Historic Resource Commission

Schenectady Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes December 23, 2021 I. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Yager called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. II. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Patricia Yager, Chair; Christopher Marney, Vice Chair; Dr. Dean Bennett; Shaun Andriano; Richard Unger; Matt Smith, Senior Planner ABSENT: Frank Gilmore III. CONFLICT OF INTEREST None. IV. ADOPTION OF MEETING MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Andriano, to approve the Minutes of the November 8, 2021 meeting. Motion carried unanimously. V. CALL FOR MEMBERS OF PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS None. VI. APPLICATIONS A. 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 failed to appear before the commission. Mr. Smith stated that the applicant sent him an e-mail that she was stuck in traffic coming up from Queens and would be very late if she were to make it at all. He explained that he would like the commission to make a decision regarding the application even though the applicant was not present. Mr. Smith explained that the applicant initially sought approval for modifications made to the porch without commission approval. At that meeting the applicant was told that orthogonal lattice was more appropriate than the diagonal lattice that was installed and received conditional approval to install orthogonal lattice. After reconsideration, the applicant returned to a subsequent meeting for approval to keep the diagonal lattice, but it was discovered that the lattice that was initially installed was composite material and not appropriate. Mr. Smith stated that he urged the owner, to just install wooden Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes December 23, 2021 –Page 1 of 6  orthogonal lattice since the current lattice had to be replaced due to the inappropriate material. However, the applicant with the help of Mr. Smith called several lumber distributors and retail sales outlets to procure orthogonal lattice and were unsuccessful. The applicant therefore decided to purchase and install the diagonal wood lattice and ask for the commission’s approval. Commissioner Yager stated that the lattice is still not installed correctly. Commissioner Marney stated that he is ok with the diagonal lattice, but that it needs to be framed and agreed with Commissioner Yager that it was not installed correctly. He explained that perhaps the commission could find a photo and mark it up to show the applicant the craftsmanship and other issues with the quality of the work that need to be addressed. RESOLUTION Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Andriano, to approve the application with the following conditions: 1. The project will be completed within one year. 2. The applicant will be permitted to use the crisscrossed lattice with the material being wood. 3. The lattice must be framed and in proportion to the pillars on the porch with thicker vertical trim that the pillars on the porch are supported. 4. The lattice on the left and right side of the stairs shall be framed to match the porch. 5. The framing around the lattice shall be consistent around the entire porch and all of the wood elements shall be painted white. 6. Simple square wood cap shall match on all three handrails. And with the following finding of fact: 1. This is a Type II SEQRA. 2. The Commissioners cited Preservation Standards #2 and #6 as the guidelines for their decision. Motion carried unanimously. B. Consideration submitted by Michael Barcomb to replace the siding. The premises is located at 1232 Union St. in the Union Street Historic District. Michael Barcomb presented the application. He explained that the building was purchased as a foreclosure seven or eight years ago and has had aluminum sided for the past thirty years. The building is in disrepair, and the aluminum siding had been removed, exposing the wood Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes December 23, 2021 –Page 2 of 6 clapboard siding that has drill holes and severe rot, splitting and cracking. He stated that he would prefer to install a wood product replacement siding that comes pre-finished in various colors. Commissioner Yager asked why the applicant wouldn’t put back the cedar siding. The applicant stated that the proposed siding is half the cost of cedar replacement siding. Commissioner Marney stated that from a preservation standards perspective, the commission would be looking for evidence that specific site conditions would prevent using the original material to replace the existing clapboard. He explained that staff had reached out to SHPO for an opinion on the proposed material and SHPO stated that wood clapboard is the preferred choice, but the proposed material may be appropriate on secondary elevations. Commissioner Yager stated that she is open to the proposition of allowing the proposed material after reading the reviews and fact sheets. She stated that she is not trying to sell anyone on allowing its use, but she believes the fact that the product uses 99% of the tree in its production and appears to be pretty sustainable, coupled with the increasing threat of climate change, that its use may be appropriate. She opened it up to other commissioners to hear their opinions. Commissioner Andriano stated that his one concern is that the owner may not be able to replace this product in-kind in twenty years if it’s not produced anymore. He explained that he does not object to the material itself though. Commissioner Marney stated that the one thing that isn’t known about this type of material, is what the life cycle cost is and what the environmental impact of its production is. Commissioner Bennett stated that because SHPO advised that their standards would allow the proposed product on the secondary elevations, with the front