Historic Preservation & Architectural Review Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COHOES HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MEETING HELD WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 AT 6:30PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Daniele Cherniak, Chairperson John Frainier Evan Lamb ABSENT: Vice Chair Hildreth ALSO PRESENT: Sharon Butler, Administrative Assistant Tess Drauschak, Assistant Planner Chairperson Cherniak called the September meeting of the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board to order at 6:30PM. Roll Call; Members present; Chair Cherniak, Member Frainier, Member Lamb Absent; Vice Chair Hildreth CONSIDERATION OF THE September 20, 2022 MEETING MINUTES Chairperson Cherniak; asked if members had time to review the minutes of the September 20th 2022 meeting minutes and if there were any questions or comments. Being none she asked for a motion to accept the meeting minutes as submitted. Motion was made by Member Frainier 2nd by Member Lamb all in favor AYE motion carried. YES NO ABSTAIN Daniele Cherniak X Barbara Hildreth ABSENT Evan Lamb X John Frainier X CONSIDERATION OF A SIGN AT 130 REMSEN STREET Chairperson Cherniak; next item on the agenda is 130 Remsen Street, she asked the applicant to give an overview of what they planned on doing. Mr. Vincent Mancino stated that they are working with Vital Signs for their new sign; they worked out an art deco sign, it is going to have a gloss black background with gold gilded lettering—he showed the board a picture of the sign. The sign will go on the existing bracket on the building. Chairperson Cherniak asked if they were going to put any external lighting on the sign. Mr. Mancino stated no but there is lighting on the side of the building that would help illuminate the sign. Chairperson Cherniak asked if there were any other questions. Member Frainier asked the applicant what type of business they had. Mr. Mancino explained that they sell vintage furniture, clothing and décor everything vintage. Member Frainier stated he was just curious what type of business they have. Chairperson Cherniak; asked if there were any other questions from board members, being none she then asked for a motion to approve the application. Motion was made by Member Lamb 2nd by Member Frainier all in favor AYE motion carried. YES NO ABSTAIN Daniele Cherniak X Barbara Hildreth ABSENT Evan Lamb X John Frainier X CONSIDERATION OF A SIGN AT 190 REMSEN STREET Chairperson Cherniak next item on the agenda is 190 Remsen Street, she asked the applicant to approach and explain what she is doing Ms. Renel Turner approached the board and stated that she is the owner of Nelly’s Treats and has been open almost a year now and she is looking to give her business a refresh. So she wants to change her logo. She explained that the size of the sign will remain the same she is just looking to replace the current logo that she has. Chairperson Cherniak asked if the picture that they have is the colors the new sign will be. Ms. Turner stated yes, the background is white and the lettering is going to be black with a pink cake. Chairperson Cherniak asked if there were any questions from board members. Tess stated that she wanted to have Renel review the application because Tess did the application for her. Sharon I already had her sign the original application. Ms. Turner stated that it was fine. Chairperson Cherniak if there are no other questions do we have a motion to approve the sign application? Member Lamb made the motion Member Frainier 2nd all in favor AYE motion carried. YES NO ABSTAIN Daniele Cherniak X Barbara Hildreth ABSENT Evan Lamb X John Frainier X DISCUSSION ITEM; 69-73 VLIET STREET NEW CONSTRUCTION Chairperson Cherniak next on the agenda 69 & 73 Vliet Street Mr. Carl Godfrey from RemodelNow approached the board to explain the project. They are proposing to build a four unit at 69 & 73 Vliet Street. He showed the board the architect drawing of how the dwelling will look on the lot and he explained that they looked at the homes in the area and they have vinyl siding on them Chairperson Cherniak stated that most of them had siding put on before the board was established and there were no approvals to do that Mr. Godfrey he stated that they are proposing cement board siding with a wood grain look, so it would look like wood siding. He stated that he wanted to get the boards opinion regarding painting the entire unit one color or do each section a different historic color. He also explained that they want to do black windows versus white vinyl, black doors and the railings will be black metal rails Chairperson Cherniak asked the applicant if it would be facing Hamilton Street Mr. Godfrey said yes it would be facing Hamilton but they were given a Vliet Street address, they were given 69 Vliet Street. The property has already been merged together and they went to the tax assessor. He stated that pretty much everything is done for the project to move forward he just wanted to get the board’s thoughts on the exterior Chairperson Cherniak said she has a couple of questions as far as the windows. The drawing that they have and the rendering Mr. Godfrey was showing the board are a little different; the windows on the first floor seem differently proportioned versus the other drawing Mr. Godfrey explained that the color drawing is not what they are using, it was just something to put together for the board. He stated that the windows will be what is on the architectural drawings. Chairperson Cherniak stated that another concern is the side lites on the doors, a simpler door would be more appropriate/compatible. Mr. Godfrey stated that they can change that to a simple 36” door, he stated that he would like to have the top third of the door glass, something so it’s not just a flat panel. He said that they can do away with the side lites and then just do a typical door. Chairperson Cherniak stated that she thought it might be better to have the colors on the building broken up. Member Frainier agreed he thought it would be better with the 4 colors instead of one Mr. Godfrey said he was open to that and wanted to get their opinion and thoughts on that, and when he comes to the final meeting they can pick 4 colors out and determine what to put on the building Chairperson Cherniak said the key to this is to make it compatible, a certain level of unobtrusiveness is important. So she thinks some colors, if there can’t be brick facing something with the siding that is more compatible. Mr. Godfrey stated that he thought it would look good either way, but wanted to get the board’s opinions. He did tell the board that whatever color is on the front would also be the sides/back of the sections of the building. He said he will bring with him the next time he comes pieces of the siding with samples of the colors and then get the boards opinion Chairperson Cherniak with the boards would they be white? Mr. Godfrey we can do white or whatever the top detail is going to be painted. He compared it to a building down the street, but stated that with having the black windows and black doors painting the trim black as he thought the black was more historical than white—white is a modern look. Chairperson Cherniak stated she didn’t know if the black would look good, but it depends on what colors are picked for the building. Mr. Godfrey explained that if they did decided to do the white then he would probably change the black windows to white vinyl. He said that he will pick the 4 colors that will be on the house bring it to the board then they can make a decision at that time whether to do black or white. He then asked about the cement board and if they were ok with it because it does replicate wood, it has the wood grain in it. Chairperson Cherniak stated that if the house were located in a different place she would be more concerned about it needing to have the brick facing on it, but given the location—if it was facing Vliet she would be more concerned about that. She then asked the board members what they thought. Member Frainier stated that he liked what was being presented. Chairperson Cherniak asked the applicant what he was thinking of doing with the freeze board and trim area. Mr. Godfrey stated that they would probably just bring the siding right up to the top. Chairperson Cherniak agreed with that. Mr. Godfrey again stated that he would bring in samples with the colors on them to show the board to lay them out, and do a piece of trim one white and one black. Chairperson Cherniak stated that he could bring it to the next step. She then asked if there were any other discussion items. Sharon stated that Remsen Street Phase III is now complete and we are going to do a press release with the representative from HCR and National Grid, John McDonald and some other representatives there to give a few words. Chairperson Cherniak with no other business to discuss we can adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 6:55PM