WESTPORT - Scaled back plans for the Moody's historic Westport Point house garnered a more favorable reception from the Historical Commission last week than earlier proposals. "Our goal is that looking from the water or road you will feel that these buildings are of this place," said Patrick Calhoun Hickox of Hickox Williams Architects in Boston. He said, "Ideally, as time goes by, they would be missed if they were not there."

The house, which is owned by Michael and Linda Moody, is located at 2031 Main Road in the Westport Point Historic District. Mr. Hickox said owner Michael Moody made it clear that the expansive earlier plans, which some called a McMansion, should be "condensed and made smaller."

Mr. Hickox worked on the addition with his partner, Brigid Williams. The architects said the new plans preserve the 1780s house and the late 19th century portion. Removed are the enclosed porches built in the 1950s.

"The goal is to keep the massing subservient to the existing buildings," Mr. Hickox told the Historical Commission.

The architect conceded that the addition is "more dramatic from the north and south," however. Historical Commission member Dora Atwater Milliken said the roof line of the addition still "doesn't seem to mesh with the flow of the land." She said the roofs of other Westport Point buildings "go down toward the river" while the Moody's is the reverse. An abutter and architect, Greg Nowell, disagreed with her, however, saying the roof lines sloped up toward the river here.

Mr. Hickox said he agreed with Ms. Milliken's suggestion and would do more research on whether the addition could be built closer to ground level. This part of the addition is raised at least six feet off the ground. One concern with lowering the roof yet keeping the height is that this is a flood plain.

The Moody's house has generated a great deal of controversy from neighbors who have formed the Westport Point Neighborhood Association. The controversy led to the resignation of the Moody's first architect, Kip Wise, who also served on the Historical Commission. Mr. Wise resigned after learning he could not represent clients in the historic district. Architect Woody Underwood, who served as the Commission's chairman, also resigned, saying he could not give up the prospect of future work in the historic district.

When Mr. Moody and the architect referred to the controversy last week -- Mr. Moody called it "polarizing" --they were quickly cut off by Norma Judson, who was acting as chairman. Ms. Judson said there were too many agenda items to review for the commission to waste time rehashing the raw feelings this project has spawned.

Along with scale, the earlier plans were criticized because the historic house was rotated. Architect Chip Gillespie praised the new architects for keeping the house's orientation and for treating the historic property more "respectfully." Among the other concerns raised was whether the old chimney will be preserved.

Several neighbors and friends of the Moodys voiced support for the revised plans. Charlie Trippe said they had done the massing "gracefully" and had fixed aspects of the house from changes made before the historic district was formed, including some large windows. Mr. Trippe, whose place overlooks the Moody's, said, "I won't mind the view from my house.'

Last Tuesday's review was a preliminary hearing and not a formal one. Preliminary hearings give owners an opportunity to get an idea of how plans will be received before expending a great deal of effort and expense on a project. Thus, the Historical Commission did not take a vote on the new plans, which also have to be approved by the building inspector, Board of Health and Conservation Commission.

Mr. Hickox said he studied with Vincent Scully in graduate school and that Ms. Williams had done her thesis at Harvard University. They are not working on architectural plans for the guest house, which has also raised the ire of neighbors.

BY PEGGY AULISIO

paulisio@eastbaynewspapers.com