Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

January 22, 2005                       Monday                                5:30p.m.

ROLL CALL:      Committee Members Sandy Baer, Dan Carpenter, Robert Pavlik, Lynne Landwehr, Tom Wheeler,  Vice-Chair Barbara Breska and Chairperson Chuck Crotser  

                              Absent:  Committee member Baer 

STAFF:                Mary Phillips, Planning Intern; Pam Ricci and Jeff Hook, Senior Planners 

PUBLIC COMMENT:   

MINUTES: Minutes of December 18, 2006 regular meeting. Approve or amend.  

The minutes of December 18, 2006 were approved as amended on a 6:0 vote 

PUBLIC HEARING ITEM: 

1.        847, 861, 863, 877 Palm Street and 955 Morro Street.  ARC 69-05.  Applicant presentation and preliminary review of the Chinatown Mixed-Use Project in the Downtown Historic District; C-D-H zone. SLO Chinatown, LLC, applicant.  (Pam Ricci) 

Pam Ricci introduced the Chinatown mixed-use development and gave a slide presentation explaining the project’s status, key development review steps and design issues.   She introduced project architects, Mark Rawson (Copeland Properties) and Lauren Luker (R2L), who presented a detailed project description.  Following these presentations, the public hearing was opened and five citizens spoke on the project:  four individually raised concerns, variously, about the project's scale and height, effect on Downtown character, increased shading of streets and sidewalks, compatibility and architectural/historical impact on the Old Mission, loss of historic buildings through demolition, and blocking windows on the adjacent Feliciano Building on Monterey.  One citizen spoke in support of the request due to the added housing, grocery market and "smart growth" aspects of the project. 

Lengthy discussion of the project followed, with CHC members offering wide-ranging comments on cultural resources potentially affected by the project and the project’s design compatibility with the Downtown Historic District.  Following is a summary of the Committee members’ comments, on which there was general Committee agreement: 

1.  Questioned the purpose and desirability of the large tower proposed adjacent to Muzio's Store on Monterey frontage. 

2.  Supported preserving windows and fire shutters on both sides of Muzio's Store. 

3.  Concerned with the proposed demolition of the former Blackstone Hotel and questioned if building design could be brought back to a specific design period. 

4.  Questioned if the Sauer Bakery "ovens" could be preserved and somehow incorporated into a new project. 

5.  Cited the 2000 "CHC Whitepaper" and its Council-supported recommendations regarding loss of historic/archaeological resources and felt tourist-oriented uses were displacing the historic features that gave Downtown its uniqueness and attraction.  Concerned with the proposed demolition of four Contributing historic properties, one Master List historic property, and the "irreparable loss" of significant historic and prehistoric archaeological artifacts (due to excavation for underground parking garage). 

6.  Concerned about the architectural compatibility and integrity of a proposed roof addition to the historic David Muzio Store.  Committee members felt that Muzio's Store is the focus of this block of Monterey and the proposed addition would adversely affect its historic character. 

7.  Felt the applicant and City needed to consider the potential effects of three large-scale projects on the historic Mission -- the most important cultural, religious and historic building in the City, and on Downtown's historic character and scale:  the Chinatown development, the Johnson Building mixed-use development and the Ah Louis Store development. 

8.  The Chinatown District had a "humble" origin but this project's Chinatown name would distort that image as the project is now designed. 

9.  Supported the new building being setback from Feliciano building so that that the Feliciano building's side windows could be preserved. 

10.  Felt that a downtown hotel was a good idea but the project's scale should be reduced along Chorro Street to prevent overshadowing the Mission (the former Blackstone Hotel provides a neutral backdrop in scale with the Mission), and should be scaled down to preserve character of Muzio's Store.   

11.  Felt the potentially significant archaeological resources likely to be found on site should be preserved in place, and questioned whether the proposed parking garage was worth the loss of Mission-era and pre-Mission era history. 

12.  Concerned about the spa addition on the top floor of the proposed hotel near the corner of Chorro and Monterey Streets and its effect on the building's scale relationship with the Old Mission. 

13.  Recommended that the cultural resource preservation priorities for this project should, with one being highest, preserve:  1) archaeological resources, 3) designated historic buildings and 3) historic site or building features or elements (e.g. Sauer Bakery ovens). 

14.  Questioned the "French Revival" architectural style, as expressed by mansard roof treatments on several proposed buildings, with the Downtown Historic District's "Main Street" architectural character, since there is no historical precedent for this architectural style in SLO.  They felt there were other, more compatible ways to modulate the scale of the proposed buildings.  Three to four-story elevations facing the street were okay. 

15.         Requested a detailed, 3-D model of buildings, showing scale relationships and shadow and light patterns. 

Other than providing the above comments and recommendations, the Committee took no action on the project.  

DISCUSSION: 

2.        Citywide.  O168-98:  Review draft table of contents for a Cultural Resource Preservation Ordinance; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.  (Jeff Hook)  

Jeff Hook introduced the item and explained steps leading to the preparation of a draft Cultural Resource Preservation Ordinance.  He then introduced Mary Phillips who explained the methodology she used in preparing the draft table of contents, noting it was based on previous CHC comments and direction, various technical publications, and on ordinances from other cities with historic preservation programs.  She explained that staff was interested in Committee member comments and suggestions on the draft table of contents, including the scope and content of the draft ordinance. 

Mr. Hook added that the Committee’s comments will help guide staff in preparing a draft preservation ordinance which staff is preparing and that will require detailed Committee and public review.  After a brief discussion, the Committee expressed support for the content and scope of the draft table of contents and thanked staff for the presentation. 

COMMUNICATIONS: 

A.    Agenda Forecast - staff

B.    Historic Survey Status

C.    Committee      

ADJOURN to the next regular meeting on Monday, February 26, 2007, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.