Historic District Commission denies deck that would remove windows, approves chimney repair at 13 Harlan Road

The Norwich Historic District Commission on Aug. 20 denied a Certificate of Appropriateness for a wooden deck and vinyl sliding door that would remove two windows at 13 Harlan Road, and approved a separate COA to repair and cap an existing chimney at the same address.

Commission members said the deck proposal would remove character-defining features and that the commission lacked sufficient details on the window removal and door design. “I am not comfortable with this application at all, with the removal of the 2 windows and the installation of a vinyl side sliding door,” Commission Chair Regan Minor said during the discussion. Commissioners voted against the deck application; the motion to accept the deck as presented failed on the roll call (Ed Aberbeck: no; Nancy: no; Miller: no; Regan Minor: no).

The deck proposal, filed as COA 58213, would place a wooden deck where four rear windows currently sit; the applicant, identified in the record as Edwin, told the commission the deck would be low to the ground, that he could paint the deck, and offered to plant a small tree to screen the corner visible from Harland Road. He said the project included removing the two center windows to install a white vinyl sliding door to provide access. Edwin also said there is existing alternative egress on the house and that he would not be unduly harmed if the deck was not approved.

Commissioners said the proposed removal of two windows, and use of a vinyl sliding door, constituted alteration of character-defining features without adequate documentation and details about the door and how the work would be executed. Commissioner Ed Aberbeck and Nancy both described the proposed window removal as a substantial change that merited more information and expressed reluctance to approve it.

By contrast, the commission approved COA 58613, the separate application to repair and restore the property’s older chimney. The applicant explained the chimney is not an active flue but a character-defining feature; the masonry has deteriorated and masonry pieces from the top have been salvaged. Mason Richard (presenter) described plans to grind out deteriorated mortar joints, relay a few bricks, and use a white, lime‑based mortar intended to match historic composition. He offered a choice of a black powder-coated stainless steel cap (previously used on a nearby house) or a bluestone cap; commissioners said stone would be preferable where feasible but understood matching older brick can be difficult.

The commission approved the chimney repair unanimously, with a condition that work follow guidance provided to the applicant on appropriate mortar composition and with a preference for salvaged or reclaimed brick where practicable. Chair Minor said she had emailed a recommended mortar recipe to the applicant and that the COA would reflect expectations that mortar and profiles respect historic materials and methods. The commission noted Richard’s experience as a mason and his discussion of possible cap materials, and authorized issuance of the COA with the stated conditions.

The applicant will be notified of the commission’s decisions by email following the meeting. The deck application had been tabled at a prior meeting before being heard on Aug. 20; the chimney application was also tabled previously and considered again at this session.