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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002_11_21 Board of Architectural Review Minutes • MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW OF THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK NOVEMBER 21, 2002, IN THE SENIOR CENTER, TOWN CENTER 740 WEST BOSTON POST ROAD, MAMARONECK, NEW YORK lit, ., Present:Robert M. Immerman, Acting Chair401111 , Anthony Spagnola 4 ty Pamela T. Washington to f ' • 'i Absent: E. Robert Wassman, Chairman 11A ` 16 g FAtRt_N J Sue Ellen Commender rr,. A�ro'rr;yhj Ronnie Wadler t r` K Also Present: Ronald A. Carpaneto, Director of Building 0 110 Judith Myers, Liaison CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Acting Chairman Bob Immerman at 8:05 p.m. Mr. Immerman said only three Board members are present this evening, therefore an applicant must get a unanimous vote or the Board cannot positively act on your application. If an applicant would like to hold over in case of more Board members present at the next meeting, that option is available. • APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Immerman said the first item on the agenda is the approval of Minutes of the meeting of the month of I October, 2002. He asked if anybody had any comments. Ms. Washington said she would wish that the Minutes had some more substance than this. Mr. Immerman said that the Minutes should be amended to say council person, Judy Myers was present at the October meeting. Upon a motion made and seconded by, the Minutes of the October, 2002 meeting were unanimously approved. Acting Chairman Immerman read the first application as follows: ACURA OF WESTCHESTER-2155 Palmer Avenue, Block 501, Lot 1 -facade/sign(adjourned 10/17/02) Larry Gordon, the architect for the project, appeared to address the Board. To refresh the Board's memory, they are proposing a pavilion next to the existing building which will be used for delivery of cars to buyers. They are also proposing a new entrance area and extending the existing deck. Underneath that deck, they are proposing an expanded service area. They are adding thirteen(13)cars to the parking. Mr. Gordon said they tried to address all the comments from the previous Board meeting. Brick will be the same combination of brick that's there now. Mr. Gordon said the stucco also will be matched with what's there now. gipMr. Gordon said the fence and guardrail will be exactly what's there now as well. Mr. Gordon said he added a sign elevation on the east side. Mr. Immerman asked for other Board questions. Board of Architectural Review November 21, 2002 Page 2 • Ms. Washington asked if the delivery pavilion is connected to the existing showroom. Mr. Gordon pointed out where the connection would be shown by the dotted line. Mr. Spagnola asked a question about the awning. Mr. Gordon said they removed the awnings. Mr. Spagnola said it looks much better. Ms. Washington asked if there was a wall as you look through the pavilion or do you see the roof and the parking? I forget how the elevations work. Do you see nothing? Mr. Gordon said you see the wall. Ms. Washington asked whether the ramp that's there is staying. Mr. Gordon said yes. Ms. Washington said basically the car is driven into the pavilion and that's it. Mr. Gordon said yes, it is a weather protection. Mr. Immerman said, I want to just confirm a few things. No more stripes? The stripes are gone? • Mr. Gordon said no more stripes. Mr. Immerman asked, no more Alucabond? Mr. Gordon said that too is gone. It's an all brick structure. Mr. Immerman said I think that's an improvement. Ms. Washington asked whether the air compressor and the air conditioning equipment are there right now. I didn't see them. Mr. Gordon said no, they're being relocated. He also said they are going to match the railing. Mr. Immerman asked for any other comments or questions. Ms. Washington asked, what neighbor is adjoining on the south side? Mr. Gordon said it's the apartments in New Rochelle. He identified all other adjoining properties, the railroad, the gas station owned by Acura. He also pointed out municipal jurisdictions - New Rochelle, the Village of Larchmont and the Town of Mamaroneck. Mr. Immerman said, but you're not changing anything along that New Rochelle property side. Mr. Gordon said no. • Ms. Washington said I'm just wondering if the residents are going to see these oil tanks and stuff. Mr. Gordon said I'm sure they're going to be camouflaged with planting. They've done a very nice job and they will upkeep these plantings. Board of Architectural Review November 21, 2002 Page 3 • Mr. Immerman said, why don't we stipulate it? Ms. Washington said the only thing I'm concerned about is whether it's either masked by something