Historic Preservation Commission

City of Fresno City Hall 2600 Fresno Street Fresno, CA 93721 Meeting Minutes - Final Monday, June 27, 2022 6:00 PM Regular Meeting In Person and/or Electronic Room 2165N (Conference Room A) Historic Preservation Commission Chair - Jason Hatwig, LEED, AP, BD C Vice Chair - Robin Goldbeck Commissioners: Christopher Rocha, Paul Halajian, AIA; Don Simmons, PhD; M.A.; James Sponsler; Staff: Jennifer Clark, Director; Mary Raterman-Doidge, Senior Deputy City Attorney; Alicia C. Gonzales, Historic Preservation Specialist; Janice Monroe, M.A. II Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 27, 2022 Commission PUBLIC ADVISORY THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND CITY HALL WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT A LIMITED CAPACITY. THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WELCOMES YOU TO ROOM 2165A, LOCATED IN CITY HALL, 2ND FLOOR, 2600 FRESNO STREET, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93721. The meeting can also be viewed live at 6:00 P.M. on Comcast Channel 96 and AT&T channel 99. Chambers, located in City Hall Room 2165A, are open for public participation. Members of the public are encouraged to participate electronically because of reduced capacity of seating in the Chambers to allow for social distancing. Masks will be required for the vaccinated and unvaccinated. Pursuant to the Executive Order, and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in the Commission meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office, 559-621-7650 within 48 hours of the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT The following options are available for members of the public who want to attend and /or address the Historic Preservation Commission: 1. eComment at https://fresno.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. a) eComments is a tool for citizens to use to make comments on agenda items. It will be closed at the start of the meeting and will be a part of the official record. The User Agreement and Procedures document for eComment can be accessed by the URL https://www.fresno.gov/cityclerk/ b) eComments will be a maximum of 450 words. OR 2. You are invited to a Zoom webinar. a) If you would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the meeting remotely from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device. City of Fresno Page 2 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 27, 2022 Commission Please use URL: https://zoom.us/j/95457849931 b) Those addressing the Commission must state their name and address for the record. OR 3. Join by Phone a) Dial: US: 1 669 900 9128 Enter Webinar ID: 954 5784 9931 b) Those addressing the Commission must state their name and address for the record. OR 4. Email a) Attendees may also email comments to Alicia.Gonzales@fresno.gov to be read during the meeting. Please include the agenda date and item number you wish to speak on in the subject line of your email (e.g., January 25, 2021 - Item A). And, please include your name and address for the record at the top of the body of your email. b) Emails are not to exceed 150 words. c) All comments received will be distributed to the Commission prior and during the meeting and will be a part of the official record. Any interested person may appear at the public hearing and present written testimony, or speak in favor or against the matters scheduled on the agenda. If you challenge these matters in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised in oral or written testimony at or before the close of the hearing. The City of Fresno thanks you in advance for taking all precautions to prevent spreading COVID-19 virus. City of Fresno Page 3 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 27, 2022 Commission I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Hatwig called meeting to order: 6:07 pm Also present were Director of Planning and Development, Jennifer Clark, Senior Deputy City Attorney Mary Raterman-Doidge, and Management Analyst II, Janice Monroe. Present 4 - Chair Jason Hatwig, Vice Chair Robin Goldbeck, Commissioner Christopher Rocha, and Commissioner Paul Halajian Absent 2 - Commissioner Don Simmons, and Commissioner James W Sponsler II. PROCEDURES - PROCEDIMIENTOS - KEV SAB LAJ Chair Hatwig read the procedures aloud. III. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES III-A ID 22-950 May 23, 2022, Historic Preservation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes. 6:10pm On motion of Commissioner Rocha, seconded by Vice Chair Goldbeck, that the above MINUTES were APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Chair Hatwig, Vice Chair Goldbeck, Commissioner Rocha and Commissioner Halajian Absent: 2 - Commissioner Simmons and Commissioner Sponsler IV. APPROVE AGENDA 6:11pm Director Clark recommended item VI-A be continued due to lack of quorum. Chair Hatwig suggested holding a special meeting Wednesday, July 13, 2022 to cover this item and the Commission agreed. City of Fresno Page 4 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 27, 2022 Commission A Motion was made to approve agenda with these changes. On motion of Vice Chair Goldbeck, seconded by Commissioner Rocha,the above AGENDA was APPROVED AS AMENDED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Chair Hatwig, Vice Chair Goldbeck, Commissioner Rocha and Commissioner Halajian Absent: 2 - Commissioner Simmons and Commissioner Sponsler V. CONSENT CALENDAR N/A VI. CONTINUED MATTERS VI-A ID 22-951 HEARING TO CONSIDER AND MAKE FINDINGS on application P22-01337 for the installation of a sign to HP# 160 Sun Stereo located at 736/742 Fulton St. (APN46825608). STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) take the following actions: 1. ADOPT a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Sections 15331/Class 31 of the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines 2. APPROVE: Application P22-01337 for the installation of a sign to HP# 160 Sun Stereo located at 736/742 Fulton St. (APN46825608) with conditions. Continued during AGENDA APPROVAL to Special Meeting held Wednesday, 7/13/22 at 6pm. VII. COMMISSION ITEMS VII-A ID 22-1001 REVIEW & COMMENT of development permit application P22-01382 to build a 5,300 square-foot structure and garage for the Lighthouse