Historic Preservation & Architectural Review Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD HELD SPECIAL MEETING VIRTUALLY VIA THE ZOOM APPLICATION ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 AT 6:30 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Daniele Cherniak, Chairperson Barbara Hildreth, Vice Chairperson Thomas Rifenberg MEMBERS ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Joseph Seman-Graves, City Planner Sharon Butler, Administrative Assistant Chairperson Cherniak called the meeting to order at 6:31 PM. CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 18, 2020 MEETING Chairperson Cherniak: Our first item on the agenda is the consideration of the August 18th meeting minutes. Has everyone had a chance to review, are there any questions or comments from the board? With no questions or comments Vice Chairperson Hildreth made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Thomas Rifenberg seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. YES NO ABSTAIN Daniele Cherniak X Barbara Hildreth X Thomas Rifenberg X CONSIDERATION OF A NEW SIGN AT 23-1 OLMSTEAD STREET Chairperson Cherniak: The next item on the agenda is consideration of a new sign at 23-1 Olmstead Street. Ok, so the applicant is here then? Joe Seman-Graves, yes all 3 applicants are here tonight. Chairperson Cherniak; so, do any members of the board have any question for the applicant? Vice Chairperson Hildreth; No Member Rifenberg: No Chairperson Cherniak; we had discussed, Tom, having a single color, have something to compliment the trim around the windows, rather than the wood appearance, is that agreeable to the members of the board: Vice Chairperson Hildreth; yes Member Rifenberg; yes, I have to go with you on that one, the wood grain it off putting given everything else. Chairperson Cherniak; and there was discussion hanging the sign by a single fixture into the mortar rather than to the brick. So it that acceptable as well? Vice Chairperson Hildreth; yes Member Rifenberg; yes Chairperson Cherniak; ok, so if there’s no other questions or issues, can I have a motion to accept the application? Vice Chairperson Hildreth; I’ll make the motion to accept the application Member Rifenberg; 2nd the motion and it passed unanimously YES NO ABSTAIN Daniele Cherniak X Barbara Hildreth X Thomas Rifenberg X CONSIDERATION OF A NEW SIGN AT 122 REMSEN STREET: Chairperson Cherniak: ok, so next we’re doing 122 Remsen Street, consideration of the new sign and the other façade improvements. So are there any questions for the applicant from members of the board? Vice Chairperson Hildreth; no Member Rifenberg; the placement of the sign is going to be in the same place as the Lingualinx sign, in that same area? Daniel Oh; yes Member Rifenberg; that would be my concern, other than that it’s fine Chairperson Cherniak; ok, do the board members have a preference for the lettering of the sign? Member Rifenberg; just a person preference, I like the one on the top better, it’s bolder, stands out better. Vice Chairperson Hildreth; so do I Chairperson Cherniak; ok, so then we’ll go with the one on top, if there are no more questions, can I have a motion to approve the application? Member Rifenberg; yea, I’ll make a motion to approve Vice Chairperson Hildreth; I’ll 2nd it, motion approved unanimously  YES NO ABSTAIN Daniele Cherniak X Barbara Hildreth X Thomas Rifenberg X Daniel Oh; thank you everybody. CONSIDERATION OF FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS AT 289 ONTARIO STREET: Chairperson Cherniak: Ok, next is 298 Ontario Street. Did everybody see the window specs that Joe sent out? Vice Chairperson Hildreth; yes Member Rifenberg; yes Chairperson Cherniak; and, so these are basically the same dimensions of the existing windows is that correct? Bryce Cutler; correct Joe Seman-Graves; Daniele can I ask a question? Chairperson Cherniak; sure Joe Seman-Graves; Bryce, Sharon brought this up when looking at the window specs you sent over. The windows you’re ordering don’t add up to the total number of windows, is that an error or were you looking to just so some of the windows and not all of them? Mr. Cutler; no, it should be all the windows on the first and second floors. Joe Seman-Graves; ok, that’s where we were confused Mr. Cutler; right, not the third, the third floor, those have been done already, those are good. So the first and second floor, those are what needs to be done. Sharon Butler; ok, yea I was counting those and I was like, this doesn’t match up. Mr. Cutler; no problem Chairperson Cherniak; ok, so board members, are you ok with this color scheme as well for the painting of the previously painted surfaces? Vice Chairperson Hildreth; yes Member Rifenberg; yes, I think that looks good. Chairperson Cherniak; ok are there any more questions from members of the board? Vice Chairperson Hildreth; no Member Rifenberg; no Chairperson Cherniak; ok, can I have a motion to approve the application? Member Rifenberg; yes, I’ll make a motion to approve Vice Chairperson Hildreth; I’ll 2nd it, motion approved unanimously Chairperson Cherniak; do we have any members of the public here? Joe Seman-Graves; no Chairperson Cherniak; ok, I did not ask for public comments because I thought that there were not members of the public on, but if there are, they are certainly welcome to comment on these specific applications. Joe Seman-Grave; and that will be recorded in the minutes in case they want to show up next month. Chairperson Cherniak; ok, I just want to make sure we weren’t excluding anyone. Ok, so all in favor of 298, so we all approve board members for 298, I’m sorry 289 Ontario Street. Vice Chairperson Hildreth; yes Member Rifenberg; yes YES NO ABSTAIN Daniele Cherniak X Barbara Hildreth X Thomas Rifenberg X CONSIDERATION OF FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS AT 70 REMSEN STREET Chairperson Cherniak; so next item on the agenda is 70 Remsen Street. So this is work on the façade, painting of masonry. Are there any questions for the applicant from board members? Vice Chairperson Hildreth; as we discussed last meeting, it will really enhance the park and the building itself. Member Rifenberg; absolutely Joe Seman-Graves; Bryce, just so you’re aware, I did contact Daniel about the front of the building for any images she could find, she could not. Steve Napier has probably the worst angle you could have on this building, it’s from almost standing in front but from the side angle. It’s hard to pick out what I’m looking at, but I’ll send it and maybe you can make heads or tails. Mr. Cutler; ok, we’ll see what we can do with it. One of the other things, I don’t know that we mentioned it last time and I want to make sure I mention it this time, if we’re going to redo the brick on the park side facing, the bricks on the bottom probably should match that on front façade as well and if everybody’s ok, we’ll paint that red brick on the front to match the same color as the color we choose for the side as well. Chairperson Cherniak; so this is modern brick is that correct? Mr. Cutler; yes Chairperson Cherniak; yeah, so normally we would not approve painting of masonry, but in this case it’s a very late addition and it’s matching the rest of the building, so I think the standard would be a little different, so I don’t know how the board member feel about that. Member Rifenberg; I don’t have a problem with it. Vice Chairperson Hildreth; I think it will look better matching everything else. Chairperson Cherniak; yea, as long as there’s the justification for the reason we’re doing this, I think it’s appropriate, so are there any more questions or comments from members of the board? Vice Chairperson Hildreth; no Member Rifenberg; no Chairperson Cherniak; any comment from the public? Ok, if not, do I have a motion to approve this application? Vice Chairperson Hildreth; I’ll make a motion to approve this application Member Rifenberg; I’ll 2nd it, motion passed unanimously  YES NO ABSTAIN Daniele Cherniak X Barbara Hildreth X Thomas Rifenberg X Joe Seman-Graves; ok Bryce thank you Mr. Cutler; thank you all very much everybody Joe Seman-Graves; ok guys last matter of business obviously we are trying to find more members for the board. The Mayor got some names and was going to call 2 of the people, but I haven’t heard from him on the outcome. If you know anyone pass their names along. Chairperson Cherniak; with no other business, I will close the meeting at 6:42PM All in favor.