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Home My WebLink AboutMN-ILPC-2024-11-19Approved on: January 21, 2025 Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC) Minutes – November 19, 2024 Commission Member Present: Ed Finegan, Chair David Kramer, Vice Chair Stephen Gibian Janet Smith Absent: Avi Smith Susan Stein Katelin Olson Common Council Members Present: Clyde Lederman, ILPC Common Council Liaison City Staff Present: Bryan McCracken, Hist. Pres. and Neighborhood Planner & Secretary, ILPC _______________________________________________________________________ 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=58XSHujk6GA Chair E. Finegan called the meeting to order at 5:36 p.m. and read the Public Notice. I. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. South Hill School, 110 Columbia Street, Individual Local Landmark – Proposal to Install 6 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Jen Bokaer-Smith, resident and applicant, and Sheila Squier, project consultant, appeared before the Commission to present the proposed project. The Old South Hill School, 110 Columbia Street, is an individual local landmark. In addition to summarizing the proposal to install three electric vehicle charging pedestals, K. Bokaer-Smith explained the complexities of upgrading the property’s existing electrical system and financing the project. She noted the need to replace outdated and dangerous electrical panels and the need to install a higher amperage service to allow for the car charges and the future full electrification of the property. Approved on: January 21, 2025 B. McCracken noted items in the Certificate of Appropriateness application that did not require review for compliance with the Landmarks Ordinance, including the service upgrade, meter location, and electric panel replacement. PUBLIC HEARING On a motion by J. Smith, 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. Gibian. The Commission considered the impact of the electric vehicle charging stations on visual character of the property from the street and determined would be minor. Although the parking area and the proposed charging stations would be on the primary façade of the building, that façade does not face the street but rather a City park. Therefore, the charging stations would not be highly visible from the public way. Additionally, the stations would not physically alter the building’s historic fabric. RESOLUTION: Old South Hill School, 110 Columbia Street – Proposal to Install 6 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations WHEREAS, the Old South Hill School, 110 Columbia Street, is an individual local landmark, as designated under Section 228-3 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code in 1977, and WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 228-4 of the Municipal Code, an Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness, dated November 11, 2024, was submitted for review to the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC) by property owner Acropolis Cooperative, Inc., including the following: (1) two narratives respectively titled Description of Proposed Change(s) and Reasons for Changes(s); (2) an aerial photograph showing the locations of the proposed installations; (3) a photographic rendering of the proposed installations; (4) 11 other photographs documenting existing conditions; and (5) 2 sheets of information on the proposed products, and WHEREAS, the ILPC has reviewed the New York State Building-Structure Inventory Form for the Old South Hill School at 110 Columbia Street, and WHEREAS, as stated in the narrative Description of Proposed Change(s), the project involves the installation of six electric vehicle charging stations, distributed equally on three pedestals, along the west side of the parking area on the west (primary) façade of the former school building, and Approved on: January 21, 2025 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 November 19, 2024, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the ILPC has made the following findings of fact concerning the property and the proposal: As indicated in the New York State Building-Structure Inventory Form, the Old South Hill School at 110 Columbia Street was constructed in 1907 and represents the significant history of Ithaca’s public-school system, specifically as it relates to South Hill 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 #1 The historic features of an individual landmark shall be altered as little as possible and any alterations made shall be compatible with the historic character of the landmark. 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 Approved on: January 21, 2025 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 #1, Standard #2, and Standard #9, the installation of charging stations will not remove distinctive materials and will not alter features and spaces that characterize the property. Also with respect to Principle #1 and Standard #9, the proposed charging stations are compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features of the property and its environment. With respect to Standard #10, the charging stations 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 Old South Hill School 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: D. Kramer Seconded: J. Smith In favor: J. Smith, E. Finegan, D. Kramer, S. Gibian Against: 0 Absent: A. Smith, K. Olson, S. Stein Abstain: 0 Recuse: 0 Vacancies: 0 II. PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST No members of the public appeared before the Commission to speak, and no written comments were submitted in advance of the meeting to be read aloud. Approved on: January 21, 2025 III. OLD BUSINESS A. First Presbyterian Church, 315 North Cayuga Street, DeWitt Park Historic District – Proposal to Construct a Barrier Free Access Ramp on the West Elevation. B. McCracken explained that the applicant would be attending the December ILPC meeting to discuss this project. IV. ADJOURNMENT On a motion by K. Olson, seconded by D. Kramer, the meeting was adjourned unanimously at 5:57 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bryan McCracken, Secretary, Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission Historic Preservation and Neighborhood Planner