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Home My WebLink About07-25-2016 CHC Minutes Cultural Heritage Committee Minutes Monday, July 25, 2016 Regular Meeting CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Cultural Heritage Committee was called to order on Monday, July 25th, 2016 at 5:35 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Hill. Chair Hill informed that full and current audio of Cultural Heritage Committee Hearings are available and access-requested through City Clerk’s Office. ROLL CALL Present: Committee Members Craig Kincaid, Shannon Larrabee, James Papp, Leah Walthert, Vice-Chair Thom Brajkovich and Chair Jaime Hill Absent: Committee Member Sandy Baer Staff: Senior Planner Brian Leveille, Assistant Planner Kyle Bell, and Recording Secretary Brad T. Opstad PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS No comments were made from the Public. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES Minutes for Cultural Heritage Committee Regular Meetings of May 23 and June 6, 2016: ACTION: UPON MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER PAPP, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER KINCAID, to approve the two sets of meeting minutes of May 23 & June 6, 2016 6:0:0:1 vote: AYES: Papp, Kincaid, Larrabee, Walthert, Brajkovich, Hill NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Baer Cultural Heritage Committee Minutes July 25, 2016 Page 2 PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS 1. 849 Monterey Street. ARCH-3347-2016: Review of projecting sign on a Master List Historic Building (Sinsheimer Building) with an exception to sign regulations for maximum allowable area, with a categorical exemption from environmental review; C-D-H zone; Joe DeFronzo, applicant. Assistant Planner Bell presented the staff report on the proposed sculpted steel and hand-painted projecting sign positioned to the primary façade of the Sinsheimer Brothers Building. Applicant Representative Pierre Rademaker and Planner Bell responded to Chair Hill’s inquiry about the depth of the sign. PUBLIC COMMENT Pierre Rademaker, Applicant Representative, spoke about the built-in complexity of the sign and the historic nature of the building in C-D Zone; requested feedback on the most recent alteration of the sign’s design, with the addition of the word “Cocktails”. Joe DeFronzo, Applicant, discussed his admiration of the Sinsheimer Brothers Building; shared opinion that the proposed sign is neither overbearing nor obtrusive. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION In response to Committee Member Papp’s inquiry, Sean Beauchamp, owner of the Southpaw Sign Company, discussed the considerations involved with the placement of the projecting sign on the façade. Planner Leveille discussed the unique circumstances of the Building, possessing a sign which needs to remain on the site intact. Committee Member Papp shared that, because Sinsheimer Brothers is a National Register eligible building, he was uncomfortable in introducing a sign that was not of the period and was potentially detracting from what makes the building significant, namely the façade. In response to Committee Member Papp’s inquiry, Applicant Representative Rademaker informed that a projecting sign without the incorporation of neon would indeed be narrower and then would require exterior lighting which would add more physical encroachment to the building. ACTION: UPON MOTION BY CHAIR HILL, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER PAPP, the Cultural Heritage Committee recommends the Community Development Director find the projecting sign on a Master List Historic Resource (Sinsheimer Building) consistent with the Historic Preservation Ordinance; 849 Monterey Street, Downtown Historic District, C-D-H Zone, with amendment to SECTION 1 (“Findings”) to read “… hereby finds the project consistent with the Historic Preservation Ordinance…” and the addition of the following Findings: Cultural Heritage Committee Minutes July 25, 2016 Page 3 3.) The proposed exception from the Sign Regulations for a projecting sign to exceed the maximum allowed area is appropriate given the presence of the historic building signage which precludes opportunities of alternative types of signage on the primary building façade. 4.) As conditioned, neon lighting for a projecting sign with a larger box depth is appropriate for the projecting sign because the alternative method of exterior lighting for the sign would negatively affect views of the unique historic iron façade. on the following 6:0:0:1 vote: AYES: Hill, Papp, Kincaid, Larrabee, Walthert, Brajkovich NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Baer 2. 736 Higuera Street. ARCH-3294-2016: Review of new signage on a Master List Historic Building (Carissa Building) including an exception to place a wall sign on an elevation without a public entrance, with a categorical exemption from environmental review; C-D-H zone; Auzco Development, applicant. Assistant Planner Bell provided the staff report. