ARB Minutes 3-19-08

Minutes

Architectural Review Board

Village/Town of Mount Kisco

Wednesday March 19, 2008

Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm, Wednesday March 19, 2008, at the Municipal Building Mount Kisco, New York.

Members Present: Chairman Kevin Kelly

Anne Houck

Bruce Hartleben

Nancy Abramson

Members Absent: None

Staff Present: None

Staff Absent: Austin Cassidy

Returning Cases:

None

New Cases:

1. Citi Smith Barney Case #ARB08-03

66 S. Moger Avenue Signage

Mount Kisco, New York 10549

James Polinsky, representing the applicant

James Polinsky: Enclosed I have the photos. The sign proposed is 8 inches by 18 inches. It will be mounted by double sided tape on the window.

Chairman Kelly: Do you know if they are going to rename everything?

James Polinsky: Not to my knowledge.

Chairman Kelly: No lighting on this just the plaque. This will be on the inside of the glass?

James Polinsky: It is on the exterior of the glass. It has vinyl letters which are an inch and a quarter.

Chairman Kelly: Does the board have any questions?

Anne Houck: No.

Chairman Kelly: A motion?

Bruce Hartleben: I move to accept as proposed.

Nancy Abramson: Second.

Board All Ayes to accept as proposed.

Bruce Hartleben: Aye on the motion

Nancy Abramson: Aye.

Anne Houck: Aye

Chairman Kelly: Aye.

2. Chappaqua Toffee Case #ARB08-09

255 N. Bedford Rd Signage

Mount Kisco, New York 10549

Jennifer Harris - applicant

Jennifer Harris: I am here because I am interested in changing the sign. I have rented the space formally known as Danielle Chocolatier's. I want to change the sign to represent my company colors. Because I am in the back and I mostly will be doing wholesale, I would like to have my phone number and or my website on the sign. This is mostly wholesale not retail customers. I receive mostly orders from my website and will distribute from my store and they will need to know how to contact me.

Chairman Kelly: Let's talk about the sign, size, and color.

Jennifer Harris: This has been my first business venture. This will stay the same size as the existing monument. The only change will be the color from the dark green to a tan. The colors are represented on the last page and he put the names of the colors. Those are the three colors that I use throughout my company. I have them on my business card as well. The font size is listed on the third to last page. The font type is also changing to the font that I use. I also have additional pictures.

Anne Houck: Most of us are familiar with the sight and sign. We reviewed this sign not too long ago.

Nancy Abramson: It looks good to me.

Chairman Kelly: The phone number is the only issue.

Anne Houck: That and the website address.

Jennifer Harris: That I care less about. As Nancy pointed out it would be difficult to read while driving by in a car. As I drove around Mt. Kisco my observation was that I do not see phone numbers on signs. I started looking at who has their phone numbers on sign and what I saw was the service industry has their phone numbers on the signs, and in a way I feel similar like for example Midas Muffler has their number, and I feel maybe you might want to call to see if you need an appointment. You are not going in as a retail customer per say you are going in as a business transaction. Since I would have most of my customers contact me through the phone or internet site I would love to have that on there.

Chairman Kelly: Talk to me about some of the history. Have we ever approved signage with the phone number?

Nancy Placona: I do not believe you would have a problem with the phone number it would be the website that would cause the problem, as if motorists trying to jot it down while passing by.

Nancy Abramson: Here we are letting somebody explain what their company is, instead of allowing the tag line.

Nancy Placona: She does have the rear entrance to her business.

Anne Houck: It is a difficult space to showcase.

Bruce Hartleben: The other wholesalers don't have the word wholesale.

Nancy Placona: No.

Nancy Abramson: If you look at the flower shop on Lexington, you can't even read their sign. The Planning Board made them come back and put a tag line “by appointment only”.

Nancy Placona: You see the same thing on 96 Lexington Avenue. That was put in place because of parking issues.

Anne Houck: You have no parking issues.

