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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-22-2015 CHC Draft Minutes of 05-26-15DRAFT SAN LUIS OBISPO CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE MINUTES May 26, 2015 ROLL CALL: Present: Committee Members James Papp, Sandy Baer, Victoria Wood, Craig Kincaid, vacant position, Vice-Chair Thom Brajkovich, Chair Jaime Hill Absent: None Staff: Senior Planner Brian Leveille, Deputy Director Kim Murry, and Assistant Planner Walter Oetzell ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was accepted as presented. MINUTES: Minutes of April 27, 2015, were approved as amended. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: There were no comments from the public. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: 1. 1921 Santa Barbara Avenue. ARCH-0521-2014; Continued review of a Mitigated Negative Declaration for four live/work units and a small commercial suite in the Railroad Historic District; C-S-H zone; Garcia Family Trust, applicant. Deputy Director Kim Murry provided the staff presentation which included an overview of previous CHC review and recommendations, followed by a discussion of purview of the CHC in providing input to the cultural resources section of the proposed environmental determination. She also discussed the distinction between neighborhood compatibility concerns versus the identification of potentially-significant environmental impacts to cultural resources as they are defined by CEQA. Committee Member Papp asked whether there is any basis in CEQA for particular setbacks from adjacent historic resources. Kim Murry responded that CEQA does not provide specific mitigations and that each project is evaluated for its individual circumstances. Vice-Chair Brajkovich commented that it is difficult to tell whether the mitigations are adequate without the changes shown on plans. Committee Member Baer stated that neighborhood character is being threatened and that the project will block views, light, and privacy. Committee Member Wood noted that the CHC had previously expressed concerns with previous actions and there have been no changes to the project. Draft CHC Minutes May 26, 2015 Page 2 Kim Murry responded that the CHC’s previous action finding the project in conformance with the Railroad District Plan and Historic Preservation Ordinance but identifying a potential impact to adjacent historic resources lead to a process by which the environmental review is out of sequence with the CHC’s previous review of the project. Chair Hill commented that the CHC’s previous action has taken the CHC to the current point where focus is narrowed to the review of mitigation measures and that the ARC will conduct future review of the project. Committee Member Baer noted she wanted to make sure the CHC is informed when the project will be considered by the ARC. Committee Member Papp inquired about where the CHC’s action on April 27th went awry. Kim Murry responded that because the CHC took action in January to find the project in conformance and to recommend approval to the ARC, that re-opening the discussion about the project’s overall architectural style and neighborhood compatibility (part of the action taken in January) was procedurally inappropriate; and that the focus and remaining purview for the CHC is to address potential impacts to historic resources and provide input on possible mitigations for consideration. Deputy Director Murry observed that the sequencing of the CHC’s review of the project made it especially challenging to separate the design issues from the discussion of potential environmental impacts to historic resources. In response to Committee Member Wood’s question about potential impacts to the Valley Oak Tree, Brian Leveille noted that there are existing regulations on pruning and impact avoidance. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Applicant, George Garcia reiterated previous CHC review and that the project will respond with adjustments for ARC review and that the tree will be protected. Jason Browning, resident of 868 Upham Street, stated his concerns regarding protection of the historic neighborhood and the proposed massing and size of the project. He noted the project needs a gentler transition to the neighborhood and urged the CHC to adopt alternative #2 recommending denial of the project. Daniel Shaw, Chorro Street resident, expressed concerns that the massing and scale of the project will significantly impact neighborhood character. He noted the CHC should find mitigation measures are not adequate and should recommend denial of the project to the ARC. Debbie Collins, SLO resident, and owner of 875 Upham Street and the Del Monte Café property neighboring the project site stated there would only be six feet of separation between her residence and the project. She also commented on how far the oak tree Draft CHC Minutes May 26, 2015 Page 3 extends over the property line and expressed concerns regarding loss of sunlight and privacy. Leslie Terry, resident on Chorro Street noted concern over the potential precedence set by the project and that the character of the neighborhood will be impacted. He noted the Mitigated Negative Declaration can only be issued for the final version of the project which the CHC has not seen. He noted that protection of the residential neighborhood should be the first priority where commercial and residential zoning abuts. He noted the lack of analysis in the Biological resources section regarding protection of the tree. He recommended the CHC find mitigation