or if it needs to be. Mr. Gordon said put into your approval. On a motion made by Mr. Spagnola, and seconded, the following resolution was unanimously ADOPTED: WHEREAS, Acura of Westchester/Lawrence Gordon has submitted an application to the Building Inspector, together with plans for an addition to the existing parking deck and service facilities; new covered vehicle delivery pavilion; new entry logo and new building signage; and WHEREAS, the Building Inspector has declined to issue such permit on the grounds that the review by the Board of Architectural Review is required; and WHEREAS, Acura of Westchester/Lawrence Gordon submitted an application for approval to the Board; and WHEREAS, this Board has examined the plans, inspected the site, reviewed the application and has heard all persons interested in this application; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the subject application be and the same is granted, subject to the following • conditions: 1. Approve the revised plans presented tonight with a note that the west elevation storage tanks be camouflaged (the oil storage, the air compressor and A/C unit as shown on the west side elevation on drawing A-4). Mr. Immerman thanked the applicant for responding to the Board's requests from the last meeting. Acting Chairman Immerman read the next application as follows: EXCELSIOR CLEANERS/Jonathan Kaufman - 1320 Boston Post Road, Block 410, Lot 463 - facade (adjourned 10/17/02) No one was present for this application. Acting Chairman Immerman read the next application as follows: GENERAL BRONZE LLC/Arthur Wexler - 615 Fifth Avenue, Block 131, Lot 344 - facade (adjourned 10/17/02) Mr. Immerman said General Bronze LLC will not be present this evening. Acting Chairman Immerman read the next application as follows: BIKRAM YOGA-2444 Boston Post Road-Block 503, Lot 137 sign • John Renzo of White Plains Sign Group appeared to address the Board on this matter. Mr. Renzo said the representations are a straight forward channel letter job which will be flush mounted to the facia and run from the inside of the building via remote transformers and wire. Ms. Washington asked whether the "STOREFRONT ELEVATION" is drawn to scale and that the letters Board of Architectural Review November 21, 2002 Page 4 • that would be 32 in. high. Is this really how tall 32 in. would be in the front of the building? Mr. Renzo confirmed the drawing was to scale. The lettering could be a little larger or smaller. Mr. Renzo identified the extent of the Yoga Center. Ms. Washington said she noticed that the red accents are not over the door or the main entrance to the space and the red accent in the building actually divides the Yoga space in half. When she looks at this entire facade and the Mrs. Green's logo way at one end of the space, she thinks that the facade with the sign placed where it is and the red grid not over the entrance of the Yoga store, but being off-center from the entrance to the Yoga space gives the facade of the building an unbalanced appearance. She would like to see the red grid that is presently in the center of their space and over their Yoga studio moved to be over the door and then have the name of the Yoga studio put more in scale and proportion to the Mrs. Green's market sign to balance the entire facade of the building, by relocating a little further toward the end of the building. Mr. Immerman said he doesn't think it's the Board's role to ask this tenant to move a piece of the facade of the building which is part of the design as first presented a very long time ago. Mr. Immerman said I think that we're being asked to review the lettering of this new tenant and not to modify the base building design. Mr. Spagnola said I still think the lettering is too small. We usually try to make things smaller, not bigger, but it does look a little weak in relation to all the white space around it. • Mr. Immerman said that Mr. Wassman told him that that was what Mrs. Wadler also expressed to him. Ms. Washington said she felt that it was too small. Mr. Spagnola agreed. After some discussion, Mr. Spagnola said if the location is not going to change without moving the grid, then it would seem that changing the scale would improve it in relationship to the tenant keeping the door and the window. Mr. Immerman agreed. Ms. Washington asked Mr. Immerman if he thought it wasn't not fair to ask the building to move the grid. A discussion followed on the limits of the tenant space, as subdivided from the previous tenants. After further discussion, Mr. Immerman said it was his opinion that changing the grid location is a landlord issue and not a tenant issue. Mr. Immerman said that his other comment was that he has no objection if the Board wants to make it larger. He