City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Historic District Commission, 1 Jun 2022

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6.1.2022 Historic District Commission

A

If any person believes any member of the board has a conflict of interest, that issue should be.

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Raised at this point, or it will be deemed waived, I'm going to make an introduction when I do.

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Our normal alternate on the extreme right hinds suck schubert will not be.

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With us anymore, for health reasons, he has decided that he's going to leave the hdc.

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And we will all miss him so um then I have dan brown anything I should say dr dan brown. I forgot.

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Martin ryan, hello and reagan rudig good evening. Yes, my name is john wyckoff. I'm the chair.

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We have planner nick cracknell good evening, uh rich blaylock, our city council, rep, is.

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Going to be in soon, but he's doing a little something with a little league.

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um Margo doring is out, and we have david adams good evening and karen bouffard good evening.

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Good evening, so it looks like karen you're just you're just voting all the time. Okay,.

A

So we have the approval of the minutes. Has everyone had a chance to look at them and looking.

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For a motion sure I'm moved that we approve the minutes from may 4th and may 11th. Second, all right.

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All those in favor aye for those against all right. So now we move on to the administrative approvals.

A

um If anybody uh needs to recuse themselves from one of any of these, um now would be the time.

B

um Mr chairman, in as much as I was not part of its initial discussion or approval process, I'd.

B

Like to recuse myself from uh the penn hall street project, all right don't feel comfortable, making a.

B

Decision on that, and does everybody feel that we can vote on all of these together? um Should we.

C

Pull out islington street for further discussion. That's number two: five: five three islington street.

A

Okay, um do you want to uh why, don't you read the other ones, you wanna do the other three first 118.

D

Pleasant streak, yes, okay, so 118 pleasant street is uh well. Why don't I do the three we're all.

D

In okay and then we'll come back all right, um they are seeking approval for installation of.

D

Externally, illuminated uh lighting on a projecting sign, pretty straightforward, I'm gonna try and.

D

Figure out where it is here, there's the sign. Here's the building, it's right next to the citizen,.

D

Bank on on pleasant street, this is the sign is not installed. This is where it'll be located.

D

And the exterior lighting sign uh lighting is uh fixtures shown here on the cut sheet.

C

And I guess my only question is: do we know where the light is going to be installed.

C

You see where the sun, I thought there was two of them and it's a goose neck right.

D

Yeah big above, like on either side of the sign, a good question and they're conduits.

D

Are you here, oh perfect, yeah just give your name and address and yes fill in the blanks.

D

That'd be great hi, I'm susan murphy and I'm the representative for getting this put together.

E

uh Erin prue is the owner of the building and mia prue is at her very first meeting tonight.

E

So uh the lighting uh we're planning on a gooseneck on either side of it. It will be.

E

Pointed at the sign, the electrical work for will be within the light, so there's not a lot.

E

Of electrical boxes on the building itself, we're trying to keep everything minimized.

E

For aesthetic purposes does that help answer your question yeah sure, so the all the electrical.

C

Work is going through the building on the inside not attached on the outside.

E

To my knowledge, the electrical work will go through the building and into the arm on which.

E

It will now is there an outlet on the outside, possibly but we're minimizing it. Okay, yeah.

D

You'll have nothing running off the outside of the building, to the best of your knowledge.

E

Yeah, okay, all right great, that's great! Thank you very much yep! Thank you. Okay! Anything else on that.

D

Application: okay: hearing none we'll go to number four, which is 33 deer street.

D

Which is a request to swap out uh some of the lighting from the previously approved project.

D

Sorry, third, on the right: no marcy street 475, marcy, yeah, sorry, they're opposite in the staff report.

D

You want to send um laptop 45 marcy street. It is a condenser being placed behind a fence.

D

Completely out of public view, this is the property on the screen. This is the location.

D

And this is the fence that goes along the side of the house, so this.

D

This is not proposed to be screened with anything other than the existing fence. Okay,.

D

Let's go back to 33 deer, we good yep, sure this is for installation of the dark sky lighting.

D

It's a different fixture at 33 deer street than what was previously approved several weeks ago.

D

There's a cut sheet in here showing you the fixture, I'm guessing on the other.

D

Sheets from the original approval that the locations are not changing of this lighting.

D

The previously approved locations- and it is dark sky compliant. Okay,.

B

Just for my education um is there a whole specific category of docs guy.

B

Compliant lighting devices: yes, so it's a thing that a architecture designer can just.

D

Order up so to speak, yes, and they come in a whole variety of styles. It's it's.

D

Basically that the off-site glare is limited. So if someone comes here with something that is not.

B

Dark side compliant, then they didn't know they were supposed to or they chose not to.

D

Could be either you can use non-dark sky compliance if you go to the board of adjustment.

D

Obviously, there's a lot of non-complying, dark sky lighting, that's in the city and has.

D

Been for decades that gets replaced, but any new construction from probably 15 years back to to now.

D

Has so we should remain on our toes, I guess yeah yeah. We we do our best to thank you very much.

A

Good question all right all right, any other questions on that one. Okay! So that's the first.

D

Three, if you want to vote on those three four and five, would have a motion plan.

A

Motion to approve, as presented a second okay, all those in favor aye against.

A

So we have approval for them. um Let's do penn hollow street, with mr adams recusing himself.

D

D

This is the brick market at 60, penn hollow they are seeking approval for.

D

Essentially, three elements from the previously approved plan: they're looking to change the.

D

Exterior countertops for the uh the takeout areas on three sides of the building from I.

D

Think it was a zinc material to a granite to match other pieces of granite that are in the building.

D

And they are adding lights at those takeout windows and the cut sheets are included and.

D

The light over the entry door and everything is clouded out on the sheets, for example, on the.

D

Screen here you can, you can see these the these are two of the all three counter counters that.

D

Will be replaced with granite from the previously approved zinc seem fairly straightforward to me.

D

And clear what they're doing yeah.

D

Anybody have any questions. I don't know if tracy's here, but did I miss anything.

