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Home My WebLink About01-30-2017 ARC Minutes Minutes ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION Monday, January 30, 2017 Regular Meeting of the Architectural Review Commission CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Architectural Review Commission was called to order on Monday, January 30, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Wynn. ROLL CALL Present: Commission Members Brian Rolph, Amy Nemcik, Allen Root, Angela Soll, and Chair Gregory Wynn. Absent: Vice-Chair Ehdaie Staff: Community Development Deputy Director Doug Davidson, Associate Planner Rachel Cohen, and Recording Secretary Monique Lomeli. Other staff members presented reports or responded to questions as indicated in the minutes. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA David Brodie, San Luis Obispo, protesting the removal of groves of trees due to the potential hardships newly planted trees would suffer in the rapidly changing climate. Camille Small, San Luis Obispo, requesting more involvement of the Tree Committee in all projects involving tree removal; stated interest in affordable housing for students; suggested the City seek out developers who can work within the parameters of properties rather than make exceptions. --End of Public Comment-- APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of the Architectural Review Commission meeting of December 5, 2016 ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SOLL, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ROOT CARRIED 4-0-1-1 to approve the minutes of the Architectural Review Commission for the meeting of December 5, 2016. Page 1, last paragraph: “…in response to Commissioner Soll’s Root’s inquiry…” Page 3, paragraph 2: “Odile Aryal…” Minutes – Architectural Review Commission Meeting of January 30, 2017 Page 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. 71 Palomar Avenue. ARCH-2193-2015; Review of the rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and repositioning of the Master List Historic Sandford House and the construction of a new 33- unit, multi-family residential project, with a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Review; R-4 zone; LR Development Group, applicant. Associate Planner Rachel Cohen presented the staff report with use of a PowerPoint presentation. Applicant Representative Thom Jess provided a brief presentation. Public Comments: David Brodie, San Luis Obispo, reminded the Commission of information requested at the August 1st conceptual review and stated the site can better serve the community with more a thoughtful design. Pam Racouillat, San Luis Obispo, expressed opposition to the removal of trees and requested preservation of the natural resources on site. Jacqueline Williams, San Luis Obispo, voiced opposition to the removal of healthy trees from the site and stated concerns over the adequacy of the arborist reports. Peter Crough, San Luis Obispo, requested the public hearing be postponed pending a new arborist report. Jody Vollmer, San Luis Obispo, voiced concerns over the size of the proposed development reducing the residential feel of the neighborhood and requested the Commission carefully consider all negative impacts. Allan Cooper, San Luis Obispo, urged the Commission to postpone the public hearing, pending a proper tree inventory. James Papp, San Luis Obispo Cultural Heritage Committee, expressed support of the project. David Hafemeister, San Luis Obispo, urged the Commission to postpone the public hearing on basis of bad data and raised issue regarding parking spilling over into the neighborhood. James Gates, San Luis Obispo, voiced concerns with health and safety issues. Dr. Edward Benson, San Luis Obispo, expressed opposition to the removal of trees. Bob Mourenza, San Luis Obispo, stated he does not feel the project is consistent with the General Plan in terms of preserving, restoring, and enhancing historical and cultural resources. Minutes – Architectural Review Commission Meeting of January 30, 2017 Page 3 Carolyn Smith, San Luis Obispo, expressed concerns regarding the removal of mature vegetation. Lydia Mourenza, San Luis Obispo, provided comments in written correspondence and encouraged the Commission to reconsider mitigations, specifically related to environmental impacts. Betty DeHaan, San Luis Obispo, spoke regarding the historical significance of the site, safety hazards due to traffic, and lack of adequate parking. Alexis Mourenza, San Luis Obispo, voiced opposition to high-density based upon evidence presented in written correspondence. Truitt Vance, Structural Engineer for the project, offered his expert opinion and support for the project. Steve Delmartini, San Luis Obispo, expressed support for more housing and opined the removal of trees is not inconsistent with the development of the City thus far. Grant Robbins, San Luis