Design Review Board

DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES (FINAL) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL ROOM PRESENT: Steven Rowland, Chairman; Tamie Ehinger, Vice Chairman; Leslie DiCarlo; Richard Martin; Cynthia Corbett ABSENT: Chris Bennett; Leslie Mechem STAFF: Bradley Birge, Administrator, Planning and Economic Development, City of Saratoga Springs CALL TO ORDER: Steven Rowland, Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Steven Rowland, Chairman stated the proceedings of this meeting are being recorded for the benefit of the secretary. Because the minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings, the minutes are not a word-for-word transcript of the recording. COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR: Steven Rowland, Chairman recognized Linda Mackey, NYS Office of Historic Preservation in attendance this evening. A. POSSIBLE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: Steven Rowland, Chairman stated the intent of a consent agenda is to identify any application that appears to be “approvable” without need for further evaluation or discussion. If anyone wishes to further discuss any proposed consent agenda item, then that item would be pulled from the “consent agenda” and dealt with individually. 1. 2017.064 487 BROADWAY PAINT COLOR, 487 Broadway, Historic Review of exterior trim paint colors Within the Transect-6 Urban Core District. 2. 2014.025.1 79 HENRY STREET MIXED USE BUILDING, 79 Henry Street, request for 2nd extension of Historic approval for a mixed-use building within the Transect-6 Urban Core District. 3. 2017.065 SARATOGA TEA & HONEY SIDEWALK CAFÉ, 348 Broadway, Historic Review of a sidewalk café Seating within the Transect-6 Urban Core District. 4. 2016.001.1 55 PHILA MIXED USE BUILDING PERGOLA, 55 Phila Street, Architectural Review of a Rooftop pergola within the Transect-6 Urban Core District. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if there was any questions or comments from the Commission. None heard. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if anyone in the audience wished to comment on any consent agenda items. None heard. Steven Rowland, Chairman made a motion for Agenda Items 1- 4 that each application be approved as submitted. Tamie Ehinger, Vice Chairman seconded the motion. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if there was any further discussion. None heard. VOTE: Steven Rowland, Chairman, in favor; Tamie Ehinger, Vice Chairman, in favor; Leslie DiCarlo, in favor; Richard Martin, in favor; Cynthia Corbett, in favor MOTION PASSES: 5-0 B. DRC APPLICATIONS UNDER CONSIDERATIONS: 5. 2017.067 INTRADA SARATOGA MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, Station Lane, consideration of SEQRA Lead Agency for a mixed use workforce housing development within the Transect-5 Neighborhood Center District. Agents: Matt Brobston, LA Group; Scott Townsend, 3T Architecture Mr. Brobston stated the project is before the Commission for deferral of SEQRA Lead Agency Status for a Special Use Permit. We are requesting 158 affordable housing units on this parcel which has frontage on West Avenue and Washington Street adjacent to the Post Office. The entry drive to the Post Office is on this parcel. This will be used as a main entry to this project with improvements including off street parking and creating a streetscape along the entry point. The buildings will front on this entry street. The large building will front on Washington Street. At this point the site does not require any zoning ordinances or permits from DEC or Army Corp of Engineers for the wetlands. We are coordinating with the adjacent property and how that fits in with their proposed project. Mr. Townsend the architect for the project noted they are working with the project owners who are out of Missouri. This is an affordable housing project. A visual presentation of the project was provided to the Commission. Three of the buildings will be four story buildings with 40 units per building. They are identical to each other. The front building is being designed to coordinate with the streetscape. This will be a three story building. All the buildings meet the zoning requirements concerning building height, massing and proportions and green space area. Along the boulevards the applicant is designing frontage presence in terms of building entrances. We will be masking the parking. Mr. Townsend reviewed the proposed materials noting they are basically brick veneer on the bottom with fiber cement siding on top in various configurations. Mr. Townsend provided information to the Commission concerning mass and scale of the project. We will return before the Commission with additional information as the project progresses. Steven Rowland, Chairman stated the Commission is very excited concerning the projects proposed in this area. It is a great location for these projects. We can provide some basic information and feedback. The material pallet is in keeping with what has been used successfully in the City. Some of the details that tend to lag behind the building design have been location of mechanical equipment, wall penetrations, dryer and bathroom venting, meter banks and things of that nature. Tamie Ehinger, Vice Chairman questioned if all four buildings will be built as once or will it be a phased project. Mr. Townsend stated the entire project will be built all at once. Steven Rowland, Chairman stated the Commission does like to review one building at a time when there are multiple buildings in a project. If three of the buildings will be identical that will make the process easier. Cynthia Corbett stated she would like to see as much architectural detail as possible to make the buildings interesting, no flat front facades. Mr. Townsend stated they will return with as much details as possible along with 3D visuals. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if anyone in the audience wished to comment on this application. None heard. City of Saratoga Springs – Design Review Commission Minutes – June 7, 2017 - Page 2 of 6 Steven Rowland, Chairman made a motion in the matter of the Intrada Saratoga Mixed-Use Development, Station Lane that the Design Review Commission defer Lead Agency Status for SEQRA to the Planning Board should they seek it. Richard Martin seconded the motion. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if there was any further discussion. None heard. VOTE: Steven Rowland, Chairman, in favor; Tamie Ehinger, Vice Chairman, in favor; Leslie DiCarlo, in favor; Richard Martin, in favor; Cynthia Corbett, in favor MOTION PASSES: 5-0 6. 2017.068 “SOBRO” MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, South Broadway, consideration of SEQRA Lead Agency for a mixed use development within the Transect-5 Neighborhood Center District. Applicant: KCG Group Agents: Matt Brobston, LA Group; Steve Carmina, Principal, Carmina, Wood & Morris Architects Mr. Brobston stated the applicant is before the Commission seeking deferral of Lead Agency Status for SEQRA for a Special Use Permit. This project will have 110 residential units and 35,000 square feet of commercial, eating and drinking establishment, office use, and retail as well. The project is on the corner of Canfield and South Broadway, and we are proposing to wrap the site on the corner, with the majority of the commercial space on the South Broadway side. The eating and drinking establishment will be located on the southern portion of the building. A two tiered parking deck is proposed. The streetscape will be improved with new sidewalks, street trees, lighting etc., in general enhancing the landscaping. and creating a porch element and dealing with grading changes. A rooftop eating and drinking area is proposed as well. The project meets current zoning requirements of the T-district. Mr. Carmina provided a visual presentation of the site and the proposed project. We are trying to develop some fenestration concepts, and the residential unit opposed to the commercial. We are trying to develop some inspirational themes taking into consideration our client, the area and the community. Materials will be brick and stone with higher quality materials. Steven Rowland, Chairman questioned the color palette. The materials sound fine. The Commission does try to avoid and discourage the use of eifs. The contemporary feel of the building is welcome in this area. We do stress for any project on a corner that it makes a powerful statement that speaks to the pedestrians and the traffic going by. This is a great location with a very visible corner. I like the renderings and the mass and scale is headed in the right direction. We look forward to seeing this project come to fruition. Mr. Carmina stated the next time they return before the Commission they hope to have some vignettes for the Commission’s review. Richard Martin questioned the use of radiant heat for the sidewalks in this area. Mr. Carmina stated it is always under discussion in projects. This project does have the potential for it considering the slopes of the property and the uses proposed. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if anyone in the audience wished to comment on this application. None heard. Steven Rowland, Chairman stated the Commission looks forward to the project coming to fruition. Very excited to see this area of the city redeveloped. City of Saratoga Springs – Design Review Commission Minutes – June 7, 2017 - Page 3 of 6 Steven Rowland, Chairman made a motion in the matter of the “SoBro” Mixed Use Development, South Broadway, the Design Review Commission defer Lead Agency Status for SEQRA to the Planning Board should they seek it. Tamie Ehinger, Vice Chairman seconded the motion. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if there was any further discussion. None heard. VOTE: Steven Rowland, Chairman, in favor; Tamie Ehinger, Vice Chairman, in favor; Leslie DiCarlo, in favor; Richard Martin, in favor; Cynthia Corbett, in favor MOTION PASSES: 5-0 2017.062 HEOERAUF RESIDENCE EXTERNAL MODIFICAITONS, 61 Beekman Street, Architectural Review of siding and front door replacement within the Neighborhood Complementary Use-1 District. Applicant: Frank Heoerauf, owner Agent: Dan Fantauzzi Mr. Fantauzzi stated this is a four unit building which is being renovated. One of the end units will be remodeled and requires a new front door which leads us here. The applicant does plan on replacing the siding, stone across the bottom with white siding up to the lower roof. Faux wall from left to the right and the top will be batten and board. Discussion ensued among the Commission on the proposed materials. It was the consensus of the Commission that board and batten is not an appropriate element for this home, as well as the stone along the base of the home. Siding should be used on the entire