Architectural Review Board

Architectural Review Board Department of Planning & Community Development City Hall - Roosevelt Square Mount Vernon, New York 10550-2060 (914) 699-7230 Shawyn Patterson-Howard Robin Myers Mayor Acting Chair ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MEETING MINUTES FOR MAY 23, 2023 A regular meeting of the Architectural Review Board was held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the Memorial Room on the 2 n d Floor in Mount Vernon City Hall. ITEM #1 - ROLL CALL - The Acting Chair, Ms. Robin Myers, called the roll: in addition to the Acting Chair, Commissioners Sylvia Woods and Buzz Riley were present. Also attending were Associate Commissioner Katherine Mella, William Hyland, Senior Planner, Maria Pace, land use boards secretary, and U. Nkechi Nwachukwu, land use counsel. With a quorum present, the Acting Chair opened the meeting at 6:30 PM. The meeting was live streamed on CMVNY Facebook. ITEM #2 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES The April 24, 2023 minutes were approved. Commissioner Riley made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Commissioner Woods, and approved by a vote of 3-0. ITEM #3 PUBLIC MEETING New Public Hearing 3.1 ARB Case # 23-15 – 2023: 313 South 6th Avenue (Section 169.30, Block 3083, Lot 33) in the RMF- 6.75 District. The Architectural Review Board received an Affidavit of Sign Posting stating that on May 9, 2023, a sign was posted at the site giving notice of the Architectural Review Board’s May 23, 2023 meeting. The Board also received photographs showing that the sign posting on the property was provided with notice of today’s meeting. City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes May 23, 2023 The owner, Mr. Richard Romano, was represented by Mr. Edward Carrion. The Engineer responsible for the plans is Mr. Taehyun Moon. The Applicant is requesting a certificate of appropriateness for an addition to the single-family residence at the rear of the structure. The addition consists of 255 sf to the second floor for a new master bedroom and 255 sf in the attic. The total square footage of the addition is 510 sf. The addition will be 22.8’ feet in width and 11.9’ in length. The Plan Examiner Report indicates that the Applicant will only require review by the ARB. There are no zoning variances required. The existing residence is deep blue with white trim. The addition will also require extending the existing roof. The extended roof will consist of asphalt shingles matching the existing roof. One of the two existing chimneys will need to be removed due to the addition. The subject property is on a 5,270-sf lot located on the east side of South 6th Avenue, 93’ to the south of West 4th Street. The property has 50’ frontage with 109’ depth and is in the RMF-6.75 zone. Property is occupied by an existing 2 ½ story frame dwelling with one story addition at the rear of the residence. Applicant is located between two existing residences and there is an existing residence at the rear. The rear yard is 38’ from the existing residence. The addition for the second floor and attic at the rear will have a 5’ setback from the side yards of the adjacent properties. The residential property to the north is a one-story brick building. The residence to the south is a brick/stucco 2 ½ story residence. Photographs of the residence and surroundings were provided the applicant was asked to provide samples of colors for the sidings and trim, any lighting at the front door as well as a landscape plan and streetscape. There appears to be an existing light over the existing decorative front door. SEQRA Determination – The proposed action is a “Type II” action under SEQRA based on DEC 617.5 (c) (11) "construction or expansion of a single family, a two-family or a three-family residence on an approved lot ......” therefore, ending the SEQRA process. Mr. Romano owns the home next door to this property and explained that he wants to upgrade the current property he purchased. He intends to paint the house a gray color since he can’t match the current blue color. He also intends to plant a flower bed in the front of the house and repave the driveway. Commissioner Riley asked if he was going to replace the shingles. Mr. Romano said yes, all the shingles would be replaced because the current color can’t be matched. The Chair asked if the windows were being replaced; she also asked if all the siding would be replaced as well. 2 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes May 23, 2023 Mr. Romano said the current windows would be replaced with 6 over 6 vinyl windows and that all the siding would be replaced as well. The Chair then asked about the front sidewalk. Mr. Romano