Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

December 18, 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  

Committee members Baer and Landwehr were absent. 

STAFF:  Jeff Hook, Senior Planner 

PUBLIC COMMENT:   

None. 

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

The minutes of November 27, 2006 were approved as amended on a 5-0 vote.  

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: 

1.        847, 861, 863, 877 Palm Street and 955 Morro Street.  ARC 69-05.  Review proposed workscope and fieldwork plan for cultural resource investigation of the Chinatown Mixed-Use Project site in the Downtown Historic District; C-D-H zone. SLO Chinatown, LLC, applicant.  (Pam Ricci) 

Wendy Nettles and Barry Price, consulting archaeologists with Applied Earthworks, described existing site conditions and challenges.  CHC members supported the planned historical and archaeological study approach and asked the consultants to explain their public education and scheduling strategies.  Mr. Price described their planned research and field methodology and noted that the Chinatown project development site is a large, complex and potentially rich site with multiple levels of archaeological deposits from different historical and prehistoric periods.   To identify, evaluate, and if necessary, recover significant cultural resources, they planned to follow a “consolidated approach,” as described in the scope of work included with the CHC staff report, an approach also used effectively for the Court Street development and Morro Parking Structure sites.  Barry Price explained they would coordinate with the development team to allow sufficient time to fully evaluate the site prior to start of construction, and they would include public information displays, tours and other methods to explain the process, finds and their significance.  In response to Committee member Wheeler, Mr. Price said that a “research design” would be part of the project’s environmental determination/mitigation, and it would describe survey methods in detail. 

Russel Hodin, a member of the public, asked Mr. Price if there would be an opportunity for “peer review” of the consolidated approach, and suggested that all Native American groups with any involvement with the site or the Old Mission be contacted for their input.  Mr. Price said that peer review was part of the process, and that they were contacting Native American groups as suggested.   He said he would be glad to present a lecture on their findings at the appropriate time and venue.  All Committee members supported the proposal and thanked Ms. Nettles and Mr. Price for the presentation.   

2.        2037 Santa Barbara Avenue.  ARC MI 155-06; Review of a proposed commercial building with a restored residence used as a caretaker’s quarters, located in the Railroad Historic District; C-S-H zone; Chad Brooks, applicant.  (Brian Leveille)  

Jeff Hook presented the staff report.  The applicant, Chad Brooks, and project architect, John Pryor, described the project.  They explained the proposed building’s exterior materials and architectural details were selected to look like a historic railroad depot.  Mr. Brooks noted that he did not want to move the building forward on the lot, as called for in city historical and architectural design guidelines, due to difficulty in providing parking and the additional cost to move the house already on the lot (and proposed as the second story over a new building).  Committee members lauded the project’s historic design and the effort to recycle an older house, but noted the upper floor windows needed to reflect the “railroad vernacular” design of the lower floor windows.  Committee members agreed that the building needed to move forward on the lot as called for by city policies to reflect the District’s historic character and to promote a more walkable and attractive streetscape.  They encouraged the applicant to explore the feasibility of shared driveways with either the neighbor to the north or south. 

Mr. John Brooks (father of applicant) described his property and changes to the Railroad District over time.  He asked the Committee to support the request. 

On a motion by Committee member Wheeler, seconded by Committee member Breska, the Committee voted 5-0 to determine that the project was conditionally compatible with the Railroad Historic District and architectural guidelines provided changes are implemented to ensure the project will complement the District and to refer the project to the Community Development Director with these specific recommendations on changes to the proposed design: 

1.      Upper floor window design and materials shall be consistent with the “railroad   vernacular” window designs proposed on the lower floor. 

2.      Placement of building on the site shall be consistent with the Railroad District Plan     and with Community Design Guidelines. 

The Committee thanked the applicant and encouraged him to study the possibility of a shared access and parking with adjacent lots. 

3.        794 Buchon Street. ARCMI 173-06; Review of an addition and remodel to a non-contributing house in the Old Town Historic District; R-2-H zone; Scott and Barbara Radovich, applicants. (Jaime Hill)  

Jeff Hook presented the staff report, noting that the project involved an addition and remodel to a non-contributing house in the Old Town Historic District.  He added that staff felt the proposed remodel appeared consistent with the historic character of the neighborhood and adjacent historic homes.  Tom Brajkovich, architect, described the project and explained their intent to make the house more “vertical” in its design for neighborhood compatibility.  He added the rear secondary unit would be clad with horizontal wood siding to match the main house, and the garage would have a “carriage type” sectional door.  Owner Scott Radovich spoke in support of the request, and Chairperson Crotser read comments aloud from a neighbor, David Booker, 785 Buchon, voicing support for the project.  Claire Clark, friend of the applicants, also supported the project.  Committee members felt the house will be an attractive and compatible addition to the neighborhood.  On a motion by Committee member Carpenter, seconded by Committee member Wheeler, the Committee voted 5-0 to determine that the proposed project was consistent with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and will be architecturally compatible with the Old Town Historic District.  The Committee referred the project to the Community Development Director with direction to approve the project as submitted.  

COMMUNICATIONS: 

a. Agenda Forecast – staff 

Staff described two agenda items for the January 22, 2007 meeting:  the Chinatown mixed-use project and demolition of four buildings at the Leitcher Apartments site, 667 Monterey Street. 

b.  Committee 

ADJOURN to the next regular meeting on Monday, January 22, 2007, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.