A

Is she tracy good job on the plants yeah? Okay? So we have light fixtures right.

A

Yep, you might have opened up a little can of worms here, because I'm looking at the.

A

Specs on this- and I I don't see- dark sky compliant with the light star sky compliant yeah.

D

They're required to be.

D

So they'll have to be yeah. They'll have to be.

D

Okay, anything else you want to vote on that without dave. That was it. That was it on that.

F

Motion to approve, as presented second, all, those in favor all right, those again.

E

All right, okay, 553 islington street- this is to uh request approval to remove the iron fence.

D

That was previously approved as restored in place. uh There's cover letter in here from the project.

D

Manager indicating that the firm that evaluated the condition of the fence felt like it could.

D

Not be restored so they'd like it's been removed, but they I'm assuming. They still have the fence.

D

But they're claiming based on this firm from york, maine that it is not restorable.

D

So they'd, like it removed from the previous approval, just pull up the fence here.

D

That's the thing any discussion and they're not replacing it with.

E

Any other fence they're leaving it down, so it's understood doesn't look like it.

E

So there's been no fence right: okay, yeah, there's the existing condition on the screen.

A

So because no one else is speaking up, I would just like to say uh this fence is.

A

Probably original to the building um this fence to me, judging from the age is in the 1850s 60s.

A

Somewhere in that, I think, you're dead on this 20-year period, I don't know.

A

So what the situation is they had to take it down in order to run in a new gas line.

A

And when they did the sidewalks etc for the city which just completed that project.

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They reset the curbs which is nice. They were crooked.

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And when they did that they had to take the fence down and it is lying in front of the building.

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One of the post is still standing and the other one is lying down. um So my problem with this.

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Is besides the fact that this is an original fence that should stay is the fact that we are taking.

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I hate to say taking the word of a contractor, a welding contractor, I might add,.

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In york- and I just feel that we need more opinions on this.

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We have within the city the one of the finest blacksmiths and ironworkers. Mr.

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Peter hapney and I would just like to get his opinion if, if he would volunteer it or.

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Something similar to that. I just can't see casting this thing away. The applicant excuse me perfect.

A

All right, hello, hi, I'm tim broshu, the architect for the project. um I I just want to point out.

G

First of all that this was removed by the city as part of the island street work, so they had.

G

They took the fence off and took the granite curtain out. Our intent was to keep it um in.

G

Place as it was um and taking it out, they they cut it off at the bottom from the granite, and so we.

G

Would need to come up with another way to reattach it to the granite, reattach, the posts and and the.

G

Rails themselves are pretty corroded around the edges where they connect to the post, and so that's.

G

What we're grappling with to try to figure out how to put it all back together and support it? I.

C

Just I have a question if you have reached out to peter hackney who's just down the road. um I.

G

I don't know peter wrote, but I don't think we could do that. Yes, yeah he's great. I mean he.

C

Is one is the best in the city, so um you know we'd, certainly trust him not that we wouldn't.

C

Trust you know we are just going to throw out the word of this other guy, but um he's our you know.

C

He's our local trusted source. So I think if, if you can't make it work, which I'd be surprised by.

C

Then um then, that would certainly help my opinion on this. I think, if you remember on our approval.

A

The first approvals back- I don't know two years ago, two and a half years ago, we specifically.

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Mentioned this fence: oh yeah, it's a wonderful fence, yeah! No, but we mentioned that we wanted this.

A

Saved- and it was you know, the owner certainly were going to save this fence and such and now to.

A

To just cast it down, I I'm not comfortable with, but um did anybody else like to make some comments.

F

I have a quick question: yeah are you suggesting the city might have caused undue damage to the.

F

Fence and makes it more difficult to restore it. I mean I don't I can't say whether or not there.

G

Was a way to take this down without damaging it, but it was, it can't go back together. The way it.

G

Came apart, let's just say, um and so I I guess that's part of what we're struggling with is.

G

Understanding is it our responsibility to put this fence back the way it was. um Is we be talking to.

G

The city's contractor, or is it something else we need to be doing um to restore this. The way that.

G

You guys would like to see it well, we I mean it would be great to have it fully restored.

F

I mean, but also even just elements of it, I'm sure you know I'm sure something can be done with it.

F

Because cleaned up before before the work project started, it was, uh you know it was. It was in bad.

F

Shape but it was still there, so maybe something can be done. Can I ask if, if we're able to.

G

Do something with it to to brace it back out, get it standing in place in some way, shape or form.

G

If we need to add extra components to it, or you know, extra bracing or something extra.

G

Connectors to make that happen is that something we need to come back for further approvals for.

G

Or would the town be? Would that be accepted? I would say most likely not if it's done discreetly.

D

If it's highly visible from from the public way, I mean, I think, that'll probably come back.

D

Through this process that would fall under repair, yeah maintenance, I think you've got it anyway.

C

Yeah, if it's done well, if it's done I mean, if you had to drill the bottom of this fence, for instance,.

A

And put fasteners into the granite, uh which I assumed that this had.

A

Posts so that went into holes that were filled with lead something similar to that yeah. I believe.

G

They were at the post had a threaded. What I think was a threaded rod coming up through the middle.

G

um So that they sat down on and then there was a cap on the top, where the clip for the finial.

G

On the top screwed down onto that threaded rod to to hold it yeah in place, so anything that.

A

You could do to get it to stand them, and this is would be a compromise, but my goodness, it's.

A

Better than losing it can figure that out yeah, so um alternately. If I may interject uh certainly.

B

There's no, if it's not one of the problems that they're going to face and I'm sure you've.

B

Anybody that's looked at these things knows what happens at the points where you really.

B

Want something it's gone time and rust and whatnot has decayed the ends and fasteners of these things.

B

The posts are made of cast iron, the railing itself, probably some sort of wrought iron.

B

One of the things that happens is even if you can go through the.

B

Hole with a piece of metal stuffed in it still with the lead and some sulfur compound around it.

B

Getting sat welded back together and attached to something inside of a piece of granite, very.

