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