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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991_08_15 Board of Architectural Review Minutes MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL HOARD OF REVIEW OF THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK AUGUST 15 1991, IN THE SENIOR CENTER, TOWN CENTER 740 WEST BOSTON POST ROAD MAMARONECK, NEW YORK Present: E. Robert Wassman, Chairman Ralph Heisel Robert Iirnnerman Joan Williams Absent: Pamela Washington Also present: Elaine Price, Councilwoman Steven M. Silverberg, Counsel William E. Jakubowski, Building Inspector CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Wassman at 8:03 PM. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the meeting held on May 16, 1991 were approved. LEXUS DEALERSHIP (continued) Mike Monroe, architect, and Ray Catena, owner, represented the application. Revised drawings had been received by the Board including a landscape plan by a landscape architect and a lighting plan with details of the standards. Mr. Monroe stated that the trees at the rear would be 6-8 feet tall. A swing security gate of a pipe design at the entrance had been added. 3 by 6 feet planters have been planned for the sidewalk. The alternative requested last month would not be practical because of utility lines. Old planters would be refurbished with "dry-vit" such as is being put on the building. The revised landscape plan shows a 2-foot-wide swale of gravel at the rear of the parking lot bordering the buffer zone. Lettering on the building will be 2 feet high, in black, and lit from within. The curb cut near the showroom will be reduced from 77 feet to 50 feet. The display area for new cars would not be for public access. The wheel stops requested will not be necessary for the parking spaces at the rear of the lot with the addition of the gravel swale. These spots will be used by cars after servicing. Mr. Catena agreed to shine the lights down. Mr. Wassman stated that the lights were similar to ones at McDonalds and that the slope does not impact the eye beyond the photometrics of the lamp. However, it was felt that these lights might cause too much glare, and the Board requested the applicant to resubmit the light fixture cut. The applicant was also asked to indicate provisions for security lighting as well as display lighting. August 14, 1991 -2- Mrs. Williams questioned the planting of non-fruit bearing pear trees as street trees. She suggested zelkova and honey locusts planted alternately as being more stately. She also requested evergreens in the planters as well as annuals. Mr. Catena agreed to maintain the "green belt' on both sides of the fence. It was requested that the applicants come to the next meeting with the above-mentioned changes. TEN GRAND, INC. , (Finast)- Boston Post Road and Weaver Street Block 410 Lots 463, 310,321,332, and 338 (Exterior Improvements) Appearing were Donald S. Mazin, attorney; Fred Coleman, architect; and Nick Pepe, agent of the owners. Mr. Wassman stated that the B.A.R. is not the lead agency in this application but will make its recommendations to the Planning Board and ZBA regarding signage, appearance of the building, building color and landscaping. Mr. Coleman stated that Ten Grand is adding 14,500 square feet to its store, and relocating the entrance to the Northwest. He demonstrated drawings of the new facade which will have a mansard effect. The finishes will resemble those used on the former Hory property owned by this company. The vertical posts will be replaced and be larger, the existing lighting will remain and the parking lot will be essentially as it is now. Trucks will not be visible from the front entrance. Mr. Coleman stated that he believed that the lights were turned down at 11 PM. Mr. Immerman stated that the signs for the other stores in the complex were confusing. He also stated that the Finast sign on the front of the building was larger than allowed by the sign ordinance but that it was in proportion with the building. Mr. Wassman suggested placing the signs for the other stores at the same elevation as the Finast sign. Mr. Heisel disliked the feature block on the building. He did like the mansard effect. He felt that it made the building like a village. Mr. Heisel suggested turning the mansard material to a vertical plane at the sign. Mr. Immerman disagreed with this idea. Mr. Coleman stated that he would re-work the facade design and the signage. August 14, 1991 -3- Mr. Jakubowski suggested that the Board could send its recommendations to the Zoning Board with several findings, that the building is set back far from the street and only a portion of the sign exceeds the height requirement. Therefore, the visual impact from the street is not excessive, and the ZBA is requested to consider granting the sign variance. Regarding landscaping, Mr. Coleman stated that Finast's plans had been revised, at Mr. Jakubowski's suggestion, to include more trees. Mr. Coleman stated that there would be 300 parking spaces; the requirement is 409. He stated that the Planning Board had had no problems with this number as the lot is always under utilized, and it did not want the company to use its nearby residential lot. Mrs. Williams suggested looking at the Tarchmont A&P's parking lot where trees have been added without losing parking spaces. Mr. Immerman asked that more trees be planted on the Weaver Street lot and that the planting started at the former Hory property continue into this lot. The members agreed, complimenting Mr. Coleman on how the former Hory property now appears. They asked for more details about the asphalt area behind the former Hory property next to the Finast lot. Mr. Coleman and Mr. Pepe agreed that four more trees could probably be added to the parking lot in that area. The path from the school would be screened and planted lightly so that the students could be seen. Mr. Coleman stated that there would be planting around the standing Finast sign at the Boston Post Road and that there probably would be no need for the rip-rap planned at the grassy slope. Trees were suggested for the slope, also. Mr. Wasssman adjourned the application to the next meeting - September 19th - and asked the applicant to return with revised plans for signage and landscaping. LAMB)RGHINI NY - CONN, CORP. - 1380 Boston Post Road Block 409 Lot 194 Sign Applications Paul Vitucci, engineer, appeared. He stated that there are plans for installing four signs, lowering the bulkheads at the windows from 3 feet to 18 inches, cleaning and painting the building a pale yellow, doing new landscaping and revising the parking layout. Regarding the landscaping, Mr. Vitucci stated that he would like to have his plans match those of the Master Plan. He will place planters at the building. Lambotyhini will remove the three high light standards. For security, down-lit lighting would be placed at the back doors for the employees. The six soffet lights will be replaced with surface-mounted down-lit lights. The pole in the rear southwest corner would be used as a security light, and another pole would be relocated to the other side at the rear for security purposes. August 14, 1991 -4- Mr. Vitucci stated that the site has the required twelve spaces for parking. This area will be landscaped. An oil separator would be installed. The operation would be a small one with one salesman and one service man. Concerning the signs, Mr. Vitucci stated that there would be two signs mounted on the existing poles in the current locations. They would be 3 x 10 feet, 12 feet above grade, illuminated, with black lettering. A third sign would be on the window of the showroom and the fourth on a pylon. Mr. Immerman questioned the number of signs that would be permitted under the Ordinance, and Mr. Heisel stated that he thought that there was an "overkill". He reminded the Board that this building is very close to the street. Mr. Immerman requested an elevation with the signs on it. Mr. Heisel found the plans to be "dinky". The members felt that the plans presented were misleading. It was unanimously decided to adjourn this matter until September. New submissions were requested for elevations, lighting, landscaping and signage. The members asked that the principal appear also. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:08 PM. E. Ro Wassman, Chairman