SCENIC & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 28, 2022 4:00 PM
COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS – CITY HALL
S&H Case No.: 28-22 Zone: S&H
2512 Genesee Street Cert. of Appropriateness
Applicant: Ship Rite Office
Owner: Sauquoit Creek Dental
In accordance with the requirements contained in Section 2-29-44 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Utica, the applicant is seeking approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness in order to erect a sign at the above referenced property.
The applicant is proposing to install a Dibond aluminum 1/4” thick 47” x 38” sign between the two 4” x 4” white posts. The sign will have a graphic of a white tooth with black outline. Inside the tooth shape, vinyl letters will state “Sauquoit Creek Dental PLLC”.
The applicant would prefer to position the doubled sided sign perpendicular to Genesee Street.
S&H Case No.: 29-22 Zone: S&H
35 Faxton Street Cert. of Appropriateness
Applicant: Abdirham Mwalimu
Owner: Abdirham Mwalimu
In accordance with the requirements contained in Section 2-29-44 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Utica, the applicant is seeking approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness in order to replace a door at the above referenced property.
The applicant is proposing to remove the existing double doors on the front of the house and replace them with a 55” white fiberglass door with two side lites. The door will be white with an oval glass decorative center piece.
S&H Case No.: 30-22 Zone: S&H
409 Broad St/412 Main Street Cert. of Appropriateness
Applicant: Philip Sbarra, RA
Owner: First & Main LLC
In accordance with the requirements contained in Section 2-29-44 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Utica, the applicant is seeking approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness in order to construct a garage at the above referenced property.
The applicant is proposing to construct a new 20’ x 52’ (1040 sf) four (4) stall garage in the parking lot at 409 Broad Street. This garage will accommodate the tenants at 412 Main Street.
The finishes on the garage will be consistent with the former industrial and warehouse buildings in the neighborhood. The structure will feature four aluminum and glass overhead doors similar to that of the building located at 412 Main Street and a single aluminum and glass man door on the west elevation. The structure will have a single sloped black standing seam roof pitched down to the rear of the structure. The garage will be clad with black vertical corrugated metal siding on the lower portion and natural wood siding on the upper portion and most of the west elevation.
S&H Case No.: 23-22 Zone: S&H
1704 Parkway Lane Cert. of Appropriateness
Applicant: Julian Galimo
Owner: Julian Galimo
In accordance with the requirements contained in Section 2-29-44 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Utica, the applicant is seeking approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness in order to make exterior improvements at the above referenced property.
The applicant is proposing remove the existing deteriorated Spanish tile roof and replace it with black architectural shingles. The applicant has provided a letter from Dennis Padula & Sons Roofing which states that the roof cannot be repaired as there are too many cracked, loose and damaged tiles. They have stated that most of the houses in the surrounding neighborhood are shingled roofs. The replacement of the Spanish tile would be very cost prohibitive.
At the previous Scenic and Historic Preservation Commission meeting, the Commission approved the removal of the Spanish tile roof, however, they requested that the architectural shingle match the color of the existing Spanish tile as close as possible.
The applicant is now seeking approval to paint the exterior of the home white and add the black architectural shingle for the roof.
The applicant has stated that this will not change the character of the neighborhood since a neighboring property has a white brick home with a black roof also.
S&H Case No.: 26-22 Zone: S&H
2632 and 2634 Genesee Street Cert. of Appropriateness
Applicant: Stewart’s Shops Corp. Demolition
Owner: JVCAJ Corp and Jeffrey Lamandia
Vincent Carfagno
In accordance with the requirements contained in Section 2-29-44 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Utica, the applicant is seeking a demolition permit and approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness in order to construct a new Stewart’s Shop.
The applicant requested that the application be tabled at the October meeting of the Scenic and Historic Commission meeting until a full quorum of the Commission can be present. The Commission previously voted to table the application at the September meeting to afford the Commission the opportunity to view the property at 2632 Genesee Street to better form an opinion on the proposed demolition.
The applicant is proposing to demolish the Raspberries at 2634 Genesee Street along with the residence at 2632 Genesee Street and consolidate the two lots for the purpose of constructing a gasoline/convenience station. The proposed plan includes the construction of a 3,975 square foot, wood-framed building, three gasoline pump islands and twenty-four parking spaces. The height of the proposed Stewart’s building is 23’9” which is less than the neighboring residential properties and similar to the existing Raspberries building. Much of the asphalt parking lot that currently exists on the 2634 Genesee Street lot will be removed and replaced with topsoil and grass. Ingress and egress for the proposed project will be via single curb cuts on both Genesee Street and Woodlawn Avenue – West.
The exterior of the property will be covered in Hardie Board (concrete clap board) with a stone veneer. The Hardie Board color is Cobble Stone, the roof is asphalt shingles by Owens Corning in the True Definition Duration Shingles in Estate Grey and the stone veneer is manufactured by Provia in the Terra-cut style and Flintridge scheme.
All site lighting will be done with down lit LED fixtures where the canopy and soffit mounted fixtures will be constructed flush mounted to the surface. The proposed yard lights on the side of the property adjacent to the residentially zoned parcels will be backlit with individual bulbs.
Planting beds will be provided in five locations on the site with various plantings in each bed. A 6’ high white vinyl fence to match the existing fence will be installed along the rear property line along with area of the proposed driveway on Woodlawn Avenue.
At the September meeting, Mr. Marshall highlighted a few changes to the proposed plan that were made after initial review from the Planning Board which included all of the signage will adhere to the permitted sizes outlined in the Zoning Ordinance for the City of Utica; gooseneck lighting to illuminate the wall sign on the store; landscaping along the fence line; one 14’ yard light which will be shielded along with a 3000 kelvin light which is a warmer style lighting than what was previously proposed; and bollard lighting within the perimeter of the property.
Beth Selig, President of Hudson Cultural Services stated that her company did an assessment on both of the properties using the National Register Evaluation Criteria for historic significance and found that these buildings do not meet the criteria established by the Secretary of the Interior for identifying historic properties. These two buildings would not be considered eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
The applicant has submitted the following:
- Current Use of the House at 2632 Genesee Street
At the September meeting, Stewart's indicated the residence was vacant because their conversation with Vincent Carfagno (the owner) had indicated commencement of eviction proceedings. Mr. Carfagno, who resides in the Town of New Hartford, previously attempted to remove tenants for non-payment when they submitted an ERAP application, and now, a new notice sent to commence eviction.
- Letter from Clark, Patterson, Lee (CPL)
Stewart ' s requested professional input from Clark, Patterson, Lee (CPL) a firm with relevant experience in the Utica area regarding the proposal and the Scenic and Historic Commission guidelines. Their correspondence confirming the proposal is in fact consistent with the design guidelines is attached.
- State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) - No Effect Finding
After the appearance at the September meeting and the understanding with other applications the Commission's concern for an opinion from the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), a letter of "No Effect" was issued on September 30th.
- Modifications to the Stewart's Site Plan
Attached to this application are the Title Sheet (T-1), Proposed Site Plan (S-2), Proposed Landscape Plan (S-3), and the Proposed Photometric Plan (S-4). The highlighted changes to the plan are:
- Inclusion of landscaping along the existing six-foot vinyl fence which is to remain, Elimination of two fourteen (14) foot pole yard lights that was accomplished by consolidating two of the lights adjoining the residentially zoned parcels and the installation of bollard lighting along the sidewalk from Woodlawn to the store. These changes create subsequent modifications to the Proposed Photometric Plan (S-4)
