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Wayland board approves Town House signage, lighting and landscaping at 21 Cochituate Rd
Summary
The Design Review Advisory Board approved plans to restore the 1841 building at 21 Cochituate Rd as a cafe/bistro called Town House, approving signage, lighting and landscaping with conditions about sign details and documentation for ZBA and Historic District hearings.
The Wayland Design Review Advisory Board voted unanimously to approve the Town House application for 21 Cochituate Rd, allowing signage, exterior lighting and landscaping for a restored 1841 building that the owner plans to open as a cafe and bistro called "Town House." R. Borgestedt moved to approve the application; T. Person seconded, and the motion carried 3-0-0.
The owner, Kirstyn Lipson, introduced architects Julia Lloyd Mohr, Travis Blake and Camille Schappler of JTA and summarized the project's intent to restore the historic structure and operate the new Town House cafe. Lipson said the design includes a rear patio that will be screened to reduce visibility and noise for adjacent properties and that wheelchair access to the main floor will be provided by a 2% sloped walkway; an interior chair lift will connect the building's floors.
Board member Bill Sterling pressed for greater specificity in the application drawings. Sterling suggested adding a summary chart of all signs, including a menu with a square-footage tally, to the cover sheet and recommended a detail showing how the carved cafe sign will relate to existing molding and trim. Robin Borgestedt noted a sign chart already appears on pages 2 and 3 of the submission and agreed the application would benefit from indicating the proposed menu by the front entry, including dimensions. Sterling also recommended that color references specify the manufacturer and model number so Zoning Board of Appeals and Historic District reviewers can assess conformance.
On noise mitigation, Sterling observed that plantings alone "do not have a significant impact on noise management" and said a stone or brick wall between the patio and neighboring properties would be a more effective containment measure. Lipson said the patio will be screened and referenced the existing 1998 site survey as a possible source for lawn sign placement history.
The board approved the application with no recorded no votes. Next procedural steps for the applicant include providing the requested sign-detail dimensions, manufacturer color specifications, and any amended survey information for related ZBA and Historic District filings.
