HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
P.O. Box 65
Accord, NY 12404

Minutes

Monday, May 23, 2016 at 1:06 p.m.

Members Present: Bill Collier, Alice Cross (President), Frank Dannecker, Elaine Laflamme, Ward Mintz, Alice Schoonmaker.

Others present: Carl Chipman, liaison to Town Board.

Call to Order – Alice Cross called the meeting to order at 1:06.

Alice C. reminded us that we had not officially appointed Elaine L. as Secretary and noted that Elaine L. wanted her duties to be limited to that of Recording Secretary. Motion to appoint Elaine Laflamme as Recording Secretary made by Ward Mintz and seconded by Bill Collier. All approved.

Minutes – Alice C. asked if there were any comments to the Minutes of the April 18, 2016 meeting. Alice Schoonmaker made a motion to accept the April Minutes, Bill Collier seconded the motion and all approved.

Alice S. asked whether Bill Woods would continue with HARP and it was presumed that he would.

Correspondence – Alice C. recounted the email from Walter Levy to HPC members and Carl Chipman announcing his resignation from the Historic Preservation Commission. Walter will continue with HARP. Walter Levy’s resignation from HPC became effective upon Carl Chipman’s receipt of the email on April 27, 2016. There was no other correspondence.

Hamlet of Accord Revitalization Project (HARP) –
Alice C. asked if someone wanted to summarize the first HARP meeting and Ward M. recounted the following:
a. A good number of people attended. The purpose of this first meeting was to brainstorm about the positive, new things participants wanted to see happen on Main Street and what would they change. The HARP group generated a lot of interesting ideas. The group had lots of good energy and positive attitude.
b. One of the more provocative suggestions centered on increasing traffic through Main Street by making it a one way and making Scenic Drive a one way in the opposite direction. Someone else suggested closing off Scenic Drive to traffic and making it a pedestrian/bike travel way. This had the added benefit of connecting the downtown area to the Rail Trail and could be a good place to put in access to the water. Other suggestions included changing the name of Tobacco Road and using Accord’s old name from the canal days – Port Jackson. At the top of the list was creating a water district. Carl C. at the HARP meeting discussed the economics of creating a water district.
c. The next step for HARP is to break the various suggestions into discrete categories and to create smaller working groups.
Alice S. noted that one of the smaller groups would be tasked with visiting small towns that have experience with rejuvenating their Main Street such as Port Ewen. She noted that Lynn Archer did a wonderful job leading the HARP discussions. Regarding water for Main Street, Jack S. is a valuable resource as he knows all the water points in town. Carl C. noted that there were hydrology reports generated as port of the Town’s open space survey, some of which are available on the Town’s website and some of which are included in the Town’s comprehensive plan.

Alice C. mentioned that there was some confusion concerning the time set for the first HARP meeting and suggested that the subject line of the reminder emails include the meeting particulars.

Alligerville Schoolhouse –
a. When asked if there was anything new regarding the Alligerville Schoolhouse, Carl C. reported that it was still with Albany.
b. Alice Schoonmaker reminded the members that they were to meet by the new sign in Alligerville for a photo session.

Liaison Report – Carl C. reported that the Town Board had received a request for a solar farm in the Res Plaus Historic District. While most of the farm would be located in the Town of Marbletown, a portion of it would be located in the Town of Rochester. It will be addressed at the next Town Board meeting. In light of the location of the proposed solar farm in a historic district, Carl C. will refer the matter to HPC as the matter is referred out to other agencies.

Carl C. spoke of attending the rededication ceremony for the Moses DePuy grave site.

Future HPC Projects –
a. Alice Cross asked what should HPC to in the future now that HARP has launched?
b. What about a review of Chapter 22? There followed a discussion of benefits in being designated as a Certified Local Government Program (CLG) by enacting a Preservation Local Law that complies with NY State guidelines for a CLG and the controversy such a proposal raised several years ago. Ward M. noted that many communities choose to give responsibility for designating local landmarks to the Town Board. Participation in the CLG is one way to get professional guidance and support. The New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has a model Preservation Local Law available online at http://nysparks.com/shpo/certified-local-governments/documents/ModelLawForLocalGovernments.pdf.
c. Alice Cross noted that Ellenville designated certain public buildings as local landmarks. Town of Marbletown is designated a CLG. Carl C. did not believe there would be any issues raised with designating public buildings as local landmarks. It was not clear what, if any, buildings Marbletown has designated as local landmark.
d. A question was raised whether the presence of the O&W Railroad and the D&H Canal were sufficient to warrant awarding Accord an Historical District designation? Such a designation may provide residents with tax credits. The group discussed the possibility of having a study conducted of Accord that could lead to Historical District designation?
e. Mickelson of Ecological & Geospatial Service and Church conducted such a study for the National Resource Heritage Plan (formerly known as the ECC Open Space Plan). Neil Larson should coordinate with them.
f. Ward Mintz made a motion to start the contracting process with Neil Larson to conduct a survey of the hamlet of Acord for potential Historical District designation. Bill Collier seconded the motion and all approved.

Next Meeting – Monday, July 18, 2016 at 1:00 p.m., Town Hall.

Adjournment – motion made by Ward Mintz to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Frank Dannecker, and passed by all.

Respectfully submitted,
Elaine Laflamme, Recording Secretary