2018 HPC Meeting Minutes – July

Historic Preservation Commission
P.O. Box 65
Accord, NY 12404

Minutes

July 16, 2018 at 2:00pm

Members Present: Alice Cross, Alice Schoonmaker, Franz Dannecker, Elaine Laflamme, Lindsey Arnold (left the meeting at about 2:30).

Others Present: Jens Verhaegh, Welton Duckworth, Keri Pharmer

Absent: Town Board Liaison Brian Drabkin

Call to Order: Alice C. called the meeting to order at 2:05 pm.

Minutes: The Minutes from July 16 meeting were not available.

Update: Lindsey updated the Board on her discussion with Chris Hewitt. He agreed to attend HPC meetings as available to give the HPC Board a brief update on relevant Town matters. The Whitfield sign has been ordered and billed.

Prospective Members- Alice C. welcomed potential new HPC Board Members. Elaine briefly introduced the Orientation Packet previously sent to potential members, a copy of which is attached. Alice C. reviewed the educational component of HPC. As an example, Alice C. recounted how the residents of Alligerville were thrilled to hear about the history of their homes. The homes had been identified in the survey of historic assets compiled as part of the application for Alligerville’s Historical District designation.

Lindsey discussed the role of Friends of Historic Rochester in collecting and maintaining historical documents and artifacts and its operation of the Museum. The Board of Directors of Friends is looking for new Board Members. Friends has given stone house tours, hosted agricultural history events, and presented speakers on numerous topics. Friends working in conjunction with other groups hosts yearly Heritage Days. Heritage Day in the Town of Rochester was established by proclamation in 2006. Lindsey mentioned there’s lots of volunteer work needed by the Museum.

Alice C. responded to a question about HPC’s limitations of authority which are detailed in the Orientation Packet. She also reviewed the types of projects that HPC undertakes. She explained HPC’s role in the application to have Alligerville designated a Historical District and mentioned the current work HPC is doing in downtown Accord. She described the group’s efforts to prevent the destructions of the historical schoolhouse in Alligerville and emphasized the importance to that project of working together with owners and the fire department.

Elaine gave a brief overview of HARP and of the historical resources available on the TOR website at Townofrochester.ny.gov.

Prospective members were asked to introduce themselves and to tell the Board why they were interested in joining HPC.

Welton is a retired architect who worked in New York City. He is very interested in buildings and in historic construction techniques. He recently built a timber frame house and used lime plaster for the walls.

Keri lives in a historic house in the Clove and is very interested in the future of the land.

Change in Positions: Alice C. announced her retirement as Chair of HPC. Elaine will assume the position going forward. Elaine thanked Alice C. for her longtime devotion to the commission, to history and to the Town noting that Alice C.’s shoes would be very hard to fill and that she was grateful for Alice C.’s continued presence as a member of HPC.

Other Business: Alice S. passed around an article from the New Paltz Times praising the efforts of the Town of New Paltz Historic Preservation Commission in restoring the Put Corner Burial Grounds.

Elaine raised the utility of getting updates from members of Friends of Historic Rochester about future Friend’s projects. Yes to updates. Friends’ Annual Meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 14th at 7:00. There ensued a general discussion about possible joint projects between HPC and Friends including work on the Rail Trail and walking tours. Jay asked if the group has a map showing points of interest and was referred to the maps at Friends outlining the walking tour. The group discussed the potential for new walking tours and visits to historical cemeteries and the collection of additional oral histories.

The group was reminded that budget hearings are held in October and that HPC members should plan on attending.

Next Meeting was set for August 20th at 2:00 pm at Town Hall.

Action – Franz Danneker moved to adjourn at 3:05 pm. Alice S. seconded it and passed by all.

