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Minutes
CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE
Monday, July 24, 2017
Regular Meeting of the Cultural Heritage Committee
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Cultural Heritage Committee was called to order on Monday, July 24,
2017 in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by
Chair Papp.
ROLL CALL
Present: Committee Members Sandy Baer, Thom Brajkovich, Damon Haydu, Craig Kincaid,
Glen Matteson, and Chair James Papp
Absent: Committee Member Shannon Larrabee
Staff: Senior Planner Brian Leveille, Planning Technician Kip Morais, Associate Planner
Kyle Bell.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER MATTESON, SECOND BY
COMMITTEE MEMBER BAER, CARRIED 6-0-1 to approve the Minutes of the Regular
Cultural Heritage Committee Meetings of April 24, 2017, May 15, 2017, and May 22, 2017 with
the following amendments:
May 15th, Page 2: “Committee Member Matteson encouraged the applicant to give careful
consideration to the representation of the site’s agricultural history.”
May 22nd, Page 1: Reflect Committee Member Matteson’s presence in the roll call.
Page 1: Committee Member Matteson voted to abstained, having not attended the March 27th
meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Joseph Carotenuti, San Luis Obispo, introduced the concept of placing a commemorative plaque
at the bridge in Mission Plaza behind the Warden Building, in honor of Queenie Warden.
Minutes – Cultural Heritage Committee Meeting of July 24, 2017 Page 2
Senior Planner Brian Leveille offered information regarding the proper protocol for requesting
and approving memorial plaques.
--End of Public Comment--
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. 683 Pismo Street. ARCH-0733-2017: Review of an addition to a Contributing List historic
property in the Medium-Density Residential zone, within the Old Town Historic District;
categorically exempt from environmental review (Class 15332); R-2-H zone; Mark and
Heather Minnoch, applicants. (Kip Morais)
Planning Technician Kip Morais presented the staff report with use of a PowerPoint
presentation.
Applicant Representative Greg Wynn provided an in-depth presentation illustrating the
proposed modifications and responded to Committee inquiries.
Public Comments:
Debbie Wacker, requested clarification regarding the accessory dwelling unit.
--End of Public Comment--
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER MATTESON, SECOND BY
COMMITTEE MEMBER BRAJKOVICH, CARRIED 6-0-1 to adopt the resolution
recommending the Community Development Director approve the renovation and addition to
the rear of a contributing historic resource in the old town historic district with
recommendation to the applicant to work with staff to select a siding more consistent with the
existing siding.
The Committee recessed at 6:12 p.m. and reconvened at 6:17 p.m. with 5 members present.
Committee Member Brajkovich recused for Item 2 and exited the Council Hearing Room for
the remainder of the meeting.
2. 546 Higuera Street. ARCH-0339-2017: Continued review of repositioning, restoration,
and rehabilitation of the Master List Historic structure known as Norcross House,
including the construction of an additional two-story dwelling unit for consistency with
the Historic Preservation Ordinance; categorically exempt from environmental review
(Class 15331 & 15332); C-R zone; Higuera Commons, LLC, applicant. (Kyle Bell)
Associate Planner Kyle Bell presented a PowerPoint presentation and responded to
Committee inquiries.
Senior Planner Leveille provide clarification regarding the CHC’s purview.
Minutes – Cultural Heritage Committee Meeting of July 24, 2017 Page 3
Applicant John Belsher presented information regarding project feasibility and economic
impacts; presented a PowerPoint presentation and read aloud written correspondence
provided by architect Thom Brajkovich; expressed concerns regarding the potential
financial hardships that a negative review could impose; responded to Committee
inquiries.
Michael Hibma, Architectural Historian, LSA Associates, presented information relative
to the period of significance of the property, citing 1874-1889 as the assumed time frame;
responded to Committee inquiries.
Chair Papp expressed concerns over the absence of an independent Architectural Historian
report and structural engineer’s report as directed in a previous CHC hearing.
Public Comment:
Greg Wynn, architect, San Luis Obispo, stated he is neither for nor against the project;
offered clarification regarding the California Architects Practice Act which describes
architects and structural engineers equally capable of evaluating buildings up to 75-feet
high, excluding hospitals.
Chuck Crotser stated licensed architects have the expertise to evaluate structures and
urged the Committee to approve the project.
Ginger Woods, San Luis Obispo, referenced written correspondence and urged the
Committee to vote in favor of the project; expressed concerns regarding the unused
potential of the property.
--End of Public Comment--
Chair Papp disclosed ex-parte communications with architect Thom Brajkovich and
applicant John Belsher.
Committee Member Haydu commented on significant impacts to historic resources,
including demolition by neglect; stated he does not disagree with the LSA report and
memorandum.
Committee Member Matteson stated the property has been adequately studied, although a
more expedient process would have been beneficial; expressed interest in seeing the
history of the property documented through the construction process.
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER KINCAID, SECOND BY COMMITTEE
MEMBER MATTESON, CARRIED 4-1-1-1 with Chair Papp opposed, to approve staff’s
recommendation.
Minutes – Cultural Heritage Committee Meeting of July 24, 2017 Page 4
Chair Papp stated he disagreed with the adequacy of the original report; stated issue
with the representation of the rear of the home; expressed concerns with the criteria and
inconsistencies in the applicant’s reports.
Committee Member Baer stated the date of the additions is irrelevant in comparison to
the inconsistent nature of materials and unsafe nature of the rear of the home.
COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
Senior Planner Leveille presented an agenda forecast.
The Committee briefly discussed interest in beneficial subjects of member education.
Jamila Haseeba, San Luis Obispo, offered information regarding the biannual SLO County
planning workshop.
Chair Papp provided an update on the mission aqueduct.
Chair Papp reported the historic resources survey did not receive a grant. The Committee
decided to move forward with the Historic Resources Survey project.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Cultural Heritage
Committee is scheduled for Monday, August 28, 2017, at 5:30 p.m., in the location, 990 Palm
Street, San Luis Obispo, California.
APPROVED BY THE CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE: 08/28/2017