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Neighbors press HDC for site visit as 46 Wood Street application raises concerns over HVAC, granite bollards and possible after‑the‑fact work
Summary
Architects proposed gutters, painted downspouts, sconce lighting, granite bollards, HVAC mini-splits and asphalt shingles for 46 Wood Street; neighbors reported visible HVAC pads and other work already on site and the commission voted to continue with a morning site visit to inspect conditions and review bollard/lighting proposals.
The Historic District Commission voted to continue consideration of a multi‑part renovation at 46 Wood Street and scheduled a site visit after neighbors reported visible installation of HVAC units and raised objections to proposed granite bollards and lighting.
Architect Bob Drew of Battle Associates presented the package: fiberglass gutters painted white with copper‑painted downspouts, porch sconce fixtures from local maker Patty Brothers, small split‑system HVAC units screened with wood or shrubbery, granite light posts at both ends of a circular driveway, new wooden stairs and CertainTeed colonial‑slate shingles in place of wood shingles. Drew said the client preferred painted downspouts rather than full copper for cost reasons and was open to shrubbery or wooden screening for the mini‑split units.
Neighbors at 36 and 62 Wood Street told the commission some work appears to have been completed without final HDC approval: visible HVAC concrete pads and piping, a large pile of earth from a previously approved garage project, and removal of screening shrubbery. One neighbor warned that a proposed granite bollard located adjacent to a large maple tree could damage roots. Another said the granite posts with 23-inch lamp tops would be visually out of scale on Wood Street.
Commissioners said bollards and lamp posts have historically been discouraged in favor of lower-profile, dark‑sky‑compliant fixtures or granite bollards that emulate fence posts or lower bollards. Given the number of concerns and the possibility of after‑the‑fact work, the commission unanimously voted to continue the application to the next meeting and conduct a morning site visit to examine downspout treatment, proposed lighting and the enclosures for the HVAC units.
Next steps: HDC staff will arrange the site visit prior to the next meeting; the applicant will prepare alternative bollard/bollard‑style options and provide details on HVAC screening and gutter/seam details.
