Design Review Board

DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES (FINAL) WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 6:30 P.M. ZOOM WEBINAR PRESENT: Tamie Ehinger, Chairman; Leslie Mechem; Leslie DiCarlo; Rob DuBoff; Ellen Sheehan STAFF: Bradley Birge, Administrator, Planning and Economic Development, City of Saratoga Springs LATE ARRIVAL: Chris Bennett arrived at 6:34 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Tamie Ehinger, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. Tamie Ehinger, 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: Leslie Mechem made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 1, 2020; July 15, 2020 DRC meetings as well as the July 1, 2020 meeting minutes from the Joint Board Meeting with minor corrections. Rob DuBoff seconded the motion. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman asked if there was any further discussion. None heard. VOTE: Tamie Ehinger, Chairman, Leslie DiCarlo, in favor; Rob DuBoff, in favor; Leslie Mechem, in favor; Ellen Sheehan, in favor; MOTION PASSES: 5-0 B. POSSIBLE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: 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. 20200464 LITTLE MARKET AT FIVE POINTS AWNING, 40 Park Place, Architectural Review of a new awning within the Neighborhood Complementary Use-2 District. 2. 20200461 BARNES POOL HOUSE, 495 Union Avenue, Architectural Review of the demolition and reconstruction of a pool house with a dwelling unit within the Suburban Residential-1 District. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman asked if there were any questions or comments from the Commission. None heard. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman asked if anyone in the audience wished to comment on this application. None heard. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman made a motion in the matter of the Little Market at Five Points Awning, 40 Park Place, and The Barnes Pool House, 495 Union Avenue that the application be approved as submitted. Leslie DiCarlo seconded the motion. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman asked if there was any further discussion. None heard. VOTE: Tamie Ehinger, Chairman, Leslie Mechem, in favor; Leslie DiCarlo, in favor; Rob DuBoff, in favor; Ellen Sheehan, in favor MOTION PASSES: 5-0 NOTE: Commission member Chris Bennett joined the meeting at 6:34 P.M. C. DRC APPLICATIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION 1. 20200423 421 BROADWAY REAR STAIR TOWER, 421 Broadway, Historic Review of a rear stair tower Within the Transect-6 Urban Core District. Agent: George Olsen, Olsen Associates Architecture Mr. Olsen stated he spoke with staff and it was noted the Commission is concerned with the blue color being too bright. Hard color samples were submitted. The color scheme is a dark maroon and a dark steel grey. DISCLOSURE: Commission member Rob DuBoff disclosed that Vinnie DeMartino the owner of the building is the landlord of his office. He has no financial interest in this application and there is no need for recusal simply disclosure. Mr. Olsen provided a visual of the site including elevations off of Long Alley. The applicant, Mr. DeMartino is proposing to modernize the building and bring it up to code. We are proposing revamping the rear of the building and installing an outdoor stair tower for secondary egress. Floor plans were provided along with a designated area for an elevator. The footprint of the stair tower is approximately 18' x 18' and by code must extend to the roof. We will be using fiber cement board siding and large 6’ x 6’ windows. Mr. Olsen provided a front elevation of the building noting the applicant is adding a porch back onto the front façade of the building. The upper floors of the building are proposed for residential use. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman stated she has concerns regarding Mass and Scale. Perhaps there are ways to reduce that appearance, with another color or material, something that matches the brick to make it less impactful. The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation had some comments concerning the window fenestration. Rob DuBoff questioned if the stair tower is the main entrance for the tenants. Mr. Olsen stated this will be an entrance for anyone who parks in the rear and is primarily a secondary means of egress. Rob DuBoff questioned why the applicant is not merely adding a set of metal stairs attached to the building versus this stair tower addition. Mr. Olsen stated the applicant prefers to have it enclosed. Currently the applicant is working on the second floor of the building but as we continue to the third and fourth floors, an elevator will be required. We are now incorporating everything that would be needed for the elevator installation. Rob DuBoff questioned what will become of the condensing units, vent pipe and existing fire escape. Mr. Olsen stated the fire escape will be gone. We are building chases into the building for venting and a sprinkler system. The condensers will be moved to the lower level roof. The apartments will have split systems and those will be located on the upper roof of the existing building. City of Saratoga Springs – Design Review Commission Minutes – August 5, 2020 - Page 2 of 5 Rob DuBoff stated he does not have an issue with the cement board. It should be different than the brick that is currently there. It should read like a stair tower. The window fenestrations are not an issue for him either. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman stated the Preservation Foundation did provide some comments on this project. Regarding the window fenestration, they recommend it be in keeping with the historic context of Long Alley. A one over one pattern would be preferred over a large single panel since the rear building windows are one over one. The Chair stated based on that she also feels a one over one pattern would be more appropriate. Leslie Mechem stated she has no issues with the Mass and Scale; it is a stair tower and will be seen from the rear. Perhaps making the stair tower browner or the color of brick would be more appropriate. Otherwise she has no objections. Ellen Sheehan stated it does seem large from the outside and two over two windows would be more appropriate. The grey color is fine versus trying to match the brick. However, she does not like the cement board. Chris Bennett stated the color is off. It should be complimentary to the brick perhaps a darker tone so not to add weight to the building and help to mitigate the massing of the stair tower. He did question the cement board installation. Mr. Olsen stated there will not be fasteners but there is a track system. The track will be painted out the same color as the cement board. The windows will have a raised mullion on the outside of the windows. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman questioned if there was any consideration given for different types of material for the stair tower addition. Mr. Olsen stated this is a utilitarian stair tower and not to be confused with the main entrance to the building. The applicant was looking for an economical material since at some point this stair tower will become an internal stair tower when the building is built out. We can work with the Commission regarding color. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman stated she would like to see this painted out a very dark color or a color to match the brick. The goal would be to make this disappear. Leslie DiCarlo questioned how prominent the grid pattern would be going through horizontally and vertically. She would like to have a small meeting on site to review color samples. She is leaning to it being more the color of the building. Mr. Olsen stated the grid pattern will not be prominent. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman questioned if the applicant would be willing to provide 2 different paint samples on the site for the Commission to review. Mr. Olsen stated they will accommodate the request of the Commission. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman asked if anyone in the audience wished to comment on this application. None heard. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman made a motion in the matter of the application for the 421 Broadway rear stair tower to approve with the following conditions: the applicant is to refrain from applying color to the cement board until the DRC is able to meet on site for further review. Leslie Mechem seconded the motion. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman asked if there was any further discussion. None heard. VOTE: Tamie Ehinger, Chairman, Leslie Mechem, in favor; Leslie DiCarlo, in favor; Ellen Sheehan, in favor; Rob DuBoff, in favor; Chris Bennett, in favor MOTION PASSES: 6-0 City of Saratoga Springs – Design Review Commission Minutes – August 5, 2020 - Page 3 of 5 RECUSAL: Commission member Chris Bennett recused from the following application. 2. 20200444 446 BROADWAY WINDOWS, 446 Broadway, Historic Review of window replacements within The Transect-6 Urban Core District. Applicant: Melissa Paquet Ms. Paquet stated she is proposing to renovate the apartment on the second floor above the Silvarado Jewelry Store. We are going back to basics on the interior. The windows are not the original and are old, rickety, do not have any weights or hardware and do not match the third floor windows. So we are proposing to replace them all and have those all be uniform. However, upon further investigation we found the third floor windows are the original windows. So, now those will remain and will be repaired. We are proposing to have the second floor windows match the third floor windows which are 6 over 6. We are proposing to replace those with Marvin wood windows in a 6 over 6 pattern. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman stated it is wonderful to see the owner invest in their historic building on Broadway. She also applauds the applicant for keeping the original windows on the third floor. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman asked if anyone on the Commission had any questions or comments. None heard. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman asked if anyone in the audience wished to comment on this application. None heard. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman made a motion in the matter of the application at 446 Broadway window replacement at 446 Broadway to approve the application as submitted this evening. Ellen Sheehan seconded the motion. Tamie Ehinger, Chairman asked if there was any further discussion. None heard. VOTE: Tamie Ehinger, Chairman, Leslie Mechem, in favor; Leslie DiCarlo, in favor; Ellen Sheehan, in favor; Rob DuBoff, in favor MOTION PASSES: 5-0 NOTE: Commission member Chris Bennett resumed his position. Bradley Birge, Administrator stated the Commission has been approach by the City Center regarding the signage on the parking garage. The City Center is not under the DRC’s purview but did request your opinion. They have submitted a sign package and were looking for suggestions and concerns. They are proposing hanging individual metal letters which are lit internally and reflected on both sides of the walkway which spans the roadway, The two signs are similar to the City Center signs. These signs will be placed on the main structure of the garage facing both streets. Discussion ensued among the DRC regarding the proposed signage. Chris Bennett questioned why the signage says City Center. It is not the City Center. It should state what it is. It does resemble a building. It should state what it is a garage. It was the consensus of the Commission that the signage should direct not confuse. Bradley Birge, Administrator, Planning and Economic Development stated he will provide the Commissions input and suggestions to the City Center. City of Saratoga Springs – Design Review Commission Minutes – August 5, 2020 - Page 4 of 5 UPCOMING MEETINGS: Design Review Meeting, Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at 6:30 P.M. Design Review Meeting, Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 6:30 P.M. MOTION TO ADJOURN: There being no further business to discuss Tamie Ehinger, Chairman adjourned the meeting at 7:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Diane M. Buzanowski Recording Secretary Approved: 09/02/2020 Formatted: Font: Not Bold, No underline City of Saratoga Springs – Design Review Commission Minutes – August 5, 2020 - Page 5 of 5