believes that the bottom of this lettering should have the same relationship to the head of the window that Mrs. Green's sign does. This says 9 ft. to grade. The grade drops off, but the window heads stay the same. Mr. Spagnola asked if there is alignment between the signs(in relation to window heads). Mr. Immerman said there should be. Mr. Spagnola said I think you're absolutely right. Mr. Renzo agreed. Mr. Immerman said a consistent dimension above the head of the window, because the sidewalk drops down. Board of Architectural Review November 21, 2002 Page 5 • Mr. Spagnola defined the alignment above the windows. You wouldn't use the descender in Yoga. Mr. Renzo said you want me to use the Bikram without the descender, without the "g", "a" and "y" descender, with which Mr. Spagnola agreed. Mr. Immerman said I don't know how you determine how much bigger you want to make it. Mr. Renzo asked whether it would be 20%/25%. Mr. Spagnola said you could use the far right of the door to the far left of the window as limits. Mr. Immerman said I think it would get too big. It would probably be oversized for facade. Ms. Washington asked about Mrs. Green's letters. Mr. Spagnola said they're pretty big, I don't know, or maybe not. After some discussion, Mr. Spagnola asked, do you have any sense of how big those are? Mr. Renzo said on Mrs. Green's I can tell you right now that looks like at least a 36 inch high letter. Mr. Carpaneto said they had to get a variance for the carrot. Mr. Renzo said my problem is, technically it's a 32 inch ascender/descender is what's killing us. If I • brought this up to 18 inch, that would be about a 20%/25% increase in width which would probably achieve centering over the window and doors which you're looking for at that point. Mr. Renzo said this Yoga top at that point, for argument sake, this will increase about 20/25%, so that's going to come up to about 40/42 inches high, top to bottom. Ms. Washington said then we need a variance. Mr. Immerman said we don't want it to go that far. Mr. Carpaneto said 32 is the max, for that. Mr. Immerman said 32 is the max out to out. Mr. Spagnola said it's not all the letters. It's just that one. Ms. Washington asked, is it possible to change the logo? Mr. Renzo said that's pretty much their logo setup. They've had the printing and everything done for their promotions. After further discussion, Mr. Spagnola said I think you can make an exception to that size. We're not looking at the whole mark. We're just looking at that one stroke. Mr. Immerman said we can agree to it, but I don't know whether that requires a variance. • Ms. Washington said Mr. Carpaneto needs to confirm whether it would need a variance. Mr. Carpaneto said what the Board sees fit is fine. Mr. Spagnola said I don't think it's going to look over scaled at all. It's a very large stroke and it's going to Board of Architectural Review November 21, 2002 Page 6 • look better if it's a little larger up there. Ms. Washington said all we can do is make a recommendation to the Zoning Board. Is it a zoning variance? Mr. Carpaneto said it's an area variance. Ms. Washington said it's an area variance from the Zoning Board and all we can do is make a recommendation that that be the case. Mr. Spagnola asked, what's the law say, 32? Mr. Carpaneto said 32, yes. Mr. Spagnola said that's where it's at now. Mr. Carpaneto said right. He's saying to take up about 4 more inches. Ms. Washington said the only other thing to do would be if they change their logo enough to keep the 32 inch stroke on that letter and make all the other letters bigger but that would change this logo compared to all the rest of their logos. Mr. Carpaneto said I could drive around town and never see the difference. Mr. Renzo said at that point we're probably going about 3 inches above, 3 inches below. We could probably cut this down and stay within a 38 inch area and still increase that upper length 17/18 inches. • Mr. Renzo said that's little off-center as it is, so if I come over and I go up in size I think we're going to be pretty close out of that. Like I said, try to keep that around 36/38 inches. I may be able to able to sneak it in there. Instead of making it so beefy we'll put it down and make it a little beefier, cut the profile down at the same time and keep the appearance true to form. I can play around with that stroking slightly. Mr. Renzo said if I stay at 36 would that be satisfactory? Mr. Carpaneto said the code says 32 and that's it. Ms. Washington said rotate it, rotate the "y". Mr. Renzo said how about if we rotate it sightly? Keeping the one at 32. Mr. Spagnola said it's a difficult "y" anyway. Ms. Washington said the logo is a little hard to read. After further discussion, Mr. Renzo said so then