explained that he wants to fix it. However, Commissioner Riley explained that fixing the sidewalk was under the purview of the DPW and should be repaired by them. The Chair asked where the floodlights would be located on the new home and recommended that there be no light in the middle. Commissioner Riley suggested that the flood lights be re-angled and asked about lighting at the rear of the house and on the deck. Mr. Romano said that he planned on installing flood lights all around. Commissioner Riley inquired about landscaping and suggested that Mr. Romano use native plants, as one of the benefits is that they are drought resistant. Mr. Romano said that he intends to take out the overgrown shrubs and replace them with a new flowerbed in front. After further discussion, the ARB recommended the following conditions for this application: 1. Siding shall be Royal® Woodland vinyl siding in the color Silver Mist. 2. Roof shall be Timberline HDZ shingles in the color Barkwood. 3. Pavers shall be Stone Ridge Contemporary Peconic 6 Nicolock pavers. 4. New vinyl windows shall be from Andersen, Pella, or similar manufacturer, of similar quality. The windows shall be “6-over-6” (six panes of glass on the upper sash, and six panes of glass on the lower sash and similar to those shown on the Conquest Quality Vinyl Siding tear sheet). The existing attic window within the gabled area on the front of the house shall be replaced with a half-moon or full round window. 5. Floodlights shall be located: (a) under the front eave on each side of the gable; and (b) on the north side of the front door. 6. The front yard fence shall be brick with white iron railing above (in the same style as the adjacent home located at 317 S. 6th Avenue). 7. Native plants shall be used for landscaping. Evergreen plants (thuja, arborvitae, or similar) shall be planted at the transition line between 313 and 317 S. 6th Ave. to provide a visual separation between the existing low brick/wrought iron fence and the proposed new fence as well as to conceal the end post of the vinyl fence which runs perpendicular. Applicant shall submit a landscaping plan to the ARB for final administrative approval. 3 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes May 23, 2023 A motion to approve the application with the stated conditions was then made by Commissioner Riley, seconded by Commissioner Woods, and approved by a vote of 3-0. New Public Hearing 3.2 ARB # 23-21 2023: 342 South First Avenue (Section 169.31, Block 3120, Lot 16) in the RMF- 6.75 District. The Architectural Review Board received an Affidavit of Sign Posting stating that on May 6, 2023, a sign was posted at the site giving notice of the Architectural Review Board’s May 23, 2023 meeting. The Board also received photographs showing that the sign posting on the property was been provided with notice of today’s meeting. The owner, Mr. Collin Douglass, was represented by Mr. Shahin Badaly, Engineer. The Applicant is requesting a certificate of appropriateness for the construction of a new wooden deck with vinyl fence at the rear yard, proposed vinyl fence within the front and side yards, proposed retaining wall and railing at the front yard, widening the existing steps at the front porch, and replacing existing concrete driveway apron to match existing materials. The subject property is on a 5,270-sf lot located on the west side of South First Avenue, approximately 300’ to the north of the intersection with East Fifth Street. The property has 50’ frontage with 105’ depth and is in the RMF-6.75 zone. Property is occupied by an existing 2 ½ story, one-family frame dwelling. The rear yard is 47’ with 14’ front yard and 13.5’ combined side yards. Photographs of the residence and surrounding houses were provided. The approximately 250 sf wooden deck was proposed adjacent to the rear of the house. Applicant was requested to provide catalog cuts and detail information for the materials being proposed. SEQRA Determination – The proposed action is a “Type II” action under SEQRA based on DEC 617.5 (c) (11) "construction or expansion of a single family, a two-family or a three-family residence on an approved lot ......” therefore, ending the SEQRA process. Mr. Badaly explained that the deck on the house had already been built with French doors and needed to be legalized. The proposed work in the front of the house included the front staircase to be widened and replacement of the two fences, both of which are different. He will either keep them the same or use a chrome-face surface. Commissioner Riley asked about the painted front wall and proposed brick veneer and plantings and recommended that black iron for the fences would be more appropriate than chrome. 