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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-ILP-2020-10-08Approved on: November 17, 2020 Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC) Minutes – October 8, 2020 Commission Member Present: Ed Finegan, Chair David Kramer, Vice Chair Stephen Gibian, Member Susan Stein, Member Katelin Olson, Member Absent: Avi Smith, Member Common Council Members Present: Donna Fleming, Liaison (Absent) City Staff Present: Bryan McCracken, Hist. Pres. and Neighborhood Planner & Secretary, ILPC _______________________________________________________________________ Chair E. Finegan called the meeting to order at 1:34 p.m. and read the Public Notice. The Commission held the meeting at 230 Wati Avenue. I. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. 230 Wait Avenue, Cornell Heights Historic District – Proposal to Install Sections of 4’ Tall Black Metal Fence in the Side and Rear Yards. The applicant, Alexandra DeLorenzo, did not appear before the Commission to present the proposed project having presented the specifics of the project and answered questions related to the proposal from the Commission at their regular meeting on September 15, 2020. The Commission could not hold the required Public Hearing at that meeting because the property was not properly posted with a public notice sign as required by the Landmarks Ordinance. As discussed at the meeting, the site visit was conducted to confirm the location of the proposed fence, assess its visual impact on the historic district, and allow time to properly advertise and post the sign on the property for the required public hearing. PUBLIC HEARING On a motion by K. Olson, seconded by D.Kramer, Chair E. Finegan opened the Public Hearing. There being no members of the public appearing and wishing to speak, and no written comments submitted to be read aloud, Chair E. Finegan closed the Public Hearing on a motion by D. Kramer, seconded by S. Stein. Approved on: November 17, 2020 No additional comments or concerns about the proposed fence were discussed by the Commission. RESOLUTION: 230 Wait Avenue, Cornell Heights Historic District WHEREAS, 230 Wait Avenue is located within the Cornell Heights Historic District, as designated under Section 228-3 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code in 1989, and as listed on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places in 1989, and WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 228-4 of the Municipal Code, an Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness, dated August 17, 2020, was submitted for review to the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC) by property owner Alexandria DeLorenzo, including the following: (1) two narratives respectively titled Description of Proposed Change(s) and Reasons for Changes(s); (2) five photographs documenting existing conditions, the proposed locations and layout of the alterations, and the appearance of the proposed material; (3) a marked-up survey map also showing the locations of the proposed alterations; (4) a NYS Certificate of Capital Improvement for the proposed project; and (5) a quote from Atlas Fence for the proposed project, dated April 14, 2020, and WHEREAS, the ILPC has reviewed the New York State Building-Structure Inventory Form for 230 Wait Avenue, and the City of Ithaca’s Cornell Heights Historic District Summary Statement, and WHEREAS, as stated in the narrative Description of Proposed Change(s), the project involves the installation of several sections of 4’ high Majestic three rail Montage fencing with matching gates at the driveway on the east elevation and the side yard on the west elevation, and WHEREAS, the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness is a Type II Action under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act and the City Environmental Quality Review Ordinance for which no further environmental review is required, and WHEREAS, the applicant has provided sufficient documentation and information to evaluate impacts of the proposal on the subject property and surrounding properties, and WHEREAS, as the property was not properly posted with information about the proposed alteration and the date and time of the Public Hearing, the subject application was tabled at the regular ILPC meeting on September 15, 2020 and WHEREAS, a Public Hearing for the purpose of considering approval of the Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness was conducted at a special ILPC meeting on October 8, 2020, now therefore be it Approved on: November 17, 2020 RESOLVED, that the ILPC has made the following findings of fact concerning the property and the proposal: As identified in the City of Ithaca’s Cornell Heights Historic District Summary Statement, the period of significance for the area now known as the Cornell Heights Historic District is 1898- 1937. As indicated in the New York State Building-Structure Inventory Form, the Tudor-Revival Style residence at 230 Wait Avenue was constructed between 1927 and 1929 for Cornell University professor of Rural Education Clyde B. Moore. Constructed within the period of significance of the Cornell Heights Historic District and possessing a high level of integrity, the property is a contributing element of