HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-24-2015 CHC Item 2 - 1504 Santa Rosa Street (ARCH-1664-2015)Meeting Date: August 24, 2015
Item Number: #2
CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE AGENDA REPORT
SUBJECT: Review of a small exterior addition to a contributing historic structure in the Old Town
Historic District.
PROJECT ADDRESS: 1504 Santa Rosa Street BY: Kyle Bell, Assistant Planner
FILE NUMBER: ARCH-1664-2015 FROM: Brian Leveille, Senior Planner
SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION
Recommend the Community Development Director approve the project based on findings, and subject
to conditions.
SITE DATA
Applicant Catherine Sheel
Historic Status Contributing List
Submittal Date July 9, 2015
Complete Date August 7, 2015
Zoning R-2-H (Medium Density
Residential with Historic
Overlay)
General Plan Medium Density Residential
Site Area ~7,710 square feet
Environmental
Status
Categorically Exempt from
environmental review under
Section 15303 of the CEQA
Guidelines (New Construction
or Conversion of Small
Structures)
SUMMARY
The applicant is proposing an 80-square foot addition at the rear of the structure to expand the
master bedroom area at the back of the residence. The property was added to the Contributing
Historic Resources list in 1986 as the Whitmer Home, and is within the Old Town Historic District.
The residence is estimated to have been built in 1900 and is in good condition (Attachment 3,
Historic Resources Inventory).
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The project requires review by the Cultural Heritage Committee pursuant to Historic Preservation
Program Guidelines section 3.1.2 (review of development projects) because the project is located
within a historic district and on a property with a listed Historic Resource.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Site Information/Setting
The property is within the Old Town Historic
District and is adjacent to other Contributing
List properties. This project is within the
Medium Residential (R-2-H) zone with a
Historic Overlay, and located on the southeast
corner of Santa Rosa and Buchon Street.
The project site currently contains a primary
residence with an additional shed and garage
toward the rear of the lot. The primary
residence provides direct access to Santa Rosa
Street from an entrance walkway. The
driveway and garage are accessed from Buchon Street. The property is a Neo-Classical Rowhouse
style with an offset pediment facing Santa Rosa Street and covered veranda. Character-defining
features include Neo-classical pediments with fishscale shingles, steeply pitched hipped rooflines,
exterior walls with channel rustic horizontal siding, the windows are double hung one over one style
with wide wood trim and the front window has a Colonial shelf above the window. The Historic
Resources Inventory states the home was built in 1900 as a 1,244 square foot one level single
family residence, and was home to B.F. and Mrs. Whitmer, and Katherine Carwline.
Project Description
The applicant is proposing to construct an 80-square foot addition to the master bedroom and to
replace the master bedroom’s current windows with French doors for exterior access. The addition
to the side of the existing structure (which will be located approximately 60 feet from the public
right-of-way and 35 feet behind the front façade) will be able to be viewed from the public right-of-
way on Santa Rosa Street. The addition will incorporate exterior materials intended to match the
existing structure, including tan foundation material, wood sash windows, composition shingles,
and matching exterior colors. The siding, trim, moldings, and fascias will be of wood construction
to match existing (Attachment 4, reduced scale project plans). There will be no changes to the main
façade facing Buchon Street.
EVALUATION
The CHC’s role is to review the project in terms of its consistency with the Historic Preservation
Program Guidelines and Secretary of Interior Standards.
Figure 1: 1504 Santa Rosa Street August 4, 2015
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Historic Preservation Program Guidelines
New Additions: Section 3.4.1(d) of the Guidelines states “additions to listed historic structures
should maintain the structures original architectural integrity and closely match the buildings
original architecture…in terms of scale, form, massing, rhythm fenestration, materials, color and
architectural details.”
Staff Analysis: The proposed addition incorporates architectural details, massing, colors, and
materials of the primary structure, including the exterior wood siding, roof pitches, and
matching wood framed double-hung windows and doors. The proposed 80-square foot
addition is setback approximately 35 feet from the front façade of the structure and can only
be seen from Santa Rosa Street from limited view sheds along the public right-of-way. The
proposed additions complement the primary structure, and do not alter the character defining
features found in the existing contributing historic structure. The proposed modifications will
not affect the existing height or location of the existing residence, and architecturally, will be
compatible with the primary use with similar colors, siding, roof lines, and windows.