4 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes May 23, 2023 Mr. Badaly agreed but said that the owner thought differently. He then said that he proposed a white metal fence as a vinyl fence was unacceptable per the Zoning code. After further discussion, the following revisions were requested by the ARB: 1. Replace proposed painted CMU wall with a brick veneer wall to match the existing brick on the front of the home. 2. Correct error in plans indicating 2’ of fill. 3. Replace the proposed chrome railing with white wrought iron railing. 4. Install a white metal fence in the front yard that wraps around the corner (similar to the adjacent property located at 388 S. 1st Ave.) 5. Replace concrete from the front part of the driveway to the front corner of the house. 6. Extend existing steps to the front porch. 7. Install concrete steps instead of bluestone pavers. 8. Provide photos of the existing deck. Mr. Badaly proposed that he re-work the site plans incorporating the suggested revisions for the next ARB meeting. The Chair requested that Mr. Badaly bring samples of the brick and other finishes with him to the next meeting as well. The application was then adjourned to the June 28 meeting. New Public Hearing 3.3 Case # ARB-23-32 2023: 353 South Third Avenue (Section 169.31, Block 3115, Lot 23) in the RMF-6.75 District (two-family). The Architectural Review Board received an Affidavit of Sign Posting stating that on May 8, 2023, a sign was posted at the site giving notice of the Architectural Review Board’s May 23, 2023 meeting. The Board also received photographs showing that the sign posting on the property was provided with notice of today’s meeting. The owner, Mr. Elton Williams, was represented by Mr. Carlos Sosa Streber, Applicant and Mr. Peter Klein, Architect. The subject property is a 6,262 sf property on the east side of South Third Avenue, 100’ to the north of East Fifth Street. The property has 50’ frontage on South Third Avenue with a depth of 125.25’. The property is occupied by a 2 story stucco, two-family residence with an attic. There is an existing one-story at the rear. Applicant is requesting a certificate of appropriateness for the construction of a second story front and rear extension, removal of existing one car garage and relocation of new one car garage at the rear of the residence. Additionally, the front stoop will be repaired, the rear door and the rear exterior platform and steps will be relocated. The new one car garage (400 sf) will be relocated at 5 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes May 23, 2023 the rear of the residence at the end of the extended driveway. The exterior stucco wall will be color matched to the existing white color. There will be a new shingle roof (slate gray). Applicant provided a rendering of the renovated residence with landscaping shown in and around the yard. There will be one tree removed to accommodate the construction of the new garage. The existing sidewalk is in poor condition and should be replaced by the applicant as well as the broken granite curb. Applicant should also include plant trees in the front yard since there is not sufficient room for street trees in the City r-o-w at the curb. There are no variances needed for the project. SEQRA Determination – The proposed action is a “Type II” action under SEQRA based on DEC 617.5 (c) (12) "construction, expansion or placement of minor accessory/appurtenant residential structures, including garages, carports, patios, decks, swimming pools, tennis courts, satellite dishes, fences, barns, storage sheds or other buildings not changing land use or density;” ......” therefore, ending the SEQRA process. Mr. Sosa Streber stated that the addition will measure 24’ x 21’ with stucco to match what is existing. The roof color will also remain the same as existing. There will be two lights on the side and rear of the house. The Chair asked if the front of the house was being repaired. Mr. Sosa Streber said yes, in kind. The Chair asked if the sidewalk would be replaced at the front of the house. Mr. Sosa Streber explained that the owner wants to replace the sidewalk but must apply to the DPW to do so. Commissioner Riley asked if the driveway was going to stay as-is as the white band in the back is inconsistent with the house. He also stated that the overhang is too deep and inconsistent with the house as well. He recommended that it be reconsidered as it is a mismatch. Mr. Sosa Streber said the overhang was due to a water issue. The Chair recommended increasing the size of the gutters and to also make the columns on the back of the house tubular to match the front. Commissioner Riley also recommended that native plantings be considered in a landscaping plan. 6 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes May 23, 2023 After further discussion, the following revisions were requested by the ARB: 1. Remove the white banding detail on the proposed rendering. 