Historic Resource Commission

APPROVED May 14, 2018 Schenectady Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes April 16, 2018 I. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Wiles called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. Commissioner Wiles explained that for the convenience of the applicants he would like to review the applications first and then move on to the other business before the Commission. The Commissioners agreed. II. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Shaun Andriano; Dr. Dean Bennett; Frank Gilmore; Ben Wiles; Patricia Yager STAFF: Rima Shamieh, Assistant Planner; Ashlynn Savarese, Assistant Corporation Counsel; Jennifer Mills, Secretary EXCUSED: David F. Lowry III. CONFLICT OF INTEREST None. IV. NEW BUSINESS - APPLICATIONS A. Consideration for approval submitted by Mary Ruggerio and Frederick Garbrecht to install a fence in the rear yard that can be seen from a public right of way. The premises are located at 1189 Lowell Road in the G.E. Realty Plot Historic District. Mary Ruggerio appeared before the Commission. Ms. Ruggerio explained that she would like to install a black aluminum fence in the back yard to allow her dog to have an enclosed yard in which to play. She stated that there is an existing underground electric fence but that she has been informed by the fence company that it would need to be replaced in order to work properly, and she has decided against an electric fence as it would not keep other animals out of the yard. Ms. Ruggerio stated that she chose this style of fence because many other homes in the neighborhood have similar styles. Commissioner Bennet asked if only the gate has an arched top and the rest of the fence has a flat top rail. Ms. Ruggerio stated that this is correct. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2018 –Page 1 of 8  APPROVED May 14, 2018 Commissioner Wiles stated that he visited the property and does not believe that the fence will be visible from the right of way. He stated that while the applicant will still need to secure a fence permit from the City he does not believe that she needs permission from the Commission. Commissioner Yager asked if the Commission should still vote to approve the application, in case the fence does end up being visible after installation. Commissioner Wiles replied that he does not believe that the fence is within the Commission’s jurisdiction and thus he would not vote to approve it, but if there were four other Commissioners who supported a vote they could of course hold one. The other Commissioners stated that they would have no objection to holding a vote. Motion by Commissioner Wiles, seconded by Commissioner Andriano, to approve the application as submitted, with the following condition: 1. The project will be completed within one year. Findings: 1. This is a Type II SEQRA. 2. There are several other fences in the Realty Plot which are of a similar design and are used for the same purpose. 3. The black aluminum design is not obtrusive and blends well with the surrounding environment. Motion carried, with Commissioners Andriano, Bennett, Gilmore, and Yager voting in the affirmative and Commissioner Wiles voting in the negative. B. Consideration for approval submitted by Susan DuFour to install casement windows and a door in the sunroom, to convert it to a three-season room. The premises are located at 4 Cucumber Alley in the Stockade Historic District. Susan DuFour appeared before the Commission. Ms. DuFour explained that she believes that the screened porch was added to the house about fifty years ago. She stated that is has been used only in the warmer months, due to the seasonal weather conditions, and she would like to install windows and a storm door so that the room could be used for at least three seasons. She explained that the windows will be in the same place as the screens are currently, and that they will have the same configuration, but will be fully functioning windows instead of just screens. Ms. DuFour added that she is also proposing to install a small deck off the porch, which will be constructed mostly of Trex® decking product in the Island Mist color. Commissioner Wiles asked if the floor of the deck will be completely constructed of the Trex® material, and what material will be used for the sunroom floor. Ms. DuFour stated that the deck floor will be entirely Trex®, and that the Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2018 –Page 2 of 8  APPROVED May 14, 2018 screened porch floor is currently tile and will remain as such, although she plans to replace the current floor with newer tile. Commissioner Wiles asked if the railing and spindles would be wood. Ms. DuFour replied that she believes that the contractor plans on constructing the posts out of wood but that she believes the spindles and railing will be Trex® or a different composite material. Assistant Planner Shamieh distributed a Scope of Work document to the Commissioners that had been submitted by Ms. DuFour, in which the contractor provides a brief narrative describing the work to be done. Commissioner Gilmore asked what will be underneath the deck, i.e. if there will be some sort of substrate or base. Ms. DuFour stated that there was a deck in the same area before and the new posts will be dug just outside of where the old deck was located. She added that the contractor is installing posts that will be very sturdy and will allow for a second story to be added to the deck if it is desired in the future. Commissioner Gilmore asked if the property is in the flood plain. Ms. DuFour stated that she believes that a very small portion of it is. Commissioner Gilmore stated that he is concerned that if the deck is not properly constructed it could easily be washed away in a flood. He stated that the post must be very deep in the ground and should be locked into a foundation piece at the bottom. Commissioner Wiles asked Ms. DuFour if any portion of the deck will be painted. Ms. DuFour stated that it is not planned to be, as the portions of it that are not Trex® or other pre-finished materials will be pressure-treated wood. Commissioner Andriano noted that the plans do not show the pressure-treated wood as being painted. Commissioner Gilmore stated that he is concerned that the structure of the deck will