Secretary of Interior Standards
The most appropriate treatment is best characterized as “Rehabilitation” under the SOI Standards of
Treatment since the project proposes a continuation of a compatible use for the property, and
rehabilitation is the only treatment standard which includes an opportunity to accommodate a
contemporary use through alterations and additions.1
SOI Rehabilitation Standard #9: New additions, alterations, or related new construction will not
destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property. The
new work shall be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials,
features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its
environment.
SOI Rehabilitation Standard #10: New additions and adjacent or related new construction will
be undertaken in a such a manner that, if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity
of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired.
Staff Analysis: The proposed addition is small in scale and setback significantly from the
front façade, includes materials to match existing, and would not change the proportions and
scale of the structure as seen from Santa Rosa Street and would not be visible from Buchon
Street. The new work will not detract or destroy any of the character defining features of the
existing residence since no modifications are proposed to the front facing gable, hip roof,
and covered porch. The addition will preserve the essential form and integrity of the historic
property.
The CHC recommendation will inform the Director regarding compatibility of the proposed project
with the existing Contributing resource and the Old Town Historic District. The Director will
incorporate this recommendation into review of the project for compliance with other site
1 Secretary of Interior Standards, Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, Introduction
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development requirements such as parking, setbacks, height, and building code requirements.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The project is exempt from environmental review under Section 15303 (New Construction or
Conversion of Small Structures) because the project consists of new construction of small addition
to an existing single-family residence in an urbanized area.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the draft Cultural Heritage Committee Resolution (Attachment 1) recommending the Director
approve the proposed remodel and addition to 1504 Santa Rosa Street.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Continue the item with direction to the applicant and staff on pertinent issues.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Resolution
2. Vicinity Map
3. Historic Resources Inventory
4. Project Plans
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Attachment 1
RESOLUTION NO. XXXX-15
A RESOLUTION OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE,
RECOMMENDING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR APPROVE
THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADDITION TO A CONTRIBUTING HISTORIC
PROPERTY AT 1504 SANTA ROSA STREET, ARCH-1664-2015
WHEREAS, the Cultural Heritage Committee of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted
a public hearing in the Council Hearing Room of City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo,
California, on August 24, 2015, pursuant to a proceeding instituted under ARCH-1664-2015,
Catherine Sheel, applicant; and
WHEREAS, notices of said public hearing were made at the time and in the manner
required by law; and
WHEREAS, the Cultural Heritage Committee has duly considered all evidence, including
the testimony of the applicant, interested parties, and the evaluation and recommendations by
staff, presented at said hearing.
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Cultural Heritage Committee of the City of San Luis Obispo
as follows:
Section 1. Findings.
1. The proposed project will not be detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of persons
living or working at the site or in the vicinity because, the project conforms to all zoning
regulation requirements, building codes, and other applicable City development
standards.
2. The project is consistent with the City’s Historic Preservation Guidelines since the
architectural character of the existing residence is retained, and new construction is
consistent with the existing character including site design, roofing style, siding
materials, finish, and scale. The proposed project does not alter the scale or historical
character of the existing residence.
3. The project is consistent with the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation
because the proposed addition will not detract or destroy any historic character defining
features of the existing residence and is designed so that the essential form and integrity
of the historic property are preserved.
4. The project is consistent with the General Plan policies for compatible development
(LUE 2.3.9), and housing conservation (HE 3.5) since the project retains the scale and
character of the existing residence and maintains the existing residential use.
Section 2. Environmental Review. The project is exempt under Class 3, New
Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, Section 15303 of the CEQA Guidelines. The
project consists of new construction of small addition to an existing single-family residence in an
urbanized area
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Resolution No.XXXX-15 Attachment 1
1504 Santa Rosa Street (ARCH-1664-2015)
Page 2
Section 3. Action. The Committee hereby recommends approval of the proposed project
to construct a small exterior addition to a contributing historic property (ARCH-1664-2015).
On motion by Committee member, , seconded by Committee member, , and on the
following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
REFRAIN:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was passed and adopted this 24th day of August 2015.
_____________________________
Brian Leveille, Secretary
Cultural Heritage Committee
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Attachment 2
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