Architectural Review Board Meeting

Regular Meeting April 21, 2021 Architectural Review Board Via Zoom Present: Maren Robertson Chairperson Laurie Steinhorst Member Toma Holley Member Greg Healey Member German Lanzetta Alternate Member voting for Member O’Neill Donald Yacopino Chief Building Inspector Absent: Scott O’Neill Member Call to order: 7:03 pm 1. 50 Piermont Avenue. Winston Perry for Nyack Historical Society Application for a freestanding sign in east front yard and a wall sign on west entrance announcing hours of operation. Building Inspector Review: Proposed complies with zoning requirements. Board Review Based Upon: 1. The application. 2. Building Inspector review 3. Testimony of applicant Winston Perry 4. ARB member’s knowledge of the site 5. Site visits by members 6. No testimony from the public Board Findings Conclusion: 1. Having no comment by the public, the public hearing is closed on a motion by Member Robertson, seconded by Member Holley, approved by a vote of 5-0. 2. Motion by Member Robertson to approve the application as presented. Seconded by Member Holley, approved by a vote of 5-0. 2. 5 Duryea Place. Sean and Michelle Mack. Application for window replacement on north façade Building Inspector Review: Proposed complies with zoning requirements. Regular Meeting April 21, 2021 Architectural Review Board Via Zoom Board Review Based Upon: 1. The application. 2. Building Inspector review 3. Testimony of applicant Sean Mack 4. ARB member’s knowledge of the site 5. Site visits by members 6. No testimony from the public Board Findings The window has already been replaced. Applicant explains that there was a misunderstanding between him and the contractor. Conclusion: 1. Having no comment by the public, the public hearing is closed on a motion by Member Robertson, seconded by Member Holley, approved by a vote of 5-0. 2. Motion by Member Healey to approve the application as presented with the stipulation that the screen that has not been installed yet will match that on the existing window, and that the shutters will get cut to match the window size and existing shutter style. Applicant agrees. Seconded by Member Holley, approved by a vote of 5-0. 3. 5 First Avenue. Vladimir Schuster. Application to change windows and eliminate others. Building Inspector Review: Proposal complies with zoning requirements. Board Review Based Upon: 1. The application. 2. Building Inspector review 3. Testimony of applicant’s architect Kier Levesque. 4. ARB member’s knowledge of the site 5. Site visits by members 6. No testimony from the public Board Findings Some exterior work has been done. Mr. Levesque explains that this is due to deteriorating studs that were found during interior renovations. Conclusion: 1. Having no comment by the public, the public hearing is closed on a motion by Member Robertson, seconded by Member Holley, approved by a vote of 5-0. 2. Motion by Member Robertson to approve the application with the stipulation that elevations and trim will be as shown on drawings. Mr. Levesque agrees. Seconded by Member Healey, approved by a vote of 5-0. Regular Meeting April 21, 2021 Architectural Review Board Via Zoom 4. 284 High Avenue. Ramiraja Realty LLC Application for new siding, windows, decking and railings. Except for second floor casement egress windows, all other windows are being replaced in kind and don’t require ARB approval. Building Inspector Review: Application complies with zoning requirements. Board Review Based Upon: 1. The application. 2. Building Inspector review 3. Testimony of applicant’s architect Kier Levesque. 4. ARB member’s knowledge of the site 5. Site visits by members 6. No testimony from the public Board Findings Conclusion: 1. Having no comment by the public, the public hearing is closed on a motion by Member Robertson, seconded by Member Healey, approved by a vote of 5-0. 2. Motion by Member Healey to approve the application as presented. Seconded by Member Holley, approved by a vote of 5-0. 5. 21 First Avenue. Kier Levesque for Lucas Lopez. Application to extend front porch, add roof deck at second floor and add a dormer to accommodate additional living space. Application for dormer above second floor, extended front porch to the east, new porch deck above front porch, new porch railings, various changes – windows changed in kind do not require ARB approval. All proposed work, except for dormer, complies with zoning regulations. Building Inspector Review: An area variance is required from Article IV, VON§360-4.3, Dimensional Standards Table 4-1 for creation of a third story where two stories are permitted. Board Review Based Upon: 1. The application. 2. Building Inspector review 3. Testimony of applicant’s architect Kier Levesque and applicant Lucas Lopes. 