Obispo, voiced support for student housing and expressed favor toward development requesting no exceptions or variations from the City’s regulations. Cheryl Mclean, San Luis Obispo, spoke regarding the revised tree inventory and provided written correspondence. Roberto Monge, San Luis Obispo, requested the Commission consider the quality of life provided by the cultural landscape of the property. Mila Vujovich-La Barre, San Luis Obispo, voiced opposition to the project on the proposed site, urged the Commission to preserve the location of the Sanford House and require a design more compatible with the neighborhood. Camille Small, San Luis Obispo, spoke regarding inadequate parking and the removal of trees. Scott Loosley, San Luis Obispo, stated the historical significance of the site’s landscape, expressed disagreement with the biological assessment, and urged the Commission to reconsider the relocation of the house on site. Lauren Reel, Project Developer, addressed concerns expressed by previous public comments and spoke regarding the Housing Accountability Act, stating the site is not qualified as a cultural landscape. Mr. Reel responded to issues with occupancy and stated the project is in compliance with City regulations and CEQA. --End of Public Comment--- Minutes – Architectural Review Commission Meeting of January 30, 2017 Page 4 Recessed at 6:48 p.m. and Reconvened at 7:00 p.m. Associate Planner Cohen, briefly clarified the official zoning of the property and referenced the PowerPoint slide to illustrate the four trees to be preserved. Jake Hudson, Transportation Manager, clarified the Luneta Drive conceptual layout, outlining two options for the public right-of way. Community Development Director Michael Codron acknowledged the genuine response from the community and responded to public comments, providing a contextual summary of the project to date. Richard Dolton, Rincon Consultants, provided an explanation of the intent of the environmental review process and stated the criteria used for the development of reports included in the agenda packet. Chair Wynn disclosed ex parte communication with Bob and Lydia Mourenza during a site tour of the external property, regarding height, biology, noise, and parking. He also had a conversation with Tree Committee Chair Matt Ritter regarding Mr. Ritter’s arborist report. Commissioner Soll disclosed she recently had a conversation with Commissioner Root regarding the project. Commission Comments and Discussion: Associate Planner Cohen responded to Commission inquiries. Commission discussion followed regarding the validity of the Rincon report and the significance of the trees on site. Assistant City Attorney Jon Ansolabehere provided an explanation of the Tree Committee’s purview and a brief history of the legal requirements involved in denying a housing project, cautioning the Commission to exercise sufficient discretion. Chair Wynn restated staff recommendation, stating the applicant has complied with all requests and guidelines with no request for exceptions and expressed interest in approving the project. Following deliberation, Commissioner Soll voiced disagreement with information presented in the environmental reports, stating it is her opinion that the environmental impacts are not less than significant. Commissioners Rolph stated general support for the project, mentioning concerns with the size of the bedrooms. Minutes – Architectural Review Commission Meeting of January 30, 2017 Page 5 Commissioner Nemcik stated general support for the project. Commissioner Root commented on the need for revisions to zoning regulations and voiced general support for the project. Deputy Director Davidson provided information on the upcoming outreach program designed to develop updated zoning regulations. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ROLPH, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NEMCIK, CARRIED 4-1-1 to adopt the Draft Resolution approving the rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and repositioning of the Master List Historic Sanford House property and the construction of a new 33-unit, multi-family residential project, with a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Review on the following roll call vote: AYES: NEMCIK, ROLPH, ROOT, WYNN NOES: SOLL ABSENT: EHDAIE COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS & LIAISON REPORTS Deputy Director Davidson provided an agenda forecast. Commissioner Root expressed concerns regarding City parking regulations and stated he would like to see some revisions. Assistant City Attorney Ansolabehere and Director Codron responded, stating the issues will be addressed in the upcoming zoning regulations update. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Architectural Review Commission is scheduled for Monday, February 13, 2017 at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION: 03/20/2017