Nancy Abramson: I do not have a problem with the sign.

Anne Houck: Nor do I.

Chairman Kelly: Any problem with the colors, font? I think that it is a pretty classy looking sign. I think what we are saying is to remove the website.

Nancy Abramson: So you just want to take that off?

Chairman Kelly: The sign man can spread out the text.

Anne Houck: My recommendation would be to spread out Chappaqua Toffee a little bit more.

Jennifer Harris: Do I then share this information with John?

Nancy Abramson: We will write it down for you.

Chairman Kelly: We are taking out the website page, and we are going to make up that distance in between Chappaqua larger and Toffee Company larger. Keep the same font.

Anne Houck: I move that we accept the application with the amendments suggested by the board.

Bruce Hartleben: Second.

Board All Ayes to approve as noted.

Anne Houck: Aye on the motion

Bruce Hartleben: Aye on the second

Nancy Abramson: Aye.

Chairman Kelly: Aye.

3. New Great Wall Case #ARB08-10

454 Main Street Signage

Mount Kisco, New York 10549

Yong Yang, applicant

Chairman Kelly: Can you explain what you want to do here.

Yong Yang: I would like to change the color of the sign.

Chairman Kelly: This is the same sign box?

Yong Yang: Yes.

Chairman Kelly: Inserting the same name in the existing space.

Yong Yang: Yes.

Chairman Kelly: What color is this?

Yong Yang: Brown.

Nancy Abramson: Do we have any pictures?

Nancy Placona: The photos that I have indicate black and white, to match the existing on that strip of stores. All he is looking to do is replace the face of the sign box.

Chairman Kelly: So is it black and white or is an anodized?

Nancy Placona: It is black that matches the rest of the signage.

Anne Houck: His has not been black?

Nancy Placona: Currently it is not black. His sign right now has color and he wants to match the rest of the businesses.

Chairman Kelly: Is there any reason why we have two different types of fonts?

Nancy Abramson: Do you know what we mean?

Yong Yang: No.

Chairman Kelly: See this style of this lettering is different than this style. I understand the difference in size. I am just wondering why they don't match.

Nancy Abramson: Do you know what a font is?

Yong Yang: No.

Nancy Abramson: It is the type or style of the letter.

Chairman Kelly: Look at that and see how this curves and this letter is straight? I am asking you can we get the lettering to be all the same style? This can be bigger but match all the letters.

Nancy Abramson: What was it before?

Chairman Kelly: All block letters.

Too many people speaking

Anne Houck: The sign man that gave you the design was keeping the same idea as the previous. I would definitely keep this. (showing applicant the preferred font)

Chairman Kelly: That is my only comment to see if we can the font to match the style. I don't mind it being larger or bolder.

Anne Houck: I agree that it would be an improvement.

Chairman Kelly: Do you understand what we are saying? Match the style of lettering, and it can be larger. The font must be the same. This is not up and made is it Nancy?

Nancy Placona: No.

Chairman Kelly: can we get a motion?

Nancy Abramson: I make a motion that we accept with the stipulation that the fonts need to match.

Chairman Kelly: We prefer the lower font.

Anne Houck: Second.

Board All Ayes as noted.

Nancy Abramson: Aye on the motion

Anne Houck: Aye on the second

Bruce Hartleben: Aye

Chairman Kelly: Aye

4. Denis Kraljevic Case #ARB08-08

39 West Way Additions/Alterations

Mount Kisco, New York 10549

Denis Kraljevic, applicant

Denis Kraljevic: This is a display of the houses in my neighborhood. This one here is my house. This was not structurally sound, so this need to come down.

Nancy Abramson: Have you done this already?

Denis Kraljevic: No, we just removed the siding. Originally we thought that we were just going to reside it. There was a garage door here that was falling down so we took it down and put up a temporary door.

Nancy Abramson: Can we see the other side? This is really cleaver. (referring to display board)

Anne Houck: It is very interesting that you can see the progression of the add ions and the remodeling.

