City of San Luis Obispo - Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

October 11, 2005 Tuesday 5:30p.m.

SPECIAL MEETING

ROLL CALL: Chairperson Chuck Crotser, Vice-Chair Sandy Baer, Barbara Breska, Robert Pavlik, Lynne Landwehr, and Tom Wheeler (with one vacancy)

STAFF: Phil Dunsmore, Associate Planner; and Jeff Hook, Senior Planner

MINUTES: Minutes of the August 22, 2005 regular meeting. Approve or amend.

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS:

1. 1306 Mill Street. O 135-05; Request to nominate the historic Lind House for a Mills Act application; R-2-H zone; Russell Berg, applicant. (Continued from August 22, 2005)

Due to a potential conflict of interest, Chairperson Crotser and Committee member Breska recused themselves and left the hearing room.

The Committee voted 4-0 to recommend the City Council approve a Mills Act contract for the historic Lind House, as described in the draft Mills Act contract, and determined proposed remodel work shown in plans was consistent with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Committee members asked the applicant to provide photo-documentation for the garage to be demolished and the applicant agreed.

Chairperson Crotser returned to the meeting.

2. 1323 Mill Street. CHC 116-05; Request to add Contributing Historic Property to the Master List of Historical Resources and to enter into a Mills Act Contract; R-2-H zone; Dr. Brendon McAdams, applicant.

Committee member Breska had a potential conflict of interest and remained outside of the hearing room.

Committee members complemented the applicant on the rehabilitation work done on the house and on a motion by Committee member Pavlik, seconded by Committee member Baer, the Committee voted 5-0 to nominate the property to the Master List of Historic Resources and to recommend the City Council approve a Mills Act contract for the property, as described in the draft Mills Act contract, subject to the following findings of eligibility from the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines:

ARCHITECTURAL CRITERIA

I. Style

3. The house exhibits traditional, vernacular and/or eclectic influences that represent a particular social milieu and period of the community; and/or the uniqueness of hybrid styles and how these styles are put together.

II: Design

2. The house’s design is exceptional due to its overall attractiveness due to craftsmanship and aesthetic value, though not necessarily unique;

V. Environmental Design Continuity

2. Compatibility of the house with neighboring structures in its setting on the basis of period, style (form, height, roof lines), design elements, landscapes, and natural features; and how these combine together to create an integral cultural, historic, or stylistic setting.

Committee member Breska returned to the meeting.

3. 782 Higuera Street. ARC 115-05; Architectural review of seismic retrofit, building demolition, new buildings and remodel; C-D-H zone; Naman Family Trust, applicant.

Following extensive discussion, and on a motion by Committee member Pavlik, seconded by Committee member Baer, the Committee voted 6-0 to continue the item to the November 28, 2005 meeting to allow additional review and consideration of other, nearby Downtown development projects (in terms of design and scale) and project consistency with local, state and federal preservation standards.

4. 1190 Buchon Street. ARC MI 136-05; Addition to contributing historic house and new garage and apartment; R-2-H zone; Steve Hopkins, applicant.

Seven neighbors spoke in support of the project. Committee members felt the project design was consistent with the Old Town Historic District, the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. On a motion by Committee member Landwehr, seconded by Committee member Breska, the Committee determined that the structure to be demolished has no historical, architectural, or aesthetic significance to the community; and that the proposed construction is compatible with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and will not impact the historic, architectural, or aesthetic significance of the contributing historic property. The Committee referred the project back to the Community Development Director with direction to approve the project as submitted, with the applicant to provide photo-documentation of the garage to be demolished.

5. 487 Marsh Street. ARC 1-03; Review of a revised plan for the Manse on Marsh Street; C-R zone; Horizon Senior Housing, applicant.

Committee members had concerns with proposed door to be used as a backing for a historic plaque in terms of maintenance and historic emphasis and integrity. On a motion by Committee member Pavlik, seconded by Committee member Baer, the Committee voted 6-0 to approve the installation of the plaque with text changes per Committee member Landwehr’s suggestions, and with direction to mount the plaque on a metal backing instead of the door, using the posts and finials as shown in plans, with details to be approved by Community Development Department staff.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

6. Request for CHC sponsorship of a lecture on railroad history by Dr. Richard Orsi, tentatively scheduled for November 5, 2005, at the City-County Library Community Room, Cultural Heritage Committee, applicant.

Paula Carr, of Heritage Shared, explained their request. On a motion by Chairperson Crotser, seconded by Committee member Baer, the Committee voted 5-0 to co-sponsor the Orsi public lecture on November 5, 2005, along with Heritage Shared.

7. City-Wide, CHC 94-04; Preparation of a citywide resource survey; Cultural Heritage Committee, applicant.

This item was continued to the October 24, 2005 meeting on a unanimous vote.

Communications:

A. Agenda Forecast – Staff

B. Committee

ADJOURN to the next regular meeting on Monday, October 24, 2005, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.