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Historic‑district panel approves modest two‑bed addition and septic replacement at Barretts Mill Farm
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Summary
The Concord Historic Districts Commission unanimously approved a small addition and replacement septic system at 449 Barretts Mill Road, funded by a local foundation to expand housing for a tenant family. Commissioners requested complete existing elevations for the record.
The Concord Historic Districts Commission on Feb. 25 unanimously approved a modest addition and septic replacement at 449 Barretts Mill Road, a property managed by the town and located in the Barrett Farm Historic District.
Vice Chair Tim Whitney opened the hearing and the project's representative, Rich Feely, described the proposal as a small addition intended to enlarge a one‑bedroom rental unit used by a farm worker family. "We discovered after we started preparing the plans...the septic system was failing," Feely said, adding the foundation that supports the project raised sufficient funds to cover both the addition and a replacement septic system.
Architect Holly Darzun said the design is intentionally small and sympathetic to the existing house: "It’s 14 feet by 24 feet," she said, and the first‑floor envelope is about 336 square feet. The plan includes dormers on the second floor to create room for a second bathroom and necessary living space while reusing the existing interior stair to limit exterior alteration, she said.
Commissioners asked for more complete existing elevations to show the addition’s relationship to the original house. Whitney noted the addition sits well back from Barretts Mill and observed that, in practice, the new dormer would be "practically invisible from Barrett’s Mill." Feely said the land trust that holds the property's conservation restriction has consented to review the septic replacement and will separately consider any waiver for the addition.
Commissioner Louis Caldarella moved to approve the application "as submitted." The motion passed on a roll‑call vote with the five voting members in favor.
The approval allows the foundation and the town to proceed with the addition and the upgraded septic work; applicants and staff said they expect construction later in the summer. Commissioners asked applicants to supply fuller existing elevations and site views when submitting final plans.
The commission moved on to other items after the vote.