Denis Kraljevic: This is the way my house is all the way around. Basically this is how the front will look with the same siding. I am in the construction business so I will be doing all the work myself. The roof shingles are the same slate gray.

Chairman Kelly: Grills or no grills in the windows?

Denis Kraljevic: No grills. Just exactly the way it is illustrated on the plans.

Chairman Kelly: It is not documented on the plans the sizes of the windows.

Denis Kraljevic: The existing window which I will replace with the same and they are 54 in height and 48 in width. They are going to be the same.

Anne Houck: The triple is a little larger.

Denis Kraljevic: It will be a triple casing and it will 65 inches.

Chairman Kelly: The garage door will be what?

Denis Kraljevic: The garage door is 14 feet wide.

Chairman Kelly: And it will be made of?

Denis Kraljevic: Cedar, just squares.

Chairman Kelly: Stained?

Denis Kraljevic: Stained to match.

Chairman Kelly: These are reversed gables?

Denis Kraljevic: Yes.

Anne Houck: This is the eve over the garage door?

Denis Kraljevic: Correct.

Chairman Kelly: This is going to be copper (referring to plans)?

Denis Kraljevic: Yes. Three sections will be copper. The dormer will be matching roof shingles.

Chairman Kelly: No corner boards?

Denis Kraljevic: No. There are going to be three sconces, one on each side of the garage and one at the door. That column there will be square.

Anne Houck: Do you have any decisions made about the sconces?

Denis Kraljevic: About what kind of sconces? No. Pretty much lantern sconces.

Anne Houck: Like the ones on the back porch?

Denis Kraljevic: they have ones that match those.

Anne Houck: That would be a good idea.

Denis Kraljevic: That or I will match the copper.

Chairman Kelly: Not that this is critical but when you wrap the corner, how will you detail that?

Denis Kraljevic: It is a separate section so that will be regular roofing. All these houses were built in 1949, and you see everybody is doing additions and alterations.

Nancy Abramson: Are there any left that have not done anything? (referring to the display board)

Denis Kraljevic: Yes there are a few.

Chairman Kelly: Are there any further questions? Can I get a motion?

Anne Houck: I move that we accept the application as it was presented to the board.

Nancy Abramson: Second

Board All Ayes as presented.

Anne Houck: Aye on the motion

Nancy Abramson: Aye on the second

Bruce Hartleben: Aye

Chairman Kelly: Aye

3. The Helmes Group Case #ARB08-05

423 Lexington Avenue Addition/Alterations

Mount Kisco, New York 10549

Steve Helmes, representing the application

Steve Helmes: This is the former Mt Kisco Seafood building. It is in the GR zone. We were at the Planning Board a couple of weeks ago for a conceptual. My client actually has a business Bella Dry wall and he would like to a former retail use and make it offices. It is about 1,000 square feet. We want to keep the footprint. This building is in need of a face lift. He would like to restore it and rebuild it working with the existing footprint and we meet all the parking requirements. However we want to increase the second floor to get a little more height, it is only about six feet. To give a flavor of what we are trying to put back in. This is the existing and this is the proposed. (Viewing of the plans) Being in the business they are very sensitive to the materials and we want to give it a very clean New England type crisp look with a wood shingle roof. Double hung windows with mutton inflated glass. Wood paneled shutters. We want to use hardy planks for the siding. Corner board to enhance the roof and the cupola. Again we are not completed with our drawings. Basically we are here tonight to get a response from your board. It is not a huge building and the owner lives here in Mt Kisco and looks to your board for any input that I can share with him and incorporate it into our drawings. I am sure that you are all familiar with the site. He wants to enhance the site with some cobblestone over here. A new entrance walk with a lamp post sign. We would put some decorative gates here to keep the neighborhood from parking back here.

Nancy Abramson: Basically you are adding more space.

Steve Helmes: We are not adding more space just increasing the head room.

