Historical Commission Meeting

The Amesbury Historical Commission reviewed two demolition applications submitted by Minco Development Company and determined both existing houses under consideration are not historically significant. The commission voted 5-0 to designate 297 Elm St (the former Woody Cammett property) as not historically significant; the applicant indicated the structures will be replaced by a single multi-unit residential building. The commission also voted 5-0 to designate 29 Clark's Road as not historically significant after reviewing the parcel's redevelopment context: a revised plan for the 10-acre lot will concentrate smaller-scale houses along Clark's Road with larger multi-story buildings set behind wetlands, and the house was noted as absent from the town's Survey of Historic Resources and described as a generic Victorian with historical appearance on an 1884 atlas.

In other business the commission reviewed and approved an updated draft letter addressing noncompliance by the developers of the former Methodist Church at 142 Main St regarding replacement door design; the motion to approve the letter and authorize a commissioner to send it was approved 5-0. The commission also noted an inquiry about maintenance concerns at St. James Episcopal Church and a brief mention of the recently approved Community Preservation Act, but no formal actions were taken on those items. No public speakers from the church were present; there were no other recorded public comments during the meeting.