Trustees defer decision on 41 Cedar Street amendments after hearing from architect and building inspector

Trustee meeting leaders and project representatives presented amendments to the previously approved plans for 41 Cedar Street (Cedar Commons), and trustees moved to defer the final decision to the planning board/AHRB for a detailed review.

Christina Grant, principal of CGA Studio, told the board the changes include a raised elevator enclosure and stair bulkhead, revised façade materials and a 13-foot recessed garage door, and said the elevator height increased after construction drawings showed the clearance needed for a four-story traction elevator. "We did submit this with our building permit drawings," Grant said, explaining that the increased elevator clearances appeared in the construction set and were required to meet code. Developer Cosmo Marfiano said the team explored multiple elevator options and tried to minimize height but that the chosen elevator category for a four-story building required greater head clearance.

John Stone of the building department told trustees that the construction drawings had been reviewed by the International Code Council (ICC) and that city inspectors discovered the larger-than-approved bulkhead during the first masonry inspection, prompting the reapproval request. After questions about whether the change required a variance or could be treated as a permitted obstruction, the board debated options for delegating review or referring it to the planning board.

Trustee discussion focused on precedents for approving after construction and on ensuring the village’s review process catches such changes earlier. The board passed a resolution to defer decision-making authority for the 41 Cedar Street amendments to the Planning Board acting as the AHRB and to forward trustees’ comments to that body for their agenda and review.