City of San Luis Obispo - Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

May 22, 2006 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

Committee members Baer, Landwehr and Pavlik were absent.

STAFF: Phil Dunsmore, Associate Planner; Arleen Cardenas, Planning Intern; and Jeff Hook, Senior Planner

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Mark Rawson, architect for the Copeland’s Downtown Center, requested that the Committee schedule a special meeting to consider a remodel to the storefront at 899 Higuera Street. He explained that a new tenant plans to occupy the space and proposes a storefront remodel to better reflect the tenant’s business needs and image. He is working with the tenant’s architect to meet the City’s Community Design Guidelines, but wasn’t sure that would be possible in time to handle the review at a staff level without the need for a public hearing. The building is not historic but its location in the Downtown Historic District calls for architectural review. He added that there was some urgency associated with the tenant’s request to get into the building and felt expedited CHC review would be extremely helpful in this instance. On a motion by Committee member Wheeler, seconded by Committee member Breska, the Committee directed staff to schedule a special CHC meeting on Monday, June 5, 2006 to consider the proposed storefront remodel.

MINUTES: Minutes of March 27, 2006 regular meeting. Approve or amend.

The minutes were approved as submitted on a 4:0 vote.

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS:

Item 2 was considered first since the applicants for item 1 were not present.

2. 148 Broad Street. ARC 74-03; Review of proposed new dwelling on the same lot as the historic Vard Shepard House; R-1 zone; Dr. Barry Jones, applicant.

Phil Dunsmore presented the staff report and the applicant explained the project. Four neighbors commented on the project, expressing concerns with driveway placement, possible view blockage or privacy issues, and scale and compatibility issues between the proposed and existing houses. Committee members considered neighbors’ comments and felt that while the issues raised were important, most were outside of the Committee’s purview and more properly addressed by the Architectural Review Commission and as part of the required use permit. After a lengthy discussion, and on a motion by Committee member Wheeler, seconded by Committee member Breska, the Committee voted 4:0 determined that the proposed remodel is consistent with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines, and with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and that the project will be compatible with the historic Vard Shepherd house and grounds, with the following recommended conditions:

1. The project should be referred to the Architectural Review Commission for review.

2. Applicant should install protective fencing around trees and other significant landscaping prior to and during construction, to the approval of the City Arborist.

3. Applicant should provide a Phase 1 Archaeological Study prior to building permit issuance, pursuant to the Archaeological Resource Preservation Program Guidelines.

4. Applicant should provide additional landscaping to achieve privacy screening where appropriate, to the approval of the Architectural Review Commission.

1. 1720 Johnson Avenue. ARC MI 20-06; Review of a 10-foot soundwall adjacent to the historic Judge’s House; R-2 zone; James Shepard Co., applicant.

Jeff Hook presented the staff report, noting that the applicant was not in attendance and that public notice had been provided according to City policies. The Committee discussed the proposed wall height and design, site conditions, noise levels and compatibility with the historic Judge’s House. On a motion by Committee member Crotser, seconded by Committee member Carpenter, the Committee determined that the proposed project was consistent with the property’s Mills Act Historic Property Agreement, with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards For The Treatment of Historic Properties and referred the item to the Community Development Director for approval subject to the following recommended conditions:

1. A noise study and/or site-line analysis shall be prepared by a qualified professional evaluating the site conditions and recommending appropriate mitigation measures for noise attenuation and/or visual screening from Johnson Avenue. If a wall is determined to be the only effective measure to meet Noise Element Standards and/or provide privacy, the following standards shall apply:

a. The sound and/or privacy wall shall be designed to the minimum effective height, as identified in the noise study and/or site-line analysis.

b. The wall shall be setback from the front vertical plane of the Judge’s House (facing Johnson Avenue) a minimum of three feet to distinguish it from the original rockwork, and that samples of the proposed rock veneer be provided for Cultural Heritage Committee review prior to construction permit issuance so that its compatibility with the existing rock can be confirmed.

c. A revised landscape plan shall be submitted for the area within the Johnson Avenue street yard for the review of the Cultural Heritage Committee and approval of the Community Development Director. The plan shall reflect the historic garden which previously existed in this area, with plantings including an assortment of shrubbery of a various heights and a diversity of trees.

d. All landscape improvements along the Johnson Avenue frontage shall be approved by the Community Development Director prior to construction permit issuance for the new sound wall to ensure adequate screening, and be installed concurrently with the wall construction.

e. Landscaping shall be maintained in a vigorous and thriving condition, and replaced as necessary as required by the Mills Act Historic Property Agreement in effect for the property and to ensure that the wall and new structures are adequately screened.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

2. Citywide. CHC 94-04; Consideration of properties for possible historic nomination; Cultural Heritage Committee, applicant.

Arleen Cardenas presented slides showing houses in the “Little Italy Area” as described in the Phase II Citywide Historical Resources Survey II, Completion Report (1992) by Margaret Lovell. The Committee carefully reviewed the age, architectural style and integrity, and architectural character in relation to the neighborhood for each property and determined the following properties had potential architectural significance and should be considered as candidates for nomination to the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources as Contributing Properties:

743 Caudill, 796 Caudill, 797 Caudill, 2502 Victoria, 2546 Victoria, 2663 Victoria, 303 Lawrence, 307 Lawrence, 447 Lawrence, 481 Lawrence, 483 Lawrence, 510 Lawrence, 523 Lawrence, 540 Lawrence, 566 Lawrence, 570 Lawrence, 590 Lawrence, 640 Lawrence, 418 Mitchell, 439 Mitchell, 451 (449) Mitchell, 456 Mitchell, 498 Mitchell, 503 Mitchell, 535 Mitchell, 652 Mitchell, 2775 Tenbrook, 2717 Broad, 2783 Broad and 2747 Chandler.

The Committee determined that the following properties did not meet standards for historic designation and did not merit further consideration:

807 Francis, 426 Lawrence, 551 Lawrence, 601 Lawrence, 610 Lawrence, 427 Mitchell, 516 Mitchell, 525 Mitchell, 546 Mitchell, 612 Mitchell, 636 Mitchell and 2603 Mitchell.

The Committee asked that staff provide additional information for these addresses, to be brought back for discussion at a future CHC meeting:

783 Alphonso, 831 Francis, 2747 Broad (possible Master List candidate).

3. Communications

a. Agenda Forecast – staff

Jeff Hook provided a brief agenda forecast for the June CHC meeting.

b. Committee

The meeting adjourned around 9:00 p.m to the special meeting on Monday, June 5, 2006, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.