Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building Appearance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves siding and color change for Saint Joseph Group property after debate over profile and cohesion
Summary
Orangetown planning board approved a request from the Saint Joseph Group to change the 8-inch blue siding to 8-inch white while leaving existing 5-inch tan siding, after discussion about historical profiles, cost and whether attached units should present a unified façade.
The Orangetown Planning Board on June 18 voted to allow a siding and color change for a property presented as the Saint Joseph Group application, permitting the 8-inch siding on one portion to convert from blue to white while retaining an existing 5-inch tan siding on adjacent units.
Chair introduced the application and the presenter explained the decision to use a wider (8-inch) profile to match the existing main structure’s historical appearance. Committee members questioned that choice, noting the 5-inch slat is more commonly used on nearby properties and is substantially cheaper. The presenter acknowledged the 5-inch was less expensive—"it's 50% less expensive in material to go with the 5 inches"—but argued the deeper profile provided a more defined architectural look.
Board members debated whether the attached units should be painted the same color to read as a single structure or allowed to use complementary colors. Some members called the addition visibly distinct and suggested one uniform color would be more cohesive; others said the different profiles and existing conditions made a complementary approach acceptable. No members of the public spoke during the public-comment period on this item.
Committee member (Speaker 5) moved to approve changing the 8-inch blue siding to 8-inch white while leaving the existing 5-inch tan siding unchanged; a colleague seconded. The board recorded affirmative responses and approved the application as presented. Members later clarified the interior had been completely renovated, the property will contain three units and is currently vacant.
Why it matters: siding profile and color decisions affect neighborhood character and can set precedent for future renovations on attached or multi-unit structures. Board members weighed architectural fidelity against cost and the visual effect of mixed-siding profiles.
The board adjourned after approving this and other routine items.
