HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-25-2014 CHC MinutesSAN LUIS OBISPO
CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE MINUTES
August 25, 2014
ROLL CALL:
Present: Committee Members Sandy Baer, Hugh Platt, Victoria Wood, Vice -
Chair Jaime Hill, and Chair Bob Pavlik
Absent: Committee Members Thom Brajkovich and Patti Taylor
Staff: Senior Planner Phil Dunsmore, Assistant Planner Erik Berg- Johansen,
Contract Planner Rachel Cohen, and Recording Secretary Diane
Clement
ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA:
The agenda was accepted as presented.
MINUTES:
Minutes of July 28, 2014, were approved as presented.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON - AGENDA ITEMS:
There were no comments made from the public.
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS:
1. 742 Marsh Street. ARCMI 128 -14; Review of fagade improvements to a
commercial structure within the historic downtown district and request to remove the
subject structure from the City's list of contributing historic structures; C -D -H zone;
Ariel Shannon, applicant. (Rachel Cohen)
Contract Planner Cohen presented the staff report, recommending the Community
Development Director approve the proposed fagade improvements and make a
recommendation to the City Council to remove 742 Marsh Street from the City's list of
contributing historic structures.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Ariel Shannon, applicant, stated that the building in its current state is "plain vanilla,"
and she wants to give it a more modern feel and make it more visually attractive.
Bill Shipsey, Santa Maria, representing himself and his sisters who hold over fifty
percent of the building's ownership, stated that he supports the delisting of the building.
He added that the applicant has added life to the building. He noted that he was
surprised to find it on the historic structures list and thought that the listing was a
mistake.
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August 25, 2014
Page 2
Mike McNamara, SLO, also an owner, supported the delisting of the building and the
applicant's proposal to use reclaimed wood on the facade which he described as eye -
catching and attractive.
Michael Allen, SLO, supported the delisting and the applicant's proposal.
There were no further comments made from the public.
COMMITTEE COMMENTS:
Committee Member Baer stated she was surprised the building was on the list of
contributing historic structures and supported removing it. She added that she liked the
use of reclaimed materials.
Committee Member Wood stated that she liked the project and complimented the
booklet compiled and provided by the applicant.
Committee Member Pavlik stated that the Committee received a letter from Alan Cooper
opposing the delisting and the facade design.
Senior Planner Dunsmore stated that he received an email from James Lopes,
representing Save Our Downtown, opposing the reclaimed wood exterior.
Committee Member Wood noted that she did not agree with Mr. Cooper's statement
that the design was a revisit to bad 1970's style.
Committee Member Pavlik stated that perhaps Mr. Cooper is thinking about some
buildings in the City in that style which have since been removed.
Committee Member Hill supported the delisting and noted the need to update the City's
list of contributing historic structures. She stated that the fagade changes are fine but
the two columns on the left should be finished with the same reclaimed wood on the
other columns so the entire fagade is consistent. She added that she liked the raw look
of the wood but that the trim should be simple and minimalist.
Committee Member Pratt stated that he liked the 2011 design of the fagade but that this
new design looks a little flamboyant.
Committee Member Baer asked if the proposal included covering all the columns with
the wood.
Applicant Shannon responded that she had not planned to cover the columns on the left
because it would make the building look too boxy. She agreed that the trim should be
minimalist.
Committee Member Pavlik supported the delisting and expressed appreciation for the
research done by staff that revealed the lack of historical significance. He noted that
Marsh Street has many different styles and that while the design and aesthetics are a
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August 25, 2014
Page 3
matter of personal preference, it is important for the Committee to know that this design
is not impacting an historic property.
Committee Member Hill stated that the Committee's job is to talk about the design in
terms of the guidelines. She noted that this design is less consistent with the downtown
design guidelines than the previous design.
Committee Member Baer stated she thought the building fagade remodel was just
unfinished although she likes asymmetric design. She wondered if something could be
added to indicate it is not unfinished.
Applicant Shannon stated that she was planning to paint the columns in tones that
complement the wood and add complementary lighting fixtures.
Committee Member Hill stated that leaving two columns uncovered breaks up the
rhythm and looks like a contrived attempt to make the building look like it is two
buildings.
There were no further comments made from the Committee.
On motion by Committee Member Platt, seconded by Committee Member Baer, to
make a recommendation to the City Council to remove 742 Marsh Street from the City's
list of contributina historic structures.
Committee Member Hill proposed additional language for the motion: "...because the
structure does not meet any of the three adopted standards..." This added language
was accepted for inclusion in the motion by Committee Members Platt and Baer.
AYES: Committee Members Baer, Hill, Pavlik, Platt, and Wood
NOES: None
RECUSED: None
ABSENT: Committee Members Brajkovich and Taylor
The motion passed on a 5:0 vote.
Committee Member Baer moved to approve the facade improvements with the deletion
of proposed condition 3 and the addition of a condition that requires all of the columns
to be covered or none of the columns to be covered with the wood fagade
improvements. As an option the condition could also include an option for wood inserts
or other treatment on the remaining columns.
