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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-27-2016 CHC MinutesMinutes I ■ %' CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE Monday, June 27, 2016 Regular Meeting of the Cultural Heritage Committee CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Cultural Heritage Committee was called to order on Monday, June 27th, 2016 at 5:32 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Vice -Chair Brajkovich. ROLL CALL Present: Committee Members Sandy Baer, Craig Kincaid, Shannon Larrabee, James Papp, Leah Walthert, and Vice Chair Thom Brajkovich Absent: Chair Jaime Hill Staff: Senior Planner Brian Leveille, Associate Planner Rachel Cohen, Community Development Director Michael Codron, Transportation Deputy Director Tim Bochum, and Recording Secretary Brad T. Opstad PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA David Brodie, San Luis Obispo, established that City lacks sufficient response to climate change despite its prominent impacts that are discussed globally and incessantly. PUBLIC HEARING 71 Palomar Avenue. ARCH -2193-2015; Continued review of the rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and repositioning of the Master List Historic Sandford House property as part of a 33 -unit multi -family residential project; and, review of a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact with addendum for project modifications since initial review; R-4 zone; LR Development Group, applicant. Committee Member Kincaid proposed making a motion to table discussion on Item 1 until report from Tree Committee is rendered. Senior Planner Leveille endorsed hearing and deliberating on Staff Report and Public Comment prior to voting on whether or not to continue Item. Senior Planner Leveille outlined background of the project, including the reminder that the Cultural Heritage Committee (CHC) had deliberated on and provided direction for it on March 28th. Associate Planner Cohen offered the Staff Report overview for CHC re -familiarization and Deputy Director Bochum provided specific historical background on the area's circulation before focusing specifically on the completion of Luneta Drive. Director Codron clarified that there was not another Tree Committee Hearing on this project slated at present, that one was scheduled, but upon consulting City's Ordinance, Staff found that review of Heritage Tree Designation can only be initiated and authorized by a property owner. Director Codron further stated that in the case of a development proposal, tree removal goes through specific procedures outlined in Municipal Code and, in this case, the City Arborist will be making recommendations to Planning Staff and Architectural Review Commission (ARC) on disposition of trees. PUBLIC COMMENT The following spoke at length as members of the Applicant team: Loren Riehl, Principal Thom Jess, Architect Truitt Vance, Structural Engineer Barry Price, Historic Preservationist Chip Tomati, Arborist Jim Burroughs, Landscape Architect David Brodie, San Luis Obispo, related several facts about Sandford House that contradict information provided in Staff Report. Jerry Rioux, San Luis Obispo, spoke as Director of SLO Housing Trust Fund in recommendation of approval for project. Jody Vollmer, San Luis Obispo, requested preservation of property in its entirety and not allow historic site to be destroyed or modified. Richard Schmidt, San Luis Obispo, presented slide show and urged Committee to view property in totality as a cultural landscape. Dia Hurd, San Luis Obispo, spoke in support of the viewpoint of the Agenda Correspondence which refuted facts presented in Staff Report. Bob Mourenza, San Luis Obispo, spoke as neighbor of site in favor of denying the project outright due to its obtrusiveness. Peter Crough, San Luis Obispo, spoke as neighbor who lives across street from 71 Palomar and who had been heartened by CHC action at prior Review Hearing in finding project had contained too much massing to approve. Al Lipper, San Luis Obispo, spoke in support of fellow neighbors' comments and addressed the issue of Luneta Drive as a through -street being of fuller consideration independent of the project. Minutes — Cultural Heritage Committee Meeting of June 27, 2016 Page 2 Kit Gould, San Luis Obispo, spoke in favor of maintaining the Sandford House's stately presence and its open space's mature trees. David Scarry, San Luis Obispo, spoke in favor of the development's intention to improve the quality of the Sandford House. Gary Nichols, San Luis Obispo, voiced support of project's preservation of House and the opening of Luneta Drive. Roberto Monge, San Luis Obispo, commented on the increase in density of this specific neighborhood to be an intolerable scenario for its residents. Elizabeth De Haan, San Luis Obispo, indicated that even though the project is beautifully designed, the altered neighborhood would resemble another Isla Vista; commented that 71 Palomar would be of high significance to Cal Poly Architecture Department as an academic feature. Lydia Mourenza, San Luis Obispo, informed that Sandford House was the founding cornerstone of the Broad Street & Foothill neighborhoods; reminded that both Housing and Preservation of Cultural Resources share equal footing in importance within General Plan community goals. Mila Vujovich-LaBarre, San Luis Obispo, voiced full support of the research and the assertions regarding the historical significance of the Sandford House and remains convinced the structure should not be relocated. Kirk Lemon, San Luis Obispo, spoke as president of Delta Tau Alumni Corporation on the past efforts to restore House and its Foundation having exhausted funds; voiced support of current proposal. James Lopes, San Luis Obispo, opined that the project is over -planned and over -built for the specific site and does not befit the quality of the Sandford House's historic architecture or setting; advocated for modifying project further, maintaining as many of its trees as possible and not moving the structure. Camille Small, San Luis Obispo, voiced satisfaction with project's design and support for further housing but stated that cutting down 47 of 51 existing trees is immoral. Danny Sullivan, San Luis Obispo, spoke as one-time Cal Poly student who has been able to sustain income sufficient to reside in City and supports the building of more housing for those following same path. Mike Clark, San Luis Obispo, spoke as candidate for City Council who has been approached by various neighborhood groups to discuss preservation and wellness topics; shared experiences on tour of "diamond in rough", 71 Palomar, and his distress in learning trees would be cut down and house relocated to pave way for student housing. Minutes—Cultural Heritage Committee Meeting of June 27, 2016 Page 3 Cheryl McLean, San Luis Obispo, spoke as owner and resident of home in neighborhood since 1974; voiced opposition to relocating Sandford House from off its foundation; urged Committee to vote in favor of both denying project and for site's designation as cultural landscape. Tambra Morgan, spoke from perspective of visitor to San Luis Obispo; presented historical narrative of her own extensive familial lineage as it was affiliated with Sandford House; spoke in opposition to site being altered in any fashion. End of Public Comment Acting Chair Brajkovich called for a short recess. