Historic Resource Commission

Schenectady Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes November 19, 2018 I. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Yager called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Commissioner Yager explained that during the meeting each applicant will have an opportunity to present their proposal, followed by comments from anyone in the public who would like to comment on the application, and then the Commissioners will discuss the proposal and ask the applicant for further information or clarification as necessary. II. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Patricia Yager, Chair; Ben Wiles, Vice Chair; Shaun Andriano; Dr. Dean Bennett; Frank Gilmore; Christopher Marney STAFF: Christine Primiano, Principal Planner; Jennifer Mills, Secretary III. CONFLICT OF INTEREST Frank Gilmore stated that he would be recusing himself from New Business Item B, the Application by Gordon Furlani on behalf of St. John the Evangelist Church. IV. ADOPTION OF MEETING MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Wiles, seconded by Commissioner Andriano, to approve the October 25, 2018 Meeting Minutes with the following amendment offered by Commissioner Wiles: 1. New Business – Applications Item D – Application submitted by Christine Galvin - insert underlined text Because the applicant was not present at the meeting, and because further information is needed from the applicant to evaluate the application, the Commissioners decided to table the application. Motion carried unanimously. V. NEW BUSINESS - APPLICATIONS A. Consideration for approval submitted by Lawrence James to install a bronze historical plaque on front façade. The premises are located at 111 Union Street in the Stockade Historic District. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – November 19, 2018 –Page 1 of 5 Lawrence James appeared before the Commission. Mr. James showed the Commissioners the bronze plaque, which gives information regarding the history of the building. Commissioner Yager asked how it will be attached to the building. Mr. James showed the screws that are included with the plaque that he will use to attach it and added that there will also be some glue added to the back. Commissioner Yager asked if the screws could be drilled only through the mortar joints. Mr. James stated that he believes that he can line the placement up with the joints, or he will make every effort to get them as close as possible. Commissioner Wiles asked if there are other buildings in the area that have similar historic plaques. Mr. James responded that there is one nearby on Yates Street; Commissioner Bennett stated that they are many throughout the Stockade neighborhood. Commissioner Wiles stated that the proposed placement of the plaque appears to him to be too low, and that he would like to see it more level with the front entry door. Mr. James stated that he would be happy to place the plaque wherever the Commissioners prefer. Commissioner Wiles stated that he had asked the question because he is not aware if there is a standard height for plaque placement used in the Stockade. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. RESOLUTION Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Gilmore, to approve the application as submitted, with the following condition: 1. The project will be completed within one year. And with the following findings of fact: 1. This is a Type II SEQRA. Motion carried, with Commissioner Wiles opposed. Mr. James asked if Commissioner Wiles would give his reason for opposing the proposal. Commissioner Wiles stated that he believes that the plaque should be placed higher. Mr. James stated that he has no objection to placing it higher. City Planner Primiano stated that the resolution could be amended to approve a different placement. Commissioner Bennett suggested that the plaque be placed even with the middle sash of the window by the front door, so that it would be more at eye level with the front entrance. The Commissioners agreed. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – November 19, 2018 –Page 2 of 5  Motion by Commissioner Yager, seconded by Commissioner Wiles, to amend the resolution to specify that the plaque will be placed next to the front door and at a level even with the middle of the window sash by the door. Motion carried unanimously. B. Consideration for approval submitted by Gordon Furlani on behalf of St. John the Evangelist Church to install new flood lights and a monument in the front of the property. The premises are located at 816 Union Street in the Union Street Corridor Historic District. Gordon Furlani appeared before the Commission. Mr. Furlani explained that when the church project was initially approved the approval was absent the sign and lighting, because the church had not yet decided on these details. He stated that they have completed a lighting and sign plan and are seeking its approval at this time. He distributed revised site plans to the Commissioners showing the new proposed locations of the flood lights, which will point upwards at the church and the monument sign. Commissioner Yager asked which of the submitted flood light designs will be used. Mr. Furlani stated that they both will be, with one style used for the church