Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

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

ROLL CALL: Chairperson Paula Juelke Carr, Vice-Chair Tom Wheeler, Sandy Baer, Barbara Breska, Chuck Crotser, Robert Pavlik, and Frank Scotti. Committee member Baer was absent.

STAFF: Jeff Hook, Senior Planner and Claire Clark, Seismic Retrofit Program Coordinator

PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.

MINUTES: The minutes of the January 24, 2005 regular meeting were approved.

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS:
1. 2005 Dalidio Drive. ARC PA 108-02: Review of a Public Art proposal for the proposed SLO Marketplace; SLO Marketplace Association, LLC, applicant. (Pam Ricci)

Jeff Hook presented the staff report. Bill Byrd, applicant, described the project background and Joe Werthheimer, artist, described the public artwork and the historic research done.

Chairperson Carr opened the public hearing. There was no public comment, and Commission discussion followed. Committee member Crotser liked the project and stated that as long as Chairperson Carr proofread the text on the plaques, he was comfortable with the project. Committee member Wheeler noted that the Chumash Native Americans in this area did not use canoes because the sea was too rough north of Point Conception. He would like to see more emphasis in the historic text and artwork on gathering of sea resources. He had many other suggestions and felt that the artwork needed to reflect a contemporary view of Native Americans. Committee member Pavlik liked the artwork's emphasis on place, trade, cultural continuity-themes he felt were on-going today. Chairperson Carr thanked the artist and commented that it was refreshing to see historic information on the Dalidio property included. Thematically she'd like more emphasis on history of this place (the farm), and liked the "water story." Committee member Pavlik suggested that the artwork show continuity of use between generations (e.g. El Camino Real, now State Highway 101).

Committee members supported the artwork and felt it was generally accurate with respect to the Community's historic record, with some notable exceptions (e.g. roles and method of arrival of Portola v. Cabrillo). On a motion by Chairperson Carr, seconded by Committee member Wheeler, the Committee determined that with changes, the artwork will be historically accurate and appointed a subcommittee composed of Paula Carr, Tom Wheeler, and Bob Pavlik to work with the artist on artwork text changes. The motion carried, 6-0.

2. 962 Monterey Street. ARC MI 20-05: Review of a seismic retrofit and street level façade modification of a two-story masonry building; C-D-H zone; Copeland Enterprises, applicant. (Pam Ricci)

Jeff Hook presented the staff report. Mark Rawson, architect, explained the proposed building design. He noted that the planned tenant's architect wanted a more contemporary design for the new "Urban Outfitters" store on the ground floor. He said the proposed design represented a compromise, in that the tenant would prefer a plain concrete wainscot.

Chairperson Carr opened the public hearing. There was no public comment, and Commission discussion followed. Committee member Scotti felt a concrete wainscot or "bulkhead" would not be compatible with the historic building. Committee member Crotser wondered if it would be possible to create a divided lite transom window above the storefront to tie the ground floor in with the windows on the second story. Rawson said the tenants were opposed to that approach. Committee member Wheeler preferred the rehabilitation design plans approved by the City in 1999. He was concerned that the proposed black tile and contemporary storefront effectively created two different building facades. He could not support a plain concrete bulkhead. Committee member Breska felt the design looked too modern for the Downtown Historic District. The approved 1999 remodel plan looked more "San Luis Obispo" than the current plan. She preferred brick storefront columns to tie the upper and lower stories architecturally, and had a problem with the new treatment. She could support the proposed center storefront door. Committee member Crotser liked the new design solution and felt black tile on the wainscot was fine. He would like to see the windows divided above the storefront as transom windows, and was concerned that the diagonal seismic braces proposed behind the storefront be visible and detract from the building's historic character. He believed a "moment frame" design would be a good solution to this problem. Committee member Scotti felt the design was generally OK, but that a tile wainscot was a must, and would like to see some divided lites in the transom window above the storefront to create more verticality.

