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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Newport Historic District Commission Meeting, February 10, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, February 10, 2026

BodyNewport, Rhode Island

SessionMeeting Portal

DateTuesday, February 10, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:32:55

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:54

Okay, good evening.

1:57

I mean to call uh the Newport Historic District Commission meeting for Tuesday, February tenth, two thousand and twenty-six to order and ask our secretary to call the roll.

2:06

Thank you, Madam Chair, Deanna Amarillo here.

2:10

Rose Oh.

2:12

Kelly Moran, I'm here.

2:14

Jim Madsen.

2:15

Here.

2:15

Frank Bala.

2:16

Here.

2:17

Ray Goddard.

2:18

Here.

2:18

Bill Finley is absent and we knew of his absence.

2:22

And Brooke Richter.

2:23

Here.

2:25

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

2:30

Just like to acknowledge that we have uh Kevin Gavin here from our city solicitor's office supporting the HDC.

2:37

We begin with minutes of our Tuesday, January thirteenth, two thousand and twenty-six meeting.

2:43

These have been provided to the commission for review.

2:46

Uh commissioners, are there any additions or corrections to those meeting minutes?

2:52

No.

2:53

Okay, with that I will request a motion to accept the minutes for Tuesday, January thirteenth, two thousand and twenty-six as presented.

3:02

So moved.

3:03

Second.

3:04

All those in favor.

3:05

Aye.

3:05

Aye.

3:06

All those opposed.

3:11

All applications approved and certificates of appropriateness issued this evening Tuesday, February tenth, two thousand and twenty-six are valid for one year from the date of approval.

3:21

All of the applications in this meeting have a published staff report, which includes the confirmed location of each property within a Newport Historic District.

3:35

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

3:42

So moved.

4:19

Those are C three, six Greeno Place, C four, ninety-seven Harrison Ave, UN PL, C five, thirty Poplar Street, and C six seventy-three Catherine Street.

4:31

So those five applications, if anyone was here this evening from the public, just want to make sure that you realize those will not be heard this evening.

4:44

Also in the pre-meeting this evening identified a couple of applications to be considered for summary approval.

4:50

These are viewed by our members as complete with no questions and acceptance of the staff findings of fact and recommendation for approval.

4:57

So the first of those this evening is N two.

5:01

Um, the application of 32 Clark Street, plat 24, lot 085.

5:06

Um, is there any public comment on this application?

5:11

And with that, I'll request a motion to approve the application of 32 Clark Street Platte 24 lot 085 as presented, citing Newport Standards 17 TAC 80 060, a one four, five, and seven.

5:27

So moved.

5:28

Second.

5:28

All those in favor.

5:30

Aye.

5:30

All those opposed.

5:34

The next application for summary this evening is N6, 146 Brenton Road, Plat 43, Lot 064.

5:43

Do we have anyone here for public comment on this application this evening?

5:49

Uh so with that, I'm going to request a motion to approve the application of 146 Brenton Road, Plat 43 Lot 064.

5:58

Um, citing Newport Standards 17 tag 80 060 B1 and 2 with a comment um that there was a um secondary plan that was submitted that referenced um a curved garage opening.

6:12

We just want to make sure that that's maintained.

6:14

So again, citing Newport standards 17 TAC 80 060 B1 and 2.

6:19

So moved.

6:20

Second.

6:21

All those in favor.

6:22

Aye, all those opposed.

6:29

Uh we had no applications this evening for abbreviated summaries.

6:32

So I will ask um Mr.

6:34

Madsen, who's filling in this evening as our vice chair to read our first agenda item.

6:40

We start with the would be action items.

6:43

Yep.

6:46

Okay, our first action item is the application of Cynthia Barton of 61 to 53 K Street, plat 22 lot 003.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████55%

Zoning and Land Use████████████████19%

Zoning Variances██████████12%

Engineering And Infrastructure███████8%

Procedural███4%

Miscellaneous█1%

Organizational Structure█1%

Summary of Proceedings

Newport Historic District Commission Meeting, February 10, 2026

The Newport Historic District Commission (HDC) met on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 11:45 AM to review several applications for certificates of appropriateness, provide design recommendations, and elect officers for the 2026 calendar year. The meeting was chaired by Diana Amarillo, with a quorum present.

Consent Calendar

Minutes of the January 13, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.
Staff findings of fact were accepted for applications C3 (6 Greeno Place), C4 (97 Harrison Ave), UN PL, C5 (30 Poplar Street), and C6 (73 Catherine Street). These applications were not heard this evening.
Summary approvals (no public opposition):
- 32 Clark Street (24/085): Approved for repairs/certificate of appropriateness, citing Newport Standards 17 TAC 80 060 a1,4,5,7.
- 146 Brenton Road (43/064): Approved for new construction with a condition to maintain a curved garage opening as shown in a secondary plan, citing Newport Standards 17 TAC 80 060 B1,2.