B

Difficult to do, but an alternative may reside in putting shoes. Imagine that somehow a clever.

B

Metal worker could install metal shoes on the bottom of this, so you could then attach it.

B

Differently than it was instead of being bolted with a rod, it was screwed in two different.

B

Sides that a series of little stainless steel shoes on these pieces, I think, is.

B

I'm guessing is the direction that may provide that crossover between it being lost forever.

B

And being in quotes propped up in some manner to remain yeah, it's just uh just trying to flesh out.

B

The conversation I'd hate to see the thing gone just because we weren't clever enough to think.

B

Of a way to make it stand and we're not the clever ones and no we're the clever one. So I think what.

A

We're saying is, um you know, compromise is fine with this, but we do not want to see the fence go.

A

So if we could have a some kind of motion, uh let's do so um do we need to well have the motion fail.

A

We don't need no, we can make a motion to disapprove.

A

Mr chairman, I'd like to make a motion to postpone this until uh the client can have an opportunity.

B

To have a conversation with a competent metal worker, I think it's a good idea. Okay, second,.

E

Wow, all those in favor all right, that's good against.

E

Okay, good luck! There you go.

A

And I may be wrong, but I think that's it. Yes, okay, all right so certificate of approval.

A

Extension request, petition of neo-pleasant street properties, llc owner for property located at 420.

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Pleasant street, wherein permission is requested for a one-year extension of the certificate of.

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Approval originally granted on july 7 2021 to allow new construction to an existing structure.

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Existing rear, entryway replace existing southeast addition with added rooftop.

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Deck construct, three-story stair enclosure and construct new rear entry porch, as per plans on.

A

File in the planning department said properties shown on assessor map 102 slot 56.

A

Lies within the general residents and historic districts, so this is pretty common for us to.

A

Grant the one-year extension, um so I think that we could just go to emotion, yeah, there's no one here.

C

To talk about it, so you want to talk. No, I'm just pointing out. Are you making the motion uh sure.

C

I will make the motion to approve a one-year extension. Second, though, all right, all those in.

A

Favor aye aye against okay. So we have the extension public hearings, old business.

A

So the first one a is a request to postpone so I'm going to read it and look for a motion.

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Petition at 531 islington street portsmouth llc owner for property located at 531 islington street.

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Dunkin donuts, wherein permission is requested to allow renovations to an existing structure.

A

New signage, citing other exterior improvements, as per plans on file.

A

In the planning department said, property is shown on assessor map 157 as lot 5.

A

Lies within character, district, 4-l-2 and historic districts did somebody make a motion.

A

To postpone that until june 8th should we do all the other postponements. I think that's june 8th.

D

So the others will be july. Well, the other ones are too long. Okay yeah. um I moved to postpone.

E

To june 8th, second, all right, all those in favor all right all right again. Well, we got petition.

A

Of chief street condominium association, owner and smith, family declaration of trust, todd c.

A

Smith, trustee applicant for a property located at 159 state street unit 3a, wherein permission is.

A

Requested to allow the installation of mechanical equipment an hvac condenser as per plans on file.

A

In the planning department said, property is shown on assessor map 107 as lot 46-303.

A

A and lies within the character district, four in historic districts who's here to present this.

A

Again again again, chief street condominiums.

A

I don't see anybody rattling around out there. I move that we.

C

Move this to the end of the agenda and if no one shows up we'll move it to the next week. Okay,.

F

So all those in favor all right again, um so we do have two that we could postpone together here.

F

um Excuse me request to postpone petition of sandra l. Smith weiss owner for property located.

A

At 138 gate street, wherein permission is requested to allow new construction to an existing structure.

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Add a one-story rear edition, with steps and landing and exterior renovations to an existing.

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Structure, replace windows, repair, replace siding and trim. As for plans on file in the planning.

A

Department said properties shown on assessment, 103 is lot, 54 lies within general residence b.

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And historic districts, and then also under public hearings, new business number, five.

A

Is the petition of 33 richmond real estate llc owner for property located at 33.

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Richmond street permission is requested to allow exterior renovations to an existing structure.

A

Remove and replace siding and windows as per plans on file in the planning department.

A

Said property is shown on assessor map 108 as lot 17 lies within the mixed research.

A

Office and the historic districts- and I would like these to be postponed till july.

E

Second, all those in favor aye, aye, okay, you're, just too quick.

E

That's fine all right! So now we've moved into public hearings, new business.

A

Petition of dagny taggart llc owner for property located at 93, pleasant street.

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Wherein permission is requested to allow changes to a previously approved design.

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Several monitored minor design changes as per plans on file in the planning department, said.

A

Property is shown on assessor map 107 as lot 74 lies within character, district 4, downtown overlay.

A

And historic districts who here is to present this good evening, chairman and members of the historic.

H

Commission tracy kozak with arkov architects here on behalf of the applicant dagny taggart.

H

The applicant is also here tonight if there any further questions. Welcome. Thank you, yep. I have to.

H

Walk you through the changes, as you recall, we were here, I think late last year for the approval and.

H

We had applied for variants for parking for a previous proposed use, which was micro, housing.

H

That variance for parking was denied, so the project was changed to all office and as we've.

H

Been working on the construction documents and engineering and logistics and programming of.

H

Making it office these are a few changes that are required to make that programmatic change.

H

uh Okay, so the one of the main things is: we move the handicapped entrance from court.

H

Street to pleasant street and um part of that is logistics. There's a loading zone and parking.

H

On pleasant street, that is the front of the building. That is the address, so it made a lot.

H

More sense to have handicapped access where those features are so that requires so we flipped there.

H

Used to be stairs on the pleasant street porch and a ramp on the court street, we flip-flopped that.

H

There's now a ramp on the pleasant street porch and steps on the court street.

H

The other difference there and you'll see this in the elevations is that we lowered the porch floor.

H

And I'll show you those details as we get in there.

H

So that was the previous plan, and the next page shows you.

H

The swapped ramps that's pretty much it there.

H

All right, that's um it's just the same. That's the same: okay, okay and that's the previous floor plan and the.

