Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

July 23, 2007                       Monday                                5:30p.m.

ROLL CALL:      Committee Members, Chuck Crotser, Lynne Landwehr, John Fowler, Dean Miller, Elise Wheeler, Vice Chair Robert Pavlik and Chairperson Barbara Breska

                               All members were present. 

STAFF:                Phil Dunsmore, Associate Planner; Jeff Hook, Senior Planner    

 PUBLIC COMMENT:   None

MINUTES:   Minutes of the June 25, 2007 regular meeting were approved as amended on a 7:0 vote.

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: 

1.      642 Monterey Street.  FH 98-07; Request to allow a 3 foot iron fence on top of an existing granite wall for an overall height of 5 feet where 3 feet is allowed along the street yard of the Historic Master List “Hays-Latimer Adobe” residence; O-H zone; Dave Hannings, applicant.   

         Jeff Hook presented the staff report and Dave Hannings explained the project.  He noted that the railing would be installed behind the stone wall, adjacent to Monterey Street.  The railing would not be attached to the stone wall and would be about 5 feet tall including the height of the existing stone wall.  The purpose of the railing was to provide security while enhancing the property’s historic character.  In response to committee member questions, he explained that he had researched numerous railing designs and many appeared too “modern”; he wanted a Victorian-style design that complemented the historic house. 

         There was no public comment. 

         Committee members supported the concept of providing a low, freestanding railing behind the stone wall at the front of the property.  Committee member Fowler was concerned that the railing could obscure views of the historic home from the street and could not support this railing design.  Committee members Miller, Breska and Crotser felt a simpler railing design would be more compatible with the historic house.  Committee members Landwehr, Pavlik and Wheeler felt the design was acceptable as proposed. 

On a motion by Committee member Crotser, seconded by Chairperson Breska, the CHC voted 5-2 (Committee members Fowler and Miller) to determine that the proposed project is consistent with the Historical Preservation Program Guidelines and will not affect the historic, architectural or aesthetic significance of the Old Town Historic District, provided that the railing is freestanding and not attached to the stone retaining wall, and that the historic plaque will be relocated if necessary to the satisfaction of the Community Development Director.  The Committee referred the railing project to the Community Development Director for approval, with the suggestion that the applicant explore using a simpler railing design.   The motion carried. 

2.      2056 Rachel Street. ARCMI 184-06; Review of new residence behind existing residence; R-2 zone; David Fosse, applicant. (Continued from 6-25-07)  (Phil Dunsmore) 

         Phil Dunsmore presented the staff report and slides showing the project site and existing house.  He provided background on the request and noted the Planning Commission had approved the existing house as a “Secondary Dwelling Unit”, with the proposed house to serve as the primary dwelling.  He explained that based on the Commission’s action, the project meets residential density regulations.  He said the main issue was whether the proposed California Spanish style home was architecturally compatible with the existing house and the neighborhood. 

         Marcy Villa, applicant, described the project and said sidewalk and stairs would be added to serve the existing house.  She explained that she is descended from an old California family and has always wanted to build and live in a California Spanish style home.  She noted there were many examples of California Spanish architecture in the neighborhood and this project would be designed in that theme.  She added that the site has dense trees that would effectively screen the proposed house from the street, and that the trees would be preserved with the development.  The existing and proposed houses would not be easily viewed together because of the tree canopy. 

         Most committee members supported the project and felt it would be compatible with the site and the neighborhood.  Their main concern was that the proposed construction, including the new driveway, should not adversely affect the trees and tree roots.  The applicant assured committee members that the trees would be protected during and after construction, and the driveway would be designed to avoid root damage – possibly with concrete “tracks” with pavers between.   

         Committee member Fowler complemented the applicants on their passion and intent to build an attractive project.  He couldn’t support the project however because he felt that City guidelines call for the new house to be designed to reflect style elements and materials of the front house, and this project didn’t do that. 

         Public Comment

      John Spatafore voiced support for the project because it would provide additional housing appropriate for teachers and young professionals, and would preserve part of the City’s history (the historic front house).  The public hearing was closed. 

On a motion by Committee member Crotser, seconded by Committee member Wheeler, the Committee voted 6-1 to determine that the proposed new construction is compatible with the Historical Preservation Program Guidelines and that the project will complement the existing Contributing Historic property.  The Committee referred the project to the Community Development Director for action on the architectural review application.  The motion carried.

