HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/17/2018 Item 1, Papp
Sheffield, Alexis
From:James Papp <jamesralphpapp@hotmail.com> on behalf of James Papp
<jamespapp@historicities.
Sent: 29 PM
To:CityClerk
Cc:Cohen, Rachel; Leveille, Brian
Subject:Correspondence for 1027 Nipomo, ARC hearing 17 Sep 2018
Dear Architectural Review Commissioners,
I’d like to briefly summarize the Cultural Heritage Committee’s findings on 1027 Nipomo Street.
The CHC first reviewed the project in September 2016. The committee’s major concern was that
the then-four-story project’s height, scale, and massing were incompatible with the area of the
historic district in which it was proposed. Dana Street and the western extension of Monterey
Street, though part of the Downtown Historic District, have as defining characteristics, low scale
and considerable setbacks from the street, both in residential and commercial architecture.The
committee has been specific and explicit from the beginning in its direction about what it would
consider compatible height, scale, and massing.
Eleven months later, in August 2017, the project was brought to us again, with some minor
alterations to massing but the issues of height and scale unaddressed. The following month the
ARC supported our analysis and returned the project to CHC.
Ten months later, in July 2018, the project was again brought to CHC, which found, again, minor
adjustments to massing but height and scale what they were from the beginning and our
directions regarding massing on the street side unaddressed.
As a Certified Local Government under the National Park Service, San Luis Obispo is mandated to
place preservation professionals on the CHC, and preservation professionals (currently an
architectural historian, historic architect, archaeologist, and retired city planner) constitute a
majority of our membership. We are also mandated to undertake annual training of all members,
which includes CEQA and Secretary of Interior standards. The CHC based its findings on empirical
observation and analysis of height, scale, and massing of the historic district and historically listed
and eligible buildings that are 1027 Nipomo’s immediate and near neighbors. Again, we have been
specific and explicit from the beginning of this project proposal.
I’ll be at your hearing tonight and happy to answer any questions.
James Papp
Chair, Cultural Heritage Committee, City of San Luis Obispo
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