H

Proposed so that shows the swapped ramps, um two very slight dimensional changes uh on on the right.

H

There's that little nook on court street to the right, where that porch is that got eight inches.

H

Narrower so that we could align structural beams with columns in the parking level. The overall.

H

Length of the building is the same. It's just that porch got eight inches narrower and, like likewise.

H

On the back uh far right corner the overall length of that side of the building is the same. It's that.

H

Jog in the far back against the back property line that moved about four inches out.

H

That's the previous roof plant, a few changes in the roof plant, so that was before, and this.

H

Is now we rotated the elevator tower and shifted it back a little bit, so it has less presence from.

H

The street it also helps the interior circulation for the office use and because we moved the main.

H

Entrance to pleasant street that helped that internally, we brought the stair tower up to the.

H

Roof level and had we have a roof deck up there and some mechanical equipment. So the stair, the.

H

Fire stair uh reaches that level. That's on the very back right behind the elevator overrun.

H

The five little uh hip dormers on the front yep those slid down the roof about a foot.

H

Like they, oh, my goodness, let's slow down the roof. That is because, when we had micro, housing.

H

Those were loft units, it was a two-story space, so the windowsill height didn't matter on those, but.

H

Now that's a full um third floor and the window sills were at five feet previously now they're at.

H

Four feet another three feet and you can see the views from the street and the.

H

Next drawings, we added a chimney on the hip pavilion on the right for garage exhaust air.

H

I think that's it for the roof, so this is whoops. If you go back one page.

H

That's the proposed change, so that is showing the ramp from pleasant street. We're not.

H

Touching the iron fence that goes along pleasant street, there is already a gate there.

H

We'll be putting a curb cut, there's a granite curb that goes along the sidewalk, we'll cut that.

H

And put in the ramp there's currently a concrete sidewalk there that's flat and broken into a.

H

Million pieces it needs replacing so the porch itself we're keeping at the same height and.

H

Elevation the same detailing, but because we're lowering the floor we're adding a granite base.

H

Underneath the balustrade- and you can see that with the red keynote on the left.

H

I will mention that because we need to build a new foundation under that porch.

H

It may need to be temporarily removed while they build that foundation and then put back.

H

We can try temporary shoring while we build a foundation under it. I'm.

H

Just not sure it's going to be a little tricky maneuvering in there, but the intent is to keep.

H

The same elements, that's the previous view and focus on the porch on the left. That is the.

H

Change so there was some angst last time on the approval of that little gable over the porch in.

H

The middle- it was a little bit too cutesy, so that's gone it's simpler now and the elevator.

H

Tower moved back as you can see, and we did add, recessed balconies on the second and third floor.

H

So, on the second floor that facade wall is in the same place, but there are window openings and.

H

The actual window wall is five feet behind that on the third floor, it's just set back.

H

The same thing happens to the porch on the right and you'll see drawings of that.

H

Coming up and that just shows you the oh, that's the previous view and the next view.

H

You can just notice the difference of the dormers they're, just a little bit closer.

H

To the front wall they're the same size same height, they just slid down a little closer.

H

You can see the chimney poking up a little bit over the uh form on the right for the exhaust air.

H

Oh and on the far left, so the um treadwell house, yep, there's a widow walk there, which we are.

H

Keeping but we would like to put a skylight behind the balustrade on that peak and we just sit on top.

H

Of the roof, we wouldn't cut any of the structure, but to remove those slate roofing shingles within.

H

That perimeter of the balustrade of the widow's walk-in put some glass there to get some light.

A

They put an oculus.

H

Not round um and that's the view from the front, um the widow's walk, skylight.

H

I mentioned is on the right and to the left. There are a couple of gray squares, they're set.

H

Back behind the treadwell house, they're on the addition, that's behind the treadwell, the box to.

H

The front the smaller one, that's a mechanical unit, it's an erv energy recovery and the box behind it.

H

A little bit of a larger one, that's the stair, the fire stair in the distance for roof access.

H

That's the previously approved and proposed with the changes I just went over. Oh the um so on the.

H

Far right, the hipped pavilion on the far right. We tweaked the floor heights a little bit to make the.

H

Structural steel work and the hvac and everything the overall roof height got two inches lower.

H

As you measure to the average, the the actual ridge is four inches lower, but the eave is.

H

Is like four inches higher, so it's it's just a few inches tweaking uh to finesse. It.

H

The overall measured building height is a little bit lower than it was before, but I do want to.

H

Point that out it's a slight difference: oh wait! If you could please go back just one page, just one.

H

More thing on that, drawing the first floor in the middle brick section the three windows on the left.

H

So we, as you recall, have those sliding shutters that move across the windows. The three windows.

H

On the left, we'd like the shutters to be in the closed position and to actually be.

H

Louvers there is mechanical air intake for the parking garage behind those three locations.

H

We added uh one row of windows to this facade, so the single double hung's that are to the right of.

H

Center, those are new, and that is because we are, we have offices and that office didn't have a window.

H

It was okay when it was apartments, it was closets and kitchens and stuff.

H

On the back, um so on the back, we we simplified it a little bit. We removed some of the windows.

H

And spaced them a little differently to align with the office layouts inside.

H

Again, this is behind the build the back of the buildings on state street. You.

H

Can't see any of this from a public way, except for the far left corner if you're standing at.

H

The temple entrance on state street, you can see in a distance through the trees and over the hill.

H

But everything to the right of those first, three or four window bays is obscured by buildings.

H

But we did change those, that's the previous approved porch entry porch and now it's.

H

Simplified, we lost the little gable on the porch and um adjusted the recessed balconies on the.

H

Floors above um tracy I'd just like to say that I I was one of the ones that were in favor of that.

A

Little gable: okay, sorry, there is controversy. We can put it back if you like, yeah.

H

But it is not no longer a main entrance, so we don't want to call attention to it as such.

H

um To make it clear where the front door of the building is it's on pleasant street.

H

And same idea, on the sister porch to the right.