Committee Member Hill stated she would vote no because the other two columns need
to be covered with the wood. She stated she does not like treating different parts of a
building differently which she described as silly and faux. She added that the proposed
design does not fit the downtown design guidelines.
Committee Member Wood stated that she agreed with Committee Member Hill.
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August 25, 2014
Page 4
Committee Member Platt suggested wrapping every other column.
Committee Member Baer responded that doing so would look contrived. She stated
that wood paneling in the facade insets would be better, and noted that she likes the
idea of the two lanterns.
Applicant Shannon stated that the building would look like a big box if all the columns
were wrapped.
Committee Member Hill noted that, in general, people are looking at the building as they
are walking by and the design has to fit with the rhythm of the street. She stated that
another option would be to take the wood off the columns and just have the part across
the top of the facade in wood.
Applicant Shannon stated that she would be disappointed to not be able to wrap only
two of the columns but, if she had to choose between wrapping the entire building or
just the top, she would pick the top.
Committee Member Hill stated she would like the motion amended to require that there
be no wood wrapping on any of the columns.
Committee Member Wood asked if there was any way to put some wood on all of the
columns along with some color to provide continuity.
Committee Member Hill suggested a bulkhead on the other two columns.
Applicant Shannon stated she had considered a wooden planter box on the concrete
under the left window.
Committee Member Pavlik suggested recommending that the column design be
revisited.
Senior Planner Dunsmore stated that the Committee could make a recommendation
suggesting that the design make the structure "read like a single building, with either all
or none of the columns covered" and include that the Committee does not like the
asymmetrical look of the proposed design.
On motion by Committee Member Baer, seconded by Committee Member Pavlik, to
recommend the Community Development Director approve the posed facade
improvements as presented with two changes to the draft resolution: 1) the deletion of
Conditions 3, and 2) that the design make the structure read like a single building, with
either all or none of the columns covered and note that the Cultural Heritage Committee
does not like the asymmetrical look of the proposed design.
AYES:
Committee Members Baer, Hill, Pavlik, Platt, and Wood
NOES:
None
RECUSED:
None
ABSENT:
Committee Members Brajkovich and Taylor
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August 25, 2014
Page 5
The motion passed on a 5:0 vote.
2. 1414 Santa Rosa Street. ARCMI 147 -14; Request to build a new garage with a
studio unit; R -2 -H zone; Mark Anderson, applicant. (Erik Berg- Johansen)
Assistant Planner Berg- Johansen presented the staff report, recommending the
Community Development Director approve the project based on findings, and subject to
conditions.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
There were no comments made from the public.
COMMITTEE COMMENTS:
Committee Member Platt noted that plants on this property are encroaching on the
sidewalk along Santa Rosa Street.
Committee Member Hill suggested striking out Findings 1, 2, and 3, and Conditions 1, 6,
and 7 as not being part of the purview of the Committee. She proposed adding "and
which shall be of comparable materials and quality to those of the primary structure" to
Finding 4.
Committee Members Baer and Hill noted that the ceiling -to -floor arched windows facing
the street and existing primary residence do not make sense. Committee Member Hill
added that it is likely that the bed in the studio unit will be placed by these windows
which will mean the curtains will be drawn all the time.
Committee Member Wood stated that the windows bother her a lot.
Committee Member Wood stated she would have preferred the building to have
consistent windows and doors. She noted that the arches in the plans are not like those
on original buildings in the neighborhood.
Committee Member Hill stated that the windows look like those on tract homes.
Committee Member Baer stated that it is not the Committee's business to consider how
the windows affect use of the interior space.
Committee Member Hill stated she was taking a softer approach to get them to consider
changing the windows to improve the use of the interior.
There were no further comments made from the Committee.
On motion by Committee Member Hill, seconded by Committee Member Baer,_ to
approve the proiect with the deletion of Findings 1 2 and 3 and Conditions 1 6 and 7;
and the modification of Finding 4 with addition language to read "and which shall be
comparable material and quality to those of the primary structure" and the notation that,
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August 25, 2014
Page 6
if the applicant should determine that a different window shape was preferred,_ the
Cultural Heritage Committee would support windows that more closely match the
primary dwelling.
AYES:
Committee Members Baer, Hill, Pavlik, Platt, and Wood
NOES:
None
RECUSED:
None
ABSENT:
Committee Members Brajkovich and Taylor
The motion passed on a 5:0 vote.
COMMENT AND DISCUSSION:
3. Staff
a. Agenda Forecast by Phil Dunsmore
• September 22, 2014: the City has a demolition request for a big red Gothic
Revival house on Higuera in front of a trailer park. The applicant's historical
consultant stated the building does not constitute an historic resource. The
Committee will determine whether it should be added to the list of historic
structures.
4. Committee
• Committee Member Pavlik recently spoke at the California Historical Society
in San Francisco about transportation in Yosemite Valley. He noted that the
Society's current exhibit, Yosemite: A Storied Landscape, will be on until
January 25, 2015, and is worth a visit.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by,
Diane Clement
Recording Secretary
Approved by the Cultural Heritage Committee on September 22, 2014
Lauo Thomas
Administrative Assistant III