Planning Board/Architectural Review Board
Village of Tarrytown
Special Meeting
January 26, 2009 6 p.m.
PRESENT: Planning Board: Chairman Friedlander; Members Aukland, Raiselis,
Tedesco, D’Avolio
Architectural Review Board: Chairman Perry; Members Byrnes,
Lambert, Mignogna, Carr, Pinckney
Counsel Shumejda; Administrator Blau; Building Inspector/Engineer
McGarvey; Secretary D’Eufemia
PUBLIC HEARING – FERRY LANDINGS, LLC (HUDSON HARBOR) – 129 WEST MAIN STREET
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Architectural Review Board and Planning Board of the Village of Tarrytown will hold a public hearing on Monday, January 26, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. at the Municipal Building, One Depot Plaza, Tarrytown, New York, to hear and consider an application by:
Tarrytown Waterfront, LLC (Ferry Landings/Hudson Harbor)
129 West Main Street
Tarrytown, New York 10591
To consider the application for amended site plan approval and amended architectural plan approval for the stone building at Hudson Harbor. Said change is to convert four large units in the building into eight smaller units.
The property is shown on the Tax Maps of the Village of Tarrytown as Sheet 1, Lot 3, Parcels P-16, P-17, P-18, P-19 and is located in the Waterfront General Business District (WGBD)
Documents are available for inspection in the Building Department. All interested parties are invited to attend and be heard. Access to the meeting room is available to the elderly and the handicapped. Signing is available for the hearing-impaired; request must be made to the Village Clerk at least one week in advance of the meeting.
The certified mailing receipts were submitted.
Mr. Joe Cotter of Hudson Harbor stated they were here tonight to discuss three items – the stone barns building, the plaza, and geothermal which has been done at the site.
In regard to the stone barns building, Mr. Cotter stated they were asking tolerance from the two Boards. During a walk-through of the units with their bankers, it had been suggested that the four larger units (over 2,000 sq. ft. each) should be made into eight smaller units. The bankers felt the current economic climate would not support units selling for over $1 million in this building. He noted he was not involved with the project for a period of time due to surgery and delegated the work. His people took it upon themselves to make the suggested changes and did so by, in some cases, enclosing balconies to get the needed interior space. They did not meet with the architects to make the changes architecturally appropriate. They did not come to the Boards to request the amendments, as should have
been done. Mr. Cotter stated he met with the Planning Board at their last work session and his architects have incorporated many of their suggestions into new plans. Mr. Cotter noted they are not planning to increase their overall unit count. The project will continue to have the 238 units. The four units will be taken away in a future phase of the project. They can meet the parking requirements with the additional units at the stone barns building, but some of the spaces may not be indoors.
Mr. John Jenkins, architect with the Lessard Group, presented revised plans to the Boards. He said they focused on the piece in the back of the building which now as constructed feels tacked on to the building. They want it to be in character with the architectural style of the stone barns. They looked at the roof line. They have kept the pitch of the roof the same as the rest of the building. They are keeping the dormers to allow for the natural light but to support the roof, there will be a series of timber brackets. They have also contemplated introducing mullions into the windows.
Chairman Friedlander stated at the work session the Board suggested changes looking from the west side. Mr. Jenkins stated they had a balcony that wrapped around and they
enclosed that. They enclosed the balcony in order to get the needed 750 sq. ft. for that unit.
Ms. Raiselis stated she felt the architects succeeded in making it work. They made it look like it might have been considered with the original design. The slope of the roof, the timber details, the stone and other materials that were used in other parts of the building and reiterated at this corner made a great attempt to make this corner sympathetic to the whole. The new design for that corner acted as an anchor as two of the other corners did, even though they are not identical or symmetrical. Chairman Friedlander stated Ms. Raiselis deserves this credit since she is the one who made many of the suggested changes at the Board’s work session.
Mr. McGarvey stated the third front balcony on the east as shown on the plans is not what is out there now. Mr. Cotter stated he was right – the metal railing is not shown on the plans.
Upon inquiry from Chairman Friedlander, Mr. Jenkins stated the additional parking spaces for these apartments is immediately adjacent to the building.
Chairman Friedlander questioned whether anyone wished to address the Board on this matter.
Ms. Linda Viertel, Chair of the Village’s Waterfront Committee, questioned where units would be deleted from the project in the future. Mr. Cotter stated they would probably be
eliminated from the larger condominium buildings, or there could possibly be a reconfiguring of some of the townhouse units.
In recapping the changes, Chairman Friedlander stated they have an amendment to the original stone building that enclosed the terraces looking west in order to make two apartments about 750 sq. ft. each. There was a terrace on the bottom of the building with stone for the first floor apartment which was closed into a square. It was suggested they change that look so the architects incorporated a roof line that is consistent with the previous design.
Mr. John Imbiano of IQ Architects, designers of the plaza, stated they originally proposed a pavilion in the middle of the plaza. What they are now proposing is some large bluestone, 3 ft. x 5 ft. That will be broken up with brick which is on the stone building. One of the paving grids will be taken out and become an English style garden, perhaps for herbs for the café. The café will be entered from the plaza. The east and west elevations of the café are much smaller in scale. The building is moving closer to the sidewalk with a lower profile. They have also introduced a millstone fountain with a stone basin so people can sit around it. In the winter months it will have a fire pit. The café will have a fireplace.
Upon inquiry, Mr. Imbiano stated the café is about 600 sq. ft and will seat about 32 people. There will be a small kitchen with some light cooking.
Discussion followed about the fireplace. Chairman Perry stated they should consider lowering it and making it wider. Mr. Imbiano stated they can definitely look at the height and mass of the chimney. Chairman Perry stated this amended detail should be provided to the Architectural Review Board.
Board members stated they felt the plaza amendments were good ones.
Mr. Cotter stated they have been fascinated by companies going green. They realized the geothermal option separates projects. There is a new system and they have put it in Building 1. You don’t need any fossil fuels. In winter you would not need natural gas. It can run with a little bit of electricity. The energy saved will be about half. These will probably be the most efficient sustainable houses in Westchester, if not in the Country.
Mr. Tedesco moved, seconded by Mr. Aukland, that the public hearing be closed. All Planning Board and Architectural Review Board members assented.
Mr. Tedesco moved, seconded by Mr. Aukland, that the Boards determine there will be no significant adverse environmental impacts as a result of the proposed amendments.
All Planning Board and Architectural Review Board members assented.
Mr. Tedesco moved, seconded by Mr. Aukland, that the Planning Board approves the conversion of the four larger units to eight smaller units in the stone building with four units to be removed elsewhere on the project site. The changes to the stone building’s interior were made in response to market conditions and to keep the project viable. The Board approves the changes in the architecture of the stone building. These changes are needed to preserve and enhance the overall aesthetics of the building. The Board approves the scheme proposed for the plaza with the architectural details to be approved by the Architectural Review Board. All Planning Board members assented.
Mr. Carr moved, seconded by Mr. Mignogna, that the Architectural Review Board approves the changes to the stone building to modify the exterior windows, balconies, and materials per the plans submitted January 23, 2009. All Architectural Review Board members assented.
Mr. Carr moved, seconded by Mr. Mignogna, to grant Architectural Review Board approval for the plaza and the café building subject to revised elevations being submitted to the Architectural Review Board. All Architectural Review Board members assented.
MEETING ADJOURNED 7 p.m.
Kathleen D’Eufemia
Secretary
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