Historic Resource Commission

Schenectady Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes June 24, 2021 I. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Yager called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Due to the closure of City Hall because of the Covid-19 Virus, the meeting was conducted online via WebEx. II. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Patricia Yager, Chair; Shaun Andriano; Dr. Dean Bennett; Frank Gilmore; Christopher Marney; Richard Unger; Matt Smith, Senior Planner; Jennifer Mills, Secretary EXCUSED: Ben Wiles, Vice Chair III. CONFLICT OF INTEREST None. IV. ADOPTION OF MEETING MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Andriano, to approve the April 22, 2021 Meeting Minutes as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Andriano, to approve the May 27, 2021 Meeting Minutes as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. V. CALL FOR MEMBERS OF PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS None. VI. APPLICATIONS A. Consideration for approval submitted by Robert Shages to paint the house. The premises are located at 10 Union Avenue in the Union Triangle Historic District. Robert Shages, representing the Sigma Phi Society, presented the application. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes June 24, 2021 –Page 1 of 3  Mr. Shages reviewed the application for the exterior painting. He noted that they plan to paint all the window sashes white so that they will all be the same color – currently some are white, and some are black. The Commissioners discussed the proposed colors and commented that the photos of the paint chips included in the application appear much lighter than the true colors. The Commissioners indicated that they have no objection to the proposed colors. RESOLUTION Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Bennett, to approve as submitted the application to paint the house, 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. 2. The Commissioners cited Preservation Standards #2, #5 and #6 as the guidelines for their decision. Motion carried unanimously. B. Consideration for approval submitted by Spring Line Design Architecture + Engineering to rehabilitate the porch. The premises are located at 1212 Union Street in the Union Street Historic District. Niyatti Shetty of Spring Line presented the application. Ms. Shetty briefly reviewed the application, which includes the proposed use of materials, such as PVC and vinyl, that the Commissioners indicated they would not be inclined to approve as they are not historically appropriate. Commissioner Marney explained that before approving an application to replace materials the Commission must be provided clear evidence that the existing historical components cannot be repaired. He noted that if it is decided that an item is not repairable the next best option is to replace in kind with similar materials. The Commissioners indicated that they did not believe that sufficient evidence showing irreparable materials had been provided by the applicants. They also noted that the majority of the proposed new materials are historically inappropriate and have not been approved by the Commission in the past. It was determined that if it is decided that some replacements are necessary, some of the proposed elements would be open to discussion, such as the proposed porch roof and composite column bases. After some continued discussion the Commissioners agreed that the application should be tabled as incomplete to allow the applicants to submit the necessary revisions. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes June 24, 2021 –Page 2 of 3  MOTION TO TABLE Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Unger, to table the application as incomplete pending the submittal of further information regarding the current state of the existing materials and evidence that they are beyond repair and must be replaced, as well as alternate proposed replacement materials. Motion carried unanimously. VII. MISCELLANEOUS None. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Gilmore, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes June 24, 2021 –Page 3 of 3