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION In response to Committee Member Larrabee’s inquiry, Planner Bell stated that the sign on the primary façade does meet standards for the wall sign, but the west elevation wall sign does exceed both the City’s square footage and height for a maximum area and it is included on a side of the building that does not contain an entrance. In response to Chair Hill’s inquiry, Planner Bell stipulated that he’d previously discussed with the Applicant that the “gooseneck” exterior lighting would not be allowed to cross the property line. PUBLIC COMMENT No comments were made from the Public. COMMITTEE DELIBERATION Vice-Chair Brajkovich shared that he was not enamored of the entry sign insofar as it blocks the entire continuity of the front of the façade; Planner Bell indicated that the materials behind the proposed sign were new and had been installed during the remodel, noting the sign would not obstruct view of the existing historical figures. Committee Member Larrabee indicated a preference for removing the stand on which the entry sign rests. Cultural Heritage Committee Minutes July 25, 2016 Page 4 Committee Member Papp voiced opinion that since the lower area below the proposed sign has been altered, the sign doesn’t appear to interfere with the historic nature of the building. Chair Hill spoke about the painted wall signs, noting that massing of entry sign detracts from the scaling and rhythm of the building and suggested the signs to be downsized or that the masonry- blocking plinth be removed. Chair Hill invited Sean Beauchamp to share expert witness sign knowledge with Committee; Mr. Beauchamp provided local historic examples of painted wall signs from the early 1900’s that have been exposed. ACTION: UPON MOTION BY VICE-CHAIR BRAJKOVICH, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER PAPP, the Cultural Heritage Committee recommends the Community Development Director find the proposed signs on a Master List Historic Resource (Carissa Building) consistent with the Historic Preservation Ordinance; 736/738 Higuera Street, Downtown Historic District, C- D-H Zone, with amendment to SECTION 1 (“Findings”) to read “… hereby finds the project consistent with the Historic Preservation Ordinance…”; with the following added Conditions: 2.) The plinth or base beneath the entry sign should be reduced in scale and not overhang the existing cornice molding at the base of the sign. Additionally, the overall height shall be reduced below the level of the horizontal line of the existing masonry above the transom windows. 4.) The painted wall sign should be reduced in size to meet the maximum allowed wall sign area established in the Sign Regulations. 6.) The neon lighting and wall sign light shall not exceed 100 luxes (10 foot-candles) each, measured at a distance of 10 feet from the sign. The proposed gooseneck lighting for the painted wall sign shall be eliminated as it overhangs an existing property line. on the following 6:0:0:1 roll call vote: AYES: Brajkovich, Papp, Kincaid, Larrabee, Walthert, Hill NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Baer 3. Sign Regulations Update Study Session. OTHR-3466-2016: Discussion of sign guidelines applicable to historic resources and historic districts which should be included for further discussion in the draft Sign Regulations Update project; Citywide; Community Development Department, applicant. Senior Planner Leveille presented the background, issues, options and overall goals of the project while displaying a slide show of various local signage examples. Cultural Heritage Committee Minutes July 25, 2016 Page 5 PUBLIC COMMENT Sean Beauchamp, San Luis Obispo, spoke as a participant of the stakeholder interviews; shared expertise on the sign application process, providing multiple suggestions for how to improve the dialogue between applicants and the Planning Department; and responded to various questions from Committee Members and Planner Leveille. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION Committee Member Papp shared concern that coding for various grades of Master Listed buildings appears to be out of date; suggested establishing signage guidelines that recognize that some buildings are more sensitive in terms of their historical nature than others. Committee Member Kincaid excused himself from proceedings at 7:21 p.m. Chair Hill and Vice-Chair Brajkovich discussed the pros and cons in creating a Sign Committee Advisory Body with Planner Leveille. Chair Hill discussed multi-tenant buildings being required to have a sign plan; suggested adding “depth” to the dimension requirements. STAFF UPDATES & AGENDA FORECAST Planner Leveille provided the Agenda Forecast for August: Garden Street Terrace façade project; bulkhead removal and façade remodel on the Union Hardware Building; minor sign exception on Chorro Street in Chinatown. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. APPROVED BY THE CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE: 09/26/2016