SUBJECT:
Title
A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Erie Approving a Certificate of Appropriateness to Allow Improvements to the Town Hall Bell Tower at 645 Holbrook Street
Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning & Development
Presenter
PRESENTER(S): HPAB, Harry Brennan
POLICY ISSUES: Per municipal code, a Certificate of Appropriateness (CoA) is required for any significant physical alteration on a historically designated property.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve the CoA.
Policy
Body
SUMMARY/KEY POINTS:
• Certificates of Appropriateness must go before the Erie Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB) for a recommendation, then Town Council for a final decision.
• The historic bell tower has openings that are currently enclosed with louvred shutters that were added during previous non-historic renovations.
• Originally, the bell tower openings were open-air.
• The Town desires to replace these non-historic shutters with glass windows to more closely resemble the original historic condition and to showcase the historic bell.
• HPAB reviewed the application in its meeting on 11/17/25 and voted unanimously to recommend approval to Town Council.
BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
The Town submitted the CoA Application (HP2025-00003) for the bell tower improvements and brought the application to HPAB on 11/17/25. HPAB voted unanimously to recommend approval to Town Council, who is the final decision maker on the application.
attachments
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Resolution
2. HPAB Written Findings
3. Application, Narrative and Presentation Materials