Discussion Items

A1: 61-63 K Street (22/003) – Extension of certificate of appropriateness for a two-story rear addition (staircase). The applicant (Russell Jackson, Miller Scott Holbrook & Jackson) explained the original approval had expired. No changes to the design. Motion to extend approved unanimously.
A2: 105 Broadway (21/196) – Architectural review and recommendation for a mixed-use building with ground-floor retail and an 11-unit vacation guest facility (20 bedrooms) in a general business zone (non-historic district). The commission provided comments on compatibility with the Broadway Historic Area. Commissioners noted the building appeared institutional, boxy, and too glassy, with no obvious entry. They recommended softening the design with architectural details (e.g., arched windows, corbels, recessed entrance, stepbacks). The preservation planner noted a prior TRC recommendation for a stepback on the fourth floor. The commission’s feedback will be forwarded to the Director of Planning for final plan approval.
C2: 11 Brenton Road (41/416) – New construction of a single-family home on the former Underwood School site (non-contributing). The applicant presented a revised Dutch Colonial design after a design review committee session. Commissioners praised the collaborative process and the design's compatibility with the neighborhood. Approved unanimously.
27-31 Franklin Street (27/72) – Contributing structure; extensive alterations including a rear shed dormer, bulkhead replacement, chimney reconstruction, door/window changes, signage, and HVAC. The commission had concerns about the large dormer size and changes to rear fenestration. The application was split: Part 1 (bulkhead, faux chimney, HVAC with screening review) approved; Part 2 (dormer, front door, rear windows, signage, HVAC placement details) continued to March 10, 2026, pending an updated window report including the front door and transom.
160 Webster Street (36/003) – Replacement of a 16-foot aluminum garage door with a carriage-style door. The applicant (Spencer McComb) amended the design to remove divided lights, leaving four full lights, to better match the house’s 1970s style. Approved as amended.
16 Clark Street (24/049) – Contributing structure; replacement of deck railings, balusters, decking, and lattice with raised panels. The commission encouraged pursuing a variance for the railing height (currently 30 inches, code requires 42 inches) to preserve historic character. They recommended repairing original balusters where possible, using mahogany decking, and adding tongue-and-groove paneling with preserved brick piers. Approved with conditions.
11 Gurney Court (12/020) – Contributing structure; comprehensive restoration replacing vinyl windows/doors with wood, new chimney, garage door changes, etc. Commissioners supported the project but requested the front door be a single half-light door with sidelights rather than double doors, and that the new chimney be differentiated from the original. Approved with these conditions.

Key Outcomes

Approved applications (with conditions where noted):
- 32 Clark Street, 146 Brenton Road, 61-63 K Street, 11 Brenton Road, 160 Webster Street (as amended), 16 Clark Street (conditions), 11 Gurney Court (conditions).
Continued application: Part 2 of 27-31 Franklin Street continued to March 10, 2026.
Officers elected for 2026: Diana Amarillo (Chair), James Madsen (Vice Chair), Kelly Moran (Secretary).
Brooke Richter recognized as a full-time commission member.
All certificates of appropriateness issued this evening are valid for one year from the date of approval.

Recusals: Commissioner Goddard recused from 160 Webster Street and 11 Gurney Court; Commissioner Bala recused from 16 Clark Street.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, good evening. I mean to call uh the Newport Historic District Commission meeting for Tuesday, February tenth, two thousand and twenty-six to order and ask our secretary to call the roll. Thank you, Madam Chair, Deanna Amarillo here. Rose Oh. Kelly Moran, I'm here. Jim Madsen. Here. Frank Bala. Here. Ray Goddard. Here. Bill Finley is absent and we knew of his absence. And Brooke Richter. Here. I confirm that we have a quorum for this evening's meeting. Just like to acknowledge that we have uh Kevin Gavin here from our city solicitor's office supporting the HDC. We begin with minutes of our Tuesday, January thirteenth, two thousand and twenty-six meeting. These have been provided to the commission for review. Uh commissioners, are there any additions or corrections to those meeting minutes? No. Okay, with that I will request a motion to accept the minutes for Tuesday, January thirteenth, two thousand and twenty-six as presented. So moved. Second. All those in favor. Aye. Aye. All those opposed. All applications approved and certificates of appropriateness issued this evening Tuesday, February tenth, two thousand and twenty-six are valid for one year from the date of approval. All of the applications in this meeting have a published staff report, which includes the confirmed location of each property within a Newport Historic District. As we begin the meeting this evening, I request a motion to accept all staff findings of fact as our findings of fact. So moved. Those are C three, six Greeno Place, C four, ninety-seven Harrison Ave, UN PL, C five, thirty Poplar Street, and C six seventy-three Catherine Street. So those five applications, if anyone was here this evening from the public, just want to make sure that you realize those will not be heard this evening. Also in the pre-meeting this evening identified a couple of applications to be considered for summary approval. These are viewed by our members as complete with no questions and acceptance of the staff findings of fact and recommendation for approval. So the first of those this evening is N two. Um, the application of 32 Clark Street, plat 24, lot 085. Um, is there any public comment on this application? And with that, I'll request a motion to approve the application of 32 Clark Street Platte 24 lot 085 as presented, citing Newport Standards 17 TAC 80 060, a one four, five, and seven. So moved. Second. All those in favor. Aye. All those opposed. The next application for summary this evening is N6, 146 Brenton Road, Plat 43, Lot 064. Do we have anyone here for public comment on this application this evening? Uh so with that, I'm going to request a motion to approve the application of 146 Brenton Road, Plat 43 Lot 064. Um, citing Newport Standards 17 tag 80 060 B1 and 2 with a comment um that there was a um secondary plan that was submitted that referenced um a curved garage opening. We just want to make sure that that's maintained. So again, citing Newport standards 17 TAC 80 060 B1 and 2.

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