The Landmark Commission voted last week to recommend to the Town Board that the house located at 555 Jericho Turnpike, known as the Ketchum/Underhill Property, be designated a landmark. Although two applications were submitted, the commission approved only one - The property and barn, at the same location, were not included in the recommendation.

The landmark commission considers the historical and aesthetic merits of a property when an application is submitted and after the commission hears testimony and evaluates the situation, they vote to recommend to the town board whether or not it should be a landmark. The town board, which concentrates on the economic issues, then has 90 days to review the situation, hold a public hearing and make a final decision regarding the property. At that hearing, the town board could agree with or overturn the decision of the Landmark Commission.

"I was thrilled that a decision was made to go ahead with the process to landmark in a goal to save the house," said Linda Weiss, co-spokesperson for the people committed to saving the property. "However, I was disappointed that the barn and property were not recommended and that the historic facts and rareness were overlooked."

John Collins is a member of the landmark commission and also an architectural historian. "I was disappointed with the commission's decision," said Collins. "I do not know why [the commission] did not feel that the barn was worth preservation." Collins was the dissenting vote on the motion to make the barn, property and house all a landmark. "I cited the Secretary of Interior Standards [a Federal document] which states that the context of historic buildings is important as well and these barns are able to explain the origins of the farmhouse and the historic importance," he said. "That did not convince the other members of the commission as they felt that only the house was worthy of designation."

According to an ordinance, the Landmark Commission must be composed of a lawyer, an architect, and an architectural historian and the other members are appointed from the general population and do not require any specific qualifications.

"I thought that the barn should have also been recommended," said Lisa Lauricella, co-spokesperson for the people committed to saving the property. "There is as much architectural significance and the barn relates to the house with its historic value. It is a farmhouse so I would only think that the barn would be considered with it."

After the first hearing on this issue was held in February, the commission decided to meet on the site in question to view it firsthand. "Just seeing a photograph does not do it justice," said Collins. Members of the Commission walked through the house, barns and property with the owner to see the area in question first hand. "This up-close and personal tour convinced me that the barns were wonderful and should be a landmark."

Zachary N. Studenroth, a preservation expert, visited and evaluated the site and wrote a letter to the Landmark Commission. He said: "In my judgment, the barn and group house which constitute the Underhill Farm are worthy of preservation and meet the criteria for landmark listing on the town, state and national levels... Landmark recognition should acknowledge the compelling value of the setting, the terrain on which they are built and the relationship that each structure has with its original site."

Although no date has been set as of now, the hearing must take place within the next 90 days. "We hope that the town board will reconsider," said Lauricella. "We think the commission overlooked the barn and they did not have enough time to review our architectural report." There will be an opportunity for the community to speak to the board at the hearing and all are welcome.