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 Chair ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MEETING MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 A regular meeting of the Architectural Review Board was held on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the Memorial Room on the 2 n d Floor in Mount Vernon City Hall. ITEM #1 - ROLL CALL - Chair Robin Myers called the roll; in addition to the Chair, Commissioners Sylvia Woods, Lynda Sanchez and Buzz Riley were present. Also attending were William Hyland, Senior Planner, Maria Pace, Land Use Boards secretary, and U. Nkechi Nwachukwu, land use counsel. With a quorum present, the Chair opened the meeting at 6:30 PM. The meeting was live streamed on CMVNY Facebook. ITEM #2 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES A grammar correction on page 4 of the August 23, 2023 minutes was discussed and made during the work session. At the meeting, Commissioner Riley made a motion to approve the minutes with the edit, seconded by Commissioner Woods, and approved by a vote of 4-0. ITEM #3 - PUBLIC MEETINGS Continued Public Hearing 3.1 – ARB-23-53: 114 North 8th Avenue (Section 165.61, Block 1108, Lot 10) in the RMF- 6.75 District. The Architectural Review Board received an Affidavit of Sign Posting stating that on September 13, 2023, a sign was posted at the site giving notice of the Architectural Review City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes September 27, 2023 Board’s September 27 meeting. The Board also received photographs showing that the sign posting on the property has been provided with notice of today’s meeting. The owner, Wen Ming Xie, is represented by Mr. Tom Abillama, Architect. The subject property is a 5,000 sf lot on the west side of North 8th Avenue, approximatly 150’ to the north of West Sidney Avenue in the RMF-10 zone. The lot has a 50’ width on North 8th Avenue with approximately 100’ depth. The property is occupied by a 2 ½ story frame two-family residence. Applicant requested a certificate of appropriateness for the renovation of a new enclosed front porch. The work will entail the relocation of the existing canopy at the front porch and the front door to the side of the residence and relocate the window from the side of the house to replace the door in the front. The plans are shown on the submitted drawing A.01. The Applicant’s architect provided catalog cuts for the materials including the door and window to be used in the project. There are no exterior lights shown on the front porch. There is an existing driveway on the south side of the residence. 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 including provision of necessary utility connections as provided in 617.5(c)(13).....” therefore, ending the SEQRA process. Ms. Carla Tannous, an architect who works with Mr. Abillama, provided revised plans including the staircase in the front, moving the door to the side of the house, wall-mounted black light over the door, stone veneer to cover the bottom area and loose stone to replace the pavers. Commissioner Riley suggested that the owner rethink the door and perhaps opt for something different. The Chair asked if any landscaping would be added to the front. Mr. Abillama confirmed that bushes would be added in the front but the owner will not be undertaking any major landscaping. Land Use Counsel requested that Mr. Abillama submit an updated sheet showing the suggested changes to the current set of plans. Commissioner Woods then made a motion to approve the application with the suggested changes, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, and approved by a vote of 4-0. 2 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes September 27, 2023 New Public Hearing 3.2 – ARB-23-62: 32 Birch Street (Section 165.23, Block 1013, Lot 7) in the R2-4.5 District. The Architectural Review Board received an Affidavit of Sign Posting stating that on September 13, 2023, a sign was posted at the site giving notice of the Architectural Review Board’s September 27 meeting. The Board also received photographs showing that the sign posting on the property has been provided with notice of today’s meeting. The owner, Ms. Colleen Duffy, was represented by Mr. Vincent Zaccardo (the contractor, Honey Do Men Gutters Inc.) and Mr. Scavelli, the architect. The subject property is a 15,015 sf lot with a depth of 143’ and 70’ frontage along East Birch Street in the R2-4.5 zone. The property is occupied by a single-family residence on the south side of East Birch Street. The property is approximately 210' to the west of Westchester Avenue. It is in the Fleetwood section north of the Cross-County Parkway. The Applicant requested a certificate of appropriateness for a one-story addition and alterations of the existing single-family house. The latest edition of the Materials Reference Standards shall be used. In looking at the plans, it appears that the Applicant will be replacing the exterior siding which will match existing siding with like kind and color. There will be a new exterior stairwell at the rear with a new patio at the back of the house. There will also be a new screened-in porch at the rear of the house on the left side. There will be a new asphalt shingle roof which will match the existing color. Exterior windows will be replaced as seen on the elevations provided. Existing trees and shrubs on site will be protected during construction. The Applicant provided photos of the residence and street façade. A survey was provided together with Plan Examiner Report, Checklist and separate color photographs of the residence from various views. A site plan was submitted consisting of 9 sheets. 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 including provision of necessary utility connections”......” therefore, ending the SEQRA process. Ms. Colleen Duffy, the owner of the home, explained that a new kitchen, pantry and bathroom will be added on the first floor. She has a big back yard allowing her to expand so she can also add a screened-in porch and patio in the back. She confirmed that siding will be added to match what is currently on the house; the siding will be in Linen. A new roof will match the expansion in Fox Hollow Grey. Ms. Duffy confirmed that the front of the house will remain unchanged. She also said that new double-hung windows will be installed and will match uniformly to the house. Commissioner Riley asked whether the side renovation is stucco. 