H

Previously approved windows, we've just added those three window types, those are at the porches.

H

The recessed porches and the materials- I think that is, I can't read that from here we have a.

H

Railing on the roof deck which is um behind the gable, so it's facing the back of the property and.

H

It's a wire cable, steel, post railing, the railings on the porches facing court street there's just.

H

18 inches exposed above the porch wall, which was shown in the sections, and that is glass.

H

It's a postless glass rail with the skinny top rail, so it becomes invisible more or less.

H

So yeah the railing details are on the left and on the right is the type of.

H

Skylight cap we're proposing.

H

A

E

Mr chair, I'm aaron. I appreciate the addition of the chimney good. Thank you. Okay, it's a practical.

H

Chimney it's there for a reason, but it will look yeah similar to the other stories. Yes,.

E

Rich, thank you. um I was just curious, the mechanical stuff, on top on the um it would be.

E

Across from next to the clip joint there um that mechanical stuff be visible from the opposite side,.

E

Of the street I know it is set back um anyways. I don't know if, like from louise yeah, exactly.

E

I just didn't know because typically we would ask the screen that sort of.

E

Reason, no, I don't know well, these are. These are just big boxes yeah. I don't think.

C

Screening will no just curious about that. Yeah they'll be painted out like a gray, color yeah, okay,.

H

And they are a good 30 40 feet back from the front of the building, so you'd have to get.

H

You probably can see them from a block away, but it's going to be a place up.

A

Yes, martin, it was a good design, it's still a good design and I think it's excellent.

F

If I do, I do recall there might have been a stipulation about the awnings, though, that the.

F

Metal screened awnings was there a stipulation that we were going to see what a mock-up of those.

F

Were going to be before we really bought into them quite possibly yeah yeah, okay,.

H

We can, we will certainly do that and the shutters and the awnings, so all in all.

F

I you know, I still approve this and would like to see those those people sure yep excellent.

E

I have a question on the skylight: how big is that.

H

I don't have the exact dimensions um it's set in about a foot on every side from the inside of the.

H

Widow's walk, so it's roughly I mean and it'll be, this is all part, is the shape? Is the roof.

H

Yes, the slope of it matches the slope of the roof. Exactly I mean it's roughly about six.

H

Feet by ten feet, probably the widow's walk is larger than that this is it.

E

Yep will that look at night? What will that look like at night that up.

E

It's my question. I would hope it's not cool. There could be some light.

E

I'm going to have ufo reports, a batman, insignia flashed on the sky.

A

Is that is that roof space is that occupiable? Is that going to be a room.

A

There yeah it's currently a vaulted ceiling room up there. It's an open space, oh really,.

H

Yeah, oh huge, it's unbelievable, so you're going to have to dig into and destroy that vaulted ceiling.

A

No not touching the vaulted ceiling, there's there's already a roof scuttle there. The.

H

The roof structure is sloped beams and then they they have a really interesting.

H

Tie rod truss configuration they kind of hook around like a fish hook and then there's a.

H

Tie rod like this and it follows the shape of the roof. It's wide open, there's no cross.

H

Pieces, there's no collar ties it's so you won't have to be changing the structure. No, we we.

H

Do not dare touch the structure of that ruth. This is just going to sit gently on top.

B

It's it's possibly the most unique roof structure. You've ever seen. If you go look at.

B

It and no there's no way in l.a could touch any of it without something collapsing. One of those.

A

Yeah yeah make it make a point of going yeah one inch iron bars, yeah yeah. I think I will.

A

Yeah I'll just say I was, I was one of the people who was not a fan of the little.

C

Portica gabled portico entryway, so I think that the new design is better. It's simplified. It's.

C

Actually interesting um with the sort of recessed balconies, so um I think it adds.

C

Some depth to the building, where the rest of it, the brick structure, the brick parts.

C

Are really very flat and this adds some depth, so I think it's an improvement in the design.

B

Yes, david in the fiddling with the porch roof of the side, porch, which is now going.

B

To be a featured entryway to the building, um I can unders. I think I can wrap my head around.

B

What's going on, and I don't think that there's any extraordinary architectural.

B

Sensitivity to whether the roof's here or here, but I wonder about what happens to the columns.

H

um So we're not proposing to lower that poor truth at all. It stays where it is, even if it has to come.

H

Out temporarily, to rebuild the foundation, it would go back in the same height that it was the.

H

Balustrade and columns are the same height as they were they're making up the difference by adding a.

H

Two foot stone granite base underneath where currently, that porch sits like right on the ground.

H

So we're lowering the ground.

A

So I'd like to ask what is the material of the new handicapped ramp itself? It's granite cobblestones.

H

And then there will be it's not acceptable or no. As far as uh the handicapped.

H

Pavement regulations, so it's it's paper. It's flat smooth. They are papers, they're, set on.

A

Nothing over a quarter of an inch difference. um It won't be the bumpy kind.

H

It's not the rustic, it's no. It couldn't be cut flat, smooth yeah, okay,.

A

So uh there again, I would like to even agree with uh with ryan that this is a successful design.

A

This is one of the ones that I'm proud of that we stuck with it and you stuck with it.

A

And uh it went a long way from the way it was when you first presented it to what we have now and.

A

I'm very happy with that. So um I guess. If there's no other comments, I'll open it up to the public.

A

Okay, anybody just please give your name.

I

An address thank you for the information hi, janet dinan, my husband peter, and I live at 278 court.

I

Street we are the only single family home across the street from this in the captain, john layton's.

I

House which we restored lovingly. um I agree that you know the project started out a lot.

I

More massive looking from our house, but um one of the things that, in the new plan.

I

That concerns us are the um the the new um sorry. I get nervous the balcony spaces.

I

I actually think it's not an improvement. I think it looks more industrial because.

I

You've taken it and made it recessed back, and I don't understand why it had to have balconies.

I

um It's facing right out on a street, that's very narrow and there's four balconies, and then I.

I

Don't understand the roof deck is the roof deck. Actually, something someone's going to be up on.