3.  1204 Nipomo Street.  CHC 114-07; Consideration of renaming the Historic Master List residence “Logan House” to “Parson House”; C-D zones; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.  (Jeff Hook)

      Jeff Hook presented the staff report and provided a brief background on the request.  Committee member Miller added that historic documentation provided by Pamela J. Parsons clearly showed that Parsons family built and resided in the home and the its historic name should logically be the Parsons House, not the Logan House as it’s currently named.  All Committee members agreed that a name change was warranted and agreed that a simpler process for changing historic names was needed.

      Public Comment

      Dan Carpenter, 2030 Johnson Avenue, supported the name change.  He suggested the CHC also consider providing a historic plaque or some type of interpretive historic sign for the Sheriff Hathway house on Ella Street at Johnson Avenue (San Luis Obispo Housing Authority Senior Housing project).  He felt the City needed to develop some form of consistent historic signage for Contributing historic properties. The public hearing was closed.

On a motion by Committee member Crotser, seconded by Committee member Wheeler, the Committee voted 7:0 to determine that “Parsons House” is a more appropriate historic name for the Master List property located at 1204 Nipomo Street, and to recommend to the City Council that the historic name for this property be changed accordingly.

BUSINESS: 

4.      Citywide.  GPA/ER 49-06; Continued discussion of the South Broad Street Corridor Plan to develop a work program for a historic survey of the area; (continued from 6-25-07) (Jeff Hook) 

         Mr. Hook updated the Committee on the status of the South Broad Street Corridor Plan.  Committee members unanimously agreed to meet at Fire Station No. 1 on Broad Street at 9 am on Sunday, August 5 to take a walking tour of the area, photograph and document historic resources in the planning area.  The agreed there would be an “optional” breakfast at 8 am at the Del Monte Café on Santa Barbara Street.  Committee member Crotser said he would print out a map for use at the walking tour.  Mr. Hook noted the walking tour/field study would be a public meeting and would have public notice in case members of the public wanted to attend.  Committee members agreed and most members said they planned to attend. 

5.      Certified Local Government Program (CLG) -   Review of Information Related to the Certified Local Government Program (CLG), California Office of Historic Preservation (Jeff Hook)        

         Jeff Hook explained that the Committee considered participating in this program several years ago and decided not to proceed at that time because of the amount of work involved in applying for the program.  He suggested that it may be more timely now because the City is developing a draft historic preservation ordinance and working on a citywide historic survey.  Committee members agreed that it may be timely to reconsider the CLG program and asked staff to put it on the August agenda.

 COMMUNICATIONS: 

A.     Agenda Follow Up and Forecast – Staff 

   1.      Discussion regarding, 1) Stock language for CHC actions; and 2) How the Secretary of the Interior standards apply to Master List and Contributing List historic resources. – Staff 

Mr. Hook suggested this item be continued to the August CHC agenda; he wanted to work with other staff to develop draft “stock language” for the Committee’s review.  Item 2 regarding Secretary of the Interior’s standards needed additional study and would also be rescheduled for the August or September CHC meeting. 

   2.    Agenda Forecast - Staff 

Staff provided an agenda forecast for the August meeting. 

B.           Committee 

Committee member Landwehr felt that the Commission should encourage and/or allow historic plaques to be installed closer to the street where needed for good visibility.  She said the City should explain installation options when the plaque is provided to property owners.  Committee member Crotser felt some simple graphic sketches could show installation options clearly and simply. 

There was general discussion about the recent Council decision regarding relocation of the “Logan House” and Committee members asked about reviewing the proposed new site for the house.  Mr. Hook explained that the CHC would review plans for relocation from the perspective of whether relocation affected the house’s historic status.  The Committee would determine whether the property remained on the Master List, changed to the Contributing Properties list or removed from historic listing.        

Committee member Landwehr asked about the status of the restoration plan for the historic Mancilla-Freitas adobe on Chorro Street.  The CHC recommended the plan as part of its action on owner Larry Hoyt’s proposed changes/redevelopment of the property.  Mr. Hook noted that the applicant had indicated the project was on hold at present, but that when ready, a restoration plan would be referred to the CHC for review and recommendation. 

The meeting ADJOURNED to the next regular meeting on Monday, August 27, 2007, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.