HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230232 115 Circular Porch & Gutters Public Comment (2)May 12, 2023
Design Review Board
City of Saratoga Springs
City Hall
474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Dear Board Members,
As a follow up to the May 3, 2023 DRB meeting considering the
application of Dominick Trimarchi, No. 20230232, 1 ask the board to
further consider my opposition to the work done for reasons following.
WOOD: It is highly unlikely that had the Applicant followed City
procedures and filled this application prior to construction that a single
Board member would have considered any inappropriate synthetic
materials as appropriate. What I have heard as being considered,
from the May 3, 2023 DRB meeting discussion, is that because the
work was done well that an otherwise unacceptable inappropriate
material could be acceptable. That is like saying that a counterfeit
$100 bill becomes legal tender because it was well done. That 150
year old wood, that mayor may not have been maintained, has rotted
in places is no surprise. That every 150 years wood parts may require
replacement is what it is. All that goes with the territory of owning a
Historic Masterpiece of a home, which 115 Circular Street is, and it
deserves better and should be maintained as such.
Separately, not specific to this application but something that
warrants consideration of the Board, is any approval of an otherwise
inappropriate unacceptable material, because the work is done well,
sets the Board on a very slippery slope. Would a future procedure
following applicant be permitted use of otherwise unacceptable
inappropriate materials because his contractor did good work? Are
we going to rate the contractors? Are A level contractors going to be
permitted to use otherwise inappropriate unacceptable materials but
the B level guys are held to strict historic standards?
PERMEABILITY: 115 Circular Street (115) is in the UR-3 zone,
Separate from the issue that the storm water is "artificially influenced"
onto neighboring properties in violation of NY State law, mine and the
City's, there currently exists on file as part of a pool permit, a 115
survey showing 74% of the property as non permeable. (That
calculation is being challenged in court as it is alleged that the figure
exceeds the former 75% requirement). The new UDO guidelines
establish the threshold for impervious surface coverage at 70%. By
applicant Trimarchi's own admission, the 115 property exceeds the
now allowable 70% impervious surface requirement. When
considering the impervious surface of a structure, the City calculates
the footprint plus the overhang to the drip edge. Any addition,
regardless of how little, becomes part of that calculation. The addition
of gutters extends the drip edge of a structure. Any addition to the
impervious surface of a property that already exceeds the allowable
coverage would require a variance or should be denied.
APPLICANT. The applicant Trimarchi deserves no pity for the position
he puts himself in. Evidenced by his regular lack of required
permitting, he strongly believes that it is better to ask for forgiveness
than it is for permission, Examples:
1) At the May 3rd meeting he had offered balusters to a prior
applicant. Those balusters came from the porch he ripped off
the house without a demolition permit.
2) The driveway change in materials which was done without a
permit, was filed after the fact, was materially misleading, and
currently has the City in court.
3) The addition of a pool pavilion done without any permit, soon to
be reviewed by the City as it may not meet side set back
requirements.
4) And the situation before you now, with another after the fact
application, where he gets in the face of the Board and claims
that there were no change in materials.
The structure at 115 Circular Street is an architectural masterpiece in
a high traffic, high visibility location. It should be held to the highest
standards that the board holds dear. I Thank you for your time and
consideration.
Respectfully Sub"'tted,
DWA ,-o
David'W. App/el^,J .
Property Owner
117 Circular Street