support a hot tub, as shown on one of the drawings. Ms. DuFour stated that she does not plan on having a hot tub anytime soon, but that it was shown on the plans for design purposes. She added that she would return to the Commission prior to adding anything to the deck. Commissioner Wiles stated that he is concerned about the railings being PVC or Trex®, or if they should be wood. He added that the deck will be very visible from the public right of way, and that wood is already a material that is used on the house, while PVC and Trex® are not. He noted that under the standards and guidelines followed by the Commission the introduction of new materials is discouraged unless absolutely necessary. Commissioner Wiles explained that while he could support the use of Trex® as the floor of the deck due to environmental conditions, he was not convinced that its use is necessary on the railings or spindles. Commissioner Yager stated that black spindles would be less visible. Commissioner Gilmore stated that for the strongest structural integrity of the deck the posts used for the foundation should be carried through to extend above the railing and then be capped with a finial. Ms. Shamieh reminded the Commissioners that Commissioner Wiles’ comment regarding adhering to the standards and guidelines was an important one. She Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2018 –Page 3 of 8  APPROVED May 14, 2018 stated that the concerns of the Commissioners should be if the design and materials of the proposed structure are historically appropriate. Commissioner Andriano stated that he would support the use of the Trex® material as it looks like wood but is much more durable and more likely to remain attractive much longer than a wood deck would. He added that it requires little maintenance and holds its color for a very long time. He noted that he is concerned with the wood elements being left unpainted and stated that in order to better relate to the house they could be painted white, to match the bottom trim board of the clapboard. Commissioner Yager stated that in the past the Commission has approved alternate materials if environmental conditions warranted their use. Commissioner Wiles asked what the spindles and railing are proposed to be constructed of. Commissioner Andriano stated that the plans show them as PVC. Commissioner Wiles stated that he is not convinced that they should not be required to be wood. Commissioner Gilmore asked Ms. Shamieh is she has a specific objection to composite materials. Ms. Shamieh stated that she has no objection to a specific material, but that her only objection would be to the Commissioners not basing their decision on the standards and guidelines. Commissioner Gilmore stated that he had heard Julian Adams of SHPO give a talk in which he stated that on some occasions composite materials are superior to the original materials and can add significant longevity to an historic structure. Commissioner Gilmore suggested that a thin composite veneer could be applied over the PVC railing that would look like wood but be much more durable. Commissioner Bennett stated that the Commission had not considered the question of whether or not adding the deck would be appropriate and if it would dramatically alter the look of the property, although there is evidence that there had been some sort of deck there in the past. Commissioner Yager stated that because of the deck’s location and the fact that the main structure is parallel to the ground she does not feel that it will be excessively obtrusive. Commissioner Yager asked Ms. DuFour if she plans to add any landscaping around the base of the deck. Ms. DuFour stated that she does not, as she already has many flower gardens to care for. Commissioner Andriano stated that he has no objection to the addition of the deck or the materials but does feel that the wood should be painted to match the white trim of the house. He added that he does not believe that the deck detracts from the historic character of the house, although the railing style is slightly more modern. Commissioner Bennett asked if there would be a railing style that would perhaps be more appropriate and in keeping with the historic character of the house. Ms. Shamieh reminded the Commissioners that a deck is a modern feature and that the goal should not be to make it appear old or as if it is original to the house. Commissioner Wiles stated that in the past the Commission had allowed composite materials only where sustainability of the materials due to weather conditions was a Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2018 –Page 4 of 8  APPROVED May 14, 2018 concern, and the standards and guidelines state that new materials are discouraged in most circumstances. He explained that he believes that in this location the sustainability of the deck is an issue, and the composite materials are warranted, but that this decision would in no way indicate that the Commission would support the introduction of new materials in other circumstances or on other sites. He also noted that this property is not very visible, commenting that 90% of the residents of Schenectady probably do not even know where Cucumber Alley is. Ms. Shamieh reminded the Commissioners that they do not set precedents with their decisions and that each application is considered on its own unique basis. Commissioner Wiles agreed but noted that it is not always easy to get applicants to understand this. Seeing no further comments or questions from the Commissioners regarding the deck, Commissioner Wiles turned the discussion to the proposed windows and storm door. Commissioner Yager asked Ms. Dufour if there is another door on the sunroom behind the screen door. Ms. DuFour stated that there currently is not. Commissioner Wiles asked if the new windows will be the same dimensions as the existing windows. Ms. DuFour stated that they will be, although only screens are currently there now. Commissioner Gilmore asked if the existing rhythm of the windows will be preserved. Ms. DuFour stated that it will. Commissioner Wiles stated that the spec sheet provided about the windows states only that they are clad. He asked Ms. DuFour if they will be clad in aluminum. Ms. DuFour stated that it is her understanding that they will be. Commissioner Wiles