TOWN of NEW SHOREHAM
Historic District Commission
Monday February 3, 2024
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 5:00 P.M. at Town Hall on February 3, 2025.
Present: Vice Chair-Martha Ball, Bill Koch, Kay McManus, Mike Ballard, Elizabeth Moss, Mark Vaillancourt.
Not Present: Chair-Arlene Tunney
Call to Order:
Ms. Ball opened the meeting at 5:00 P.M.
1. Eureka Hotel Inc. Plat 7, Lot 37. Fire #45 High Street. Application by Seth Draper. For deck construction and entryway
Seth Draper was present.
The consensus of the Commission was that they appreciate the effort being put into the building and they
appreciated the changes made.
Mr. Bill Koch made a motion for Final approval to approve Eureka Hotel Inc. Plat 7, Lot 37. Fire #45 High Street. Application by Seth Draper. For deck construction and entryway. Modifications include a bump out to include modern code stairs inside the building as well as a second-floor porch that runs the length of the structure.
Findings of Fact:
The Eureka is a historic hotel.
The structure is a part of 1661 Resort.
The structure is a contributing focal point of the Historic District.
Mr. Mark Vaillancourt seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Vaillancourt, Ballard, Koch, McManus, Ball, Moss)
2. Sandy Point CO LLC, Plat 6, Lot 3-1. Fire #34 Ocean Ave. Application by Chris Willi, to repair and expand second floor deck, relocate and add stairways.
Chris Willi was present.
He explained that he was trying to make the porch look like it had been previously.
Mr. Michael Ballard made a motion for approval for Sandy Point CO LLC, Plat 6, Lot 3-1. Fire #34 Ocean Ave. Application by Chris Willi, to repair and expand second floor deck, relocate and add stairways.
Findings of Fact:
The structure is a contributing focal point of the Historic District.
Ms. Elizabth Moss seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Vaillancourt, Ballard, Koch, McManus, Ball, Moss)
3. Carole Payne, Plat 5, Lot 104, Fire #40 Ocean Ave. Application by Chris Willi, for a new sign.
Mr. Bill Koch made a motion for approval for Carole Payne, Plat 5, Lot 104, Fire #40 Ocean Ave. Application by Chris Willi, for a new sign.
Approved as submitted with caps on top of the posts.
Ms. Elizabth Moss seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Vaillancourt, Ballard, Koch, McManus, Ball, Moss)
4. Estate of Lewis Gaffett, Plat 6, Lot 3-3. Fire #85 Ocean Ave. Application by Thomas J. Martucci, for construction of two dormers.
Thomas J. Martucci was present along with Architect Frank Kaprowicz.
Both men presented the plans that would add dormers to the third floor of the structure.
Cindy Lasser from the audience spoke about concerns which pertain to lighting, parking and fencing.
Mr. Bill Koch made a motion for siting and massing approval for the Estate of Lewis Gaffett, Plat 6, Lot 3-3. Fire #85 Ocean Ave. Application by Thomas J. Martucci, for construction of two dormers.
Findings of Fact:
The structure was built in 2017.
The structure is a contributing focal point of the Historic District.
Great efforts have been made to keep it within the Block Island Vernacular.
Ms. Elizabth Moss seconded the motion, and the motion carried 5-0-1.
Ayes 5 (Vaillancourt, Ballard, Koch, McManus, Ball) Abstain 1 (Moss)
5. TMG-BI Realty, LLC, Plat 6, Lot 157. Fire #212 Water Street. Application by Thomas J. Martucci, for three new signs.
Thomas J. Martucci was present.
The consensus of the board that the archway signs would need to come back once he put in an application for the archways.
Mr. Bill Koch made-a motion for approval for TMG-BI Realty, LLC, Plat 6, Lot 157. Fire #212 Water Street. Application by Thomas J. Martucci, for three new signs.
Ms. Elizabth Moss seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Vaillancourt, Ballard, Koch, McManus, Ball, Moss)
6. 251 Spring Street, LLC, Plat 7, Lot 27. Fire #251 Spring Street. Application by J Michael Abbott, AIA to remove sliding door and add five windows.
J Michael Abbott, Architect and Paul Fillipi, Owner, were present.
Ms. Elizabeth Moss asked about the shingle patterns.
Mr. Bill Koch made a motion for siting and massing approval for 251 Spring Street, LLC, Plat 7, Lot 27. Fire #251 Spring Street. Application by J Michael Abbott, AIA to remove sliding door and add five windows.
Findings of Fact:
The Historic Manisses Hotel.
The section of the structure being worked on is a utility area of the structure from the 1980's.
Ms. Elizabth Moss seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Vaillancourt, Ballard, Koch, McManus, Ball, Moss)
Continued to the next meeting
Mr. Bill Koch made a motion to approve minutes from November 25, 2024
Ms. Martha Ball seconded the motion, and the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Vaillancourt, Ballard, Koch, McManus, Ball, Moss) Nays 0
Mr. Bill Koch made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:20pm. Ms. Elizabeth Moss seconded the motion, and
the motion carried 6-0.
Ayes 6 (Vaillancourt, Ballard, Koch, McManus, Ball, Moss) Nays 0
Respectfully submitted,
Amanda Boulay
Administrative Assistant
Land Use Department
Town of New Shoreham