Cultural Heritage Committee Meeting Update

April 27, 2009                              Monday                                            5:30 p.m.

OATH OF OFFICE:  Assistant City Clerk Elaina Cano administered the oath of office to new members Dan Carpenter and Jeff Oliveira 

ROLL CALL:      Committee Members Barbara Breska, Dan Carpenter, Katy Davis, Dean Miller, Jeff Oliveira, Acting Vice-Chair Chuck Crotser, and Acting Chair John Fowler.  All members were present. 

STAFF:            Assistant Planner James David, Associate Planner Brian Leveille, and Senior Planner Jeff Hook

ELECTION:        On unanimous votes, John Fowler and Chuck Crotser were elected Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, respectively.  

PUBLIC COMMENT:  None 

MINUTES:  The minutes of March 23, 2009, were approved as submitted.   

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: 

1.  756 Palm Street.  ARCMI 26-09; Review rear addition to a Contributing historical resource; demolition of a non-historical rear dwelling unit; and construction of a garage at the rear of the property with a replacement one-bedroom apartment above; R-4-H zone; Ralph Peters, applicant.  (James David) 

James David presented the staff report recommending support for the project, and architect Robert Adamis responded to questions.  During the public hearing, Bob Vessely expressed concern that the house addition was inconsistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and that fragments of cultural resource materials found on site were significant. David Brodie felt the Committee should consider changes to historic properties in a neighborhood context, not as isolated properties. 

Committee members expressed concern about the scale of the addition, the garage door design, and porch details.  Committee members asked the applicant to differentiate the new building from the old in terms of architecture. 

Committee Member Crotser moved to determine that the proposed project was consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and to refer the item to the Community Development Director with a recommendation to approve the plans subject to findings and conditions.  Committee Member Davis seconded the motion. 

Committee members commented on the decorative porch brackets on the Palm Street façade proposed for replacement with a latticework trim, and the need to perform additional research to determine if the decorative brackets were an original “signature” design element that should remain.  The motion maker and second agreed to modify the motion to address the issues of decorative front porch brackets, garage doors, and cultural resources. 

The amended motion carried, 5:2 (Committee Members Breska and Miller voting no).

2.   375 Chorro Street.  CHC 21-09; Review of proposed remodel and addition, request for nomination to Master List of Historic Resources, and request to enter into a Mills Act Historic Preservation contract; R-1 zone; Michael Mulvihill, applicant. (Brian Leveille) 

Brian Leveille presented the staff report and project architect Greg Wynn explained the project and responded to questions.  There was no public comment. 

Committee Member Oliveira was concerned that due to the project’s proximity to Old Garden Creek, cultural resources may be affected by site grading and construction.  He urged the project follow Bertrando report recommendations and Archaeological Resource Preservation Program Guidelines. 

Several Committee members voiced concern that consideration of a Mills Act contract may be premature until the project was built.  They asked that the contract include provisions that tied the program benefits to completion of the project as shown in CHC-approved plans. 

The Committee approved two motions: 

Motion 1: 

On a motion by Committee Member Crotser, seconded by Committee Member Breska, the Committee found the proposed house additions to and renovation of the Chris Anholm House to be consistent with Historic Preservation Guidelines and recommended the City Council add the property to the Master List of Historic Resources and approve a Mills Act contract, subject to findings and one condition.

The motion carried, 6:1 (Committee Member Miller voting no). 

Motion 2: 

On a motion by Committee Member Crotser, seconded by Committee Member Breska, the Committee recommended that the City Council approve a Mills Act contract for the Chris Anholm House, subject to a finding and a condition. 

The motion carried, 6:1 (Committee Member Miller voting no). 

3.   City-Wide.  GPI 165-08; Re-consideration of nominating properties located at 743, 796, and 797 Caudill Street, 778 Francis Avenue, 2502, 2546, 2663, and 2691 Victoria Avenue, 2950 McMillan Street, and 753 Woodbridge Street to the Contributing Properties List of Historic Resources; and consideration of removing properties located at 750 & 756 Woodbridge Street from the Contributing Properties List of Historic Resources; Draft South Broad Street Corridor Plan Area Historic Resources; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.  (Continued from the February 23, 2009, CHC Meeting)  (Jeff Hook) 

Jeff Hook presented the staff report and seven people spoke on the proposed historic listing:  six persons opposed to historic listing of several properties, and one property owner in support of historic listing of his property.  After lengthy public testimony, Committee discussion, and two failed motions to recommend the City Council add properties to the Contributing properties list, Chairperson Fowler stated that the Committee was unable to reach a consensus to support historic listing.  Mr. Hook noted that by not forwarding a nomination to the City Council, no further action would be taken on the Committee’s previous historic nomination and that the item would not go to the City Council for consideration.  Committee members indicated that a discussion of possible historic district status for the South Broad Street area may be useful.  Committee Member Miller moved that the question of Historic District status for the South Broad Street planning area be placed on a CHC agenda for discussion.  The motion was seconded by Committee Member Carpenter and carried 7:0.

COMMUNICATIONS: 

1. Interpretive Signage for Juan Bautista de Anza Trail.  Jeff Hook showed photographs of the proposed public information sign and explained that the sign was proposed in Mission Plaza, since the Juan Bautista de Anza party was believed to have stayed at the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa on its historic travels through California.  On a unanimous vote, the Committee endorsed installing the sign in Mission Plaza, with staff to approve the sign location.

2. Agenda Forecast – Staff.  Staff provided an agenda forecast and noted the May CHC meeting was changed to Tuesday, May 26^th due to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday the 25^th.

3. Committee

ADJOURNMENT