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 MARCH 20, 2024 A regular meeting of the Architectural Review Board was held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 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, Linda 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 The minutes of February 28, 2024 were approved. Commissioner Riley made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, and approved by a vote of 4-0. ITEM #3 - PUBLIC MEETINGS Continued Public Hearing 3.1 – ARB-23-110: 55 Oakledge Road (Section 159.71, Block 2254, Lot 6) in the R1-7 District. The Architectural Review Board received an Affidavit of Sign Posting stating that on March 5, 2024, a sign was posted at the site giving notice of the Architectural Review Board’s March 20, City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes March 20, 2024 2024 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 Paul Spychala, represented by George Restivo, AIA, who also serves as the lead design professional. The subject property is in the R1-7 One-Family Residence Zone, on Oakledge Road. The subject property is an existing 1 ½ -story single-family residence. The Applicant is requesting a certificate of appropriateness to construct a patio addition on a 1 ½ story wood frame dwelling, including glass sliding doors, class A asphaltic shingles to match the existing residence, Alucobond panels and a screened storefront to the patio with segmented screen panels in the individual frames. SEQRA Determination – The proposed action is a “Type II” action under SEQRA based on 6 NYCRR 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. Mr. George Restivo, the applicant, explained that the plans for the patio have been revised since the last ARB meeting, with a screened-in porch, railing, and skylight in the roof. The Chair asked about the shade of green paint that will be used. Mr. Restivo said that it will match the color of the house as close as possible. Commissioner Riley asked about the skylight in the rendering and if it was centered at the door. Mr. Restivo said that the skylight is included in both the roof plan and floor plan and that it is centered at the kitchen door. Commissioner Riley asked why is it centered at the kitchen door? Mr. Restivo responded that it will allow more light in the kitchen. Commissioner Riley then requested that the skylight be centered in the middle of the patio roof and over the door as it will be more symmetrical and still get the same amount of light. He also asked about the orientation of the roof. Mr. Restivo responded that the roof will be flat and then segmented all around. Commissioner Riley stated that he was concerned that the orientation of the roof will sustain water damage. He also asked about whether there will be gutters. Mr. Restivo said that they are included on the wall section plans. 2 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes March 20, 2024 Commissioner Riley then confirmed that the storefront design has been replaced by stick construction but asks why the lattice is behind the screen. He noted that dirt will come in front of the railing, looking at it from a functional point of view. Commissioner Riley asked about the slope of the roof. Mr. Restivo said it would be a minimal slope. Commissioner Riley opined that this is a very challenging way to construct the roof because it’s a half-circle. He then asked about the screen color. Mr. Restivo responded it would be silver aluminum. Commissioner Riley suggested that bronze would be a better color and said that he liked the slate- looking shingles. The Chair then asked if there were any public comments. Mr. Mark Hershey, the Spychala’s next-door neighbor, said he doesn’t object to the project but is concerned about proximity and the view. He also stated concerns about copper gutters. He questioned if there would be Plexiglas inserts for the screens as the patio will now be a livable space. He also wanted to know what landscaping would be done to mitigate the noise. The Chair noted that the purpose of the ARB meeting is to review the project for architectural approval and suggested that the applicant and neighbor should work out any other issues between them. She confirmed that the gutters will be copper, consistent with the rest of the house, and that the design of the roof is at the applicant’s discretion. Commissioner Riley stated that the asphalt shingles on the roof will not touch the slate at all as they abut the wood. The Chair noted that plantings will mitigate/muffle sound but will not completely block it out and asked the owners what type of landscaping they will be doing. Mr. Spychala confirmed that they intend to hire a landscape architect because the yard needs a lot of work but will start the job after the patio project is completed. Commissioner Riley expressed concern about the single step outside the door from the porch to the barbecue area and asked if consideration was given for installing pavers in the area instead. 3 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes March 20, 2024 After further discussion, the following conditions were advised: • Gutters shall be copper to be consistent with the rest of the house. • Landscaping shall use non-invasive native plants. • Applicant shall submit a landscaping plan prior to issuance of the building permit. Commissioner Sanchez made a motion to approve the application with the noted conditions, seconded by Commissioner Riley and approved by a vote of 4-0. Commissioner Sanchez then made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Woods, and approved by a vote of 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 PM. Maria Pace Land Use Secretary Bob Galvin AICP, Planning Administrator 4