OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Newport Historic District Commission Regular Meeting - June 10, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, June 10, 2025
BodyNewport, Rhode Island
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, June 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

Yeah.

0:06

All I care about.

0:29

Put it up on yourself.

0:31

Chair successfully.

0:33

Oh, yeah.

0:36

Me too.

0:37

Twice.

0:39

Trying to clean up my basement.

0:40

That was my chair support.

0:50

Big boy.

0:54

I've got an old stone basement that I'm doing.

1:20

I'll keep that in tone.

1:30

Good evening, everyone.

1:33

So I will call to order the Newport Historic District Commission meeting for Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, and ask our secretary to call the roll.

1:42

Thank you, Madam Chair.

1:43

Deanna Emarello?

1:45

Here.

1:45

Rosemary O'Brien.

1:47

Here.

1:48

Kelly Moran, I'm here.

1:50

Jim Madsen.

1:51

Here.

1:51

Frank Mala.

1:52

Here.

1:53

Ray Goddard.

1:54

Yes.

1:54

Bill Finley?

1:55

Yeah.

1:55

Brooke Richter.

1:56

Here.

1:57

Penny Benell.

1:58

Is absent and we did know of his absence.

2:01

Okay, that's it.

2:04

I confirm that we have a quorum for this evening's meeting.

2:08

I will ask Commissioner Bala to affirm for the record that you reviewed all of the materials for the continued applications and watched the prior meeting, which was Tuesday, May 13th, 2025, and are prepared to be a voting commissioner on the applications this evening.

2:23

I did.

2:24

I am.

2:25

Okay, thank you.

2:28

I will acknowledge uh guest that we have this evening supporting the HDC.

2:33

So from our city solicitor's office, Peter Friedrich's.

2:46

Commission members, are there any additions or corrections?

2:51

No.

2:52

I had um just for members that were present.

2:54

I wanted to recognize that our alternates were at that last meeting and they were not um included on the um so Mr.

3:02

Benelemus Richter.

3:05

Okay.

3:06

Um so with that I'll request a motion to accept the minutes for Tuesday, May 13th, 2025 with that correction.

3:13

So moved.

3:14

Second.

3:14

All those in favor.

3:16

Aye.

3:17

All those opposed.

3:22

All applications approved and certificates of appropriateness issued this evening, Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, are valid for one year from the date of approval.

3:32

All of the applications in the um meeting have a published staff report, which includes the confirmed location of each property within a Newport Historic District, record as a contributing or non-contributing building, construction date of the property, and character defining features.

3:48

As we begin the meeting this evening, I request a motion to accept all staff's findings of fact as our findings of fact.

3:54

So moved.

3:55

Second.

3:55

All those in favor.

3:57

Aye, all those opposed.

4:02

So the commission has convened in our standard pre-meeting immediately prior to this evening's meeting.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████69%
Procedural████████████19%
Zoning and Land Use████6%
Zoning Variances██3%
Public Engagement██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Newport Historic District Commission Regular Meeting - June 10, 2025

The Newport Historic District Commission met on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 43 Broadway, Newport, RI. All members were present except Penny Benell. A quorum was confirmed. The meeting addressed multiple applications for certificates of appropriateness, including summary approvals, full hearings, and continuations. New business included a letter to congressional delegates regarding federal historic preservation funding.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: The minutes from May 13, 2025, were approved with a correction adding alternates not previously listed.
  • Staff Findings: A motion to accept all staff findings of fact as the commission's findings passed unanimously.
  • Summary Approvals:
    • N4 (37 William St): Approved for window and deck replacement (decking material changed to mahogany).
    • N7 (734 Bellevue Ave): Approved for retroactive partial demolition and construction of a dwelling previously approved on June 11, 2024.
  • Abbreviated Summary: N8 (38 Pelham St) was split; Part A (roof, siding, chimney) approved; Part B (window restoration) continued to July 8, 2025, pending further study of window age.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public provided comment on any agenda item.