being comprised of wood clapboard, that sounded reasonable to him as well and would be in favor of that. The applicant stated that that sounded reasonable to him as well. Commissioner Marney asked that since the product comes in factory finished colors, if the applicant would be able to match the color for the front façade that would be replaced with wood clapboard. The applicant stated that he believes the colors are all from the Benjamin Moore color palette according to the manufacturer, and would be able to be matched. Commissioner Yager asked if the shakes would be painted a different color. The applicant stated that he was considering using a darker color on top. RESOLUTION Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes December 23, 2021 –Page 3 of 6  Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Andriano to approve as submitted the application to replace the siding, with the following conditions: 1. The project will be completed within one year. 2. The commission has found that the existing wood siding is beyond preservation and will permit the LP SmartSide woodfiber siding on the secondary elevations of the house, namely the sides and rear. 3. The front elevation will be replaced with cedar wood. 4. The front dormer will be replaced with cedar shakes. 5. The color on the clapboard with be Terra Brown, the color of the trim will be Sand Dunes, and the color of the shakes will be Canyon Brown. 6. The LP SmartSide siding will be in a smooth finish and will match the profile and reveal of the existing wood shakes and clapboard siding. And with the following finding of fact: 3. This is a Type II SEQRA. 4. The Commissioners cited Preservation Standards #2 and #6 as the guidelines for their decision. Motion carried unanimously. C. Consideration for approval submitted by Amanda & Frank Nissen to install chimney caps, doorbells, and lighting. The premises is located at 10 Front St. in the Stockade Historic District. Amanda and Frank Nissen appeared before the commission. Amanda Nissen stated that the lack of chimney caps is causing moisture and mold issues in the house. The second item that the applicants are requesting approval for are two doorbells, one on the front door and one on the side door, to replace non-functioning doorbells with video doorbells. The last item they are proposing is to install new lighting near the entryways. Commissioner Yager stated that there isn’t a lot of space to the left of the side door to install lighting and asked how the wiring would be run. The applicants stated that they weren’t sure until they were able to discuss it with an electrician. Commissioner Marney stated that he has no issue with the chimney cap, nor does he have an issue with the doorbell since the applicants aren’t removing a historic doorbell and replacing it, and accommodations have been made in the past for security reasons to allow them. He explained that the light fixtures that the applicant chose are more of a craftsmen style and would be more appropriate on Morris Ave. or on a bungalow and not so much for the Federal Revival style of this Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes December 23, 2021 –Page 4 of 6  property. He suggested more of a colonial style lamp and provided a few suggestions that would be more appropriate by the same manufacturer. He stated that the applicant doesn’t have to choose the ones he selected but wanted to provide examples of more period-appropriate styles. The applicant stated that they could review their options and submit a more appropriate lighting fixture at a later time. Commissioner Yager asked whether it would make more sense to just add a single light to the right of the door as opposed to one on either side. The applicant stated that they had considered that option. Commissioner Andriano stated that he has some concern about the electrical requirements for the lighting, which could potentially require a junction box on the exterior, exterior conduit, and multiple drill points into the masonry. The applicant said they could do a little more research and contact an electrician to figure out how to address the concerns from the commission. Commissioner Yager asked the commission how they felt about one versus two lights. Commissioner Marney stated that he is fine with either. Commissioner Andriano agreed as long as the lights are symmetrical. Commissioner Bennett agreed as well, and generally believes that aesthetically, more light in the neighborhood is good. He also stated that he agreed that the lights should be more in the federal or colonial style as opposed to the craftsmen style. Commissioner Andriano stated that the light bulbs if using LED, should be a maximum of 3000 Kelvin, with a preference of 2700 Kelvin. Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Unger, to approve as submitted the application, with the following conditions: 1. The project will be completed within one year. 2. The applicant will not seek approval for lighting at this meeting and will return at a later meeting with a proposal for alternative fixtures. 3. The chimney caps and doorbells are approved as submitted. And with the following finding of fact: 5. This is a Type II SEQRA. 6. The Commissioners cited Preservation Standards #2, #5, #6 and #10 as the guidelines for their decision. Motion carried unanimously. D. Consideration submitted by Douglas & Elizabeth Davis to replace the front stairs. The premises is located at 607 Union St. in the Union Street Historic District. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes December 23, 2021 –Page 5 of 6  The applicants failed to appear before the commission. VII. MISCELLANEOUS VIII. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Marney, seconded by Commissioner Bennett, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m. Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes December 23, 2021 –Page 6 of 6