Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

November 28, 2005                       Monday                                5:30p.m. 

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

 STAFF:                Michael Draze, Deputy Community Development Director, Jeff Hook, Senior Planner 

INTRODUCE and welcome Arleen Cardenas, Planning Intern 

Jeff Hook introduced Arleen Cardenas, a new part-time temporary Planning Intern in the Community Development Department.  He explained that Ms. Cardenas would be working on the citywide historic survey until June 2006 when she planned to graduate from Cal Poly.  Committee members welcomed Ms. Cardenas and expressed their support for the survey project. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  At this time, people may address the committee about items not on the agenda. Items raised are generally referred to the staff and, if action by the committee is necessary, may be scheduled for a future meeting. 

There was no public comment. 

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: 

1.        1015 Court Street.  ARC MI 201-05;  Review a proposed facade remodel of Thai Palace restaurant; C-D-H zone; Teerapan Teeratarkul, applicant.   

Committee members generally felt the proposed remodel was reversible, did not detract from the overall historic and architectural character of the historic Anderson Hotel, and on a motion by Committee member Breska, seconded by Committee member Baer, determined that the project was consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines, and referred the item to the ARC with a recommendation to approve the project as submitted.  Committee members added that the project architect shall verify with staff, as part of the project’s file record, how the mosaic tile will be applied to ensure reversibility.  The motion carried, 6-1 (Committee member Landwehr dissenting). 

2.        969 Monterey Street.  CHC 166-02;  Request to remove a property from the Master List of Historic Properties; C-D-H zone; Steve and Rosalyn Carroll, applicants.   

On a motion by Committee member Wheeler, seconded by Committee member Pavlik, the Committee recommended that the City Council remove the property from the Master List of Historic Resources with the added recommendation that the applicant for the property’s redevelopment provide a historic plaque which would commemorate the former Loobliner Building.  This recommendation was based on the following findings: 

a.      The Committee had previously determined the property no longer met the eligibility standards for historic listing and consequently, that it was not historically significant; and 

b.      The former Loobliner Building, for which the property was designated historic, has been demolished. 

The motion carried, 7-0. 

At the request of the applicant, the Committee decided to consider agenda item #4 next. 

3.        778, 782, 786, 790, 796 Higuera Street and 1029, 1033, 1035, 1037, 1039, 1041 Chorro Street  ARC 115-05;  Review of seismic retrofit, building demolition, new buildings and remodel to Porch Home and Garden; C-D-H zone; Naman Family Trust, applicant.   

The applicant’s representatives, Les Naman, Tim Ronda, Pierre Rademaker, Andrew Merriam and Charles Ashley explained the project and responded to the staff report.  Committee members generally liked the overall project design concept and commended the applicant on the quality of the proposal.  Several Committee members expressed concern with the apparent scale of the project, but felt that design changes were possible that could resolve that concern.  Committee members’ main concern was the proposed demolition of historic Dr. G. B. Chaffe/Burriss Saddlery buildings located at 1029 and 1033 Chorro Street.   Lengthy discussion followed, focusing on two key points:  1) whether the buildings at 1029 – 1033 Chorro Street continued to be historically or architecturally significant and 2) is the proposed project consistent with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.   The Committee took two actions: 

A.     On a motion by Committee member Pavlik, seconded by Committee member Wheeler, the Committee determined that the structures located at 1029 and 1033 Chorro Street continue to meet City eligibility standards for historic listing as Master List properties, considering all of the buildings’ features.  The motion carried, 7-0. 

B.     On a motion by Committee member Pavlik, seconded by Committee member Wheeler, the Committee determined that the proposed project is not consistent with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and General Plan policies regarding historic resource preservation and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties due to the proposed demolition of the historic structures located at 1029 and 1033 Chorro Street.  The motion carried, 7-0. 

4.      1059 Leff Street.  ARC MI 185-05;  Design review of a project converting an existing duplex into a single residential unit with a garage; R-3-H zone; Joyce Nord-Evans, applicant.   

The applicant’s representative, Michael Congdon, responded to the staff report and agreed to incorporate staff’s five recommended design changes into the project to ensure compatibility with the Old Town Historic District.  After a brief discussion and on a motion by Committee member Carpenter, seconded by Committee member Breska, the Committee determined that the proposed project is consistent with the historic architectural character of the house and the Old Town Historic District, and referred the item to the Community Development Director for approval, subject to staff’s five recommended architectural design changes.  The motion carried, 7-0. 

5.        728 Higuera Street.  ARC MOD 119-05;  Review of modifications to an approved building remodel including demolition and reconstruction of one wall; C-D-H zone; Bill Hales, applicant.  

Architect David Brannon explained the proposed changes to the previously approved project and responded to the staff report.  Committee members noted that the previous approval had allowed about two-thirds of the original creek façade to be rebuilt or covered with the new stairwell, and generally supported the removal and reconstruction of the remaining one-third of the original façade, provided that the entire creek façade would be faced with original brick to be removed from the building.

On a motion by Committee member Wheeler, seconded by Committee member Baer, the Committee determined that the proposed project changes are consistent  with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties provided that original brick from the same building is reused as a veneer on the entire creek-facing façade, on both stories.  The motion carried, 7-0. 

DISCUSSION ITEMS: 

6.        Citywide.  CHC 94-04; Preparation of a Citywide Cultural Resources Survey; Cultural Heritage Committee, applicant. 

Mr. Hook briefly explained staff’s approach to the citywide historic survey and noted that Ms. Cardenas would be returning to the CHC to present slides of potentially historic properties.  The Committee supported this approach.  Due to the lateness of the hour, the Committee continued this item to a date uncertain on a unanimous voice vote. 

7.        Communications 

a.  Agenda Forecast – staff 

Staff provided a brief agenda forecast. 

b.  Committee 

Committee members discussed the possibility of canceling the December meeting and asked staff to work with the Chair to determine if, based on the number of projects scheduled for the December meeting, that was feasible.  Mr. Hook said he would get back with the Committee if it was determined that cancellation was possible. 

ADJOURNED to the next regular meeting on Monday, December 19, 2005, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.