Nancy Abramson: There is no square footage there?

Steve Helmes: The second floor if you look at the rear elevation we want to clean it up and build over the one story, which is very minimum. Again the building footprint stays the same.

Chairman Kelly: The additional is 7'4?

Steve Helmes: Right.

Nancy Abramson: This is going to offices?

Steve Helmes: A total of four.

Nancy Abramson: You are before the Planning Board and I am sure that it is all about parking.

Steve Helmes: We have met with Austin and we comply with our parking. There is parking here that is being swapped and we are getting rid of an oil tank and getting rid of this parking which is illegal.

Nancy Abramson: I recognize that it is not a purview but I know that parking is what it always comes down to.

Steve Helmes: We are going to try and create that buffer that the board wants. It is a tight site but small enough where we can doll it up.

Anne Houck: There is a residential area on each side of you.

Steve Helmes: We are sensitive to that.

Nancy Abramson: The point that I would like to make farther down on Lexington Avenue and I don't know if we approved it there are is a copula with a light shinning and it is actually on Lexington. But behind it is West Street, and I know that people have said to me that it is really annoying because it is so high and the light shines into the neighborhood.

Steve Helmes: That question was raised with site lighting we are creating a photometric site plan back in here. Very simply we will have the lighting up front.

Nancy Abramson: My concern was with the copula on top.

Steve Helmes: That is something that we can talk to him about. It is not like a clock tower.

Nancy Abramson: Like I said the building on Lexington is lit and it is adjacent to a residential neighborhood.

Steve Helmes: Being that this building is very narrow the height is under the code. Equipment with respect to HVAC that will be housed with cedar fencing around it to conceal it. I think that cleaning up the site and getting rid of the oil tank will be an improvement.

Chairman Kelly: Are you taking this to the foundation or the plate?

Steve Helmes: We would like to take it down to the plate. We have been back and forth with Austin about this. The smell in the building is quite strong.

Chairman Kelly: Where are you going for the handicap accessibility?

Steve Helmes: There is a ramp in the back.

Chairman Kelly: I did not see that. I think that it is a great improvement. Do you want to give us colors?

Steve Helmes: Actually I have colors noted. We would like to go with a red cedar shingle for the roof. Hardy planks with about a five inch exposure, and that would be white. I may want to warm that up and white trim. Raised panel shutters would be black. A wood door to match the trim. White window trim and a three and half window casings. Landscaping will be provided to the planning board.

Anne Houck: That is the Planning Board purview but we would love to see it. It does affect the appearance of the overall site so we would love to see it.

Chairman Kelly: The color of the door natural?

Steve Helmes: Probably to match the shutters.

Nancy Abramson: We are not approving this?

Steve Helmes: We are half way into our drawings and we are still before the Planning Board and address their concerns. Is there light in the cupola yes or no?

Nancy Abramson: If were up to me I would vote no.

Chairman Kelly: The round window with light might not be too bad.

Anne Houck: Look at the cupola on Lexington Avenue and you will see what the problem is. It is also a much higher building. Good Luck.

Chairman Kelly: Could we approve this subject to Planning Board approval and not ask him to come back again?

Nancy Placona: You could approve it as long as your board is satisfied esthetically, materials and condition of Planning Board approval.

Chairman Kelly: Is everyone comfortable with that? It still would be subject to Planning Board approval. We are just blessing the architectural style. Unless they have to come back with a major change.

Steve Helmes: The only thing would be the drainage on the site. It is actually a decrease of impervious surface.

Nancy Abramson: As long as we add the footnote that there are no changes.

Chairman Kelly: Does someone want to make a motion?

Anne Houck: I move that we accept the application as presented given that there are no significant changes occur in the application. Also pursuant to the approval of the Planning Board and the illumination guidelines to be applied to this application.

Bruce Hartleben: Second.

Board All Ayes as noted.

Anne Houck: Aye on the motion.