2. Replace block columns with round Doric columns. 3. Reduce overhang to approximately 6 inches. 4. Replace existing gutters with new 5”-6” gutters. 5. Provide landscaping plan using native plants. 6. Sidewalk fronting the property shall be repaired/replaced. The application was then adjourned to the June 28 meeting. New Public Hearing 3.4 Case # ARB-23-31 2023: 11 Hamilton Avenue (Section 115.33, Block 2042, Lot 2) in the R1- 7 District (single-family). The Architectural Review Board received an Affidavit of Sign Posting stating that on May 8, 2023, a sign was posted at the site giving notice of the Architectural Review Board’s May 23, 2023 meeting. The Board also received photographs showing that the sign posting on the property was provided with notice of today’s meeting. The owner, Mr. Anthony Annunziata, was represented by Mr. Carlos M Sosa Streber, Applicant and Mr. Ralph Tedesco, Architect. The subject property is a 7,500 sf property on the north side of Hamilton Avnue, 118’ to the west of North Columbus Avenue. The lot property has 75’ frontage on Hamilton Avenue and a depth of 100’. The property is occupied by a 2 ½ story stucco, single- family residence. The residence is in poor condition. Applicant is requesting a certificate of appropriateness for the construction of a second story front and rear extension, removal of existing one car garage and relocation of new one car garage at the rear of the residence. Additionally, the front stoop will be repaired, the rear door and the rear exterior platform and steps will be relocated. The new one car garage (400 sf) will be relocated at the rear of the residence at the end of the extended driveway. The exterior stucco wall will be color matched to the existing white color. There will be a new shingle roof (slate gray). Applicant has provided a rendering of the renovated residence with landscaping shown in and around the yard. There will be one tree removed to accommodate the construction of the new garage. The existing sidewalk is in poor condition and should be replaced by the applicant as well as the broken granite curb. Applicant should also include plant trees in the front yard since there is not enough room for street trees in the City r-o-w at the curb. There are no variances needed for the project. SEQRA Determination – The proposed action is a “Type II” action under SEQRA based on DEC 617.5 (c) (12) "construction, expansion or placement of minor accessory/appurtenant residential 7 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes May 23, 2023 structures, including garages, carports, patios, decks, swimming pools, tennis courts, satellite dishes, fences, barns, storage sheds or other buildings not changing land use or density;” ......” therefore, ending the SEQRA process. The Chair asked if the house was currently occupied. Mr. Sosa Streber stated that the house is currently vacant. Commissioner Riley suggested that the pitch of the roof be changed and to maintain the height and recommended that the posts in the back of the house be thickened. He also observed that the turnaround is tight outside the garage and certain types of cars may be restricted as a result. The Chair suggested that the turnaround be studied and that the garage be pushed back. After further discussion, the following revisions were requested by the ARB: 1. Change Timberline Architectural Roof color from Barkwood to Charcoal. 2. Provide tear sheet for Andersen windows. 3. Provide landscaping plan using native plants. 4. Amend renderings to show a round louvered vent within the gable. 5. Adjust the pitch of the roof to be more gable at the dormers. 6. At the rear of the house, thicken the posts and add a brick plinth to look like the brick wall of the stair. 7. On the garage door, replace the round arches with rectangles. 8. The turnaround at the garage looks tight. What are the dimensional requirements for a turnaround? Study what is required for the turnaround. Consider pushing the garage back a little more to accommodate an SUV. 9. Provide a full report on the hay pit. The application was then adjourned to the June 28 meeting. Meeting Adjournment There being no other business, the Chair asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Woods made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Riley, and carried by a vote of 3-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:13 pm. Maria Pace, Land Use Secretary Bob Galvin, AICP, Planning Administrator 8