I

Because you have two new roof decks, which no one has mentioned.

H

um Yep there's the roof deck I described on the plan. It's on the back of the building.

H

Facing the back of state street and the balcony is facing court street okay, they're part of the.

H

Program of uses people will be using them. Those are meant for people, yes, okay, yep, okay,.

J

Okay? Well, okay, I wasn't quite done, but that's okay on that deck. Okay,.

I

Yeah, I'm very surprised. Okay, mr chairman members, htc mark mcnabb, um the balconies came about.

J

On the front of court street, because of me, my company is occupying the entire second floor of.

J

The building uh we have found from covid outdoor space is like really essential for all uses.

J

At 60 penn hollow, we have about 3, 000 square feet of decks and the tenants desires to be.

J

Able to get get outside and get fresh air and eat lunch outside and have some outdoor space.

J

Has become very important in our designs, so the balconies got added started at the.

J

Second floor, because one of the balconies is on my office and I I like to be outside.

J

That's how they started and but but in the office market outdoor spaces become very important.

J

I think you'll see more and more of that. So thank you mark. Thank you all right. Do you have more to.

A

Say I just. I just want to note that if people were, if you came over to that area and you right.

I

Now, if someone's standing in that parking lot, you can hear every single word. Anyone says everything.

I

Reverberates and echoes in that neighborhood because of the size of the the governor.

I

Langdon house, it has always done that, but with adding more outdoor space, it's going to increase.

I

And really imposed on the neighbors, okay, I'm just hoping that you will take into consideration.

I

Our concerns- and you know it is the historic district.

I

I think balconies look great new orleans rooftop decks, maybe not in historic district portsmouth is.

A

There anything else on the design of the structure, because that's primarily what we're I know that.

A

I don't like the fact that I think it made it more industrial if you look at what they did.

I

To to put those they recessed it back, and the other thing is that that she keeps tracy says that.

I

That it's called a overrun. The elevator overrun, yes, is very visible on the top of that left-hand.

I

um Office space there it's very visible from the court street side, even more so than it was before.

I

If you go to the other picture from previous, it's much more hidden.

E

Not that one, but anyway, thank you very much. So those are my.

I

Our concerns- and I would like it thank you- is there anyone else that has any concerns.

A

Do we still look online for people or okay.

D

E

It's not coming up.

A

So apparently, there's nobody uh that is looking to make a comment online.

A

Correct okay! So I'm going to close the public hearing and look for some discussion and emotion.

F

Yeah sure I would just simply say that you know we're this is a very active city and to.

F

Live downtown you're, going to experience activities you're going to experience.

F

People on the streets there's going to be noise, there's going to be activity. It's it's just part.

F

Of living in a urban environment, and so um I think, with a corporate office, a balcony use.

F

Is not the same as a balcony use in a residential environment so anyway, I would make the motion to.

F

Approve, as presented with the same stipulations that were previously that were previously.

F

Attached to the project and the previous approval and uh the finding of facts, um we need a second.

A

And a second okay: yes, please, I believe it's uh it! uh It preserves the integrity of the.

F

District and is consistent with the special and defining character of the surrounding properties.

A

All right anybody else want to make a. Would you like to find a fact or anything at all, on this? No.

A

Okay, so um we'll have our vote all those in favor, please say: aye.

F

Aye aye aye aye chair, says I and against all right. So you have your project. You're. Welcome,.

A

Petition are sharmila patel and jacob goldsmith owners for property located at 67 gate street.

A

Wherein permission is requested to allow exterior renovations to an existing structure.

A

Remove the rear, deck and replace with a larger deck as per plans on file in the planning.

A

Department said property is shown on assessor map 103 as lot 91 lies within general residence b.

A

And historic districts who here is to present this welcome, give me your name and address. Please.

J

Okay good evening committee members, um thanks for the opportunity to speak, my name is jacob.

J

Goldsmith, I'm here with my wife, sharma patel and we're the homeowners of 67 gate street charlo and.

J

I have lived at 67 gate street for the past three years. The deck was in poor shape when we arrived.

J

We're now the point where we'd like to address it. It's significant rot on both the top platform and.

J

The steps, in addition, it was also built level with the back door, which creates a bit of a drainage.

J

Issue when it rains and is difficult to open the doors when it snows, so we don't know for sure.

J

We suspect that the back deck was the current deck was built at some point in the late 1990s.

J

The proposed replacement would increase the size from four feet by eight feet to eight feet by.

J

Seventeen and a half feet which would allow us to comfortably fit a couple of chairs out there.

J

And also lower it by a foot to address the previously mentioned rain and snow issue. We.

J

Proposed to build the deck out of cedar with over pressure, treated, spruce substructure, we believe.

J

The current deck is made out of teak, but honestly, I'm not sure I've spoken to neighbors on either.

J

Side and received emails of support about the project from both of them, and I did go out this.

J

Morning and take pictures from hancock street and you can't see the current deck from hancock.

J

Street or anywhere else frankly, you can't see it from anywhere unless you're in our backyard.

A

Okay, yeah: oh any questions, anybody comments, questions.

A

So I guess um this kind of proves that three-quarter inch mahogany decking does not.

A

Last forever, when it's not properly maintained, yeah yeah, it has to be and having those holes.

A

Drilled is very obvious right in front of the sliding glass door yeah, my goodness.

A

So if there's no questions, I'm going to open this up a quick question um just for the drawings that.

C

um You don't have any other railings or anything like that. Detailed.

C

Is it going to be pretty much the same for the railings as what it is now um like the design here.

C

Yeah, um I think yeah. This is what we have. um Let's see.

C

Yeah, I just didn't know the drawing that we have looks like the um the balusters are just sort of.

C

Attached onto the outside, um rather than being sort of within the top rail on the bottom, rail.

C

So I didn't know which the current one I I think is a more. How visible is this anyways.

C

Do we know, like the current design, I think, is a little bit more uh nice rather than just kind.

C

Of having you know, baluster sort of attached on the outside, I don't know if anybody else has a.

