Roll Call, Rocket‑Free
“We are going to start with a roll call,” Town Planner Shannon Rutherford announced at 5 p.m. on 15 July 2025 as the Farmington Historic District Commission gathered for a hybrid session. All seven regular members answered, except Cliff Mix; alternate Henry Pertill filled the empty seat.
Rutherford: “I will appoint Henry to take the place of Cliff for today.”
Noah Wallace School: HDU Steps In for Hardwood
Matt Ross, the district’s finance chief, laid out a two‑sign plan for Noah Wallace School—identity in front, directions at the Church Street corner.
Ross: “We are looking to upgrade and replace signs at all of our schools… Noah Wallace being in the Historic District, we come before you tonight.”
Ross: “The mascot… is the Rockets, and it’s kind of hard to get that nicely onto a sign, so we stuck with an image of the building.”
Fabricator Lauren Rosen arrived late—detoured by Nod Road traffic—but drilled into materials:
Rosen: “HDU stands for high‑density urethane… the end effect is in how it’s finished… we add flattener so the final product is a low‑luster eggshell finish.”
Rosen: “You’ll see the brush strokes—you’ll know it’s painted by hand.”
Commissioners’ quick‑fire:
- Ted Sanford: “HDU must look like wood.”
- Henry Pertill: “Is that a solid block of material similar to Azek—or hollow?”
- Liz Gemski: “Just disappointed we’re not using the rocket.”
Chair Jay Bambara questioned a blue directional arrow:
Bambara: “Why blue…and why that particular arrow?”
Rosen: “Looking at it a month later, why blue indeed.”
With no public opposition, Michelle Phelan moved to grant a temporary certificate of appropriateness; vote: 7‑0.
7 Church Street: Raising the Bar (and the Slab)
Architect Jack Kemper sought a tweak to the in‑progress home for Tad Diesel:
Kemper: “We want to raise the garage by one foot four… we’ve changed the garage doors—glass in the top panel instead of transoms.”
The slab rise flattens the downhill driveway and trims interior stairs. Dimensions, eaves, and siding stay put. Motion passed without dissent.
St. Patrick’s Church: Round vs. Square
Earlier paperwork pictured round 15‑watt LEDs; the parish electrician bought rectangles instead.
Rutherford: “The electrician has purchased this light already.”
Jim Calciano: “No preference.”
Bambara: “Let him install what he has.”
Rectangles accepted; parish savings preserved. 💡
Staff Report: Trails, Tombs, and Tallies
Hill‑Stead Museum’s Historic Walk
Rutherford previewed a stone‑dust trail revival through wetlands north of Main Street. Red lines mark compacted paths; green indicates grass routes. Fund‑raising follows initial grading.
Riverside Cemetery Roadwork
Every lane in the 1847 cemetery will be ground and repaved in September. Enhancements:
- Loop widened 2–4 ft
- Cape Cod berm (east), two‑foot stone trench (west)
- Rip‑rap aprons at both entrances to halt erosion
District Census
GIS update shows:
- Farmington Historic District: 189 parcels, 313 structures
- Unionville Historic District: 41 parcels, 53 structures
Bambara saluted the growth: “A testament to persistent preservation.”
Minutes from 20 May approved 7‑0; gavel dropped at 6:19 p.m.
Sponsor Shout‑Out 🙌
This quote‑laden opus is powered by Farmington Storage—the only facility with museum‑quality air (great for your vinyl or your vinyl‑clad aunt). 155 Scott Swamp Road | 860‑777‑4001. Tell them the commission sent you; they’ll store that arrow Matt Ross didn’t choose. 📦
About the Author
Jack Beckett survives municipal triple‑headers on Einstein Bros. Ballantyne cold brew—bold enough to match three‑hour agendas, smooth enough to mask grading‑plan aftertaste. ☕📝
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This article, “HDU Signs, Garage Revamp, and LED Spotlights Approved at Farmington Historic District Commission,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY‑ND 4.0.
“HDU Signs, Garage Revamp, and LED Spotlights Approved at Farmington Historic District Commission”
by Jack Beckett, The Farmington Mercury (CC BY‑ND 4.0)