Historic District Commission
Monday April 28, 2025
5:00 P.M. at Town Hall
16 Old Town Road
Block Island, Rhode Island
MINUTES
The Town of New Shoreham Historic District Commission convened for a meeting at 6:00 P.M. at Town Hall on April 28, 2025.
Present: Chair-Arlene Tunney, Vice Chair-Martha Ball, Mike Ballard, Bill Koch, Kay McManus, Elizabeth Moss.
Not Present: Mark Vaillancourt.
Ms. Tunney opened the meeting at 6:05 P.M
1. Offshore Trading Co., Plat 6, Lot 105. Fire #232 Water Street. Application by Leslie Helterline on behalf of The Ice Cream Shop for signs.
Leslie Helterline was present.
Mr. Mike Ballard asked about the increase in size of the sign.
Ms. Leslie Helterline stated that with the new font it needed to be a little bigger to look right.
Mr. Mike Ballard made a motion to approve Offshore Trading Co, Plat 6, Lot 105. Fire #232 Water Street. Application by Leslie Helterline on behalf of The Ice Cream Shop for signs
Ms. Elizabeth Moss seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Tunney, Moss, Koch, McManus, Ballard, Ball)
2. Block Island Historical Society, Plat 6, Lot 1. Fire #18 Old Town Road. Application by Leslie Helterline for a new Historical Society sign.
Leslie Helterline was present.
Ms. Martha Ball is recused but did state she didn’t think all the signs were listed on the application.
Ms. Arlene Tunney made a motion to approve Block Island Historical Society, Plat 6, Lot 1. Fire #18 Old Town Road. Application by Leslie Helterline for a new Historical Society sign.
Mr. Bill Koch seconded the motion, and the motion carried 5-0-1.
Ayes 5 (Tunney, Moss, Koch, McManus, Ballard) Recused 1 (Ball)
3. Block Island Chamber of Commerce. Conceptual design of directional signs. Formal application to follow.
Leslie Helterline was present.
The consensus of the board was that it was a great idea.
Mr. Bill Koch felt that the silhouette of the island is too much.
Ms. Arlene Tunney suggested speaking with Old Harbor Task Force about the current signs and that all the beach signs have the same symbol with the exception of the pavilion.
4. Eureka Hotel Inc., Plat 7, Lot 37. Fire # 45 High Street. Application from Seth Draper for Eureka Hotel sign.
Seth Draper was present.
Ms. Arlene Tunney made a motion to approve Eureka Hotel Inc, Plat 7, Lot 37. Fire # 45 High Street. Application from Seth Draper for Eureka Hotel signs. One on the building and one by the road.
Mr. Michael Ballard seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Tunney, Moss, Koch, McManus, Ballard, Ball)
5. Cass LLC, Plat 6, Lot 189. Fire # 225 Chapel Street. Application by Leone Leone on behalf of Aldo’s Mopeds for Signs.
Leo Leone was present.
Mr. Leo Leone explained that these signs are replacing the signs for what used to be chapel sweets and are the same measurements as what was being replaced.
Ms. Arlene Tunney asked about unapproved signs on the lot.
Mr. Leo Leone said that there were no unapproved signs.
Mr. Bill Koch made a motion to approve Cass LLC., Plat 6, Lot 189. Fire # 225 Chapel Street. Application by Leone Leone on behalf of Aldo’s Mopeds for Signs.
Ms. Elizabeth Moss seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Tunney, Moss, Koch, McManus, Ballard, Ball)
1. Eureka Hotel Inc., Plat 7, Lot 37. Fire # 45 High Street. Application by Seth Draper for deck expansion.
Seth Draper was present.
Mr. Seth Draper explained the expansion of the deck and talked about shutters being added.
Ms. Arlene Tunney asked about the shutters. Making sure they meet code.
Mr. Bill Koch as well as the rest of the board commended The drapers on how well the project has come out.
Mr. Michael Ballard made a motion to approve Eureka Hotel Inc, Plat 7, Lot 37. Fire # 45 High Street. Application by Seth Draper for deck expansion.
Findings of Fact:
The is part of a historic renovation project
The building is located in the historic district.
Ms. Elizabeth Moss seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Tunney, Moss, Koch, McManus, Ballard, Ball)
2. Hang with Tang LLC, Plat 5, Lot 3-1. Fire # 110 Corn Neck Road. Application by Dan McLaughlin on behalf of the Heinz Group for the addition of dormers and windows.
Dan McLaughlin was present.
Mr. Bill Koch made a motion to approve Hang with Tang LLC., Plat 5, Lot 3-1. Fire # 110 Corn Neck Road. Application by Dan McLaughlin on behalf of the Heinz Group for the addition of dormers and windows.
Findings of Fact:
The is part of a historic renovation project
The building is located in the historic district.
Ms. Elizabeth Moss seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Tunney, Moss, Koch, McManus, Ballard, Ball)
3. D. Brown’s Property Management, LLC, Plat 8, Lot 67. Fire # 461 Chapel Street. Application by Dwayne Brown for an outdoor shower.
Jake Williams was present.
Mr. Bill Koch clarified that this was a return from a previous decision. The board asked them to redesign the outdoor shower.
Ms. Elizabeth Moss made a motion to approve D. Brown’s Property Management, LLC., Plat 8, Lot 67. Fire # 461 Chapel Street. Application by Dwayne Brown for an outdoor shower.
Findings of Fact:
The is a new building in the Historic District.
Mr. Bill Koch seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Tunney, Moss, Koch, McManus, Ballard, Ball)
4. Blue Dory Resorts INC., Plat 6, Lot 140. Fire # 61 Dodge Street. Application by Ann Law for replacing windows to doors on the fire escape per the Fire Marshall.
Holly Heardman was present.
Ms. Holly Heardman explained the requirements from the Fire Marshall.
Mr. Bill Koch made a motion to approve Blue Dory Resorts INC., Plat 6, Lot 140. Fire # 61 Dodge Street. Application by Ann Law for replacing windows to doors on the fire escape per the Fire Marshall. The trim of the doors must match the existing.
Findings of Fact:
The is a building in the Historic District.
Ms. Elizabeth Moss seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Tunney, Moss, Koch, McManus, Ballard, Ball)
Approval of minutes: March 24, 2025 & April 7, 2025
Ms. Elizabeth Moss made a motion to approve the minutes from March 24,2025
Ms. Arlene Tunney seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Tunney, Moss, Koch, McManus, Ballard, Ball)
Ms. Arlene Tunney made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections from April 7,2025.
Mr. Bill Koch seconded the motion, and the motion carried 5-0-1.
Ayes 5 (Tunney, Koch, McManus, Ballard, Ball) Abstain 1(Moss)
Revise the Historic District application and preliminary/final process.
Continued to the next meeting.
Ms. Arlene Tunney made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:25pm.
Ms. Elizabeth Moss seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Tunney, Moss, Koch, McManus, Ballard, Ball)
Respectfully submitted,
Amanda Boulay
Administrative Assistant
Land Use Department
Town of New Shoreham