Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

May 27, 2008                       Tuesday                                5:30p.m.

ROLL CALL:      Committee Members Barbara Breska, Chuck Crotser, Katy Davis,  Lynne Landwehr, Dean Miller, Vice Chair John Fowler, and Chairperson Elise Wheeler 

STAFF:                James David, Planning Technician, Phil Dunsmore, Associate Planner, Pam Ricci, Senior Planner, Jeff Hook, Senior Planner, and Kim Murry, Deputy Director, Long-Range Planning 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  David Brodie, 875 Chorro, spoke on the importance of CHC historical review and the need for an updated Downtown Conceptual Physical Plan. 

MINUTES:    Minutes of April 28, 2008, regular meeting and April 29, 2008, retreat were approved as amended.  

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: 

1.        1429 Osos Street.  CHCMA 48-08; Request for Mills Act Contract for the Historic  Mitchell House in the Old Town Historic District; R-2-H zone; Stephen Linder/Cynthia Semel, applicants.  (James David) 

On a motion by Committee Member Davis, seconded by Committee Member Crotser, the Committee voted 7:0 to recommend the City Council approve a Mills Act Historic Preservation contract for the historic Frank Campbell Mitchell House as described in the draft Mills Act contract.

 2.        1617 Santa Rosa Street.  ARCMI 26-08; Request to remove and rebuild a chimney and add 70 s.f. to a Contributing historic property in the Old Town Historic District; R-3-H zone; Elaine Simer, applicant.  (James David)

 On a motion by Committee Member Landwehr, seconded by Committee Member Davis, the Committee voted 5:2 (Committee Members Wheeler and Fowler) to determine the proposal to replace the chimney and construct an addition is consistent with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and General Plan Policies regarding new construction in historic districts, and to recommend the Community Development Director approve project alternative design #1 (boxed in chimney at ground floor level; exposed above), subject to findings and conditions. 

3.        1321 and 1327 Osos Street.  ARC 102-07; Review of a new mixed-use project with about 8,800 s.f. of office space and 11 residential units; O zone; Mission Medical Partners, applicants.  (Pam Ricci) 

On a motion by Committee Member Fowler, seconded by Committee Member Breska, the Committee voted 7:0 to recommend to the ARC that the project be approved, based on findings and subject to conditions. 

Committee Member Fowler left the meeting. 

4.        1010 Broad Street.  ARC 111-02; Review of the proposed demolition of the Art Center building and reconstruction of a larger facility in the Downtown Historic District; PF-H zone; San Luis Obispo Art Center, applicant.  (Phil Dunsmore) 

Motion #1:

A motion was made by Committee Member Crotser, seconded by Committee Member Davis to determine that the proposed new construction is conditionally compatible with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and the Downtown Historic District and that the project will complement other historic properties based on specific findings.  Such findings and conditions should be drafted by the CHC and should address consistency with the district, site context, building quality, and consistency with the General Plan.  Conditions could be crafted to require a building setback from Broad and Monterey Streets, additional variation in exterior materials, additional wall articulation, and window treatment that is complementary to other historic buildings.  The motion failed on a 3:3 vote (Committee Members Breska, Landwehr, and Miller voted no; Committee Member Fowler was absent).

Motion #2:

A motion was made by Committee Member Breska, seconded by Committee Member Landwehr that the proposed new construction is not consistent with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and General Plan Policies regarding new construction in historic districts and to recommend to the ARC that the project be denied.  The motion carried on a 4:2 vote (Committee Members Crotser and Davis voting no; Committee Member Fowler was absent).

5.         Introduction to updated Archaeological Resource Preservation Program Guidelines

        (Continued from April 28, 2008, meeting)  (Jeff Hook) 

The Committee unanimously continued this item to the June 23, 2008, CHC meeting. 

6.        City-wide.  GPI 49-06; Review potential historic resources in the South Broad Street Corridor planning area; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.  (Continued from April 28, 2008, meeting)  (Jeff Hook) 

On a motion by Committee Member Crotser, seconded by Committee Member Wheeler, the Committee directed staff to schedule the following properties for possible historic nomination: 

-743, 774, 796 and 797 Caudill Street

-778 Francis Avenue

-781 Humbert Avenue

-2502, 2546, 2663 and 2691 Victoria Avenue

-2950 McMillan Street

-753 Woodbridge Street 

The motion carried on a 6:0 vote (Committee Member Fowler absent) 

ADJOURNMENT  

The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.