Weston Historical Commission Seeks Legal Guidance on Demolition Delay Bylaw Scope

WESTON — May 15, 2018 — Weston Historical Commission deadlocks over demolition delay bylaw scope, defers 119 Orchard Avenue to town counsel. Co-Chair Phyllis Halpern argued the Commission has always treated structures as a whole and that parsing sections by age sets "a very dangerous precedent," while building department staff maintained that alterations confined to a post-1945 addition fall outside the bylaw's jurisdiction. The hearing was continued to June 12 pending a legal opinion. In separate business, the Commission unanimously declared 90 Sunset Road — a circa-1936 minimal traditional-style house — historically significant and scheduled a public hearing on a proposed rear addition that would nearly double the home's 2,528-square-foot footprint. Member Henry S. Stone, Jr. reported that the Rail Trail Advisory Committee had endorsed forming a nonprofit friends organization, with a six-person organizing group already formed that may repurpose the existing Weston 300 charity. Cemetery restoration bid documents for approximately $170,000 in Central Cemetery marker repairs are expected to be posted by the end of May.