C

Opinion on that, I think everything else about it. I think it may enlargening is that a word.

C

uh Is and obviously you're done with the cedar, everything is is fine. I have no problems with.

C

That, I think, is totally appropriate. um I guess just though it was just those details.

C

That um I had a question about martin. Would you like to speak on this question.

F

uh Well, I have my own question. Okay, all right, but uh is how are you going to handle the underside of.

F

The deck the enclosure that are you just going to leave it open just leave it open. Okay and the.

F

It's a very odd detail of how the the corners look at the corner post and how it comes down.

F

And then the foundation post sort of steps out it's kind of an odd way to build it. Yeah.

F

All in all, I think the aesthetic is fine. um This is the back of the house correct this yeah.

F

So, given that I have no objections, I I would just question the way that's being constructed.

F

With with the uh with the company you're going, okay thanks, I agree. That's a really odd detail.

B

The way that it's constructed now is much more of our typical uh post running from the grade up. Yeah.

A

When they twist much less trouble yeah uh it's to me it it's almost like the deck.

A

Was made by somebody who had some experience in carpentry and decided he could build the.

A

Deck but he didn't know how to design the deck and that therein lies the problem. It's too bad.

A

So now I could ask anybody in the public would like to speak about this. Is there anyone there.

A

Is there anyone out there, no one online either we're going online.

A

Hey you, okay, I'm going to close this and I look for a motion.

E

uh Move to uh prove as presented, are you ready I'll? Second? Okay, do you have any findings of facts.

A

Let me get my quote here: uh-oh, let's have a cheat sheet. Another staff report, yeah yeah. I get it.

E

If you go bookmark.

E

um I believe it's.

A

That's okay, you put your hand up. Yes, I know this is your first, your time.

E

I'll get better, um I believe it's.

E

Conservation enhancement of property, values.

E

And it is compatible with design and surrounding properties. There you go yep. So all those favors.

A

And against nope, so you have your uh approval um richie! um I noticed you were going up and down.

I

Yeah, so that means that you haven't transferred over to well, I have it on acrobat yeah. You guys.

C

Are acrobatizing, it goes sideways. Mine goes up. Oh my god. We are honest to goodness. It does yeah.

A

Well, at the top at the top upper right, there's a bookmark yeah. You can just oh I'll, be ready next.

E

Time, oh, that's all right. I thought I'm just not used to seeing somebody go up and down like that.

A

Number three petition of the portsmouth housing authority owner for property located at 160 court.

A

Street wherein permission is requested to allow exterior renovations to an existing structure.

A

Add canopies over existing entryways as per plans on file in the planning department.

A

Said property is shown on assessor map 116 as lot 38 lies within character, district 4.

A

And historic district who is here to present this a stranger yes good evening, carla goodnight.

K

From cj architects, um I assume reagan, she is recusing herself, okay. Yes, that's that's right!.

K

um We are here to ask your permission to put several canopies around the feaster.

K

Apartment building on court street um we're utilizing a lot of the same.

K

Materials that were previously approved on the 160 court street, the new construction, which I'm.

K

Happy to announce has received its certificate of occupancy.

K

So we're very excited to uh actually moving some people in there. Are you still planning to put the.

A

Steam fire engine within the structure, no, no, that was uh that was a previous fire chief's wish.

K

Two fire chiefs ago, I think um so just quickly. If you look through uh the pages here,.

K

uh We've based on many of the changes that have taken place in the courtyard and some.

K

Grating regrading has created some wells that need protection from the water and we're just trying to.

K

Create some areas that are safer for the residents to enter and leave the building and.

K

Be protected from the elements so we're using the same.

K

Many of the same details that were part of the the court street, the other new construction.

K

Project so kind of unifying, at least at ground level. Some of these elements so.

K

The their key plan shows you where the the five canopy locations are proposed.

K

I can run through them for you quickly. A and b are probably the most interested.

K

You're, probably the most interested in a and b is they face court street.

K

uh B is just a small cover over the stair egress stair exit. A is the main entrance to.

K

The feaster building, which is set way back from the road, uh the second number two south elevation.

K

Proposed is actually on the complete other end of the building um facing parrot ave and it's.

K

Not very visible at all. One of the challenges of that is attachment to the feaster building with it.

K

Being a cavity wall construction from way back in the 70s makes it very difficult to attach anything.

K

So we're trying to bracket off of the original concrete foundation wherever possible, uh the.

K

East elevation faces the new serpentine courtyard, we're proposing a new access door at that level.

K

um As well as a covered area and then again, this old exit d through the laundry area had to be.

K

Covered and there is a foundation piece there that retains the new height of the um the grade for the.

K

Courtyard, so we had to maintain ada access down there, which necessitated raising the grade, which.

K

In turn created the wall, which now has a cover, so does anybody have any questions? I'm.

K

Happy to go through anything else, any questions, comments, questions comments.

B

Okay, these are lovely softening agents uh at the street level at the human scale of the building.

B

They clearly don't make the six stories of of uh stock brickside uh go away, but they uh they soften.

B

The surface um I I think that the materials are of the durable nature that one might expect to.

B

Find in a building like this, they have a little teeny bit of that homey, but still industrial.

B

Sort of feel to them, I I think it's highly appropriate. Thank you well very well spoken, mr.

A

Okay, is there anybody in the public that would like to speak about this.

D

Doesn't look like it here, it doesn't look like it.

A

No hands wagging around okay. So I'm going to close this hearing and look for a motion. You're honored.

E

I'll move to um approve, as presented I'll second, that and my findings with facts. I'm.

E

A little faster this time, um I purpose intent on conservation, enhancement of property, values.

E

And compatibility design with surrounding properties all right.

A

Okay, so all those in favor say aye, aye, aye, aye and against there. You have your approval. Thank.

A

You yep you're, welcome. I'm just gonna see it for the next applicants in the hallway there. Oh okay.

A

Okay, see what one was that, once anyway,.

F

Do you remember which one it was that we put off today the last one.