4. ARB member’s knowledge of the site 5. Site visits by members 6. Testimony from the public: Regular Meeting April 21, 2021 Architectural Review Board Via Zoom - Next door neighbor Nancy Blaker Weber says the dormer would destroy her view. Solar panels could be installed on dormer even if dormer is moved to the back of the house - Neighbor across the street Martha Singer says all her living spaces faces applicant’s house and finds proposed dormer obtrusive. She has solar panels and suggests integrated panels. Proposed dormer is not historic to street. - John Gromada at 8 First Avenue finds that dormer makes house off balance for a classic Nyack house and states that solar panels can be installed on flat roofs - Barbara Cohig at 8 First Avenue suggests keeping existing railings and adding a rail on top to make them code compliant to preserve the lower look of the original railings. Board Findings 1. After testimony by the public, the public hearing is closed on a motion by Member Robertson, seconded by Member Healey, approved by a vote of 5-0. 2. Board members find that the dormer facing the street overwhelms the house and doesn’t fit in with the neighborhood. The inclusion and/or scale of the deck above the porch is also of concern. Conclusion: Applicant agrees to relocate dormer to the back of the house. The application remains open and the public hearing will get reopened at the May meeting of the ARB. 6. 246 N Midland Avenue. Renate Fersch Application to replace retaining wall and entrance stairs Building Inspector Review: Numerous upgrades and repairs are proposed for this property but the only aspects that require ARB approval for this project are the replacement retaining wall and various proposed entrance stairs changes. Proposal complies with zoning requirements. Board Review Based Upon: 1. The application. 2. Building Inspector review 3. Testimony of applicant Renate Fersch 4. ARB member’s knowledge of the site 5. Site visits by members 6. No testimony from the public Board Findings Conclusion: 1. Having no comment by the public, the public hearing is closed on a motion by Member Robertson, seconded by Member Holley, approved by a vote of 5-0. 2. Motion by Member Healey to approve the application as presented. Seconded by Member Holley, approved by a vote of 5-0. Regular Meeting April 21, 2021 Architectural Review Board Via Zoom 7. 32 Tallman Place. Peter Vermazen Application for a deck in east side yard. Member Robertson recuses herself. Member Steinhorst acts as chair Building Inspector Review: Proposal complies with zoning requirements. Board Review Based Upon: 1. The application. 2. Building Inspector review 3. Testimony of applicant Peter Vermazen 4. ARB member’s knowledge of the site 5. Site visits by members 6. Testimony from the public: Next door neighbors Ann and Stan Cracovia sent a letter (attached) to the building department voicing their opposition to the deck because of impacts to their privacy. They suggest to move the deck to the rear yard. Board Findings 1. After Member Steinhorst reads from the neighbors’ letter, the public hearing is closed on a motion by member Steinhorst, seconded by member Healey, approve by a vote of 4-0 2. Motion by member Healey to approve the application as presented, resulting in a tied vote of 2-2 with members Healey and Holley approving and Members Steinhorst and Lanzetta objecting because of the scale of the deck. 3. Applicant states that the rear yard setback of 30’ doesn’t allow for the deck to be relocated to the back and suggests to reduce the size of the deck from 10’ in the eastern direction to 8’. Conclusion: Motion by Member Steinhorst to approve the application with the stipulation that the size will be reduced from 12’ x 10’ to 12’ x 8’. Seconded by Member Lanzetta, approved by a vote of 4-0. 8. 53 Route 59. NY Fuel Distributors LLC Application to demolish existing building and gas pump canopy and re-locate on site. Building Inspector Review: Area variances are required from: Article IV, VON§360-4.3, Dimensional Standards Table 4-1 for front yard setbacks of 91’ and 96’ where the minimum required setback is 15’ and the maximum setback is 25’. Article IV, VON§360-4.3, Dimensional Standards Table 4-1 for side yard setback of 2’ where 5’ is required. Article IV, VON§360-4.3, Dimensional Standards Table 4-1 for rear yard setback of 1’ where 25’ is required. Regular Meeting April 21, 2021 Architectural Review Board Via Zoom Details of gas pump canopy have not been provided. Board Review Based Upon: 1. The application. 2. Building Inspector review 3. Testimony of applicant Danny Porco and applicant’s engineer John Atzl 4. ARB member’s knowledge of the site 5. Site visits by members 6. Testimony from the public: - John Gromada has concerns about the scale of the building and would like to see the canopy - Barbara Cohig suggests trim at the bottom edge of the entrance roof. Board Findings 1. After testimony by the public, the public hearing remains open. 2. Board members need to see the building in context with the site. A rendering showing the view from the street, possibly from the off-ramp of Route 287, that includes the gas pumps & canopy and signage, would be very helpful. 3. More information about materials is needed. What is the stone? Are the windows glazed? Opaque or not? Roof? Conclusion: The application remains open. Meeting adjourned at 8:55 pm Respectfully submitted, Maren Robertson Chairperson