asked the other Commissioners if they could see any evidence that states that the windows will be aluminum clad. Commissioner Andriano looked up the product specs on his phone and confirmed that the windows described in the application would be aluminum-clad. Commissioner Andriano noted that the windows chosen have a shade in between two of the panes of glass. Commissioner Wiles asked Ms. DuFour if she was aware of this. Ms. DuFour stated that she was, and that she had chosen this window style because the shades will be more attractive and less likely to break, but they also can be removed and replaced if necessary. Commissioner Wiles asked if all of the windows will have the shades. Ms. DuFour stated that they will. She explained that there will be two panes of glass, then the shade, and then another pane of glass. Commissioner Wiles asked if the door is also from the same manufacturer. Ms. DuFour stated that it is, but that there will only be two panes of glass and the shade in between, which will not be removable. Commissioner Andriano noted that there is another set of windows on the estimate sheet provided, and that those windows are vinyl. Ms. DuFour stated that originally, she had thought about replacing the kitchen windows on the second floor and thus they were part of the estimate, but that she does not plan to replace them at this time and thus they are not part of this application. Commissioner Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2018 –Page 5 of 8  APPROVED May 14, 2018 Wiles commented that from the previous discussion Ms. DuFour could probably sense that the Commission would have an issue with the vinyl windows. Commissioner Gilmore stated that the concrete bases upon which the steps will be placed should be tinted a darker color to match the other stone and concrete elements on the property and not stand out as new. Ms. DuFour and the Commissioners agreed. Motion by Commissioner Wiles, seconded by Commissioner Andriano, to approve the application as submitted, with the following modifications and conditions: 1. The project will be completed within one year. 2. The Commission recommends that for structural integrity the base posts of the deck be carried through to become part of the balustrade and capped with a finial. 3. The wood base should be painted white to match the white base trim of the house. 4. The concrete bases of the stairs will be tinted to match the existing concrete and stone elements on the site. 5. The windows and door are accepted as proposed. The vinyl replacement window described in the window estimate is not part of this application and thus was not considered. Findings: 1. This is a Type II SEQRA. 2. There is an existing foundation extending from the house that suggests that a deck or porch was formerly located where the proposed new deck will be, thus this new addition will not be inconsistent with what was there in the past. 3. The proposed new windows will maintain the existing window rhythm and alignment. 4. The existing screen door is not appropriate for a three-season room and thus will be replaced with an appropriate storm door. Motion carried unanimously. V. ADOPTION OF MEETING MINUTES Because there were not four Commissioners present who had attended the January meeting, the vote on the January Meeting Minutes was postponed until the May meeting. Motion by Commissioner Yager, seconded by Commissioner Gilmore, to approve the March 19, 2018 Meeting Minutes as submitted. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2018 –Page 6 of 8  APPROVED May 14, 2018 Motion carried unanimously. VI. MISCELLANEOUS A. Subcommittee on Commission guidance document update Assistant Planner Shamieh noted that she owes the subcommittee a new draft of the working document, explaining that she has been working on issues pertaining to certification of the Union Triangle and Morris Avenue neighborhoods on the Historic Register and that has taken up most of her time. She stated that she is working with SHPO to set up a workshop, aiming for the fourth week in May, to explain the available historic tax credits to property owners in the historic districts. Ms. Shamieh stated that the Mayor is planning a press release regarding the certification of the neighborhoods and she hopes to have the information regarding the tax credit workshop and the upcoming beta test of the online application ready for inclusion in the release. She noted that as proposed earlier she would like to offer the test use of the online application in exchange for an evaluation of the process by the users. B. Schedule Change of November Meeting Due to a scheduling conflict Ms. Shamieh asked that the November 2018 meeting be moved to another date. It was agreed that November 19th, 2018 would be an acceptable date for the November meeting. C. Election of Chair and Vice Chair Commissioner Wiles noted that it is staff’s opinion that a vote should be taken to elect a Chair and Vice Chair, as the Commission has been without a Chair since Commissioner Britt’s resignation in 2017, and as Vice Chair he has been serving as acting Chair since that time. He noted the absence of Commissioner Lowry. Ms. Shamieh stated that the bylaws state that the Commission shall elect a Chair, explaining that all the Commissioners are rarely present at any given meeting. Following a brief discussion, it was determined that Commissioner Yager would be willing to serve as Chair and Commissioner Wiles would be willing to continue as Vice Chair. Votes were then taken to elect the Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission. Motion by Commissioner Wiles, seconded by Commissioner Bennett, to appoint Commissioner Yager as Chair of the Historic District Commission for a term of approximately one year. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Commissioner Yager, seconded by Commissioner Bennett, to appoint Commissioner Wiles Vice Chair of the Historic District Commission for a term of one year. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2018 –Page 7 of 8  APPROVED May 14, 2018 Motion carried unanimously. VII. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Wiles, seconded by Commissioner Andriano, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:47 pm. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2018 –Page 8 of 8