Washington Grove HPC recommends sale of town land under 203 2nd Ave porch

The Historic Preservation Commission voted Feb. 17 to forward a recommendation to the Town Council supporting the conveyance of the portion of Town-owned land beneath the existing front porch at 203 2nd Ave.

Bob Booher, chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, said commission members reviewed the Town ordinance that governs buildings and structures that encroach on Town land and concluded the proposed conveyance would not create an additional buildable lot. The Planning Commission had similarly determined the parcel has no foreseeable public use.

Commissioners discussed deed covenants intended to limit future changes to the portion of the structure that would sit on the conveyed land. To preserve an evidentiary record of the porch’s current condition, the commission assigned Mr. Booher and member David Stopak to draft an Exhibit C that will describe the porch’s dimensions, materials and relevant features for attachment to the deed materials.

The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the Town Council for final action. The minutes do not record a Council vote or date for the Council’s consideration.