Discussion Items

  • C1 (134-136 Spring St): Applicant Sean Napolitano updated the commission on construction progress. The main structure's front section was saved and framed. The commission scheduled a site visit and authorized the preservation planner to administratively approve completing the front structure and adding a rear wood door, pending site visit satisfaction. The shutter application was not discussed.
  • C2 (73 Catherine St): No applicant appeared; application dismissed without prejudice.
  • C3 (364 Bellevue Ave Unit D102): No applicant appeared; application continued to July 8, 2025.
  • C4 (718 Bellevue Ave Unit 2): Architect Madeline Melchart proposed replacing four windows with Andersen A-Series casements. The commission requested double hung windows and a higher-quality wood window. Approved with condition that the preservation planner administratively approve the final window specification and double hung configuration.
  • C5 (5 Champlin St): Revised plans for converting a non-contributing garage into an ADU were presented. Height reduced by over 2 feet, trellis removed, windows made consistent with the main house. Approved.
  • C6 (41 School St): Architect Mark Rapp presented updated plans for siding, roof, garage doors, and chimney restoration. Approved with condition that proposed gas lanterns on the garage be changed to electric.
  • N1 (10 Franklin St): No applicant appeared; application dismissed without prejudice.
  • N3 (19 Willow St): Owner Peter Siegel sought to replace seven street-facing windows due to severe rot and damage. Commission approved, noting the 1990 windows were not restorable.
  • N5 (14-16 Second St): Applicant requested relocation of two non-contributing windows to align with upper windows. Discussion revealed the structure had been largely disassembled and reconstructed. Window relocation approved; extension of the certificate of appropriateness to be handled by the preservation planner after documentation of saved materials is provided.
  • N6 (Ridge Road): Architect Lyle Bradley presented plans for a new single-family dwelling on a vacant parcel. Design praised; approved.
  • N9 (8 Poplar St): No applicant appeared; application dismissed without prejudice.

New Business

  • Historic Preservation Fund Letter: Commission endorsed a letter to congressional delegates urging the release of federal historic preservation funds critical to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Chair Deanna Emarello will sign the letter. A similar resolution is being sponsored by City Councilor Lynn Ceglia.
  • Training Updates: The preservation planner announced plans for a commission refresher workshop and ADU training. Ethics training attendance will be confirmed with the mayor's office.
  • Site Visit: A site visit for C1 (134-136 Spring St) will be scheduled by staff.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: N4, N7, N8 Part A, C4, C5, C6, N3, N5 (with conditions), N6.
  • Continued: N8 Part B (July 8, 2025), C1 (pending site visit and administrative approval), C3 (July 8, 2025).
  • Dismissed Without Prejudice: C2, N1, N9.
  • Rescheduled: N2 (94 William St) to July 8, 2025.
  • Conditions Applied: Window specifications for C4 and N5, double hung requirement for C4, electric lanterns for C6, documentation for N5's COA extension.
  • New Business Actions: Letter to be submitted; workshop and training to be organized.

All approvals are valid for one year from June 10, 2025. Next regular meeting: Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Yeah. All I care about. Put it up on yourself. Chair successfully. Oh, yeah. Me too. Twice. Trying to clean up my basement. That was my chair support. Big boy. I've got an old stone basement that I'm doing. I'll keep that in tone. Good evening, everyone. So I will call to order the Newport Historic District Commission meeting for Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, and ask our secretary to call the roll. Thank you, Madam Chair. Deanna Emarello? Here. Rosemary O'Brien. Here. Kelly Moran, I'm here. Jim Madsen. Here. Frank Mala. Here. Ray Goddard. Yes. Bill Finley? Yeah. Brooke Richter. Here. Penny Benell. Is absent and we did know of his absence. Okay, that's it. I confirm that we have a quorum for this evening's meeting. I will ask Commissioner Bala to affirm for the record that you reviewed all of the materials for the continued applications and watched the prior meeting, which was Tuesday, May 13th, 2025, and are prepared to be a voting commissioner on the applications this evening. I did. I am. Okay, thank you. I will acknowledge uh guest that we have this evening supporting the HDC. So from our city solicitor's office, Peter Friedrich's. Commission members, are there any additions or corrections? No. I had um just for members that were present. I wanted to recognize that our alternates were at that last meeting and they were not um included on the um so Mr. Benelemus Richter. Okay. Um so with that I'll request a motion to accept the minutes for Tuesday, May 13th, 2025 with that correction. So moved. Second. All those in favor.

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