building. Horizontal clap board siding with shingle shakes on the gable ends or parapet wall. The use of a different color for the shakes is also appropriate. Richard Martin questioned the front stoop area. A slight dormer under the drip will keep the ice and snow off the stoop as well as create some interest on the front façade. Mr. Fantauzzi stated the applicant is willing to make any changes to his proposed plan that the Commission feels needs revising. He is anxious to get this project moving. Richard Martin questioned the possibility of a site visit with the applicant and the applicant’s agent if possible. Steven Rowland, Chairman stated a site visit is a good idea since there are multiple changes to the application. Mr. Fantauzzi stated the applicant is down in Long Island; however he will be available for the site visit. Bradley Birge, Administrator stated a site visit is planned for Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at 5:00 PM at the 61 Beekman Street address. Steven Rowland, Chairman stated we can then document the proposed changes. Steven Rowland, Chairman questioned if the windows will remain and if the roof is to be replaced. The roof will be replaced with a black architectural shingle at some point in time. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if anyone in the audience wished to comment on this application. None heard. Steven Rowland, Chairman stated we will table this application and return before the Commission at the June 21, 2017 DRC meeting following our site visit on June 14, 2017. City of Saratoga Springs – Design Review Commission Minutes – June 7, 2017 - Page 4 of 6  7. 2015.047.1 BETHESDA PARISH HALL/COMMUNITY CENTER, 26 Washington Street, modification to an Architectural Review approval granted November 2015 for exterior changes to a new 4-story multi-purpose Building within the Transect-6 Urban Core District. Applicant: Bethesda Episcopal Church Agent: Shannon Brown, Architect – John G. Waite Associates, Architects Ms. Brown provided a visual presentation of the proposed minor material changes to the project. The material changes are on the exterior of the building. We are still planning on doing brick all along Washington Street with the wood bay windows limestone trim. The material changes will occur on the rear building. Our plan is to convert the brick into a three coat masonry stucco. This will be a similar color to the brick color and will not be evident from Washington Street. This three coat stucco will continue to the music training center. It will be the same cast stone trim, same fenestration, as well as the side that is set back from the street. The arcade that wraps around will remain brick with the black stone trim. The material change will not be evident from the street. A review of the elevations was provided to the Commission noting some minor exterior material changes. The area which formerly had masonry - brick string courses will become cast stone string courses. The courtyard elevations were provided noting the three course stucco with cast stone string courses. We decided on the foundation that faces the parking lot will become painted concrete at the base. Everything which can be seen from Washington Street will remain stone. The west elevation will remain all brick and stucco for the remainder. We reduced on the west elevation 3 bay windows to 2 bay windows. Some windows in a stairwell were also eliminated. Richard Martin stated he does question the longevity of some materials which have been modified from the original plan, He also recommended coloring the concrete versus painting concrete. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if there were any further questions or comments from the Commission. None heard. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if anyone in the audience wished to comment on this application. None heard. Steven Rowland, Chairman stated he appreciated the applicant’s agent coming in to review the material changes with the the Commission. We look forward to seeing the project completed. Cynthia Corbett made a motion in the matter of the Bethesda Parish/Community Center, 26 Washington Street, the revisions to the application be approved with the following conditions – the Commission encourage the use of colored concrete. Also the applicant provide future samples of brick and stucco be provided to the Commission. Tamie Ehinger, Vice Chairman seconded the motion. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if there was any further discussion. None heard. VOTE: Steven Rowland, Chairman, in favor; Tamie Ehinger, Vice Chairman, in favor; Leslie DiCarlo, in favor; Richard Martin, in favor; Cynthia Corbett, in favor MOTION PASSES: 5-0 APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Approval of meeting minutes was deferred to the June 21, 2017. UPCOMING WORKSHOPS/MEETINGS: Design Review Caravan, Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at 5:00 P.M. Design Review Meeting, Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at 7:00 P.M. City of Saratoga Springs – Design Review Commission Minutes – June 7, 2017 - Page 5 of 6 MOTION TO ADJOURN: There being no further business to discuss Steven Rowland, Chairman adjourned the meeting at 8:10 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Diane M. Buzanowski Recording Secretary APPROVED 9/6/17 City of Saratoga Springs – Design Review Commission Minutes – June 7, 2017 - Page 6 of 6