Historic Resource Commission

Schenectady Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes November 21, 2019 I. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Yager called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. II. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Patricia Yager, Chair; Ben Wiles, Vice Chair; Dr. Dean Bennett; Frank Gilmore; Christopher Marney STAFF: Matt Smith, Planning Staff; Jennifer Mills, Secretary EXCUSED: Shaun Andriano III. CONFLICT OF INTEREST Commissioner Wiles recused himself from voting on Item B, an application that he submitted. IV. ADOPTION OF MEETING MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Wiles, to approve the October 24, 2019 Meeting Minutes as submitted. Motion carried unanimously, with Commissioner Bennett absent from the vote. V. APPLICATIONS A. Consideration for approval submitted by True Griffin LLC to install a new sign. The premises are located at 237 Union Street in the Stockade District. Carly Clark from AJ Signs presented the application. Ms. Clark reviewed the design of the sign, explaining that it will be placed where the former sign was, but will be on a new bracket as the previous hardware had deteriorated beyond repair. She noted that the sign will not be lit and will primarily be constructed of aluminum composite materials, with some PVC accents. Commissioner Yager stated that she has no objection to the sign and believes that the historical character of its design is compatible with the existing design elements of the building. The Commissioners agreed. Commissioner Marney stated that the Commission strongly prefers that the bracket be installed in the mortar joints so as to avoid potential damage to the bricks. Ms. Clark stated that the applicants would have no objection to this condition. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – November 21, 2019 –Page 1 of 3  PUBLIC COMMENTS None. RESOLUTION Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Gilmore, to approve the application to install the new sign as submitted with the following modifications and conditions: 1. The project will be completed within one year. 2. The sign bracket will be mounted in the mortar joints of the brick and will not be drilled directly into the bricks. And with the following finding of fact: 1. This is a Type II SEQRA. Motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Yager stated that she had hoped that the building owner would have been present at the meeting because she had observed some serious deterioration on the brick of the face of the building where it appears that ivy might have recently been removed and she would have liked to discuss with him how the damage could be addressed. B. Consideration for approval submitted by Ben & Sharon Wiles to paint the doors to match existing shutters. The premises are located at 1302 Stratford Road in the GE Realty Plot Historic District. Ben Wiles presented the application. Commissioner Wiles explained that he and his wife would like to paint the two front doors, which are currently white, green to match the shutters on the house. Commissioner Marney asked Commissioner Wiles if he could provide the exact color name he plans to use. Commissioner Wiles stated that he did not have that information at the meeting, but that it will be the exact same paint as was used on the shutters. The Commissioners indicated that they had no objection to the color. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. RESOLUTION Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – November 21, 2019 –Page 2 of 3  Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Bennett, to approve the application to paint the doors to match the existing shutters as submitted with the following condition: 1. The project will be completed within one year. And with the following finding of fact: 1. This is a Type II SEQRA. Motion carried unanimously, with Commissioner Wiles recusing himself from the vote. VI. MISCELLANEOUS Mr. Smith reported that he had not yet received the official City memo regarding the Lowell Road porch railing that had been considered previously by the Commission, but that it appears that the railing has been replaced in kind. He also asked the Commissioners if they had any suggestions for topics for upcoming training sessions, and whether a day or evening session would work best for them. It was determined that evening would be preferable, with topics mentioned including dealing with prominent plants and trees on historic properties, the use of newly developed materials in historic rehabilitation projects, and choosing the point in history to reference when considering a building built over several different eras. Mr. Smith stated that he will continue to follow up on these issues. VII. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Wiles, seconded by Commissioner Marney, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes – November 21, 2019 –Page 3 of 3