Respectfully submitted, Elaine Laflamme sitting in for Lindsey R. Arnold, Recording Secretary

Historic Preservation Commission Town of Rochester P.O. Box 65 Accord, NY 12404
Historic Preservation Commission Applicant/Member Orientation Package

Establishment
The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) of the Town of Rochester (TOR) was established in 1987 by the Town Board pursuant to Chapter 22, Local Law No. 2-1987. http://townofrochester.ny.gov/Pages/RochesterNY_Codes/Chapter-22.pdf . From seven to twelve members are appointed by the Town Board for a term of three years. A list of current Commission Members can be found on the TOR website at http://townofrochester.ny.gov by clicking on the drop down tab Boards & Commissions at the top of the page and selecting Historic Preservation Commission.
Purpose
As contemplated under Chapter 22 of the TOR Town Code, the HPC has three main purposes:
1. Survey the town to determine which structures, buildings, sites or landscapes are worthy of preservation efforts because of their historical, cultural, architectural or other social value.
2. Establish a Historical Information and Review Service to review building and land use permit applications to determine if there will be impacts upon a Historic District or a historic property and to meet with applicants for informational purposes where there is an impact. The Commission has no power to prohibit plans.
3. Establish an Information Service to promote historic preservation principles in the TOR.
Chapter 22 represents a modest effort to implement the more robust historic preservation laws of New York State which give local municipalities and towns the power to regulate local historic resources. For a discussion of the broader powers available to the TOR, see Legal Aspects of Municipal Historic Preservation located at the Department of State website. https://www.dos.ny.gov/lg/publications/Legal_Aspects_of_the_Municipal_Historic_Preservation.pdf
Partners
In seeking to promote historic preservation principles, the HPC often works with the Friends of Historic Rochester (the “Museum”). Incorporated in 1988, the Museum began collecting historical data and artifacts. Located at 12 Main Street, Accord, NY, the Museum and Library are named for two of the original prime movers of establishing a museum for the Town: Percy W. Gazlay and Eleanor S. Rosakranse. Most recently, the Museum and the HPC co-sponsored the well-attended program “Navigating Segregation in New York State and Beyond” presented by Dr. Gretchen Sorin, Professor of Museum Studies in the graduate program at SUNY Oneonta and at the Cooperstown Graduate Program for museum curators, educators and directors.
Another vehicle for historic preservation is the Advisory Committee for the Hamlet of Accord Revitalization Project (HARP), a project of the HPC and the Town Board. In April of 2016, the Town Board, at the request of the HPC, approved HARP and authorized an Advisory Committee to serve as the vehicle and sounding board for the project. HARP’s mission is to work with Main Street residents, businesses, organizations and local government agencies to restore and rejuvenate the hamlet of Accord’s careworn Main Street. Working with these groups, the HARP Advisory Committee seeks to:
i. develop and interpret Main Street’s historical ties to the Delaware & Hudson Canal and the New York, Ontario & Western Railway,
ii. increase access to the hamlet’s scenic waterfront, and
iii. identify adaptive uses for derelict sites.
The project aims to revitalize Accord’s Main Street as a vital residential and commercial place where residents and visitors can come together to live, work, shop, and play.
Activities and Accomplishments
1) Historic Resources Report – Reconnaissance Survey I Stone and Brick Structures 1993 (Including inventory of historic properties in the Town of Rochester) By Harry Hansen Kyserike Restorations, Inc.

2) Historic Resources Report – Reconnaissance Survey II Frame Houses and Barns 2008
http://townofrochester.ny.gov/Pages/RochesterNY_BComm/hpc/RochesterReconSurvey2008.pdf
By Harry Hansen Kyserike Restorations, Inc.

3) Historic Farmstead Survey 2010

Historic Farms study (2011)


By Neil Larson Larson Fisher Associates

4) Establishment of Veterans Park, Town of Rochester 2011

5) National Register Nomination Project — Alligerville Historic District 2015 Neil Larson Larson Fisher Associates

6) National Register Nomination Project – Accord Historic District 2018 Neil Larson Larson Fisher Associates

7) Signage in the Town of Rochester a. NYS Historical Markers – restoration or replacement of existing signs; addition of two new signs: Watering Trough, Alligerville Historic District b. Signs for 16 historic Hamlets of the Town of Rochester c. Signs for Veterans Park d. Signs at Route 209 and Main Street, Accord