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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-ILPC-2006-06-06 Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission Meeting Held June 6, 2006 Present: Alphonse Pieper, Chair Nancy Brcak, Vice Chair Kristin Brennan George Holets Susan Stein Lynn Truame Joel Zumoff, Council Liaison Leslie Chatterton, Staff Chair A. Pieper called the meeting to order at 7:05 and read the legal notice for the public hearings. Agenda item D. 204 Williams Street, East Hill Historic District, was withdrawn. I. PUBLIC HEARING A. 114 West Court Street, DeWitt Park Historic District – proposal to replace metal porch roofs with EDPM rubber membrane. Property owner David Kramer was present to address the Commission concerning the proposal. Public Hearing On a motion made by S Stein, seconded by K. Brennan, Chair A. Pieper opened the public hearing. There being no one to address the Commission the public hearing was closed on a motion by K. Brennan, seconded by N. Brcak. RESOLUTION: Moved by L. Truame, seconded by N. Brcak. WHEREAS, 114 West Court Street is located in the DeWitt Park Historic District as provided for in Section 228-4 of the Municipal Code, Landmarks Preservation, and WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 228-4(E) of the Municipal Code, Landmarks Preservation, an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness has been submitted by property owner David Kramer, and (over) ILPC Meeting June 6, 2006 Minutes - - 2 WHEREAS, the action under consideration is a proposal to replace the existing metal roof of the entrance porch on the building’s south (front) façade with an EPDM roofing system, and WHEREAS, the purpose of the proposal is to remove and replace deteriorated metal roofing, and WHEREAS, the project is a Type II Action under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act and the City Environmental Quality Review Ordinance and thus requires no further environmental review, 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, At the regularly scheduled meeting held on May 11, following review of the application materials including the Building Permit application dated April 5, 2006, the New York State Building/Structure Inventory form and insurance maps of the Sanborn Map Company dated 1910 and 1919 and following the conclusion of a public hearing May 11, 2006, the ILPC voted to table the application to provide the applicant an opportunity to obtain additional information concerning in-kind replacement with a metal roof, and • The period of significance for the development of the area now known as the DeWitt Park Historic District is identified on the DeWitt Park Historic District Summary as 1820 – 1930. • Documentation on the New York State Building/Structure Inventory form, physical evidence of the building’s architectural construction and style and the insurance maps of the Sanborn Fire Insurance Company indicate that the residence was constructed before 1853, and that the porch was added between 1910 and 1919. • Constructed within the period of significance, 114 West Court Street is a contributing element of the DeWitt Park Historic District. • 114 West Court Street is architecturally and historically significant as a representative example of a Greek Revival style residence from Ithaca’s early 19th century development. • 114 West Court Street retains sufficient integrity and historic fabric to reflect its historic and architectural significance. J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\0606.doc ILPC Meeting June 6, 2006 Minutes - - 3 WHEREAS, in its determination of the proposal to replace the metal roof with the EDPM roof system the ILPC has considered the following: Sanborn Co Fire Insurance maps show that the early roof of the residence was “shingle” and that a metal roofed porch was added between 1910 and 1919. The integrity of the metal roof has been compromised by multiple applications of fibrous aluminum roof coating. The porch roof is not easily visible from street level. The lack of visibility substantially reduces the visual significance of the metal roof to the building’s historic and architectural character. Replacement of the metal roof with the EDPM roofing system will not have a substantial adverse effect on the aesthetic, historical or architectural significance and value of the landmark/historic district. RESOLVED, that the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission determines that the proposal meets criteria for approval under Section 228-4E(1)(a) of the Municipal Code, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Commission approves the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace the existing metal roof with an EDPM roofing system, with the following condition: • Staff shall review detailing / trim • Roofing shall be gray in color RECORD OF VOTE: Carried 4-1-1 Yes A. Pieper N. Brcak S. Stein L. Truame No K. Brennan Abstain G. Holets (over) J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\0606.doc ILPC Meeting June 6, 2006 Minutes - - 4 B. 216 Fall Creek Drive, Cornell Heights Historic District – proposal to extend fire escape. Property owner David Funk was present to address the Commission concerning the proposal. Public Hearing On a motion by G. Holets, seconded by S. Stein, Chair A. Pieper opened the public hearing. There being no one to address the Commission the public hearing was closed on a motion by K. Brennan, seconded by S. Stein. RESOLUTION: On a motion by G. Holets, seconded by S. Stein. WHEREAS, 216 Fall Creek Drive is located in the Cornell Heights Historic District, and WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 228-4(E) of the Municipal Code, Landmarks Preservation, an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness has been submitted by property owner David Funk, and WHEREAS, the action under consideration is a proposal to extend an existing metal fire escape system on the rear façade of 216 Fall Creek Drive, and WHEREAS, the purpose of the proposal is to extend the fire escape to grade, and WHEREAS, the project is a Type II Action under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act and the City Environmental Quality Review Ordinance and thus requires no further environmental review, and WHEREAS, the ILPC has reviewed material submitted by D. Funk, including a brief narrative dated April 27, 2006 describing the proposal, accompanied by a two sketches of the fire escape extension, one showing the existing fire escape