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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-22-2014 CHC MinutesSAN LUIS OBISPO CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE MINUTES September 22, 2014 ROLL CALL: Present: Committee Members Sandy Baer, Thom Brajkovich, Hugh Platt, Patti Taylor, Victoria Wood, Vice -Chair Jaime Hill, and Chair Bob Pavlik Absent: None Staff: Senior Planner Phil Dunsmore and Recording Secretary Diane Clement ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was accepted as presented. MINUTES: Minutes of August 25, 2014, were approved as presented. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON - AGENDA ITEMS: Hemalata Dandekar, SLO, stated that she would like the City to consider historical signs similar to those in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which serve to illustrate and educate about past buildings and communities, and social and political movements. She noted that some of the signs in Ann Arbor are placed to show what a location looked like in the past with illustrations on glass so the viewer can see both the current and the past buildings while other signs are metal and placed on the historical buildings to which they refer. She presented photographs of the signs in Ann Arbor. There were no further comments made from the public. Committee Member Hill suggested putting signs on storefronts of buildings being renovated that would explain the history of the building or location. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: 1. 546 Hiquera Street. HIST- 0155 -2014 (CHC); Evaluation of Historic Resource listing eligibility criteria for a residence constructed in 1886 that is currently proposed for demolition; C -R zone; John Belsher, PB Companies, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore) Senior Planner Dunsmore presented the staff report, recommending the City Council add the property at 546 Higuera Street to the City's Contributing List of Historic Resources, based on findings and subject to conditions which he outlined. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Betsy Bertrando, SLO, stated that she is concerned because this house is one of the few examples of a house of this age in the City. She noted that while staff is CHC Minutes September 22, 2014 Page 2 recommending Contributing list status, she thinks this house could be put on the Master List. She added that lack of documentation is meaningless for a house of this age and that alterations such as adding a bathroom and changing porch posts are to be expected over time. She supported the staff recommendation. There were no further comments made from the public. COMMITTEE COMMENTS: Committee Member Brajkovich stated that he has done a lot of restoration in the area over 40 years but has never seen a structure in shape as bad as this. He added that the house was in good shape in 1973 but would now have to be torn down and built again. Committee Member Platt asked if it would have been kept up if it had been put on the Contributing List. Senior Planner Dunsmore replied that it would not necessarily have been kept up unless there was a preservation agreement under the Mills Act. Committee Member Wood stated, "What we have here is demolition by neglect." Committee Member Baer stated that while the structure's condition is scary, she thinks Dr. Sinclair, probably the first owner, would recognize the house. Committee Member Hill stated that, in thinking about recent efforts to add new houses to districts and the Contributing List, if this area had been surveyed, this house would not have been added because it was changed too much. She noted the need to maintain consistency and not just react to the potential for demolition. Committee Member Taylor stated that this house was not included in the list of 75 houses of significance done in 2010, despite the interesting history of Dr. Sinclair. Committee Member Wood stated that it appears that the whole area of lower Higuera and lower Marsh has been totally overlooked with none of the houses recognized for historical significance even though the little bungalows along these streets have always evoked the history of San Luis Obispo. Senior Planner Dunsmore stated it is urgent to survey this area because right now decisions are being made case by case. He added that 460 Marsh was evaluated; it was found that all the significant exterior features had been changed; and it had been used as a commercial property for so long that all the residential features were gone. Committee Member Hill stated that, when the survey was done, houses with extensive changes in such features as porch columns, siding or fenestration were not listed. Senior Planner Dunsmore stated that what is different here is the age of this house. He added that Craftsman houses are common but this is rarer, more unique, and older. Committee Member Platt noted that the distinctiveness of the architecture might overshadow the changes. CHC Minutes September 22, 2014 Page 3 Committee Member Taylor added that the age of this house makes it similar to preserving the La Loma Adobe. Committee Member Pavlik noted that this house predates by ten years the arrival of the railroad which changed access to building materials and new styles. He made reference to the restoration of the Biddle House, and the Cass House in Cayucos. He noted that the integrity is pretty good because the house is in its original location and has largely the same massing, original design and materials. He added that from the mid -1880s to 1935 you would expect to see changes to the house. Committee Member Brajkovich stated that the question is where you draw the line and he noted that a house placed on the Contributing List could sit there for 20 years, deteriorating until it had to be torn down. He noted that the City cannot force someone to fix up a house. Committee Member Wood added that this is how they get rid of these houses. Senior Planner Dunsmore stated that this is not an easy decision and, if the condition is to the point where it impacts the integrity, that affects its ability to be listed. He added that more research could be done on the history of the house to determine, for example, if someone else lived there before the Sinclair family. Committee Member Pavlik stated that this house is a very early residential property in the City, predating the coming of the railroad, which is significant; it still resembles the original design, retains most of the original materials, and is at the original location; and the house was bound to change over time but is still instantly recognizable. He concluded that, in terms of what the Committee has been charged to do, this house is a good candidate to be a Contributing Property to the City's List based on the information presented as well as the physical building itself. Committee Member Baer made a motion, seconded by Committee Member Wood, to recommend the City Council add the house to the Contributing List of Historic Resources. Discussion followed. Committee Member Taylor stated this could be continued to obtain more information. Committee Member Baer stated that repairs and additions, such as those made to the porch and to the plumbing, are not reasons to not consider the house for listing. Committee Member Hill stated that she wants it recommended for the Master List because it is the oldest home in the area and it predates the railroad which changes the way you look at the funky things about the house. Committee Member Pavlik stated that going from Contributing to Master List could entail additional research to further reinforce that eligibility. CHC Minutes September 22, 2014 Page 4 John Belsher, PB Companies, applicant, stated that he approved moving this on to the City Council where there will be continued discussion and that he will do the research necessary on the house. There was general affirmation by the Committee for this. Senior Planner Dunsmore suggested adding that staff should work with the applicant to do the research, which was accepted by Committee Members Baer and Wood. There were no further comments made from the Committee. On motion by Committee Member Baer, seconded by Committee Member Wood, to recommend the City Council add the property at 546 Higuera Street to the City's Contributing List of Historic Resources with the added recommendation that staff should work with the applicant to_provide additional research into the date of construction and whether there are other significance issues that will elevate the property to Master List status. AYES: Committee Members Baer, Hill, Pavlik, Taylor, and Wood NOES: Committee Members Platt and Brajkovich RECUSED: None ABSENT: None The motion passed on a 5:2 vote. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 2. Staff a. Agenda Forecast — next meeting is October 27, 2014 3. Committee a. There was discussion about approval of the Pacific Courtyards and the potential for Committee Members to speak at the upcoming appeal before the City Council. Committee Member Pavlik suggested discussing this at the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted by, Diane Clement Recording Secretary Approved by the Cultural Heritage Committee on October 27, 2014 . _-F,' r Lain Thomas Administrative Assistant III