⚜️ Railings, Signs, and Iron Deficiency: What Happened at the Farmington Historic District Committee Meeting on November 19, 2024 ⚜️
Click here to watch the entire meeting on YouTube here. We’ve summarized everything that went down, but nothing beats seeing it all unfold with the full flavor of New England committee formalities. Trust us, it’s more exciting than it sounds. 😉
The Farmington Historic District Commission gathered in person at Town Hall, 1 Monteith Drive, Farmington, CT to decide on some important modifications for our historic streets. The commission, led by chair Jim Calciano, reviewed three applications to improve properties in Farmington’s historic district. Here’s what happened:
🧜♂️ Railing Request for 13 Church Street
Property owner Jim Calciano applied for a Temporary Certificate of Appropriateness to install a wrought iron railing at 13 Church Street, Unit 1. Jim explained, “The existing steps can be a bit treacherous, especially in the winter, so I want to add a railing to improve safety for both myself and visitors.” After a brief introduction, Jim gracefully recused himself to ensure transparency, as he was both the applicant and a commission member. This step was necessary to avoid any potential conflict of interest and maintain the integrity of the decision-making process. With member Liz Gemski stepping in, the commission heard a summary of Jim’s proposal for adding a 38-inch-high, 4-foot-long wrought iron railing on the steps leading to a parking area.
Joanne Lawson commented, “I have no questions, and my only comment is that it makes sense to me to have a railing on those steps.” Michelle Phelan added, “I echo Joanne’s sentiments and agree about the safety.”
Neighbors voiced their support for the improvement, and John Estrelado, a resident of 13 Church Street, joined the call to state, “I fully support this.” Jim himself added before stepping away, “I know this seems like a small change, but safety is my primary concern here. It’s all about ensuring everyone can safely access the property.” The commission unanimously approved Jim’s request—everyone voted “aye.” You can read more about Jim’s application and other Farmington zoning updates here.
📄 Voting Results: All regular members voted “aye,” meaning the application passed without opposition.
🏰 Michael and Martha Cheshire’s “Iron Deficiency” Remedy at 22 Mountain Road
The second application, presented by Michael and Martha Cheshire, sought approval for adding two iron railings at 22 Mountain Road (yep, they officially fixed their “iron deficiency!”). Michael Cheshire humorously noted, “Martha and I joke that we have an iron deficiency—we just needed some iron in front of the house to match everyone else!”
Michael pointed out that several houses along Mountain Road already feature similar railings, and the Cheshires want their 1690s house to match. Michael explained, “We’re requesting a temporary certificate of appropriateness to add two railings to the front side of the property, one on the front steps and one on the driveway steps. We already have an iron railing at the back, and these will match that design.”
During the meeting, Liz Gemski complimented the Cheshire’s beautifully preserved property—which just so happens to be the oldest home on Mountain Road. She said, “No questions, thank you. You have a lovely home—I admire it every time I drive by.”
No objections were made, and the commission approved the request. Watch the approval in full glory here.
📄 Voting Results: Again, all members present voted unanimously to approve the application—”aye” all around!
🛠️ St. James Episcopal Church Sign Gets a Makeover
The third and final application for the evening was presented by Bob Seidel on behalf of St. James Episcopal Church at 3 Mountain Road. Following their merger with St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Britain, St. James requested to add a small addition to their existing sign to reflect the new “St. James Episcopal Church with St. Mark’s Ministries.” The added signage will measure 8 inches tall and 54 inches wide, and it’s going to be a golden-lettered beauty that matches the existing sign. Fancy, but respectful—classic Farmington.
Bob Seidel noted, “We’re simply adding a small sign underneath to reflect our merger with St. Mark’s Ministries—keeping everything in the same style and material.”
With no questions from the commission and no opposition from the public, the application for the updated sign was approved unanimously. Bob promised to return when there are “real” updates—sounds like the new combined congregation is planning more changes down the road.
📄 Voting Results: Yet again, a unanimous “aye” vote ensured this minor, tasteful update would soon be gracing 3 Mountain Road.
🛋 Meeting Wrap-Up and More to Come
The commission reviewed the 2025 Historic District Commission meeting schedule, confirmed elections for next month, and mentioned the progress of One Mountain Spring Road and its potential inclusion into the historic district. Garrett, the diligent historian, has been digging through the archives, and Joanne Lawson mentioned, “Garrett has reached out to me about some additional information, and I’ll be happy to help.”
To watch the entire meeting and enjoy the commentary firsthand, click here.
☕ Sponsored by Farmington Storage
A special shout-out to Farmington Storage for supporting hyper-local journalism that keeps Farmington informed. They’re located at 155 Scott Swamp Road. Need some storage space? Call them at 860-777-4001! They’re more organized than my coffee cabinet—and that’s saying something. ☕
👋 See Ya ‘Round, Farmington!
Hey there, I’m Jack Beckett. Thanks for tuning in! I’m pretty sure I’ve just had my fifth coffee today—hence all the enthusiasm for railings and wrought iron. But you know what they say: there’s nothing quite like a good zoning update to pair with a strong brew. ☕
Want more fun updates from Farmington? ⭐ Dive into our archives:
- For editorial insights and spicy opinions, check out our editorials.
- Want to know more about our team? Meet us here.
- Shopaholic? For Sale in Farmington has you covered.
- Get your election fix here (because democracy is still the coolest).
- For a peek into our historic and regulatory stories, check out zoning or our favorite “wetlands” drama here.
You can always message us on X.com (you know, Twitter, or Twix as we like to call it). We promise our DMs are open—just don’t try to sell us crypto. Thanks for reading, and until next time, stay caffeinated and stay curious, Farmington! 👊☕️
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