Panel OKs pavers, delays 175 North Cove plan

Other Committee · Meeting of October 20, 2026

OLD SAYBROOK — The Old Saybrook Historic District Commission approved a paver driveway at 91 North Cove Road and continued a larger renovation hearing for 175 North Cove Road to November 17. Attorney Ed Casella, representing owner Scott Lang, won unanimous approval for a pervious stone paver driveway after commission member Barbara called the material "compatible with the home." For the 175 North Cove Road case, new owner Stephanie Williams's team, led by architect Doug Shotland, proposed removing a 1920s chimney, adding a first-floor bathroom and mudroom, and replacing siding with Boral composite. Commission member Jessica May objected that the chimney removal "throws the entire volume out of whack," and members asked for revised drawings by November 9.

Staff flagged that the project may separately need Gateway Commission review because it increases square footage.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 1,912 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of October 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.

The Full Article

Call to Order and Regular Business

The Old Saybrook Historic District Commission convened its regular monthly meeting on October 20, 2026, with Chair Paul Knurum presiding and all regular members present, obviating the need to seat alternates. The commission approved its September 15 minutes, with member Aaron Stevens abstaining because he had not attended that meeting. Staff reported no correspondence. The building inspector's office had approved two staff-level exemptions since the last meeting: an 8-by-12 shed in the backyard at 118 North Cove Road, not visible from the street, and a second project, variously described in discussion as at "192 North Cove Road" or "192 Riding Road," replacing a fence with a granite wall, also not visible from the street. The inconsistency in the address is a transcription artifact rather than a commission decision point, and the exemption itself required no commission vote.

Public Hearing: Certificate of Appropriateness, Pavers at 91 North Cove Road

Background and stakes: The property owner, Scott Lang, sought a certificate of appropriateness to install stone pavers in the driveway. Because the property sits within the Old Saybrook Historic District, any change to exterior features visible from a public way requires commission sign-off.

The question before the body: Whether the proposed paver material and installation were compatible with the historic character of the property and neighborhood.

Substantive content: Attorney Ed Casella appeared on Lang's behalf, since the owner was traveling. He described the material as a rough-cut, non-manufactured paver set with sand-filled joints, making the driveway fully pervious to water. He brought a physical sample to the meeting for members to inspect, noting the look was more natural than photographs alone conveyed. The work is confined to the 91 North Cove Road side of a shared driveway; a garage on an adjoining lot under the same ownership is unaffected.

The deliberation: Commission discussion was brief. One member noted that the panel's compatibility review generally focuses on whether a proposed material suits the specific property rather than matching every neighboring material, and found the chosen paver compatible with the home.

"I think that the choice of the pavers is compatible with the home." [00:08:44] — Barbara, commission member

Casella, mindful of a 6:30 p.m. zoning hearing in Essex, asked whether the commission could act that evening rather than continue the matter, which members agreed was standard practice once a hearing is ready to close.

Procedural steps and outcome: Members voted unanimously to close the public hearing, then voted unanimously to approve the certificate of appropriateness, with the motion referencing the plans and application materials presented at the meeting. No conditions were attached.

Implications and what is next: The approval is final; no further commission action is required for the driveway work.

Public Hearing: Certificate of Appropriateness, 175 North Cove Road Renovation

Background and stakes: New owner Stephanie Williams, who grew up in Old Saybrook, purchased 175 North Cove Road and is proposing renovations to a waterfront home the design team described as roughly 250 years old and among the district's most architecturally significant contributing structures. The application, submitted October 2, triggers the commission's 65-day statutory deadline to act, which staff calculated runs through early December, giving the commission room to continue the matter to its November 17 meeting without lapsing the clock.

The question before the body: Whether a package of additions, a chimney removal, a reshaped rear roofline, new siding, and window and garage-door replacements are compatible with the home's historic character, or whether revisions are needed before the commission can act.

Substantive content: Project manager Jake and architect Doug Shotland presented on Williams's behalf. The plan includes a first-floor bathroom addition near a new primary bedroom on the home's east end, filling an existing patio cutout not visible from the street; a new mudroom-style vestibule on the west end to replace a steep, original stairway connecting the garage to the kitchen, intended to improve safety and accessibility given that Williams is 81; removal of a chimney the team dated to a 1920s addition, to make room for the vestibule and a kitchen eating area; a reshaped, hip-roofed treatment of a mid-20th-century flat-roofed rear addition facing the water; replacement of modern rear windows with aluminum-clad, true-divided-light windows; conversion of a single garage window into two wood carriage-style doors; and new Boral composite siding, a fiber-cement product the team said resembles painted wood but does not rot, in place of deteriorating original material. Shotland presented a hand-drawn architectural timeline tracing the house's changes from an original three-bay structure through 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century additions, arguing the home has never been a fixed historical "museum piece" but has evolved continuously.

The deliberation: Questioning ran more than an hour and touched on nearly every proposed element. Commission member Jessica May raised the most sustained objection, arguing that removing the 1920s chimney would unbalance the home's three-part street facade even though the new vestibule addition on the opposite end would be hidden behind a wall and not visible from the road.