what you want me to do is keep that area at 32, increase the "y" rather out of Yoga, I'll increase the Bikram probably to about 17 inches at that point and that should give me the spread that you're looking for. Mr. Spagnola said not too much, not spacing too much. A discussion ensued concerning the shade of red to be used, in relation to the grids and the other signs. • On a motion made by Ms. Washington and seconded, the following resolution was unanimously ADOPTED: WHEREAS, Bikram Yoga has submitted an application to the Building Inspector, together with plans for the installation of individual internally illuminated channel letters, letters to be mounted flush to Board of Architectural Review November 21, 2002 • Page 7 • fascia and remotely wired; and WHEREAS, the Building Inspector has declined to issue such permit on the grounds that the review by the Board of Architectural Review is required; and WHEREAS, Bikram Yoga submitted an application for approval to the Board; and WHEREAS, this Board has examined the plans, inspected the site, reviewed the application and has heard all persons interested in this application; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the subject application be and the same is granted, subject to the following conditions: 1. Accept the Bikram Yoga logo with the changes we discussed which include accepting the color that was submitted, elongating the name of the sign to be centered between the window and the right-hand side of the entrance door, enlarging the height of the letters, all except the "y", as much as possible to have them allow the sign to be wider and to face the letter out slightly more than they are faced out in this presentation. That the bottom of the letters have the same relationship to the top of the windows as the Mrs. Green's sign at the other end of the building. Mr. Immerman asked Mr. Carpaneto if he has the originals for the submission. • Mr. Carpaneto said he would take care of that. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Immerman asked if there was any new business. Ms. Washington said she noticed that part of the sign next to the Saturn Dealership that the grid has had one of it's side arms sheared off. Mr. Carpaneto asked, the directory sign? Ms. Washington said the sign immediately next to the exit by the Saturn dealer is defective, because it's been hit by a truck. She recommended that the owner of the site repair it. Mr. Immerman asked, any business from your end, Judy? Ms. Myers said no. Mr. Spagnola asked, how goes the residential F.A.R. regulation? Ms. Myers said the new F.A.R. law has been submitted to the County. There should be a public hearing in December. Ms. Washington asked, what is the gist of it? Ms. Myers said that it includes attics. • Mr. Carpaneto said that it includes attics on a sliding scale by lot size. Ms. Myers said by lot size not by zone. Board of Architectural Review November 21, 2002 Page 8 • Ms. Washington asked, and what's the lot size. Mr. Carpaneto said it goes from 1,000 ft. to 50,000 sq. ft. It has nothing to do with the zone you're in. It's the size of the lot that you have. If you have a larger lot for your zone, you could build a larger house. If you have a smaller lot for your zone, you can build a smaller house. Ms. Meyers said but it does include the attic space. Mr. Carpaneto said any attic space, not just useable. Ms. Washington said not habitable. Mr. Carpaneto said anything under any roof would be in the calculation. Ms. Washington asked, does this seem more fair or less fair than the previously proposed law? Mr. Carpaneto said I think what it does is to bring the size of houses down; that's what the Board is trying to do. It brings that bulk down. Mr. Immerman said I have to say that the house on Rockingstone that has just been more or less completed, is horrendously out of proportion with its two neighbors. Ms. Myers asked if there was no zoning variances needed for this. Mr. Carpaneto said no. • Mr. Immerman said it was as-of-right, as I understand it. Ms. Washington said, it's a shame. Ms. Myers said the other thing I was going to mention to you, the draft environmental impact statement for the Forest City Daly has been postponed until January. Ms. Washington said I saw that they've taken out the barriers on Myrtle Boulevard. Ms. Myers said they were ugly. We're going to move ahead with that, definitely. Mr. Spagnola said there will be an island there. Ms. Myers said there will be a median. There is County money that came to us through Nita Lowey and this is definitely a job that we will proceed with and the money is there. Ms. Washington said that the parking that is designated for residents only during the day should be available for the stores along there where there