08/22/09 - Block Island’s Historic District Commission considers the restoration of the Weather Station on Beach Avenue to be worthy of an award. On Tuesday, the HDC submitted the Weather Station as a candidate for a 2009 Rhode Island Historic Preservation Award.

The historic building is owned by Joe and Danita Noel, who undertook the restoration with designer Geoffrey Rigby-Leather.

The HDC also approved a 60-panel solar electric system for Town Hall, with the suggestion the town should plant screening to soften the panels’ appearance from Old Town Road.

Chairman Bill Penn said the project shows the town is being aggressive about renewable energy, but the panels, which are behind the parking lot, are institutional looking and would need some screening.

The commission forwarded an application by Stephen E. Papa to move a planter from the inside to the outside of a fence to the Planning Board, since the property is part of a planned development.

The commission approved replacement windows for John Leone’s High Street building (Plat 7, lot 74). Penn said they match other replacement windows in the building, and the size has been approved by the town’s building inspector.

Marcia Merrick’s application to replace 32 windows at the Phelan House on Water Street was “straightforward,” according to Penn and was approved. All three properties on the site will be consistent with each other as well as consistent with HDC guidelines.

A preliminary application for the siting and massing of a new single family dwelling on a substandard lot on Sunset Hill, Plat 7, lot 76, was approved and goes next to the Zoning Board.