"The challenge with what you're doing, in my eyes, is you're removing the chimney, which sort of removes that weight on one side and that sort of end piece... it feels like it's throwing the entire volume out of whack." [00:36:52] — Jessica May, commission

Shotland and Jake responded that relocating the chimney was not structurally straightforward given the existing floor plan, and that the chimney itself postdated the home's original construction. Commission member Tom Stevens separately questioned a proposed change to a rear window pattern shown in color-coded elevation drawings, arguing the shift from a four-over-five configuration to a different pattern would be a noticeable change as seen from the water; the design team agreed to revert to the original window configuration. Member Barbara questioned whether proposed wood garage doors were durable enough for the waterfront site; the team said a manufacturer offering higher-durability wood doors could meet the commission's material preference. Multiple members, including Alan, debated a new decorative rooftop balustrade intended to break up a large flat roof visually, generally favoring a simpler style matching a neighboring property over a more ornate Chippendale-style railing, while asking the team to explore shorter or alternative treatments. A siding debate arose over Boral versus traditional cedar clapboard; one member said he was "a purist on the clapboard" and asked the team to price a cedar alternative, while the design team maintained that modern cedar does not hold up as well as historic old-growth stock and would require more frequent replacement.

Staff member Lynette Wacker flagged that the project, because it increases the home's square footage, may also require review by the Gateway Commission, a separate regional body with jurisdiction over the Connecticut River gateway corridor; the design team said it would follow up on that requirement outside the historic district process. An unidentified member of the public, present but not speaking to the specific application, asked the commission generally where residents could find the criteria the commission uses to evaluate siding, window and other material choices; Knurum directed the person to consult with Wacker after the meeting.

Procedural steps and outcome: Rather than close the hearing, the commission, on a motion seconded by Barbara, voted unanimously to keep the public hearing open and continue it to the November 17 meeting. Staff set November 9 as the deadline for the design team to submit revised drawings and specifications, including ten paper copies and an electronic version, referencing the original October 2 application so the statutory review clock is not restarted. Members asked specifically to see alternative "option A/option B" renderings addressing the roofline and chimney questions before the next session.

Implications and what is next: No certificate of appropriateness has been issued for 175 North Cove Road. The design team must return with revised elevations addressing the chimney, roofline, window pattern and siding questions raised October 20. The commission's continued public hearing is scheduled for November 17, 2026, and residents may attend or comment at that session.

Old Business: Historic Marker Sign Project

Commission members Barbara and Alan reported on an ongoing project to install historic markers in the district. They have met with Marie McFarland of the Old Saybrook Historical Society, which has agreed to handle order financing for the signs. Final per-sign costs and an order form are still being finalized; organizers hope to install a test sign, potentially near a College Street address, in time to photograph it for an article in the town's newsletter, for which the submission deadline is November 11. Members agreed to defer other pending old-business items to a future meeting given no urgent deadlines.

Closing Remarks and Adjournment

Before adjournment, member Aaron Stevens offered a personal comment about the 175 North Cove Road case, describing stress over the day's deliberation given a personal investment in the town's history.

"I was stressed about it all day because I'm so invested in the history of this... I just so appreciate that you guys were as diligent in that review of that application." [01:16:18] — Aaron Stevens, commission member

The commission adjourned without objection at approximately 7:15 p.m. based on time references in the discussion.

WHO WAS THERE

Paul Knurum — commission member and chair, presided over the meeting. Tom Stevens — commission member, described in introductions as "general member." Aaron Stevens — commission member, abstained on September minutes due to absence, offered closing remarks. Barbara — commission member (surname not given in transcript), seconded the 175 North Cove Road continuance motion. Alan — commission member (surname not given in transcript), participated in roofline discussion and historic marker sign project. Jessica May — participated substantively in design deliberation on 175 North Cove Road; introduced at the meeting's outset in connection with an "office" role; exact function unclear from the transcript. Lynette Wacker — staff, flagged potential Gateway Commission jurisdiction over the 175 North Cove Road project and advised on revised-drawing procedure. Krista May — clerk, circulated minutes and monitored remote attendance. Ed Casella — attorney, represented applicant Scott Lang on the 91 North Cove Road paver application. Scott Lang — property owner at 91 North Cove Road, did not attend; represented by counsel. Jake — project manager for the 175 North Cove Road renovation application (surname unclear in transcript). Doug Shotland — architect for the 175 North Cove Road renovation application. Stephanie Williams — new owner and applicant for 175 North Cove Road; did not personally address the commission in the transcript provided. Unidentified resident — asked a general public-comment question about where to find the commission's material-compatibility criteria. Marie McFarland — Old Saybrook Historical Society, referenced regarding financing for a historic marker sign project; did not attend the meeting.

ORGANIZATIONS AND DOCUMENTS REFERENCED

Old Saybrook Historical Society — agreed to handle order financing for a planned historic marker sign program discussed under old business. Gateway Commission — a separate regional body cited by staff as potentially having jurisdiction over the 175 North Cove Road project because it increases the home's square footage. September 15, 2026 meeting minutes — approved at this meeting, with one abstention. October 2, 2026 application (175 North Cove Road) — the governing submission date for the commission's 65-day statutory review deadline; referenced when the commission continued the hearing rather than requiring a new filing. Boral composite siding product — discussed as the proposed replacement siding material for 175 North Cove Road, compared against cedar clapboard during deliberation.