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Home My WebLink AboutMN-ILPC-2006-10-12Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission Meeting Held October 12, 2006 Present: Alphonse Pieper, Chair Kristen 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. I. PUBLIC HEARING A. The DeWitt Building, 215 Cayuga Street – proposal for awning at the exterior entrance to Moosewood Restaurant. There was no one present to address the Commission concerning the proposal. Public Hearing On a motion made by K. Brennan, seconded by S. Stein, Chair A. Pieper opened the public hearing. There being no one to address the Commission, Chair A. Pieper closed the public hearing on a motion made by L. Truame, seconded by G. Holets. RESOLUTION RA: Moved by G. Holets, seconded by K. Brennan WHEREAS, The DeWitt Building at 215 North Cayuga Street is located in the DeWitt Park Historic District, as set forth in Section 228-3 and 228-4 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code, and WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 228-4(E) of the Municipal Code, Landmarks Preservation and Section 272-16(B) of the Municipal Code, Sign Ordinance an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness was submitted by Moosewood Restaurant Cooperative member Penny Goldin, and WHEREAS, the specific proposal involves the installation of a green canvas awning at the exterior entrance to the Moosewood Restaurant on Seneca Street, with lettering, and WHEREAS, at the regularly scheduled ILPC meeting held on October 12, 2006, the Commission reviewed the following materials: email to Commission staff dated October 4, 2006, and four photocopied photographs, one showing a superimpose image of the proposed awning, two showing the general location of the awning and one showing the awning over the principal entrance to the DeWitt Building. The photographs were prepared for the August 1st meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals, at which a variance request for the awning/sign was approved, and WHEREAS, the Commission finds that the applicant has provided sufficient documentation and information to evaluate impacts of the revised proposal on the subject property and surrounding properties, and ILPC Minutes July 11, 2006 WHEREAS, it appears that the project is a Type II action under the NYS Environmental Quality Review Act and as such requires no further environmental review, and WHEREAS, following review of the application materials and conclusion of a public hearing held on October 12, 2006, the ILPC made the following findings of fact concerning the property and the proposal: • Constructed between 1912 and 1914, as Ithaca’s High School, the DeWitt Building is a contributing element of the DeWitt Park Historic District. • The building retains a high level of integrity. WHEREAS, in its determination of the current proposal for awnings/signs the Commission has considered the following: In this and all evaluation of proposals for alterations, new construction or demolition in historic districts, the ILPC is guided by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and in this case, specifically the following Standards: #2 The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided. #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. #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. As shown on the computer-generated graphic depiction of the building with the proposed awning with lettering, the awning is appropriately located in relation to the display window and transom. The proposal does not alter features or spaces that characterize the building, in keeping with Standard #2. As shown on the computer-generated graphic depiction of the building with the proposed awning with lettering, and photographs of the general location of the awning, the placement of the awning does not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The awning is tucked in near a re-entrant corner and projects no further than the projecting east side of the south façade. Though in some cases the number and size of awning/signs may not be compatible, in view of the massing, size and scale of the building, the corner location of the awning, and the smaller size and scale of the awning - - 2 J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\1012.doc ILPC Minutes July 11, 2006 when compared with the awning at the building’s main entrance, the proposed awning is compatible with the historic building, in keeping with Standard #9. The installation of the awning 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, in keeping with Standard #10. WHEREAS, the proposal will not have a substantial adverse effect on the aesthetic, historical, or architectural significance of the local landmark, now, therefore be it RESOLVED that the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission determines that the proposal as presented 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, with the following conditions: 1) No wider than door with sidelight RECORD OF VOTE: Carried 5-0-0 Yes A. Pieper, Chair K. Brennan G. Holets S. Stein L. Truame No 0 Abstain 0 II. PLEASURE OF THE CHAIR A. Administrative Matters None B. Public Comment on Matters of Interest None C. Communications None III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 6, 2006; July 11, 2006 Motion to approve by K. Brennan, seconded by S. Stein RECORD OF VOTE: Carried 5-0-0 Yes A. Pieper, Chair K. Brennan George Holets S. Stein L. Truame No 0 Abstain 0 - - 3 J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\1012.doc ILPC Minutes July 11, 2006 IV. OLD BUSINESS V. NEW BUSINESS VI. ADJOURNMENT Respectfully Submitted, Leslie A. Chatterton, Secretary Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission - - 4 J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\1012.doc