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Ithaca commission approves alterations at 408 North Tioga, defers decision on tall privacy fence
Summary
The Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for a deck and door/window replacements at 408 North Tioga Street in the DeWitt Park Historic District on Feb. 25 and deferred action on a proposed tall privacy fence pending zoning review and a revised proposal from the applicant.
The Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for exterior alterations at 408 North Tioga Street in the DeWitt Park Historic District during its Feb. 25 meeting, saying the proposed deck and door and window replacements would not substantially harm the property's historic character. The commission held off on approving the applicant's proposed tall privacy fence and directed the applicants to return with a reduced or revised fence design and any required zoning approvals.
The application presented by Jason Demarest and Virginia Fry requested a semicircular wood deck at the rear corner of the building, replacement of an existing door and windows with Marvin wood casement windows and a Simpson wood door, and construction of a 12-foot privacy fence along the rear lot lines. Staff and commissioners noted the deck would be removable and would not change the house's primary elevations visible from public ways. Staff also flagged that the fence height and the deck's effect on lot coverage would likely require zoning review and variance applications.
Commission members discussed neighborhood context and precedent for fence heights, with several noting that most nearby fences measured five to six feet. Commissioners and staff suggested a shorter fence (10 feet, 8 feet, or as little as 6–7 feet) would be more consistent with the district. The commission emphasized the landmark code standards used in the evaluation, including the requirement that additions be compatible in massing, size and scale and that new work be removable without impairing the essential form and integrity of the historic property.
The commission approved the certificate of appropriateness for the proposed deck and door/window work, with conditions including documentation and labeling of any historic fabric removed so it can be stored in a dry, secure location for potential reuse. The vote followed the commission's standard findings under the municipal code sections invoked during the discussion.
On the fence, the applicant agreed to withdraw the fence proposal at the meeting and return with a revised plan after consulting zoning staff and, if needed, the Board of Zoning Appeals. Commissioners recommended the applicant test an 8-foot section on site or bring measurements and a visual example to a follow-up meeting to help the commission and neighbors visualize the effect.
The commission's approval of the building alterations is conditioned on the materials and manufacturers discussed at the hearing (the file identifies a Simpson wood door as the door currently proposed) and on the standard storage requirement for removed historic materials. The decision is explicitly conditioned on any required zoning approvals for the deck and fence; the applicant and staff acknowledged the deck may require a zoning filing because it alters lot coverage.
