Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Thursday, November 10, 2011 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Petty, Castagna, McLain, O'Brien, O'Neil, Palminteri, Ex-Officio Commissioner Hodgin Commissioners Absent: Fletcher Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Caraker, Senior Associate Planner Hopper, Recording Secretary Buell CALL TO ORDER Chair Petty called the meeting to order at 4:02 pm. CONSENT ITEMS On a motion by Commissioner O'Brien, seconded by Commissioner McLain, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved the CONSENT ITEMS: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Petty, Castagna, McLain, O'Brien, O'Neil, Palminteri NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Fletcher ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Approval of Minutes 1. October 27, 2011 ACTION: Approved as submitted. 6-0-1 (Absent-Fletcher). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS Tony Flores said he received a notice about the National Historic Landmark (NHL) District and asked the Commission when the item would be heard. Chair Petty informed Mr. Flores that the NHL item is next on the agenda. PUBLIC HEARING 2. National Historic Landmark District and Downtown Area Historic Context Statement and Reconnaissance Survey. Exempt from CEQA (Section 15308). Recommend that the City Council Adopt the National Historic Landmark District and Downtown Area HIstoric Context Statement and Reconnaissance Survey Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, November 10, 2011 ACTION: Recommended that the City Council adopt the National Historic Landmark District and Downtown Area Historic Context Statement and Reconnaissance Survey with staff’s recommended exclusions, with exception of 508 Del Monte (French Laundry). 5-1 (Noes-Palminteri)-1 (Absent-Fletcher ). Staff Presentation/Commissioners Questions: Christine Hopper and Matthew Davis presented the staff report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Public Comments: Frank Donangelo said that the property at 445 Tyler/Bonifacio Street has undergone several changes to the rear of the building and requested that it be removed from the survey list. He expressed concern that if a designation is placed on the property, it will restrict what can be done to the property. In answer to the Commissioner Castagna’s question, Mr. Donangelo said the front door, windows, paint, rear ramp and garbage enclosure are all modifications to the property. Eugene Lee said the property at 562 Pearl Street is not historic and requested that the Commission remove it from the list. Frank Flores said the property at 398 E. Franklin Street has had changes to the windows and requested to have it removed from the list. He also questioned why the responsibility lies with the property owner to prove the property is not historic. Ms. Hopper reminded Mr. Flores that the Reconnaissance Survey does not designate any property as historic, but it does identify those properties within the survey area that do not qualify as historic, thus saving those property owners time and money should they decide to make alterations to their property. She said State environmental laws require the protection of historic resources, whether they are designated as such or not. She also said when a development application is submitted to the Planning Office, the project applicant is required to pay application fees, which include the cost of an environmental analysis and determination by the City. George Avelkan concurred with the public comments and indicated that the property at 439 Jackson Street has had changes to the windows, a stairway added and significant modifications to the entryway and requested the Commission remove the property from the list. Ms. Hopper informed the Commission that the property at 439 Jackson Street is potentially in a Historic District which warrants further research and additional documentation is needed. Tony Flores and his wife Rose Flores requested that the property at 245 Van Buren Street be removed from the list. They said there had been many alterations to the rear of the house including, the windows, the addition of a deck, relocation of a staircase and the addition of duplexes to the back of the property. They are concerned that the restrictions would limit future development of the property. Commissioner Castagna said there had been enough alterations to the property to have it removed from the survey list. Juki Kitahara said the interior of the house at 537 Robinson Street has been altered to accommodate his elderly mother and the windows have all been replaced. He said he did not see the historic significance of the property and questioned staff on the restrictions to making changes if the property was determined to be historic. Ms. Hopper Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 10, 2011 2 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, November 10, 2011 reminded Mr. Kitahara that further study would be required before determining that the property qualifies as historic. Mr. Kitahara requested the property be removed from the list. Ms. Hopper stated that any requests for removal from the Reconnaissance List need to be submitted to staff in writing with supporting photos, etc. Commissioner Comments: Commissioner O’Brien suggested waiting for additional information from the property owners that requested exclusion from the list so that staff can make a proper recommendation for inclusion or exclusion. Commissioner Hodgin requested that the French Laundry building remain on the survey list because some of the basic structure is remaining and to exclude the property because of a rear addition would not be appropriate. Chair Petty said that staff is recommending that the property be excluded from the list, that an amendment to staff’s recommendation would be necessary if it was to remain, and suggested leaving 508 Del Monte on the list. Commissioner O’Brien said 420 Pearl and 301-305 Webster should remain on the list unless documentation is submitted proving that significant alterations have been made to the property. Commissioner O’Neal said that 420 Pearl should remain on the survey list. The Commission concurred that there was not significant information submitted to remove 301-305 Webster Street from the list, and suggested that property owners requesting to be removed from the list submit additional information supporting removal from the list to staff. Ms. Hopper said all submittals of documentation must be done before December 5, 2011 to allow staff time to prepare an accurate recommendation to the City Council. Commissioner O’Neil motioned to recommend that the City Council adopt the National Historic Landmark District and Downtown Area Historic Context Statement and Reconnaissance Survey with staff’s recommended exclusions, with exception of 508 Del Monte (French Laundry). Commissioner O’Brien seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner O'Neil, seconded by Commissioner O'Brien, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission recommend that the City Council adopt the National Historic Landmark District and Downtown Area Historic Context Statement and Reconnaissance Survey with staff’s recommended exclusions, with exception of 508 Del Monte (French Laundry). : AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Petty, Castagna, McLain, O'Brien, O'Neil NOES: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Palminteri ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Fletcher ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None PUBLIC APPEARANCE Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 10, 2011 3  Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, November 10, 2011 3. Year End Report Recommend that the City Council Receive the Historic Preservation Commission’s Year End Report for 2011 ACTION: Recommended that the City Council receive the Historic Preservation Commission’s Year End Report for 2011. 6-0-1 (Absent-Fletcher ). Staff Presentation/Commissioners Questions: Elizabeth Caraker presented the staff report and answered Commissioners' questions. Public Comments: None. Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Castagna motioned to recommend that the City Council receive the Historic Preservation Commission's Year End Report for 2011. Commissioner O'Brien seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Castagna, seconded by Commissioner O'Brien, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission recommend that the City Council receive the Historic Preservation Commission’s Year End Report for 2011: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Petty, Castagna, McLain, O'Brien, O'Neil, Palminteri NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Fletcher ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None COMMISSIONER COMMENTS  Commissioner O’Brien requested that information be given to the public regarding the preservation of historic properties. Ms. Hopper said she will add slides for the City Council presentation to illustrate the benefits of preservation of historic properties. Commissioner O’Neal requested that information be provided showing the homes that are currently designated as historic properties and discuss the benefits available to the property owners. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS  Ms. Hopper announced that the Architectural Resources Group has been retained to prepare the Context Statement and Reconnaissance Survey for the New Monterey Residential and Commercial areas. Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 10, 2011 4 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, November 10, 2011 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:25 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Elizabeth Caraker Chair Principal Planner Historic Preservation Commission Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 10, 2011 5