Committee member Pavlik was OK with the proposed design. Chairperson Carr felt that since this was a Master List property, it was important to consider what makes the building unique. The upper façade's materials, angles and details were unique and characteristic of the period in which it was built. The proposed ground story looks like a different building to a person walking by. She was concerned that the Committee was going "far afield" to accommodate a tenant's preferences that were not consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. She felt we did not know enough about the original building to assume the proposed storefront resembled the original façade. As a minimum, she felt a transom with vertically divided lites was needed.

On a motion by Committee member Crotser, seconded by Committee member Scotti, the Committee voted 4-2 (Carr, Wheeler) to determine the proposed project was consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, provided changes are implemented to ensure the project will not impact the historic, architectural, or aesthetic significance of the historic property or the Downtown Historic District. The project was referred to the Architectural Review Commission or to the Community Development Director with the following recommendations:

1. The storefront window jambs shall be extended through the transom window.
2. A ceramic tile bulkhead shall be used.
3. The applicant should "explore" the possibility of using a moment frame rather than diagonal braces to prevent seismic reinforcement from being visible through the storefront. The motion carried.

3. 798 Palm Street. ARC MI 13-05: Review of a request to remove an existing storage shed and construct a new addition in conjunction with a seismic retrofit; R-4-H zone; Frank Dufault, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore)

Jeff Hook presented the staff report. Steve Pults, architect, explained the proposed demolition/addition. He noted that Air-Vol Block could match the old brick closely, and that the addition would be within the "footprint" of the existing shed addition. Chairperson Carr opened the public hearing. There was no public comment, and Commission discussion followed.

Chairperson Carr felt the wood shed was characteristic of the Chinatown Historic District and would like to somehow preserve this feature. She was concerned the brick building addition might complete with the Ah Louis Store across Chorro Street. The relationship of the wood shed to the main brick building was historic and archetypical. She suggested the wood fence along Chorro Street be preserved with the new building setback slightly behind. Committee member Breska did not feel the shed addition needed to be preserved.

On a motion by Committee member Wheeler, seconded by Committee member Crotser, the Committee determined that the proposed demolition and building addition are conditionally compatible with the Community Design Guidelines and the Historical Preservation Program Guidelines, provided that appropriately matched exterior materials are used in the new design, and referred the project to the Community Development Director with a recommendation to allow the demolition of the wood structure and a new addition subject to photo documentation and archaeological studies being provided as required by City standards. The motion carried, 6-0.

4. 1061 Islay Street. ARC MI 11-05: Review of a second story addition to an existing residence; R-3-H zone; Jannie Taylor, applicant. (Buzz Kalkowski)

Jeff Hook presented the staff report. Lou Kluver Smith, architect, added that the addition was designed a sewing room and would match the building's details. Chairperson Carr opened the public hearing. Martha Steward, neighbor, felt the project looked good. Hearing no further public comment, Chairperson Carr closed the public hearing and on a motion by Committee member Crotser, seconded by Committee member Wheeler, the Committee voted 6-0 to determine the proposed addition was consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and referred the project to the Community Development Director with a recommendation to approve the plans as submitted.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

5. Special Meeting on March 14, 2005 to discuss permit processing for Unreinforced Masonry Buildings. (Claire Clark, Seismic Retrofit Program Coordinator)

Mr. Hook introduced Claire Clark who briefly explained the Seismic Retrofit Program. She noted the City expected to be processing many seismic retrofit building permits in the near future, and that staff hoped to streamline the process where possible by 1) advising applicants on ways to comply with historical preservation standards, and 2) approving seismic retrofits of historic buildings at a staff level whenever possible.

Mr. Hook asked the Committee to schedule a special meeting on Monday, March 14th at 5:30 p.m. to discuss permit processing for seismically strengthening URM buildings and to address preservation issues in connection with such retrofits. On a motion by Committee member Crotser, seconded by Committee member Breska, the Committee scheduled the special meeting as requested on a 6-0 vote.

Due to the lateness of the hour, the Committee unanimously continued items 6 and 7 to the March 28, 2005 meeting.

The meeting ADJOURNED at 8:30 p.m. to the special CHC meeting to be held on Monday, March 14, 2005, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.