HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
P.O. Box 65
Accord, NY 12404
Minutes
Monday, March 17, 2014
Present: Bill Collier, Alice Cross, Frank Dannecker, Howard Kagen, Walter Levy, Alice Schoonmaker. Others present: Sherry Chachkin, TB Liaison.
Minutes – of February 10, 2014 were accepted as corrected with motion made by Bill Collier, seconded by Howard Kagen and passed.
Correspondence – from Mike Baden, Vice Chair of the Planning Board: Request that HPC ask the TB to adopt publications of the HPC (Reconnaissance Survey of Historic Properties, 2008, and Historic Farmstead Survey, 2010) as part of the Comprehensive Plan. This would give the Planning Board the legal authority to use those documents and their information as the legal justification of decisions, would give the reports a higher legal standing, and would include them as part of the vision of the town. Alice Cross will be in touch with Carl Chipman on this matter.
Alligerville Historic District Project – Letters have been exchanged with Rob Rominger of the Rondout Esopus Land Conservancy in the effort to solicit grant support from the RELC for the Alligerville Historic District Project. The RELC has offered a grant of $2500, if we can assure the RELC that the project will be fully accomplished with the help of that grant. The HPC gratefully accepts the grant. The letter of thanks and acceptance will reassure the RELC that their monies with enable completion of the project.
Neil Larson and Bill Krattinger will be invited to attend the public meeting which is being planned for the purpose of introducing the Alligerville project to the property owners involved, and to the wider community.
This public program is planned for April 25, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the RELC Headquarters.
Walter has developed a “script” to be the basis for our personal conversations with residents of Alligerville before the meeting, and as part of the presentation at the public meeting.
Properties designated for the Historic District need to be indicated on the map. Photographs of the properties plus Power Point can be supplied by Ward Mintz and Neil Larson.
Other
1) Alice Schoonmaker addressed the HPC and announced her intention to resign because of the present conflict of Town and Planning Board rules and regulations with her daughter’s newly constructed riding ring on Airport Road. Additional objections have been put forward by owners of historic properties that abut the Diane Schoonmaker property. Sherry Chachkin spoke about what the Town knows at this point.
2) Alligerville Fire Company #3 – This company owns the Alligerville Schoolhouse property; the truck bay is attached to the side of the historic schoolhouse. The schoolhouse building has not been maintained for many years, and is in very bad shape. The Fire Company says it needs more space for trucks. Without renovation, the schoolhouse may need to be razed. Alice Cross will contact the Fire Commissioners and Tony Spano (TB liaison) for further information.
Liaison Report – Sherry Chachkin.
Correspondence, continued – (Alice Schoonmaker recused herself from this part of the meeting). At issue is a Commercial riding ring that has been built by Diane Schoonmaker on her Airport Road property which is across the road from NR property of Rob Rominger on Airport Road, and adjacent to NR property of Eve Mannes on Whitfield Road. The Planning Board has requested a letter from HPC with any input that we might have to offer. The discussion was inconclusive because there was not sufficient information to come to any conclusions. Further discussion will be at the next meeting.
The Romingers will be invited to present their case at the next HPC meeting. Rob has said he intends to have Jennifer Betsworth from SHPO visit the site.
The TOR code for historic preservation has no binding say in such matters. Before the next meeting, members of the HPC will visit the site, after which we will express to the Planning Board any opinions we may have regarding impact on historic properties by the riding ring structure.
Next Meeting – April 21, 2014
Adjournment – 5:00 p.m. with motion made by Bill Collier, seconded by Howard Kagen and passed.
Respectfully submitted, Alice Cross, Acting Secretary