Landmarks commission schedules site visit for First Presbyterian ramp; raises concerns about steps, handrails and alternatives

The Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission on March 18, 2025 agreed to conduct a site visit to inspect a proposed barrier-free access ramp at First Presbyterian Church, 315 North Cayuga Street, in the DeWitt Park Historic District. Commissioners said a site visit and additional detail are needed before the commission can act on a final approval.

Carrie Ann Weaver, identified in the meeting as senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church, described the church’s need for a front-door accessible route for people using wheelchairs, scooters and strollers and said the church already has a rear lift but lacks a front approach. "Our hope was to make something that felt more natural so that the pathway leading up to that door would feel more like a part of the landscape front," Weaver said. The applicants presented a meandering, landscaped ramp approach intended to minimize visual impact; they also proposed reusing existing redstone steps on-site if possible but said the steps are delaminating and may be difficult to salvage.

Commission members and staff raised multiple concerns: the depth of soil fill against historic stone walls and the potential for moisture or structural impacts; how close the ramp would come to the church’s stonework; whether handrails will be required along the ramp; and whether alternatives have been adequately considered. Commissioner Steve Gideon had prepared alternative sketches showing a ramp along the north side of the building; some commissioners said a side-ramp could be less visually intrusive but noted trash accumulation and visibility issues at that location. Brian McCracken, historic preservation and neighborhood planner, advised that the commission will need code compliance information (including whether handrails are required) before final approval and noted the commission has already approved two mutual extensions of the review period requested by the applicant.

The commission voted to schedule a site visit with the applicant and asked that the proposed ramp location be staked or spray-marked on the lawn before members arrive. Commissioners requested that the applicants bring materials samples, a closer overhead layout/site plan, and a demonstration (rendering or mockup) of how the railing and setback will appear from street level. Staff also recommended that a qualified contractor examine the integrity of the foundation walls and advise whether soil mounding against the stone is appropriate.

Members noted an applicant-provided drawing showed a ramp slope described in the discussion as "0.81 in 12" compared with the commonly referenced 1 in 12 maximum slope for many accessibility ramps; commissioners asked staff and the applicant to confirm code requirements and whether railings would be required. The commission emphasized accessibility goals while reiterating its obligation to preserve historic materials and composition: several commissioners said they were sympathetic to the church’s need for accessible entry but wanted to see vetted alternatives and structural assessments prior to approving changes that affect the primary facade.

Staff said they would coordinate the site visit and that it would be scheduled before the expiration of the mutually agreed review extension; no formal numerical vote tally was recorded for the site-visit agreement (the transcript shows general assent).