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Cultural
Heritage Committee Action Update
April 23, 2007 Monday
5:30p.m.
OATHS OF OFFICE:
Swearing in of new committee members Elise Wheeler, Dean Miller and
John Fowler and returning committee member Barbara Breska.
City Clerk Audrey Hooper administered oath of office to committee
members present. Dean Miller, absent new committee member, will be
sworn in at the May CHC meeting.
ROLL CALL:
Committee Members Elise Wheeler, John Fowler, Lynne Landwehr, Robert
Pavlik, Dean Miller, Vice Chair Barbara Breska and Chairperson Chuck
Crotser.
Committee Members Dean Miller and Robert Pavlik were
absent.
STAFF:
Pam Ricci, Senior Planner, Michael Codron, Associate Planner and Kim
Murry, Deputy Director of Community Development.
ELECTION:
Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
It
was the consensus of the Committee to postpone this item until the May
29th meeting for consideration with the full committee.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None.
MINUTES:
Minutes of the March 26, 2007
regular meeting were approved as amended on a 5:0 vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
ITEMS:
1.
745 Buchon Street.
ARC MI 31-07; Review of demolition and reconstruction of garage for
the historic Bradbury House; R-2-H zone; Scott McIntire, applicant. (Brian
Leveille)
Pam Ricci presented the staff report and summarized the alternatives
for CHC consideration. Garth Kornreich, architect, and Scott McIntire,
applicant specified the desire is to provide a functional garage while
still retaining the architectural style of the Master List house on
the property. Committee members clarified issues of size,
construction for fire safety issues, and materials of the proposed
replacement structure. The architect indicated that no external
parapet will be required and that fire standards will be met by using
internal structural methods. He further clarified that the size of
the proposed garage is slightly smaller than the existing structure.
The applicant clarified that the garage doors will be constructed of
wood. There was no public comment.
ACTION:
On
motion by Committee member Landwehr and seconded by Committee member
Wheeler, the Committee voted 5:0 to determine that the proposed
construction is conditionally compatible with the Historic
Preservation Program Guidelines, provided the proposed sectional door
is compatible with the historic building (e.g. true divided lites,
real wood material and trim boards) to the approval of the Community
Development Director; and to refer the matter to the Community
Development Director with recommendations on changes to the proposed
design.
2.
1880 Santa Barbara Avenue.
ARC 44-07; Review seismic retrofitting of the historic Railroad
Square building and new buildings proposed to the north and south;
C-R-S-H zone; Depot Square LP, applicant.
(Pam Ricci)
Pam Ricci presented the staff report and summarized the
project proposal that includes retrofit of the main Railroad Square
building, demolition of the annexes on the north and south side of the
building, and building additions to the site in the location of the
annexes to be removed. She indicated that the three aspects of the
proposal will require three separate actions. The applicant team of
Carol Florence, George Garcia (architect), Robert Chattel
(preservation consultant), and Hamish Marshall (owner) presented a
slide show explaining the history of the main building, the structural
retrofit details, and the thought process behind the choice of
materials, colors, theme and architectural style of the proposed
structures to replace the annex additions proposed for removal.
Committee members requested clarification of colors and
materials for new structures and seismic retrofit and window details
of the Railroad Square Building. A question about the use of the
existing elevator shaft was raised and the architect indicated that it
is used for mechanical runs from equipment placed on the roof.
Four members of the public spoke and offered input
related to relationship of new buildings to the historic Park Hotel,
as well as the desire to see the historic hoists inside the Railroad
Square building maintained. Other input included pleasure of seeing
new architectural designs and not faux recreations of old buildings
along with gratitude to see the Railroad Square building being
restored. Additional comments included support for separating the new
buildings from the historic building, concerns about the style of the
new buildings as well as concerns about drainage and retention of
redwood trees
Discussion of the Committee focused on support for
saving the Railroad Square building, support for the new buildings
staying within the existing footprint of the annex areas; concerns
about the view of the structure as seen by travelers coming in by
rail; and discussion of style, materials and colors of the new
buildings as they related to the historic Railroad District.
Action:
Item 1
On a motion by Vice Chair Breska and seconded by Committee member
Fowler, the Committee voted 5:0 to forward their determination to the
ARC that the proposed seismic retrofit, both interior and exterior, to
a historic building is consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s
Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties, based on the following
findings:
a.
The interior proposed brace/moment frame system
complements the warehouse style of the interior with its heavy wood
timber framing and exposed brick walls.
b.
Exterior bracing to the parapet is not visible.
Item 2
On
a motion by Committee member Breska and seconded by Committee member
Wheeler, the Committee voted 5:0 that the demolitions of the wood-clad
additions to the north and south of the historic Railroad Square
building will not affect historic structures because the additions are
not included in the historic surveys and are non-contributing.
