Design Review Board

DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES (FINAL) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL ROOM PRESENT: Steven Rowland, Chairman; Tamie Ehinger, Vice Chairman; Leslie DiCarlo; Chris Bennett; Richard Martin; Cynthia Corbett; 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. A. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Approval of meeting minutes was deferred to the December 6, 2017 meeting. B. 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. 2017.113 PURE BARRE WALL SIGN, 56 Marion Avenue, Architectural Review of wall signage within the Transect-5 Neighborhood Core District. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if anyone on the Commission had any questions or comments. None heard. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if anyone in the audience wished to comment on the consent agenda item. None heard. Leslie Mechem made a motion for in the matter of the Pure Barre Wall Sign, 56 Marion Avenue that we approve as submitted. 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; Chris Bennett, in favor; Richard Martin, in favor; Cynthia Corbett, in favor; Leslie Mechem, in favor MOTION PASSES: 7-0 C. DRC APPLICATIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION: 1. 2017.109 ARGENTI EXTERIOR STAIRS, 47 West Harrison Street Architectural Review of exterior stairs within the Transect-5 Neighborhood Center District. Agent: Sue Davis, SD Atelier Architecture Ms. Davis provided a history of the project noting they began this project last year. The owner lives in California. The use of the property is zoned T-5 and it is permitted to have a mixed use. It has an office space on the first floor and has residential use on the second which are approved uses. It is going through a separate process simultaneously. It has been used as an Air B & B which has been a contentious issue. Bradley Birge, Administrator, Planning and Economic Development, City of Saratoga Springs stated the City currently does not have the allowances for an Air B&B’s. There are allowable processes for short term rentals, Bed and Breakfasts, Rooming Houses, Hotels, and Motels. There is a preponderance of short term rentals that are occurring. Complaints have instigated research and investigation into this particular property. It has been ongoing for several years now. A Cease and Desist Order was issued, operations continued. Since then there has been a letter stating they will cease and desist. They are trying to find a pathway through the City, through the Planning Board and potentially a Zoning Amendment to see if it passes. If it is appropriate it will create another type of short term rental in the City. What is before you this evening is the exterior staircase to the second floor for any type of occupancy. Ms. Davis stated as the building code stands there is no second means of egress right now. Ms. Davis provided a visual presentation of the current situation which exists on this site, noting a rear deck and ramp. We were hired to design a rear stair to be code compliant with the International Code for Egress. I spoke with Steve Shaw, Building Inspector, and he is fine with the framing being constructed out of wood. The building itself it considered Type 5B which is wood framed with a brick veneer and it is compliant and is in the code. There are some constraints on the property, condenser units, and a fence. We are trying to keep this as minimal as possible. Bradley Birge, Administrator, Planning and Economic Development stated the ramp was also constructed without approvals. Part of the approval this evening is to recognize the ramp in your current deliberations. Ms. Davis stated they are proposing removal of the upper balcony and the lower deck. The existing ramp will stay. The application went through Planning last week and there are new parking requirements which need to be met. There are no footings on the ramp. The other concern is the snow and the ice off the roof to the ramp. We may have to put in footings and move it closer to the building. Perhaps some roof coverage may be considered. The materials proposed are for a wood framed structure. Ms. Davis stated we will have a ramp coming up to what will be a reconstructed deck on the lower level and a staircase to go to the parking area. The stairs will be a switchback stair 3 feet in width, standard width going up. We are calling for steel handrails. The client has requested we consider this Trex Reveal product. A sample was provided to the Commission. This material does meet ADA compliance and it is aluminum, black in color. I prefer the handrail to be more of a durable material. We are looking to have this be a functional stairway to the outside. The ramp will need to have some adjustments made to it and there is concern regarding snow and ice. Several proposed options for a covered ramp were provided to the Commission. Ms. Davis stated she preferred not to cover the ramp area. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if there were any questions or comments from the Commission. None heard. Steven Rowland, Chairman stated he has noted the 4x4 posts have been changed to 6x6. Ms. Davis stated she prefers the 6x6 and Douglas fir wood versus pressure treated. Steven Rowland, Chairman stated the only other thought is whether or not you need to consider diagonal bracing on those posts. Ms. Davis stated she prefers not to clutter the design. She will propose to have an engineer look at this structurally. The wooden areas will be stained to match the building. Chris Bennett recommended the handrails be the same on the ramp area as well as the stairway to tie it in together. City of Saratoga Springs – Design Review Commission Minutes – November 15, 2017 - Page 2 of 4 Tamie Ehinger, Vice Chairman made a motion in the matter of the Argenti Exterior Stairs and Ramp, 47 West Harrison Street, that the application be approved with the following conditions: the applicant use 6X6 posts to be stained to match the building, that the railings and balusters on both the ramp and the stairwell match. Leslie DiCarlo seconded the motion. Bradley Birge, Administrator, Planning and Economic Development stated he also noted that the handrails and the Trex aluminum are painted black and the 6x6 posts are to be stained to match the building. 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; Chris Bennett, in favor; Richard Martin, in favor; Leslie Mechem, in favor; Cynthia Corbett, in favor MOTION PASSES: 7-0 2. 2016.106 LOPATKA RENOVATIONS, 20 Lafayette Street, Historic Review of exterior new construction of an existing structure within the Transect-6 Urban Core District. Applicants: Jennifer and Pete LoPatka Agent: Bob Flansburg, Dreamscapes Unlimited Mr. Flansburg provided a visual presentation of the project. They are proposing to change this from a 3 family existing home to a 2 family home. A basement apartment which exists will be a unit and the first and second floor will be one unit. There is a change in the application which I will address later. The applicants are proposing removing the current enclosed front porch, lattice work and stairs. In the rear we are also proposing to remove the second story covered balcony and rear stairs to that balcony as well as the rear deck. We would like to put a full width front porch on the home. This was approved by the ZBA on Monday evening. The front porch does encroach on the City’s property line and this is also being rectified. A standing seam roof is proposed over the porch. We have submitted samples of the turned posts and railing. We will replace both front doors with historic doors. On the rear of the home a new deck will be installed. We will not be replacing the lower side windows but we are proposing some safety treatment glazing to the glass. We will modify the interior staircase on the lower unit. All remaining windows in the buildings will be replaced and the current windows and storms will be removed. We are working with Tom Brooks. The windows will be wood on the inside, wood on the outside with cladding and historic sills. Materials have been submitted to the Commission along with some color choices. The front of the building is painted but the sides and rear are not. The entire building will be painted to match the front. All wood for the porches and trim will either be mahogany or Douglas fir. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if there were any further questions or comments from the Commission. None heard. Richard Martin made a motion in the matter of the Lopatka Renovation, 20 Lafayette Street that the application be approved the plan as submitted. The side windows on the lower level are to remain. The wood for the outdoor construction will be either Douglas fir or mahogany. The entire building will be painted to match the front. Cynthia Corbett 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; Chris Bennett, in favor; Richard Martin, in favor; Leslie Mechem, in favor; Cynthia Corbett, in favor MOTION PASSES: 7-0 City of Saratoga Springs – Design Review Commission Minutes – November 15, 2017 - Page 3 of 4 COMMENTS FROM STAFF Bradley Birge, Administrator, Planning and Economic Development discussed with the Commission upcoming workshop and meetings agendas. UPCOMING WORKSHOPS/MEETINGS: Design Review Caravan, Monday, November 28, 2017 at 4:00 P.M. Design Review Meeting, Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 7:00 P.M. MOTION TO ADJOURN: There being no further business to discuss Steven Rowland, Chairman adjourned the meeting at 7:44 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Diane M. Buzanowski Recording Secretary APPROVED 1/3/18 City of Saratoga Springs – Design Review Commission Minutes – November 15, 2017 - Page 4 of 4