Historic Resource Commission

Schenectady Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes October 28, 2021 I. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Yager called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. II. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Patricia Yager, Chair; Dr. Dean Bennett; Shaun Andriano; Richard Unger; Matt Smith, Senior Planner ABSENT: Christopher Marney, Vice Chair; Frank Gilmore III. CONFLICT OF INTEREST None. IV. ADOPTION OF MEETING MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Unger, seconded by Commissioner Bennett, to approve the Minutes of the September 23, 2021 meeting. Motion carried unanimously. V. CALL FOR MEMBERS OF PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS None. VI. APPLICATIONS A. Consideration for approval submitted by Agri Business Child Development to replace the existing sign. The premises is located at 847 Union St. in the Union Street Historic District. Lisa Tymchyn from Saxton Sign presented the application in person. Ms. Tymchyn stated that the current sign is in disrepair and needs to be replaced and that the organization also updated their logo which necessitated a new sign as well. Commissioner Yager asked if the current sign is also comprised of HDU for the sign face. The applicant stated that it is. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes October 28, 2021 –Page 1 of 4  Commissioner Bennett stated that this application appears like a simple replacement, and it doesn’t affect the actual structure and is in favor of it. RESOLUTION Motion by Commissioner Bennett, seconded by Commissioner Unger, to approve as submitted the application to install a new sign, 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 unanimously. B. Consideration for approval submitted by Ruth Sojourner Brice and Lee Phylis Brice to paint the building. The premises is located at 1346 Union St. in the Union Street Historic District. Ruth Sojourner Brice and Lee Phylis Brice presented the application via WebEx. The applicant stated that she chose a four-color paint scheme to freshen up the structure and highlight some of the architectural features of the property while maintaining consistency with some of the other homes in the neighborhood. Ms. Brice explained that a researcher identified the construction of the home around 1913. A photo from 1976 helped inform her of what colors to choose for the property. Commissioner Yager asked what color the shutters would be painted, as it wasn’t clear from the application. Ms. Brice stated that the shutters would be painted Sage Green Light. RESOLUTION Motion by Commissioner Unger, seconded by Commissioner Bennett, to approve as submitted the application to paint the building, with the following conditions: 1. The project will be completed within one year. 2. The shutters will be painted Sage Green Light. And with the following finding of fact: 1. This is a Type II SEQRA. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes October 28, 2021 –Page 2 of 4  2. The Commissioners cited Preservation Standards #2, #5, and #6 as the guidelines for their decision. Motion carried unanimously. C. Consideration submitted by Jasmine Virgile to rehabilitate the porch. The premises is located at 862 Union St. in the Union Street Historic District. Jasmine Virgile presented the application via phone through WebEx. [the connection was poor and it was both difficult for the applicant to hear the commissioners and for the commissioners to hear the applicant.] Ms. Virgile stated that she would like to keep the existing diagonal lattice instead of having to replace it with the orthogonal lattice approved at a prior meeting. Commissioner Unger stated that since Commissioners Gilmore and Marney were the ones that made and seconded the motions at the previous meeting, he feels they should be present to hear the argument for why the diagonal lattice could remain, if they had strong reasoning for making the motion requiring the modification to the lattice design. He stated that he does not have strong feelings one way or the other on the design, but doesn’t want to create an atmosphere of applicants being able to “shop around” their applications to the commission at different times to get a favorable decision. He stated that he does not think this is what is happening on this current application but feels the original members should be present to re-hear the application. Mr. Smith stated that he allowed Ms. Virgile to reappear because she was unfamiliar with the approval process and she would have more strongly advocated for keeping the current lattice design if she knew that was appropriate to do. Commissioner Andriano stated that the current lattice appears to be vinyl, which is a fact the commission was unaware of at the previous meeting. He also explained that a lot of the work performed on the porch does not preserve distinctive finishes and construction techniques, and requests that an elevation sketch of the porch be presented to the commission detailing how the work will be completed to address the items approved at the previous meeting, including the lattice and the trim boards. At this point it became very difficult to communicate with Ms. Virgile given the technology issues. Mr. Smith explained to Ms. Virgile that the vinyl lattice would have to be replaced with wood, and she could conform with the previously approved orthogonal lattice, or return to a later meeting to address the lattice design. He stated that the commission would likely table the application for now, and she can follow up with him afterwards to discuss her options going forward. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes October 28, 2021 –Page 3 of 4  RESOLUTION Motion by Commissioner Andriano, seconded by Commissioner Unger, to table the application. Motion carried unanimously. VII. MISCELLANEOUS A. Review of the potential nomination of the Schenectady Savings Bank to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The premises is located at 500 State St. The commission discussed the nomination forms and agreed that the building, while not architecturally significant, does have historical significance and unanimously supported the nomination of the property to the historic register. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Bennett, seconded by Commissioner Andriano, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes October 28, 2021 –Page 4 of 4