measures inadequate and recommend denial to the ARC. Wayne Terry, SLO resident, discussed the Tree Committee’s recent action to recommend listing of the Valley Oak tree on the adjacent property to Heritage Tree status. He noted the initial study failed to address potential impacts to the tree including issues with compaction, solar access, canopy pruning, and root pruning; and supported alternate action #2, recommending the ARC deny the project. Julie Watts, resident at 843 Upham, stated the project directly impacts her privacy and quality of life for her family. She stated the 35 feet of separation between her home and the project is not adequate to avoid impacts. She stated the CHC should recommend the ARC deny the project. John Grady, 1829 Morro Street, reminded the CHC that previous concerns of project mass and scale have not been addressed. He noted the initial study analysis is not adequate in its evaluation of impacts to scenic vistas, biological resources (Valley Oak tree), or impacts to cultural resources as a result of the scale and mass of the project. He urged the CHC recommend denial of the project to the ARC. COMMITTEE COMMENTS: Kim Murry clarified the Committee’s purview over historic resources and that evaluation of potential impacts to, and mitigations to address the tree could be appropriate since it is pending Heritage Tree designation. To clarify, she noted that the ARC is the body that will take action on the Mitigated Negative Declaration and the environmental determination will accompany the project to final ARC action on the project. Committee Member Papp offered that he did not think the mitigation measures are adequate and that the project does materially affect the character of the neighborhood. He stated the project needs more mitigation or the CHC needs to recommend to the ARC that the plan is not adequate. Vice-Chair Brajkovich stated the CHC has a narrow focus and that the mitigations do not appear effective and he would like to see a revised project. Committee Member Baer stated she is concerned the neighborhood is threatened and the building will block views, privacy, and light. Draft CHC Minutes May 26, 2015 Page 4 Committee Member Wood noted she has been consistent in and voted the same way each time. Committee Member Kincaid noted that it is difficult to find the right balance at the transition point between two zones and that Land Use Element policies prioritize residential character over commercial. Chair Hill stated she is concerned that staff recommended mitigation is very precise and only looks at setbacks. She noted that mitigation measure #2 only asks for view studies but is not an actual mitigation. There were no further comments from the Committee and the Committee was unable to suggest mitigations to address their concerns. The CHC took a 10-minute recess to allow staff to propose alternative language for CHC consideration. Following the recess, Kim Murry offered that trying to provide alternate mitigations could result in a redesign of the project on the fly without the ability to fully understand whether such a redesign would trigger other issues not previously evaluated. She recommended the CHC adopt a modified alternative #2 to indicate the CHC was unable to determine that the proposed mitigation measures were adequate to address potentially significant impacts to historic resources and recommend that the ARC develop adequate mitigation measures or deny the project. Chair Hill provided modifications to the recommended language for the CHC’s action recommending denial of the project to the ARC. Committee Member Kincaid clarified with staff that the resolution will be modified since findings proposed in the resolution included in the staff report would not be consistent with the CHC’s action. On motion by Committee Member Baer, seconded by Committee Member Papp, to adopt a resolution recommending the following to the Architectural Review Commission: The CHC finds that proposed mitigation measures for cultural resources addressing massing, scale, compatibility of development and protection of the Valley Oak tree are not adequate to address potentially significant environmental impacts to historic resources and recommends the ARC develop adequate mitigation measures as part of project review, or deny the project. AYES: Committee Members Papp, Baer, Kincaid, Brajkovich, and Hill NOES: Committee Member Wood RECUSED: None ABSENT: None The motion passed on a 5:1 vote (one seat vacant). Draft CHC Minutes May 26, 2015 Page 5 2. 1053 Islay Street. ARCH-1170-2015; Review of a remodel and addition behind a residence that is a Contributing List Resource in the Old Town Historic District; R- 3-H zone; Lesa Jones, applicant. (Continued to a date certain – June 22, 2015) COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 3. Staff a. Agenda Forecast Brian Leveille provided information regarding an upcoming façade remodel project in the downtown at 733 Higuera Street. Brian Leveille provided information on the upcoming joint CHC/ARC design review training on June 10th and 11th and also encouraged those CHC members who were unable to attend the advisory body training conducted on April 30th to review the PowerPoints and video from the training. 4. Committee By consensus, the CHC nominated Chair Hill (with Committee Member Papp available as an alternate) to represent the Committee at the Architectural Review Commission meeting when the item at 1921 Santa Barbara Avenue is considered. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted by, Brian Leveille Recording Secretary