By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

Berlin commission approve request for restaurant deck

(June 11, 2020) The Berlin Historic District Commission last Thursday approved the proposed materials for the pergola roof at the Blacksmith Restaurant and Bar, located at 104 Pitts Street.

The Berlin Historic District Commission approved proposed plans from United Restoration to build a pergola at Blacksmith Restaurant on Pitts Street for outdoor dining with a corrugated polycarbonate panel roof.

On May 20, the Historic District approved the request from restaurant owner Justine Zegna to build outdoor dining so the restaurant could serve diners according to state safety restrictions during the pandemic.

Zegna and Joe Pino, of United Restoration, were asked to return in June with details about the pergola roof.

Pino was present for the meeting on June 3 and said the roof would be made of Macrolux corrugated polycarbonate panel from Glasteel.

“The only thought that I had in regard to that material is I have been to restaurants that have that before, and in my experience, it always looks dirty,” said Councilmember Laura Stearns.

Pino said the material can be power washed, and it is inexpensive to repair.

“It’s only like $40 a panel for a 10-foot panel,” Pino said.

Vice Chairman Robert Poli suggested adding a roll-out bamboo cover to provide shade for outdoor diners.

Following the approval of the Blacksmith roof plans, the commission reviewed a request to remodel an existing one-bedroom garage and guesthouse at 19 S. Main Street.

The Gaugers purchased the property with the rear garage in September 2019 with the intent to use it as a retirement home.

According to the Maryland Historical Trust under the state Department of Planning, “owners of locally designated properties must receive approval from their local Historic Preservation Commission for changes to the exterior of their properties or if they are building a new building in a local historic district.”

The Gaugers were not informed of their obligations when buying a home in the historic district and began renovations to their detached garage at 19 S. Main Street without approval from The Historic District Commission.

“When you present something to the historic commission, we ask for a sample of the windows, a sample of all materials and everything that would be used in the project,” said Councilmember Norman Bunting. “This project had started without any applications, so we don’t even know what exactly has been used there. There’s a lot of things that we need to know.”

Councilmember Mary Moore asked if the homeowners were advised that they were buying in the historic district at the time of purchase. They said they were not.

“The town does not have a code that requires the Realtors to do that,” said Planning Director David Engelhart. “I would think, in the normal performance of their duties, they would know what’s in the historic district and be professional enough to advise their clients of that.”

Moore was displeased that such information was not disclosed to the homeowners.

“I am terribly upset this doesn’t immediately change … that something is put … legally that people cannot be sold a property of any historic town district unless they are given a full printout of [obligations],’” Moore said.

Chairwoman Carol Rose said she has been trying for nearly 10 years to have Mayor Gee Williams and the council enact a policy that advises potential homebuyers about purchasing a property in the historic district.

The commission asked the Gaugers to return for the July 1 meeting with a new packet that details the landscaping and proposed materials, which will restore the historic integrity of the garage.