the Cornell Heights Historic District. The purpose of the proposed sections of fence are to enclose the rear yard of the property. The proposed fence will match an existing fence installed at 102 Triphammer Road. In consideration of this and all approvals of proposals for alterations, new construction, or demolition in historic districts, the ILPC must determine that the proposed exterior work will not have a substantial adverse effect on the aesthetic, historical, or architectural significance and value of either the landmark or, if the improvement is within a district, of the neighboring improvements in such district. In considering architectural and cultural value, the Commission shall consider whether the proposed change is consistent with the historic value and the spirit of the architectural style of the landmark or district in accordance with Section 228-6 of the Municipal Code. In making this determination, the Commission is guided by the principles set forth in Section 228-6B of the Municipal Code, as further elaborated in Section 228-6C, and by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, and in this case specifically the following principles and Standards: Principle #2 The historic features of a property located within, and contributing to the significance of, an historic district shall be altered as little as possible and any alterations made shall be compatible with both the historic character of the individual property and the character of the district as a whole. Principle #3 New construction located within an historic district shall be compatible with the historic character of the district within which it is located. Standard #2 The historic character of a property will be retained and preserved. The removal of distinctive materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property will be avoided. Approved on: November 17, 2020 Standard #9 New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment. Standard #10 New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be undertaken in such a manner that, if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired. With respect to Principle #2, Standard #2, and Standard #9, the installation of sections of metal fence will not remove distinctive materials and will not alter features and spaces that characterize the property. Also with respect to Principle #2, Principle #3, and Standard #9, the proposed fence is compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features of the property and its environment. With respect to Standard #10, the fence can be removed in the future without impairment of the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment. RESOLVED, that, based on the findings set forth above, the proposal will not have a substantial adverse effect on the aesthetic, historical, or architectural significance of the Cornell Heights Historic District, as set forth in Section 228-6, and be it further, RESOLVED, that the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission determines that the proposal meets criteria for approval under Section 228-6 of the Municipal Code, and be it further RESOLVED, that the ILPC approves the Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness. RECORD OF VOTE: Moved by: D. Kramer Seconded by: S. Stein In Favor: D. Kramer, S. Stein, E. Finegan, S. Gibian, K. Olson Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: A. Smith Vacancies: 1 The Commission relocated to 112 Wait Avenue to conduct the noticed site visit. IV. SITE VISIT Approved on: November 17, 2020 The Commission held a site visit at 122 Wait Avenue in the Cornell Heights Historic District to review replacement windows installed without a Building Permit or Certificate of Appropriateness. The homeowner, Feres Nassar, met the Commission at the property, explained the status of the project, and presented the installed windows. F. Nassar stated that he was unable to speak with City staff in the Building and Planning Divisions due the closure of City Hall to the public in response to the COVID pandemic. He said it was his understanding, based on previous conversation with City staff, that a Building Permit and Certificate of Appropriateness were not required for the window project if the new windows matched the originals in size and color. The Secretary of the Commission clarified that a Building Permit is always required for all window replacements per New York State Building Code and a Certificate of Appropriateness was required because the property is in a locally designated historic district. F. Nassar committed to applying for a retroactive permit and Certificate of Appropriateness to be reviewed by the Commission at an upcoming public hearing as soon as possible after the site visit. In their review of the installed windows, the Commission noted the loss of the historic fabric and their inability to examine the need for replacement due to the disposal of the original window sash. The Commission also identified several elements of the installed windows that were not compatible with the historic property or its environment. VII. ADJOURNMENT On a motion by D. Kramer, seconded by K. Olson, the meeting was adjourned unanimously at 3:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bryan McCracken, Historic Preservation Planner