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION Committee Member Papp, in response to unfounded accusations surfacing and circling around the various issues of this project, reiterated the four-part primary responsibility of Committee: 1.) To provide logical and evidence -based decisions over emotional ones; 2.) To stay within its purview; 3.) To follow universe of practice in both region -centric regulations and national preservation practices; and 4.) To respond to established precedent in consistent fashion. Committee Member Papp further stated that the fate of the Sandford House would either be its de -listing, which could be a justifiable conclusion to make, or demolition -by -neglect, unless a developer offered to rehabilitate it; stated that there is no compelling reason that the site could currently be considered a Cultural Landscape in the context of Historical Significance. In response to Committee Member Kincaid's inquiry, Director Codron informed that it was planned for City Arborist to make presentation of findings following a collaborative review of historical perspective of property with Project Arborist. Committee Member Larrabee shared viewpoint that surrounding Sandford House with a large- scale development would denigrate the site to such an extent that it would be impossible to unwind the action, and then yet another cultural resource would vanish forever; voiced disagreement that the only way to preserve House would be to greenlight this particular project at this particular time; opined that the property had not been properly marketed to a buyer with vision to do something creative with it during a time when owners were enjoying low property taxes, and now that their organization is no longer affiliated with Cal Poly, it is now attempting to strictly capitalize on a hot real estate market before any downturn. In response to Director Codron's determination of Committee's stance on Applicant's reduction in massing for House to achieve prominence, Committee Member Larrabee stated dissatisfaction and indicated a preference for a more respectful treatment of property which honored the community by providing more of a buffer between a high-density neighborhood and an established one. ACTION: UPON MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER KINCAID, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER PAPP, the Committee voted to approve the Recommendation to the Minutes — Cultural Heritage Committee Meeting of June 27, 2016 Page 4 Architectural Review Commission (ARC) to find the proposed rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and repositioning of the Master List Sandford House Property as part of a 33 -unit multi -family residential project consistent with the City's Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties; with the added Condition #1: The ARC should evaluate further reduction in scale and massing to ensure the new development does not overwhelm the prominence of the Historic Sandford House and give great consideration to the City Arborist's recommendations for protection of trees; on the following 4:2:0:1 roll call vote: AYES: Kincaid, Papp, Baer, Brajkovich NOES: Larrabee, Walthert ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Hill Acting Chair Brajkovich called for short recess. 2. 570 Higuera Street, ARCH -2699-2016; Review of a remodel and rehabilitation of the Historic Master List Golden State Creamery and the construction of a new 2,880 square foot commercial building within the Downtown Historic District with a Categorical Exemption from environmental review; C -D zone; SLO Creamery LLC, applicant. Associate Planner Cohen provided Staff Report. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION Committee Member Papp inquired whether there was historical record of board and batten use on the site. PUBLIC COMMENT Applicant Representative Damien Mavis indicated that revisions had been made to improve project with some degree of detailing. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION Acting Chair Brajkovich read excerpts from the single received piece of Agenda Correspondence regarding noise issues. Committee Member Papp reminded Chair that these issues were not in Committee's purview. ACTION: UPON MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER KINCAID, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER PAPP, the Committee voted to approve the Recommendation to the Architectural Review Commission to find the new commercial building, remodel and rehabilitation to the Master List Golden State Creamery at 570 Higuera Street consistent with the City Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties; on the following 6:0:0:1 roll call vote: Minutes — Cultural Heritage Committee Meeting of June 27, 2016 Page 5 AYES: Kincaid, Papp, Larrabee, Baer, Walthert, Brajkovich NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Hill 3. 694 Islay Street. HIST 3168-2016: Review of a Mills Act Historic Preservation Agreement for the Master List historic Kimball House with a Categorical Exemption from environmental review; R -2-H zone; John Poremba, applicant. Senior Planner Leveille made brief Staff Report presentation regarding the property improvements proposed and the Mills Act Contract process and expectations. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION Acting Chair Brajkovich & Committee Members Papp and Baer asked a few qualifying questions about the Mills Act process. PUBLIC COMMENT None. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ACTION: UPON MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER PAPP, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BAER, the Committee voted to approve the Recommendation to the City Council to approve an Historic Property Preservation Agreement for the Master List Kimball House located at 690 Islay Street; on the following 6:0:0:1 vote: AYES: Papp, Baer, Kincaid, Larrabee, Walthert, Brajkovich NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Hill ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:04 p.m. APPROVED BY THE CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE: 10/24/2016 Minutes — Cultural Heritage Committee Meeting of June 27, 2016 Page 6