is never enough parking. Ms. Myers said parking is such a bad issue there anyway. We've got a study that shows the need for any expense of a deck across the street in that parking lot would provide more commuter parking as well as apartment parking. Ms. Washington said and commercial parking. • Ms. Myers said ideally get the apartment people off the street, so that commercial parking can occur on the street, shorter term parking. Mr. Immerman said that might not be too attractive. Board of Architectural Review November 21, 2002 Page 9 1111 Ms. Myers said except it actually seems to fit. One of the things the consultants noted was that it really did fit the contour, because of the slope. That was actually sort of a nice way to put that in where it wouldn't be so obtrusive. Ms. Washington said short of building the parking structure, it seems to me that it wouldn't be so bad to allow the parking spaces that exist to have a different kind of label on them during the day. That they not be tagged for residents only. Ms. Myers said, but then the residents don't have a place to park. Remember, also apartments have no parking. Mr. Spagnola said on that island, keep us posted on the best way to landscape it, because I don't know how you maintain it, it needs a lot of maintenance on an island I would think. With all the salt and everything else in the middle of it I don't know how you do that, but I just hate it not to look really presentable. Ms. Myers said although I think that the Highway Department has done a good job, especially the area around Carl's Restaurant and across it. I think that side of the street has done a much better job. Ms. Myers said, regarding Acura Ron, right after your meeting last month with Acura a bunch of residents came to the Traffic Committee, that I'm a Liaison to, complaining about Acura parking all over the streets and leaving their cars there all day right across from Acura, right near Harrison Drive and Robins Nest Lane, in that area. You were going to put something in with their file. Mr. Carpaneto said right, once we do the site plan. They haven't gone to the Planning Board yet, but they're going to be picking up thirteen(13) additional parking spaces in their own lot. That should take care • of Acura's needs Ms. Myers said I notice the way they talk about it on the blueprint, they make it seem like there's no off site parking currently. Mr. Carpaneto said they have parking on Harrison Drive on the dead end portion, which they're allowed to use. The complainant is coming from the other side of Harrison Drive that leads through to the Post Road. There are some spots right up by Robins Nest. They're aware. I think you can park there, but what they were doing was they were having cars with plates from Florida, new cars and things that were just in transient, using it as a saving area almost. Mr. Immerman said, these were not employees cars. These were their vehicles for sale. Mr. Carpaneto said right, some employees. A kind of a mishmash. Ms. Washington said I think it's absurd when a car dealer uses up every space on both sides of a commercial street and the two or three adjoining neighboring streets for the extra cars that their dealership generates. Mr. Carpaneto said they are aware of that problem. Ms. Myers said that will be a condition of the zoning review. Just as they're concerned about the new owners not getting wet when they get into their new cars, we would hope they would show the same consideration to the existing homeowners. NEXT MEETING • The next meeting of the BAR will be held on December 19, 2002. Board of Architectural Review November 21, 2002 Page 10 • ADJOURNMENT Upon a motion duly made by Ms. Washington, seconded Mr. Spagnola, the meeting was unanimously adjourned 8:45 p.m. Marguerite Ro ,, Recording Secretary S S • i Town of Mamaroneck County of Westchester Town Offices: 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543-3319 914, 381-7830 Office of the Board of Architectural Review November 14, 2002 NOTICE OF MEETING A meeting of the Board of Architectural Review of the Town of Mamaroneck will be held on November 21, 2002 at 8:00 p.m. in the SENIOR CENTER, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York. The agenda will include the following matters: AGENDA 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. ACURA OF WESTCHESTER - 2155 Palmer Avenue, Block 501, Lot 1 - facade/sign (adjourned 10/17/02) 3. EXCELSIOR CLEANERS/Jonathan Kaufman - 1320 Boston Post Road, Block 410, Lot 463 - facade (adjourned 10/17/02) 4. GENERAL BRONZE LLC/Arthur Wexler - 615 Fifth Avenue, Block 131, Lot 344 - facade (adjourned 10/17/02) 5. BIKRAM YOGA - 2444 Boston Post Road - Block 503, Lot 137 sign 6. NEW BUSINESS Margueriter!A oma, Recording Secretary