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 MAY 22, 2024 A regular meeting of the Architectural Review Board was held on Wednesday, May 22, 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 Linda Sanchez, Buzz Riley and Sylvia Woods (arrived late) 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 April 24, 2024 were approved with changes. Commissioner Sanchez then made a motion to approve the minutes with the changes, seconded by Commissioner Riley, and approved by a vote of 4-0. ITEM #3 PUBLIC MEETINGS New Public Hearing 3.1 – ARB-24-23: 42 Broad Street (Section 165.22, Block 1021, Lot 1) in the DB: Downtown Business District. City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes May 22, 2024 The Architectural Review Board received an Affidavit of Sign Posting stating that on May 8, 2024, a sign was posted at the site giving notice of the Architectural Review Board’s May 22, 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 42 West Broad, represented by James Polinsky, their lead design professional. The subject property is located on West Broad Street, just south of the Cross County Parkway, in the DB: Downtown Business District in the Fleetwood neighborhood. The property is just west of the border of the City of Mount Vernon and the City of Yonkers. The Applicant is requesting a certificate of appropriateness for the fabrication and installation of one illuminated channel letter sign. The existing property is a multifamily mixed-use apartment building, and the sign is for the existing School of Rock business on the ground floor. SEQRA – The proposed action is a Type II action based on 6 NYCRR 617.5(c)(9) “construction or expansion of a primary or accessory/appurtenant, non-residential structure or facility involving less than 4,000 square feet of gross floor area and not involving a change in zoning or a use variance and consistent with local land use controls”, therefore ending the SEQRA process. Mr. James Polinsky, representing the sign company, proposed that the sign would be white Plexiglas with trim and red guitar logo affixed to the fascia of the building. The Chair asked about the level of light and the brightness of the sign. Mr. Polinsky responded that the shielded LED sign would provide a uniform, even glow. The color and brightness would be similar to surrounding signs with no spottiness or variations and would be fabricated form sign grade material. Commissioner Riley expressed his happiness that the space would no longer be an empty storefront, and then made a motion to approve the application, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez and approved by a vote of 3-0. New Public Hearing 3.2 – ARB-24-24: 77 South Street (Section 164.84, Block 3003, Lots 5 & 7) in the NB: Neighborhood Business District. The Architectural Review Board has received an Affidavit of Sign Posting stating that on May 10, 2024, a sign was posted at the site giving notice of the Architectural Review Board’s May 22, 2024 meeting. The Board also received photographs showing that the sign posting on the property has been provided with notice of today’s meeting. 2 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes May 22, 2024 The owner is 34 CORTLANDT LLC AND RAL SOUTH LLC, represented by Shahin Badaly, their lead design professional. The subject property is located at the intersection of West 1st Street and South Street, in the DB: Downtown Business District. The property is a short distance to the north of the commercial area of Wakefield in the Bronx. The Applicant is requesting a certificate of appropriateness for the conversion of an existing vacant lot into an outdoor take-out restaurant with food trucks. SEQRA – The proposed action is a Type II action based on 6 NYCRR 617.5(c)(9) “construction or expansion of a primary or accessory/appurtenant, non-residential structure or facility involving less than 4,000 square feet of gross floor area and not involving a change in zoning or a use variance and consistent with local land use controls”, therefore ending the SEQRA process. Mr. Kevin Munene, representing Shahin Badaly, explained that a vacant lot has been converted into an area for food trucks with 10 parking spots and porta-potties, one of which will be ADA accessible. The Chair asked how many food trucks would be on site. Mr. Munene said that there would be two trucks, with room for a third. Mr. Andre Jones, who is leasing the property for the food trucks, explained that the Planning Board suggested two trucks to start, with the potential to increase the number to four trucks. Commissioner Riley said he drove by the site today. He asked if a traffic study had been done. Mr. Munene responded that one had been completed. Commissioner Riley then asked if 10 parking spots were required. Mr. Munene said yes. Commissioner Riley then commented that he had looked at the plans and was concerned about the amount of asphalt and concrete as they contribute heat to the tables. Mr. Jones clarified that the tables will be placed on gravel. The Chair suggested that adding greenery, such as planters, will promote coolness. Commissioner Riley then stated that the area needs to be sensitive to the environment, and perhaps cutting back on some of the impervious surface would address this concern. He suggested adding at least two trees by eliminating one of the parking spaces. He noted that an Eastern Cottonwood hybrid poplar is fast-growing shade tree that would create a respite and help the business become a destination rather than just a stop on the side of the road. He also expressed concern about the porta-potties becoming hot and suggested that a tree positioned near them would help to keep them cool. 3 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes May 22, 2024 The Chair asked what the colors of the food trucks in the rendering were. Mr. Jones stated the colors were grey and yellow. The Chair recommended keeping them as they looked great. The ARB then discussed the following revisions for the application: • Retain the grey and yellow color scheme as presented on the renderings. • Submit a landscape plan that explores where to strategically place 1 to 3 native trees (whether in-ground or in planters). Landscape plan should include Populus x canadensis. • Renderings should be modified to incorporate plantings, preferably native trees, using two options: 1) cut openings in the asphalt to create tree beds; or 2) place trees in large scale planters. Such renderings should depict the site as if fully built out with 3 to 4 food trucks. Commissioner Riley made a motion to approve the revisions to be included in the resubmitted plans, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, and approved by a vote of 4-0. New Public Hearing 3.3 – ARB-24-25: 30 Colonial Road (Section 159.82, Block 2153, Lot 23) in the R1-7: Single Family Residence District. The Architectural Review Board has received an Affidavit of Sign Posting stating that on May 8, 2024, a sign was posted at the site giving notice of the Architectural Review Board’s May 22, 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 Antonette Lospoto, representing herself as well as Marco Maiorano, the lead design professional. The subject property is located on Colonial Road, just north of Pasadena Place, in the R1-7: Single Family Residence District. The property is on the northern border of the City of Mount Vernon, off Colonial Road in the Village of Tuckahoe. The Applicant is requesting a certificate of appropriateness to construct a one-story addition over the existing garage on the left side of the existing two-story, single-family residence. 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”, therefore ending the SEQRA process. Mr. Leonardo Lospoto, the owner, explained that the project is a straightforward addition over the garage with double-hung windows. All trim and details will match the current house. 4 City of Mount Vernon Meeting Date Architectural Review Board Meeting Minutes May 22, 2024 Commissioner Riley asked about the roof changes to the side. Mr. Maiorano, the design professional, stated that those changes were a drafting error and the existing sunroom roof will remain as is. All other plans are as is. Commissioner Woods then made a motion to approve the application with note of the drafting error, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, and approved by a vote of 4-0. Commissioner Woods then made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, and approved by a vote of 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:21 PM. Maria Pace Land Use Secretary Bob Galvin AICP, Planning Administrator 5