and platform, and two photocopied photographs, 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, following review of the application materials and conclusion of a public hearing held on June 6, 2006, the ILPC has made the following findings of fact concerning the property and the proposal: • Constructed between 1904 and 1905, the residence at 216 Fall Creek Drive contributing element of the Cornell Heights Historic District. J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\0606.doc ILPC Meeting June 6, 2006 Minutes - - 5 • The residence is architecturally and historically significant as a representative example of a residence constructed in the 1st phase of the development of Cornell Heights, between 1899 and WWI. • The architectural mode of the residence is a bungalow with Tudor Revival style details, one of many styles simultaneously popular in the early decades of the 20th century. • The building retains a high level of integrity. WHEREAS, in its evaluation the Commission has considered the following: In this and all evaluation of proposals to alter significant architectural features the ILPC is guided by The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and in this case, specifically the following Standards: #9 New additions and adjacent 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. #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. Extension of the existing fire escape does not destroy historic materials. The design of the fire escape system is light and open, thereby diminishing the impact on the form and integrity of the historic property and its environs. The fire escape extension is a reversible alteration and should it be removed in the future the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired. The fire escape extension will not have a substantial adverse effect on the aesthetic, historical or architectural significance and value of the landmark/historic district and the proposed change is consistent with the historic value and the spirit of the architectural style of the landmark/historic district as set forth in Section 228-4E(1)(a) of the Municipal Code, now, therefore, be it (over) J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\0606.doc ILPC Meeting June 6, 2006 Minutes - - 6 RESOLVED, that the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission determines that the proposal meets criteria for approval under Section 228-4E(1)(a) of the Municipal Code, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Commission approves the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to extend the fire escape system. RECORD OF VOTE: Carried 6-0-0 Yes A. Piper N. Brcak K. Brennan G. Holets S. Stein L. Truame No 0 Abstain 0 C. 101 Thurston Avenue, Cornell Heights Historic District – proposal to construct garage. Paul Yaman, and Jim Hovanic of Yaman Construction were present to address the Commission concerning the proposal. Commission discussion focused on the size of the garage, the notion that it’s siting close to the road makes it appear even larger and concern that it is out of scale with the house and the site. Commission members questioned the need for a full second story. Chair A. Pieper’s call for a straw poll resulted as follows: L. Truame stated that she felt the building was too big for the site and too big in relationship to the existing building. K. Brennan stated that she felt that the two- story building was well designed and that the design mitigated the potential impact on the district. S. Stein felt that the building appeared to be out of scale with the residence and wanted to see a representation in context of the neighboring residence. N. Brcak questioned why the building was designed to be so large. The two bay, two-story structure could be scaled down. She too wanted to see a sketched view of the streetscape with the two buildings. G. Holets felt the building appeared large. He agreed with those who wanted to see a representation of the new building in the context of the existing residence. A. Pieper added his voice to those who wanted to see a representation of the building in the context of the site and suggested staking out the footprint. With the exception of K. Brennan who felt she could vote to approve, Commission members agreed that a visit to the site would provide them information needed to decide on the proposal. Public Hearing On a motion by G. Holets, seconded by N. Brcak., Chair A. Pieper opened the public hearing. There being no one to address the Commission, the public hearing was closed on a motion by K. Brennan and seconded by N. Brcak. J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\0606.doc ILPC Meeting June 6, 2006 Minutes - - 7 On a motion by N. Brcak, seconded by G. Holets, the Commission agreed to continue the meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at the site of 101 Thurston Avenue, Cornell Heights Historic District. II. PLEASURE OF THE CHAIR A. Administrative Matters None B. Public Comment on Matters of Interest None C. Communications None III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES None IV. OLD BUSINESS None V. NEW BUSINESS A. 121 East Buffalo Street, DeWitt Park Historic District – preliminary proposal to replace deteriorated stone entrance stair and landing. Owners of the double house, Theodore Papperman and George Patte, Jr. were present to address the Commission concerning the proposal. Presented for consideration was a photocopied photograph of the deteriorated stairs, a sketch of proposed replacement stairs with a cost estimate for replacement with a concrete structure partially veneered with sandstone, “bluestone”. Noting that the “bluestone” currently quarried locally was structurally inferior to stone quarried in the nineteenth and earlier twentieth centuries, Commission members advised the applicants to obtain an opinion concerning the possible repair of the existing stairs from a qualified contractor. They reiterated the Secretary of the Interior’s Standard for Rehabilitation calling for in-kind repair of significant architectural features if possible and where not possible, in-kind replacement. Contrary to the drawing of the proposed replacement, Commission members felt there would be a way to reuse the existing railing. The applicants stated that they would obtain a professional opinion regarding the options to repair the stairs. V. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Leslie A. Chatterton, Secretary Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\0606.doc