Item 3
On
a motion by Chairperson Crotser and seconded by Committee member
Fowler, the Committee voted 5:0 to forward their
determination to
the ARC that the proposed buildings are consistent with the Railroad
District Plan and with the City’s Historic Preservation Program
Guidelines, and architecturally compatible with the surrounding area,
with the direction to investigate alternatives for surface colors and
textures and to review the canopy on the east side of the building
for functionality and to lighten up the appearance of the materials,
based on the following findings:
a.
The proposed materials and architectural detailing of
proposed buildings are consistent with the architectural guidelines
contained within the
Railroad District Plan.
b.
The new buildings are of a distinctively different
architectural style from the main historic resource which does not
take away from its prominence on the site.
c.
The new buildings will promote the architectural and
historical character of the main historic resource by providing for
open side views of the structure.
d.
The proposed mix of residential and commercial uses is
consistent with land use patterns discussed in the Railroad District
Plan that promote developments that allow people to live near work
places and services.
3.
Downtown Core.
R/TA 50-06; Preliminary review of proposed design guidelines related
to new buildings in the downtown core; City of San Luis Obispo,
applicant. (Michael Codron)
Michael Codron presented the staff report and
summarized the process and City Council direction in clarifying the
heights for the downtown area. He indicated that with adoption of the
general plan amendments by the City Council, the project has now
entered the phase of developing implementations for the revised
policies. Mr. Codron outlined the subcommittee review of the design
guidelines revisions explained that the CHC item was a progress report
and did not require any final action by the CHC at this time, however,
it was an opportunity for input
Committee members clarified design guideline
recommendations regarding height vs width of buildings, the idea of
contextual sensitivity, and access to sunlight on the northern side of
downtown streets at noon on December 21st
Five members of the public gave input on the topic.
Concerns were expressed about the discretion of the advisory bodies to
approve tall buildings based upon minimal numbers of objectives
included as part of a proposed project; concerns that new buildings
near Mission Plaza do not detract from the Mission; questions about
whether the proposal that allows a height to street width ratio of 1:1
conflicts with the required setback above the 3rd story;
concerns about the cumulative impact of new buildings downtown and
loss of unique character of downtown. Other input included the need to
provide more opportunities for public input; and the need to address
more than two-dimensional design only. Other design input included
points that design guidelines need to prevent a mega-block look. The
proposed guidelines need to address all visible sides of tall
buildings. Input included testimony about the quality of light in the
downtown space and the need to address the impact to vegetation from
decreased access to light. Other input included the observation that
technology to model the downtown core and its massing would be helpful
to define areas that could accommodate taller heights. Design
guidelines should not require new buildings to mimic historic - allow
creative approaches to design. New buildings should address energy
and conservation issues.
Michael Codron summarized the public input and
responded to the questions raised. Committee members wanted to ensure
that public input gets passed on to other advisory bodies and shared
concerns that new buildings shouldn’t impinge or detract from historic
buildings such as the Mission or the Carnegie Library. The Committee
suggested printing the revised draft guidelines in the newspaper or
finding some other way to involve the public and also suggested a
joint meeting of the CHC and the ARC for the second review of the
draft guidelines.
ACTION:
On
a motion by Committee member Fowler and seconded by Committee member
Breska, the Committee voted 5:0 to direct staff to take into
consideration the comments from the public and the Committee in their
evaluation of changes to the draft guidelines and to bring comments
and revisions back, possibly during a joint meeting with the ARC.
Chairperson Crotser suggested that actual examples of different ways
new buildings have been integrated into historic areas or adjacent to
historic buildings would be a very effective communication tool.
COMMUNICATIONS:
A.
Biennial
Review of Bylaws
The Committee discussed the bylaws and whether the purposes listed in
Article 1 reflect any kind of priority. The consensus expressed was
that the Committee could develop priorities among the purposes but
that the bylaws were not the place for this.
ACTION:
On
a motion by Committee member Wheeler and seconded by Committee member
Breska, the Committee voted 5:0 to approve the existing bylaws with a
modification to Article 3 B to reflect the five historical
districts as opposed to the three referenced in the bylaws.
B.
Agenda
Forecast - Staff
Staff gave a brief update of the one item scheduled for the May 29th
meeting and also informed the Committee of an upcoming historic
preservation workshop sponsored by the State Historic Preservation
Office to be held on June 1, 2007.
C.
Historic
Survey Status
Nothing to report.
D.
Committee
Nothing to report.
The meeting ADJOURNED at 9:20 p.m. to the next
regular meeting on
Tuesday, May 29, 2007,
at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis
Obispo. |