C

So the next one so number four is- should be next number. Four.

D

The person told me she was on her way: okay, okay,.

D

Okay, okay, so I guess we'll just take a five minute break right now and we'll be back.

A

D

We could have got written.

E

Sorry we'll get the hang of this after another 10 or 20 years. Okay, so we are back from our long.

A

Break and we have under new business petition number four petition of helen marks owner.

A

For property located at 90 fleet street unit d, wherein permission is requested to allow exterior.

A

Renovations to an existing structure, which are replacement windows as per plans on file in the.

A

Planning department said: property is shown on assessor map 117 as lot 41 d and lies within the.

A

Character, district 5, downtown overlay and historic districts is anyone out there to present this.

E

That would be me, you have to introduce yourself. Oh well, I'm sorry! I've never done this before. Yes,.

E

My name is helen marks. I've heard that before too, yes, so anything else, I'm so sad. I don't know yeah.

C

Just explain what your project is well, these are not the windows. The windows are on the side.

E

You should have that picture too, and okay a little further down there. They go right.

E

There so there are five picture windows. I think they're, like six by six or something like that.

E

You want me to show you which one you're right here you can see the grabber yeah yeah.

E

And we just want to replace three to get some fresh air in there. There's no fresh air coming in.

E

The unit and it's like very suffocating, and so we were just proposing to see if you would allow that.

E

We didn't want to replace all of them just three of them. Can you tell so it's the first three of.

E

Them those are not mine. No no! The next one's over okay go back nick, oh and I'm still not.

E

Sure either are they the three above there they go right here. Those are four and there's one more.

E

To this side, okay, okay, so it would be uh don't just don't touch the screen. Okay,.

A

So this is just the side: you're doing just fleet street fleet street right you're, not doing cargo.

A

Street at all, no, the one, the one not pictured, is the one over the entrance way correctly. Yes,.

E

Just to be careful.

F

Are these casement windows? Are they sliding this picture windows so the ones that we're.

E

Going to put in there, I did send some drawings that I got from portsmouth glass.

E

And what they decided is to put one one that doesn't open on the bottom and then.

E

One that just slides on top, we don't have drawings, so the drawing didn't get.

C

Yeah, we don't have those drawings, don't have the drawing from portland glass.

B

Well, she's talking about uppers and lowers, I don't think that's what we're looking at yeah.

C

No, we don't have that. Mr cracknell, I don't think honestly. I have an issue with this. It's a pretty.

B

Nondescript demonstration in the windows- these are truly the punched openings, but.

B

We don't have anything at all to hang anything on on this one right, yeah, you need that you.

E

Want me to send you the pictures I I did send them in with the application.

A

We need to have proper representation because this gets filed. This is a permanent.

A

Record, you know on your property and what we need to have is.

A

The specifications for the windows, which would include the size of the windows I sent that in.

C

So it didn't get through yeah. Once again, what I guess helen you need to do is upload it to.

D

Where you put everything before you, don't have it that's what they get whatever's on the building.

D

Permit application not what's emailed to me, I gave it to isaac. I gave everything to him. Okay,.

D

Well, what they don't have it, so why don't we continue this? Can I try to get it for you next.

D

Wednesday, can we yeah, can we have time? Can you come back next wednesday for our next.

C

Meeting and we'll hopefully have it all, I can send it to you now. No, if you sent it to isaac.

C

He'll have it and he can send it to us so that we can review it for next week: okay, yeah, okay. So if.

E

Isaac doesn't have it for some odd reason, because I know send it to me. Send it to me isaac's got it.

D

And I'll make sure it gets uploaded. Okay, all right! I don't have access to my email right here. I see.

E

Okay, well, I'm trying to find so they did did give us a picture of fleet street. Does that have four.

E

I'm very surprised you don't have pictures, but I don't know.

A

This isn't the front corner of the building. I think so. Well, it's just essentially the.

A

Next one: it's not the fundamentals, the third picture. What's that this one yeah, if the mr.

B

Chairman may say that to me again, this is a pretty unadorned metal frame window- installation, oh yeah,.

E

But but there are many windows on this building, even at this level that aren't being swapped out.

B

And I would I I don't think it's the interest of the commission to have them vary in size and.

B

In proportion from one to the next I I certainly don't think that I don't have an issue with it.

B

It's a pretty simple application. If we could see what it was yeah, that's the only thing next week.

B

I'm sure everyone would be happy to okay, I'm so sorry, but I know I sent it in so I do apologize.

E

About that, okay, all right, so I need mr chairman, I'd like to move that we postpone this to a review.

B

Of next week, with additional documentation, second, all right, all those in favor. Okay, thank you all.

E

Very much, thank you for your time. Thank you. Okay have a great evening sure see you next week too,.

A

Oh geez, I'm keep opening this up and I'm not gonna. Have this I'm not saying anything. That's it. Yeah.

C

We don't have anyone from 159 state street, no, that's the one yeah. um So what are we going to.

A

Do postpone it to the eighth next week next week, you wanna: what are we doing next week? uh I guess.

A

Should we go what's coming back next week, just I don't think dunkin donuts.

D

Will be ready for next week all these work sessions- uh oh yeah, I know they're all coming.

D

Yes looks different and we got her coming back, but that should be fast. Can we just put her first? Yes,.

D

Why don't we move into july? I mean they're, not here so uh I'd like a motion to postpone um this.

A

Until july 6th july, 6th, okay, this 159 state yep, oh yeah, motion to postpone 159 state street to.

C

July, okay, is that what you said yeah second, second event: yeah alrighty, all those in favor.

E

All right all right against and motion to adjourn, mr chairman, before that uh we have a piece before.

B

Us from mr sobel- yes, um I I assume that this time, that's time sensitive for us to return.

B

Some sort of finding on not not tonight not to probably be on the agenda for the july 6th meeting.

D

Thank you very much. It has to be on an agenda within 30 days of receipt. Yeah.

E

All righty so uh move to adjourn. Everyone should review that all those in favor all right.

A

All righty I vote now.

F