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Historic commission clears owner to remove deteriorated outbuilding at 19 Yale Hill Road
Summary
The Stockbridge Historic Preservation Commission voted to find that an outbuilding at 19 Yale Hill Road is not a "significant historic building" under the town bylaw, allowing the property owner to remove the unsafe structure; the commission said it will send a memo to the building inspector to codify the decision.
The Stockbridge Historic Preservation Commission voted to find that an outbuilding at 19 Yale Hill Road is not a "significant historic building" under the town bylaw, clearing the way for the property owner to remove the deteriorated structure.
Brett, the property owner and applicant, told the commission the property includes a restored main house, a well-preserved outbuilding and a third, larger structure that he described as unsafe and in poor condition. "The foundation on one side is not even in conjunction with the rest of the building," Brett said, saying the building was likely put together in several "hodgepodge" stages and needs extensive structural work.
Commission member Peter Durocker, who reported he had checked historic records, told the panel the main house appears on historic lists but the outbuildings do not. "The question we have to determine is, is this a significant historic building as defined in the bylaw?" Durocker said. He moved that the commission find the outbuilding is not significant under the bylaw; Pinto seconded the motion. The chair called for a vote and members responded in the affirmative.
During discussion, a commissioner urged the owner to salvage any reusable beams or materials before demolition; Brett said he already plans to reuse siding and beams, noting that he had milled American chestnut and reused black locust from the property for cabinetry and decking. "My plan with what we have in that building is to use a lot of the siding... as basic wall paneling for my other barn," Brett said.
After the vote, Durocker said he would send a memo to the building inspector to codify the commission’s finding and that he would copy the applicant. The commission then closed the matter and proceeded to other business.
The commission did not record a roll-call vote with individual tallies in the transcript; the action was announced and approved by voice vote. No formal appeal, permit application number or specific demolition schedule was stated in the record.
