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Home My WebLink AboutMN-ILPC-2024-06-18Approved on: 8/20/2024 Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC) Minutes - June 18, 2024 Commission Member Present: Ed Finegan, Chair David Kramer, Vice Chair Stephen Gibian Susan Stein Katelin Olson Avi Smith Janet Smith Absent: None Common Council Members Present: None City Staff Present: Bryan McCracken, Hist. Pres. and Neighborhood Planner & Secretary, ILPC Marjorie McLain, Administrative Assistant _______________________________________________________________________ The regular monthly meeting of the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission was held in Common Council Chambers, Third Floor, City Hall, 108 East Green Street, and also conducted remotely using videoconferencing technology. Virtual participation in public meetings is authorized by Part WW of Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022 of New York State and Local Law 2022-05. The proceedings were livestreamed on the City of Ithaca Public Meetings channel on YouTube and a recording is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq6oXbScxkU&list=PLfplo_VA57eo3g_kXLZ3SKSop7C- uS_Md&index=1&t=1s Chair E. Finegan called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. and read the Public Notice. I. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. 225 Fall Creek Drive, Cornell Heights Historic District – Proposal to Install Wood Fencing on the East and South Elevations. Property owner Flannery Hysjulien appeared before the Commission to present the proposed project. 225 Fall Creek Drive is a contributing resource in the locally designated Cornell Heights Historic District. F. Hysjulien summarized the details of the proposal, noting the layout and heights of the fencing. She also noted the need for privacy in the rear and side yards of the property and a secure area Approved on: 8/20/2024 for the family dog. The Commission asked clarifying questions about the layout and design of the fencing. PUBLIC HEARING On a motion by K. Olson, seconded by S. Stein, 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 K. Olson, seconded by J. Smith. The Commission discussed the unique site conditions of the property, specifically the orientation of residence and its relationship to the suspension bridge entrance to Cornell University, Fall Creek Drive and the gorge. RESOLUTION: 225 Fall Creek Drive, Cornell Heights Historic District – Proposal to Install Wood Fencing on the East and South Elevation WHEREAS, 225 Fall Creek Drive 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 May 5, 2024, was submitted for review to the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC) by property owners Reilly Coch and Flannery Hysjulien, including the following: (1) two narratives respectively titled Description of Proposed Change(s) and Reasons for Changes(s); (2) two proposed site plans; (3) four renderings of the proposed alterations; and (4) a Google Street View image of the property from 2018, and WHEREAS, the ILPC has reviewed the New York State Building-Structure Inventory Form for 225 Fall Creek Drive, 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 a 42-48” cedar, wide-picket fence extending southwest from the northwest corner of the house to the driveway, then south along the driveway to the garage, with decorative gate across existing flagstone walkway; and the installation of 60-72” cedar wide-picket fence extending southeast from the southeast corner of the house to meet the existing 60” metal fence at the edge of Fall Creek gorge, and Approved on: 8/20/2024 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, a Public Hearing for the purpose of considering approval of the Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness was conducted at the regularly scheduled ILPC meeting on June 18, 2024, now therefore be it 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 Colonial-Revival Style residence at 225 Fall Creek Drive was one of several homes in the historic district designed by Cornell University professor of architecture, Clarence Martin. This house was built in 1901. 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. 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: Approved on: 8/20/2024 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. 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 wood fencing will not remove distinctive materials and will not alter features and spaces that characterize the property. In making this determination, the Commission considered the unique orientation of the residence and its impact on the privacy of the rear yard. The primary façade is at an angle to Fall Creek Drive, which makes what would usually be rear yard fully visible from the public way. A traditional orientation would have created a private rear yard. The installation of the fences will create privacy where it does not currently exist. Also with respect to Principle #2, Principle #3, and Standard #9, the proposed fencing is compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features of the property and its environment. With respect to Standard #10, the fencing can be removed in the future without impairment of the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment. Approved on: 8/20/2024 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 with the following: • ILPC staff shall review and approve the final fence design, with particular attention given to the spacing between the pickets. RECORD OF VOTE: Moved by: K. Olson Seconded by: S. Stein In Favor: K. Olson, S. Stein, D. Kramer, A. Smith, J. Smith, E. Finegan, S. Gibian Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 0 Vacancies: 0 II. PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST - None III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • The April 23, 2024, meeting minutes were approved unanimously without modifications. IV. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS • Call for Nominations of Deadline: Historic Ithaca Annual Preservation Awards-July 22, 2024 - B. McCracken advised the board that the Historic Ithaca Annual Preservation Award nomination deadline is July 22, 2024. He encouraged the members to submit nominations. V. ADJOURNMENT On a motion by D. Kramer, seconded by J. Smith, the Commission unanimously voted to end the meeting at 6:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bryan McCracken, Historic Preservation Planner