HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-ILPC-2023-03-21Approved on: April 18, 2023
Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC)
Minutes – March 21, 2023
Commission Member Present: Ed Finegan, Chair
David Kramer, Vice Chair
Stephen Gibian, Member
Susan Stein, Member
Katelin Olson, Member
Avi Smith, Member
Janet Smith, Member
Absent:
[if any]
Common Council Liaison: Kris Haines-Sharp, Alderperson Ward 5
City Staff Present:
Bryan McCracken, Hist. Pres. and Neighborhood
Planner & Secretary, ILPC
Marjorie McLain, Administrative Assistant
_______________________________________________________________________
Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order 202.1, this meeting was conducted remotely via the
online meeting platform Zoom. Chair E. Finegan called the meeting to order at 5:37 p.m. and
read the Public Notice.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A 302 Wait Avenue, Cornell Heights Historic District – Proposal to Install Metal Hand and
Guard Rails on the Porch Steps.
John Pillar, Assistant Director of student housing for Cornell University, appeared on behalf of
property owner Cornell University to present the proposed project. 302 Wait Avenue is a
contributing resource in a locally designated Cornell Heights Historic District.
J. Pillar stated they are undergoing exterior renewal of the property, including new paint, wood
rot repair, soffit restoration and the correction building coded deficiencies. They are asking to
replace the two pipe handrails at the stairs to the porch with new steel handrails that will adhere
to the building code. J. Pillar stated that the railing presented in the application was a concept
and a final design has not yet been selected. It was also stated that the railings must be 42” in
height to meet Building Code requirements.
PUBLIC HEARING
On a motion by A Smith, seconded by S Stein, Chair E. Finegan opened the Public Hearing.
Approved on: April 18, 2023
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.
Commission agreed the concept for the new metal railings was appropriate and delegated the
approval of the final railing design to staff.
RESOLUTION: 302 Wait Avenue, Cornell Heights Historic District
WHEREAS, 302 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 February 28, 2023 was submitted for review to the Ithaca
Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC) by John Pillar on behalf of property
owner Cornell University, including the following: (1) two narratives respectively
titled Description of Proposed Change(s) and Reasons for Changes(s); (2) a floor
plan of the property identifying the locations of the proposed alterations; (3) two
photographs documenting existing conditions; (4) an image of the proposed design
element, and
WHEREAS, the ILPC has reviewed the New York State Building-Structure Inventory Form for
302 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 metal hand and guardrails at the north and south steps leading to the
property’s porch, 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, 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 March 21, 2023, 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.
Approved on: April 18, 2023
As indicated in the New York State Building-Structure Inventory Form, the Queen
Anne Style residence at 302 Wait Avenue was constructed in 1899.
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:
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.
Approved on: April 18, 2023
With respect to Principle #2, Standard #2, and Standard #9, the installation of metal
railings 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
railings are compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features of the
property and its environment.
With respect to Standard #10, the railings 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 with the
following conditions:
• The final design for the metal railings shall be reviewed and approved by the
Secretary of the Commission prior to the issuance of the Building Permit.
RECORD OF VOTE:
Moved by: K Olson
Seconded by: D Kramer
In Favor: S. Gibian, K. Olson, D. Kramer, A. Smith, E. Finegan, S. Stein, J Smith
Against: 0
Abstain: 0
Absent: 0
Vacancies: 0
II. PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS OF INTEREST
Chair E. Finegan opened Public Comment.
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 Public Comment.
III. OLD BUSINESS
None
Approved on: April 18, 2023
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• The February 21, 2023, meeting minutes were approved unanimously with
minor modifications.
VI. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Sibley Hall, 921 University Avenue, Cornell Arts Quad Historic District – Certificate of
Appropriateness Application Withdrawal.
As requested in a letter from Associate University Architect J. Shermeta, the application to
replace 40 windows in Sibley Hall has been withdrawn. The applicant may return to the
Commission in the future with a revised proposal.
B. Update: Stewart Park National Register of Historic Places Nomination – Approval by
State Review Board.
B. McCracken reported that Stewart Park was added to the New York State Register of
Historic Place on March 9, 2023, following a detailed review by the State Reviews Board.
The nomination to list Stewart Park on the National Register of Historic Places has been
forwarded to the National Parks Service and will be reviewed later this year.
C. Ithaca Gun Smokestack Public Input Survey.
B. McCracken encouraged Commission members to distribute the Ithaca Gun Smokestack
Community Input Survey to their contacts within the community and summarized the
tentative results.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by K Olson seconded by S Stein, the meeting was adjourned unanimously at 6:15
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bryan McCracken
Historic Preservation Planner
Secretary to the Commission