Recovery Center located at 1651 L St, the former location of HP #115 The Kutner Home. 6:15pm Present for comment & question were Steven Lieng (planner on project), City of Fresno Page 5 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 27, 2022 Commission Vikki Luna (applicant), Brad Hardie (consultant), and Serena Flick (general contractor). Lieng reported the applicant's operational statement and proposed plan. He stated that he was hoping to complete review before expected completion date of 8/15/22. Chair Hatwig asked about the previously mentioned monument to commemorate what was there before. Commissioners asked about the change in footprint, design, and materials. They acknowledged two sides of the property were visible as a corner property and agreed the focus should be on those two sides. Hardie, Flick, and Luna explained their design plan and emphasized their financial limitations. Luna stated that she was not opposed to signage/monument, however she did not have the funds and asked the Commission to offer or suggest resources. Commissioner Halajian pointed out that since the originally stated suggestions were out of budget, there were smaller actions that would make a difference. Commissioners and presenters discussed different design options and suggested a design plan with a different historic style that would be more affordable to applicant. Director Clark explained the conditions of approval after the demolition permit came to the Commission and the role of HPC in current permits. Hatwig offered the architectural subcommittee as a resource for applicant and team after the meeting. VII-B ID 22-1043 REVIEW AND COMMENT regarding Armenian Town Historic District. Report from Chair to the City Council regarding Armenian Town 7:09pm City of Fresno Page 6 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 27, 2022 Commission Chair Hatwig asked if the Commission had any recommendations or comments regarding his draft letter before sending to City Council. Commissioners voiced appreciation for the Chair's letter and Vice Chair Goldbeck suggested adding concern for the extra protection this would give the proposed district, emphasizing recent situations where it could have made a difference, causing the City to lose good resources. Hatwig stated he would send a revised version of the letter to Staff that would include the suggestion. VII-C ID 22-1047 WORKSHOP regarding the Mayor’s budget recommendation for $150,000 for historic district studies 7:14pm Director Clark discussed the upcoming increase in the Mayor's budget recommendation. Clark asked Commissioners to review the existing list of proposed districts and provide a priority list of the locations they would like to work on first. She explained the expectation of the $150,000 on updates and which districts had surveys done in the past. She also stated an additional administrative staff member would be joining the team to assist with these efforts. Commissioners voiced excitement about the potential the funds could make. Staff will send the complete list to the Commission to assist with research. VII-D ID 22-1049 WORKSHOP on multi-phased project which includes multi-family housing and rehabilitation of the HP #182 Frank J. Craycroft Home located at 6545 N Palm. 7:18pm Commissioner Halajian recused himself from this item due to conflict of interest Present for questioning were Steven Lieng (planner on project) and Stephanie Say (architect). City of Fresno Page 7 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 27, 2022 Commission Lieng described the proposal. Say made a presentation that included the site plan, renderings, scope of work, and proposed materials for the project. She asked for feedback on potential colors for the shutters because her research included many options. Chair Hatwig talked about the location of the trash enclosure and his appreciation of texture used in design. Commissioner Rocha asked if the original porch light was available for added character and Say explained her lighting plan. Hatwig offered historical pictures from his personal library of this site to the applicant and Say asked him to email them. VII-E ID 22-956 STAFF UPDATE regarding updating Disclosure Documents when purchasing Historic home 7:41pm Director Clark reported progress in the research of disclosures when purchasing property and explained a state law passed in 1993 that supports the Commissions goal of making historic status known early on. Commissioners voiced appreciation for the head start this California law offers. Goldbeck reported recently selling a house and confirmed MLS asks if a property is a Historic resource. VII-F ID 22-762 STAFF UPDATE on Regular Monthly Topics: 1. Current & Proposed Historic District Updates 2. Demolition/Repair Updates 3. Economic Incentives 7:46pm There were no significant updates on districts (1) or demolition (2) and Director Clark reported continued progress on economic incentives. More City of Fresno Page 8 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 27, 2022 Commission details will come in the next HPC regular meeting when Alicia Gonzales returns. VII-G ID 22-1076 STAFF UPDATE from Plaque & Sign Subcommittee 7:47pm Commissioner Rocha reported talking about new plaque designs, inconsistency across the city, and potential unique designs for districts. Chair Hatwig offered pictures or a visit to his friend's Heritage home where she purchased a plaque to display pride in ownership. VIII. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT N/A IX. UNSCHEDULED ITEMS IX. - A. Members of the Commission 7:50pm Vice Chair Goldbeck announced her resignation at the end of July because of a recent move. Elections of officers will occur at next month's regular meeting. IX. - B. Staff 7:52pm Director Clark announced Goldbeck would be missed and stated that there will be 2 vacancies. She asked commissioners for references and encouraged people to apply for the openings. Each of the commissioners took a moment to show appreciation for their time working with Goldbeck. IX. - C. General Public N/A City of Fresno Page 9 Historic Preservation Meeting Minutes - Final June 27, 2022 Commission X. NEXT MEETING Special Meeting 7/13/22 Regular Meeting 7/25/22 XI. ADJOURNMENT Chair Hatwig adjourned meeting at 7:57pm. City of Fresno Page 10