Legislation
History of Legislation
The following is excerpted from the 2003 Comprehensive Plan
As a result of Historic District sub-committee survey, the Village will reconstitute a Historic District Committee to make specific recommendations to the Village Board about a historic district ordinance. Like other committees established pursuant to the Plan, the committee will meet with a Board of Trustees liaison, discuss an appropriate time frame and scope of work, and be given guidelines within which to complete its work. The ordinance shall reflect the following:
Any recommended mandatory features of the ordinance should be limited to the external
appearance of the building
In accordance with survey results, the committee should specifically consider mandatory
regulations regarding window and door removal and/or replacement, the use of siding, the replacement and/or removal of shutters or porches, and the replacement and/or removal of existing cornices and other architectural detail
Consider methods by which any incremental cost of compliance with guidelines or
mandatory regulations can be spread among members of the entire Village Community by, e.g., a one-time partial property tax abatement for alterations or construction which bear additional cost because they were completed in accordance with the ordinance
A streamlined process involving either the Architectural Review Board or a new Landmarks Review Board for applications for construction or renovation in the district
Consider whether different regulations should apply to buildings within the district on the east side of the railroad tracks from those on the west side and recommend such different regulations, if any
Consider working with the Irvington Historical Society and other members of the community to develop a manual of architectural styles that could serve as guidelines or mandatory aspects of the ordinance
Explore and create a resource guide for property owners to seek outside funding for historic alterations or construction.
In addition and in accordance with the survey results and the views of the Community expressed at public hearings, the Village shall examine and, where appropriate, amend height and bulk regulations and set back requirements within the proposed district. Any potential amendments shall be made while the subcommittee responds to the issues outline above.
Also in accordance with community views and the goals of this Plan, the Village Board has authorized an application in the name of the Village to be submitted to the State of New York for the Main Street area to be designated an Historic District and placed on the New York State and Federal Register of Historic Places.
It should be noted that regulations set forth in the New York State Building Code (Appendix K),
effective as of December 2002, will provide additional flexibility in conforming to code requirements for buildings that are designated as historic or located in a historic district. For
example, the new regulations allow the installation of ramps at the back of buildings and do not
require the installation of metal doors and window on designated buildings. As a result, it will be
easier to maintain the “old-fashioned” qualities of historic buildings and to specify building
ornamentation styles in historic districts, while still conforming to the State building code.
Upon submission of the subcommittee report (PDF), the Village Board shall adopt a Historic District and Landmarks Ordinance, and the Village Board will certify the District, map it as an overlay on the existing zoning map and create an overseeing Board. The Historic District and Landmarks Board would also consider other areas of Irvington that might apply for Historic District status.
The LUC has recommended that, and the Village Board shall consider whether, the Historic District and Landmarks Board should be comprised of five members, all of whom shall be residents of the Village of Irvington, and three of whom would be residents of the designated
Historic District. Additionally, the Mayor shall appoint a Village Trustee as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Historic District and Landmarks Board who would act as a liaison between
the Village Board and the Historic District Board.
To date, there has been no legislation adopted by the Village Board to support the Historic District.
As a result of Historic District sub-committee survey, the Village will reconstitute a Historic District Committee to make specific recommendations to the Village Board about a historic district ordinance. Like other committees established pursuant to the Plan, the committee will meet with a Board of Trustees liaison, discuss an appropriate time frame and scope of work, and be given guidelines within which to complete its work. The ordinance shall reflect the following:
Any recommended mandatory features of the ordinance should be limited to the external
appearance of the building
In accordance with survey results, the committee should specifically consider mandatory
regulations regarding window and door removal and/or replacement, the use of siding, the replacement and/or removal of shutters or porches, and the replacement and/or removal of existing cornices and other architectural detail
Consider methods by which any incremental cost of compliance with guidelines or
mandatory regulations can be spread among members of the entire Village Community by, e.g., a one-time partial property tax abatement for alterations or construction which bear additional cost because they were completed in accordance with the ordinance
A streamlined process involving either the Architectural Review Board or a new Landmarks Review Board for applications for construction or renovation in the district
Consider whether different regulations should apply to buildings within the district on the east side of the railroad tracks from those on the west side and recommend such different regulations, if any
Consider working with the Irvington Historical Society and other members of the community to develop a manual of architectural styles that could serve as guidelines or mandatory aspects of the ordinance
Explore and create a resource guide for property owners to seek outside funding for historic alterations or construction.
In addition and in accordance with the survey results and the views of the Community expressed at public hearings, the Village shall examine and, where appropriate, amend height and bulk regulations and set back requirements within the proposed district. Any potential amendments shall be made while the subcommittee responds to the issues outline above.
Also in accordance with community views and the goals of this Plan, the Village Board has authorized an application in the name of the Village to be submitted to the State of New York for the Main Street area to be designated an Historic District and placed on the New York State and Federal Register of Historic Places.
It should be noted that regulations set forth in the New York State Building Code (Appendix K),
effective as of December 2002, will provide additional flexibility in conforming to code requirements for buildings that are designated as historic or located in a historic district. For
example, the new regulations allow the installation of ramps at the back of buildings and do not
require the installation of metal doors and window on designated buildings. As a result, it will be
easier to maintain the “old-fashioned” qualities of historic buildings and to specify building
ornamentation styles in historic districts, while still conforming to the State building code.
Upon submission of the subcommittee report (PDF), the Village Board shall adopt a Historic District and Landmarks Ordinance, and the Village Board will certify the District, map it as an overlay on the existing zoning map and create an overseeing Board. The Historic District and Landmarks Board would also consider other areas of Irvington that might apply for Historic District status.
The LUC has recommended that, and the Village Board shall consider whether, the Historic District and Landmarks Board should be comprised of five members, all of whom shall be residents of the Village of Irvington, and three of whom would be residents of the designated
Historic District. Additionally, the Mayor shall appoint a Village Trustee as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Historic District and Landmarks Board who would act as a liaison between
the Village Board and the Historic District Board.
To date, there has been no legislation adopted by the Village Board to support the Historic District.