to match existing finishes. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Owner: Patricia Clifford; Agent: New England Home Improvements (Eduardo). - Application 25-A019 (164 Merchant Avenue): Replace deck, windows, siding; paint house; amend application to include two sliding doors shown on the right elevation. Outcome: approved as amended (voice vote). Owners: Francine D'Olympio and Rebecca Matarazzi; Agent: Sea Salt Homes (Dan Lolly). - Application 25-A020 (73 Bray Farm Road South): Replace front porch decking and railing with Azek/TimberTech materials, trademark white railing and slate-gray decking. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Agents: Thomas Smith and Jean Bowden. - Application 25-A021 (43 Summer Street): Remove green metal storm door and repaint front door in Benjamin Moore historic color Phillipsburg Blue (color 159, on preapproved list). Outcome: approved (voice vote). Owners: James and Annette Ball. - Application 25-A023 (189 Center Street): Replace roof, select trim, deck boards, doors, windows and paint; applicants proposed asphalt roof (instead of cedar) and aluminum gutters; applicants agreed to provide samples (including profile to mimic wooden gutters) and requested a site visit. Outcome: tabled pending site visit and additional samples. Agent: Lewis Bay Builders LLC (Joseph Stafford); Owner: Kelly McGill.

What’s next

Applicants approved tonight were asked to sign the committee’s approval form on site and to notify staff if they later choose alternate materials or grille patterns. For the tabled 189 Center Street application, staff will coordinate a site visit and the applicant will bring gutter and trim samples (including the proposed Duragutter or comparable profiles) for committee review before the committee considers the item again.

The committee’s next meeting agenda will reflect any resubmitted materials and the outcome of the site visit for 189 Center Street.