and the other for the sign. Commissioner Andriano asked if the flood lights will be placed at ground level. Mr. Furlani stated that they will be. Commissioner Andriano asked which of the proposed lamp posts they prefer to use. Mr. Furlani stated that they prefer the Manor House design but had submitted an alternative in case the Commission did not approve it. Commissioner Andriano stated that the color of the light should be uniform across all the lighting. The Commissioners agreed. The Commissioners decided that they would approve the Manor House design. Commissioner Yager asked if the Commissioners had any comments or questions regarding the sign. Commissioner Bennett commented that he thought it interesting that the cross on the sign is of a Celtic design, but the main body of the church is not. Commissioner Yager read a brief history of the church, which explained that the original parish membership was mostly of Irish descent. Mr. Furlani noted that the cross being used on the sign was originally on the roof of the church but was taken down several years ago when it was thought to be damaging the roof. Commissioner Yager asked if the writing on the sign will be applied or etched. Mr. Furlani stated that it will be etched. Commissioner Yager asked if there will be anything on the back of the sign. Mr. Furlani stated that the back of the sign will be blank and will face the church. He explained that they had considered placing the sign perpendicular to the street and having it be a two-sided design but decided that this configuration worked better. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – November 19, 2018 –Page 3 of 5  PUBLIC COMMENTS None. RESOLUTION Motion by Commissioner Andriano, seconded by Commissioner Wiles, to approve as submitted the application to install the flood lights, lamp posts, and the monument sign, with the following modifications and conditions: 1. The project will be completed within one year. 2. The lamp posts approved are the Hinckley Manor House 1471BK design. 3. The bulbs used will be 3000K and will be of a consistent color temperature. 4. The two flood light styles and the sign are approved as submitted. And with the following findings of fact: 1. This is a Type II SEQRA. Motion carried unanimously, with Commissioner Gilmore recusing himself from the vote. VII. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Yager stated that as discussed at the October meeting the City website is being revised, and thus she has asked Zoning Officer Epstein to add a section to the site that will list the addresses in the City that are included in the historic districts. She asked City Planner Primiano if, after the list is added, an announcement of the addition could be published in the Daily Gazette. Ms. Primiano stated that it could be and that staff will follow up. Commissioner Andriano stated that he and Commissioner Marney are working on design guidelines for the different historic districts which could be used as a written and visual aid to educate property owners as to what sort of proposals would be acceptable to the Commission under the standards and practices that they must follow. He stated that as evidenced by the discussion of the plaque placement earlier in the meeting, it would be helpful to have some written guidelines that the public could reference when proposing repairs or modifications to their properties. Commissioner Andriano stated that while the Commissioners are aware of the Secretary of the Interior’s guidelines, i.e. to first try to repair the existing if possible, or to replace in kind, etc., the general public is not aware of these guidelines and thus are at a disadvantage when making an application to the Commission. He explained that this will be a working document that will be submitted to the full Commission for their input and proposed revisions, and that all are welcome to give their input at any time. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – November 19, 2018 –Page 4 of 5  Commissioner Marney stated that they would like everyone to be involved, and that he and Commissioner Andriano are willing to take the lead with the initial work. Commissioner Yager read the Commissioners an email sent to her by Zoning Officer Epstein stating that while the City does not have the staff to undertake neighborhood workshops at this time, the administration agrees that the compilation of such a guiding document would be helpful to the historic district property owners. Ms. Primiano stated that the former Assistant Planner Rima Shamieh had begun work on a similar document, which she believes could be used as a starting point for the new draft. The Commissioners agreed. Commissioner Andriano stated that they will keep the other Commissioners informed weekly of the progress on the document, and then proposed changes can be discussed at the monthly meeting. Commissioner Yager stated that she supports the idea of written guidelines and thinks that the approach of addressing each district individually is very important, as the districts vary greatly in their age and original design. Ms. Primiano agreed. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Gilmore, seconded by Commissioner Wiles, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – November 19, 2018 –Page 5 of 5