HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
April 17, 2008

Approved 05/15/2008

Posted 06/06/2008

PRESENT
J. Mitchell, P. Whitbeck, K. Cristman, B. Salem, T. Helfrich, L. Mitchell & W. Pieper

ALSO PRESENT
J. France, Consultant; A. Johnson, Staff Representative; R. Williams, Town Attorney; D. Rowe, Building Inspector

ABSENT
J. Bernacki, Town Board Liaison

REVIEW/APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
March 20, 2008 minutes
P. Whitbeck moved to accept the minutes as written with corrections.
Seconded: B. Salem

CLARIFICATION OF LANDMARK DESIGNATION RESOLUTION
65 Mitchell Road, Tax #164.11-2-11.11
The Commission discussed the three outbuildings on this property. The Assessor's Office has on record the large barn and the year it was built is about 1900. The two smaller buildings are not on record but are believed to be about the same era as the larger barn. The barn that is behind the large barn could have been used as a tack barn. These barns are a part of the Francis Mitchell horse farm.

D. Rowe did a site walk and informed the board that the large barn and corncrib are in good condition; the second floor in the large barn is in pretty good condition even though there is some dry rot in the large barn. Mr. Altier wants to keep this barn and plans on restoring the small barn if possible, he will be putting metal roofs on all three barns, the small barn is not in good condition but David Rowe did not get into the barn to see the inside. The plants were so over grown around the barn that there was no way to get inside. Mr. Altier is not opposed to include the barns with the house in the designation therefore the entire parcel will be designated.

J. France stated that is very rare and unusual to find a corncrib in such good shape, it is important to preserve them when possible. The horse farm was built in 1840's so these structures could be very old. Putting on a metal roof is a good idea because metal roofing does not need to be replaced as often as a shingled roof. A metal roof is more in keeping with the era of the barns.

The Commission concluded that the barns and corncrib should be preserved as part of this Mitchell Estate and therefore will be included with the designation of 65 Mitchell Road.

John Mitchell moved to close the Public Hearing.
Seconded: B. Salem
The Public Hearing is closed.

B. Salem moved to designate the entire parcel of 65 Mitchell Road, which will include the main structure and the three outbuildings on the rear portion of the property.
Seconded: P. Whitbeck
Roll Call: All Ayes
The resolution for the above-mentioned property will be rendered on May 15, 2008 for a vote.
Landmark Designation No. LD# 01-08

PUBLIC HEARING FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
707 Mendon Road, Mary Lou Stotz, Tax #192.01-1-20, for the standby generator that has already been installed on the designated property.
After reviewing the landscaping plans as requested by the board at the last meeting (see the property file in the Building Dept. for the landscaping plan), the Commission granted approval for the standby generator to remain in the location where it was installed. The standby generator is only 32" high and the Boxwood and Rose of Sharon plants will be approximately 4 ½' high and the new stonewall will be 18" high and will match the height of the existing stonewall. There is already a tree by the corner of the house and with the additional screening this standby generator will not be visible from the street.

John Mitchell moved to close the Public Hearing.

B. Salem moved to grant to the owners of 707 Mendon Road the requested Certificate of Appropriateness to allow the standby generator to remain in the location and modified the new wall to match the height of the existing wall in which it was installed with the condition of the screening per the landscaping plans as submitted.
Seconded: K. Cristman
Roll Call: All Ayes
Certificate of Appropriateness No. CA #01-08

OLD BUSINESS

1. 443 Mendon Road, property maintenance
   W. Pieper stated that the interior of the house needs some work but some of the original interior is still intact. The barn is in pretty good shape on the inside but there is a hole in the roof that the owner's have been asked to cover. However, the cupola is in real bad shape. The foundation of the barn that the owners removed has been just left there with the timbers of that barn just stacked in a pile by the foundation.
2. 80 Mitchell Road, property maintenance & potential designation, Dave Rowe informed the Commission that the Town of Pittsford's Fire Marshal has been in touch with the State and they would only push the barn over and not remove the timber from the property. The Commission would like to the Town to recommend to the owners to secure the garage structure entrance that is on private property and the majority of the structure is on State land.
3. Spring House, 3001 Monroe Avenue historic marker sign. Rich Williams informed the board that he had some other issues to go over with Buckingham Properties regarding the application for the north side of Monroe Avenue across from the Spring House and he would talk with Don Lasher about the purchase of the historic marker to be placed back in front of the Spring House. Audrey Johnson, Town Historian, will get the pricing for the new sign and pole and submit it to Rich Williams.
4. Updating the Bero Survey - The Commission members have not started this survey and once they have compiled a list of structures that they feel worthy of review, they will submit the list to the Town Board for consideration to have a non-partisan company, Bero Associates, to review the list and determine whether or not a structure should be included on the inventoried list that the Town Board in 1990 commissioned the Bero Associates to compile. J. France told the board the best way to look for the older homes would be to cross-reference the dots on the map of 1900 - 1930 with the current map of January 2008.
5. Presentation of Landmark Designation plagues - The plaque presentation will be held on June 19, 2008 for the homeowners for the five homes designated in 2005 & 2006. Refreshments will be served.

The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

The next meeting will be held on May 15, 2008.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandie Freitag
HPC Secretary

OFFICIAL BOARD MINUTES ARE ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK