Suffield Historic District Commission approves window and porch work, tables barn proposal

The Suffield Historic District Commission on June 8 approved several Certificates of Appropriateness for work on local historic properties and tabled a barn proposal after the applicant did not appear.

Chairman John Schwemmer presided over the special meeting at Town Hall. Commissioners Scott D. MacClintic, Beth Tracey and Aysha Moore-Manwaring served as the designated voting members.

The Commission approved the minutes of the May 4, 2026 regular meeting by a 4-0 vote. The first substantive item was an application from the First Church of Christ Congregational for 81 High Street: Robin Zatony said the proposed lower-level windows are phase two of a project that began in 2021 and that the new windows match those the Commission previously approved. The Commission granted the Certificate of Appropriateness, 4-0.

An application for a proposed barn at 200 South Main Street was tabled after the applicant did not appear. Commissioner Scott MacClintic moved to table the item and Commissioner Beth Tracey seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

At 453 North Main Street homeowner Katherine Morris and contractor Ron Keith presented a photograph and drawings the applicants said show the original porch and column details (including a column drawing the Commission had approved in 1966). The Commission approved replacement of the columns and the repair/replacement of broken windows, including code-required tempered glass on the first and second floors, by a 4-0 vote.

Returning under old business, homeowner Mary Fuller and contractor Tim Therian presented renderings showing 6-over-6 and 4-over-4 porch window configurations; Fuller said she preferred the 6-over-6 option. The Commission approved the 6-over-6 configuration as applied for, 4-0.

Sara Zak, representing the Suffield Historic Society, reported she had mocked up screening for an outdoor air-conditioning condenser at 234 South Main Street and preferred the Commission-suggested location on the north wall. She proposed a shadowbox fence for screening; the Commission approved the installation and screening plan, 4-0.

There was no public comment during the meeting. With no new business, Commissioner MacClintic moved to adjourn; Commissioner Tracey seconded and the meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of May 4, 2026 minutes — motion: approve minutes as presented; mover: Aysha Moore-Manwaring; second: Scott D. MacClintic; outcome: passed 4-0. - 81 High Street (First Church of Christ Congregational) — Certificate of Appropriateness for lower-level window replacements; outcome: approved 4-0. - 200 South Main Street — Proposed barn; applicant absent; motion to table until applicant appears; outcome: tabled 4-0. - 453 North Main Street — Porch column replacements and window repairs (including tempered glass); outcome: approved 4-0. - 557 North Main Street — Porch window replacement (6-over-6 chosen); outcome: approved 4-0. - 234 South Main Street (Suffield Historic Society) — Installation of outdoor condenser with shadowbox screening on north wall; outcome: approved 4-0. - Adjournment — motion to adjourn passed 4-0.

The Commission did not take up any new business and recorded no public comments. Several homeowners appeared with contractors to present documentation (photos, drawings, renderings) supporting proposals; where applicants presented historical photos or prior Commission approvals, commissioners referenced those materials during their consideration. No resolutions, ordinances or external statutes were cited during the meeting. The Commission will resume consideration of the tabled barn application when the applicant appears.