Committee votes 3–1 to require divided‑light grills for Harbor Hill Drive renovation

The committee voted 3–1 to require divided‑light (muntin) inserts for the window replacement planned at Harbor Hill Drive, saying the inserts preserve the character of neighboring historic houses.

Andrew Miao proposed the amendment during discussion of Trevor Dash’s presentation for the Caspers, saying he "propose[d] that, amendment to this application providing, 12...12 light...grills for the windows." Committee members debated the practicality of inserts with casement windows and noted homeowner behavior: Trevor Dash observed that owners sometimes remove inserts to get extra light, saying they "take them out and see how much more light they get." The building commissioner and others emphasized that the committee’s historical‑character preferences matter for final decisions.

The amendment carried on a recorded committee result — "It passes 3 to 1" — and a subsequent motion to approve the Harbor Hill changes with the divided‑light requirement was moved and seconded and then approved. The committee asked staff to note in the project file that the committee "prefers that you have divided like windows in that house." Trevor Dash acknowledged that inserts could be added but warned they might be removed by owners later.

The committee’s approval requires the applicant to include the divided‑light inserts in the filed plans; the transcript does not specify enforcement mechanisms or whether the inserts must be permanent. The committee did not provide detailed instructions on muntin profile or exact configuration beyond discussing common patterns (4‑over‑4 or 6‑over‑6) and specifically proposing 12‑light inserts during debate.

The committee moved on to other items after approving the Harbor Hill application.