3 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes September 27, 2023 Ms. Duffy said that the front of the house will be stucco but the side of the house will retain the siding; the new addition will also have siding but in a different color as the previous color has been discontinued. Commissioner Riley asked how the transition would be made from the old siding to the new siding. Mr. Zaccardo, the contractor, said he would use a piece of PVC pipe to separate the two areas and make the transition. He also said he will attempt to match the frieze board of the windows as a separation. Commissioner Woods then made a motion to approve the application, seconded by Commissioner Riley, and approved by a vote of 4-0. New Public Hearing 3.3 – ARB-23-83: 602 S. Third Ave. (Section 169.47, Block 3105, Lot 1) in the Landscaped Industrial (LI) 7.5 District. The Architectural Review Board received an Affidavit of Sign Posting stating that on September 13, 2023, a sign was posted at the site giving notice of the Architectural Review Board’s September 27 meeting. The Board also received photographs showing that the sign posting on the property has been provided with notice of today’s meeting. The owner is Kovar Hill Associates, LLC represented by Mr. Tom Abillama, Architect. The subject property is in the Landscaped Industrial (LI) 7.5 Zone and is 1.20 acres. The facility is occupied by Commodore Construction Corp. Their business hours are M-F 7am- 4pm, and the company also works two Saturdays a month from 7am-2pm. The Applicant requested a certificate of appropriateness for an addition to a two-story manufacturing facility at the rear of an existing two-story office and 1 story warehouse in the zoning District 6-7.5. The building is designed using two different colors of stucco in addition to custom black glass windows and doors. The existing Main Entrance elevation will be renovated using granite, stucco, custom black glass door, with a metal and glass canopy. A standing seam roof will be provided, and a new escape stair will be built with a combination of masonry and stucco structure. New landscaping is provided in the front of the building with lighting and safety cameras. Applicant has provided the site plan, renderings and elevation for the Project. SEQRA Determination – The Planning Board was the lead agency for the proposed unlisted action and after review, issued a Negative Declaration for the application on August 2, 2023, which closed out the SEQRA review. 4 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes September 27, 2023 Ms. Carla Tannous confirmed that the application is for the addition of a two-story manufacturing facility at the rear of an existing office and warehouse. Commissioner Riley asked whether the face of the retaining wall can be seen from the building side. Ms. Tannous confirmed that it can. The Chair inquired about the color of the roof. Ms. Tannous confirmed that it is grey. She also said that grey granite will be used around the entrance, with a mix of dark and light stucco in between. There will also be a canopy added made of glass. Commissioner Riley asked about an elevator that is higher than the peak of the roof but was not given an overview on the plans. He said he was concerned that it will be an aesthetic eyesore as it will stick out from the rest of the building and suggested that the applicant find a way to make it blend better with the rest of the roof. Commissioner Riley then asked if there would be black fencing at the sidewalk and if the sidewalk would be properly landscaped. Commissioner Riley recommended that more maple trees be added to the site if possible, and to add more native plants in keeping with the maple and hemlock trees already included in the plans, instead of boxwoods. Commissioner Riley then made a motion to approve the application with conditions, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, and approved by a vote of 4-0. New Public Hearing 3.4 – ARB-23-56: 383 Packman Ave. (Section 159.78, Block 1005, Lot 19) in the R2-4.5 District. The Architectural Review Board received an Affidavit of Sign Posting stating that on September 7, 2023, a sign was posted at the site giving notice of the Architectural Review Board’s September 27 meeting. The Board also received photographs showing that the sign posting on the property has been provided with notice of today’s meeting. The owner, Ms. Olivia Kraus, was represented by SunBlue Energy for the installation of a 7.2 KW rooftop PV Solar System with 18 modules at 383 Packman Avenue. The 5,000 sf subject 5 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes September 27, 2023 property is located on the east side of Packman Avenue approximately 150’ south of the Bronx River. The property is occupied by a 2-story, colonial single family residence with a new addition at the north side of the residence in the R2-4.5 zone. The Applicant requested a certificate of appropriateness for the installation of the PV solar system which will include 18 solar modules. There will be 10 modules on the front of the roof including on the addition facing Packman Avenue and the remaining 8 modules will be installed on the rear roof with no visibility to the street. There is a driveway on the north side of the residence. SEQRA Determination – The proposed action is a Type II action based on 617.5(c)(15) “installation of solar energy arrays on an existing structure, provided the structure is not: (i) listed on the National or State Register of Historic Places; (ii) located within a district listed in the National or State Register of Historic Places; (iii) been determined by the Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to be eligible for listing on the State Register of Historic Places pursuant to sections 14.07 or 14.09 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law.” Mr. Jermaine Pedro of Sun Blue Energy reviewed the solar panel application and said that there would be 10 panels on the front and eight on the back, for a total of 18 modules. Commissioner Riley asked about an existing vent pipe and then asked about the percentage of utilization and how much power would be delivered to the home. Mr. Pedro confirmed the vent pipe is existing and the power is 7.2 KW. The Chair asked if Mr. Pedro had any data based on the usage that could justify the need for 18 panels and what amount of power is currently being used. She then confirmed that the front of the house faces west and the back faces east. Commissioner Riley then made a motion to approve the application, seconded by Commissioner Woods, and approved by a vote of 4-0. There being no other business, Commissioner Riley made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Woods, and approved by a vote of 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:23 pm. Maria Pace Land Use Secretary Bob Galvin AICP, Planning Administrator 6