Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Thursday, March 13, 2014 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBER MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Fletcher, Barlow, Hawley, McLain, O'Neil Commissioners Absent: O'Brien, Petty Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Caraker, Senior Associate Planner Hopper, Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton, Recording Secretary Nelson CALL TO ORDER Chair Fletcher called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm. CONSENT ITEMS Vice Chair Barlow made motion to approve the Consent Items. Commissioner McLain seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Barlow, seconded by Commissioner McLain, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved the CONSENT ITEMS: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Fletcher, Barlow, Hawley, McLain, O'Neil NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: O'Brien, Petty ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Approval of Minutes 1. February 13, 2014 ACTION: Approved as submitted. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS Sherna Stewart, Monterey resident, said she attended the previous Historic Preservation Commission meeting and wanted to ensure all Commissioners received a copy of the printed materials regarding Monterey’s adobes that she passed out. PUBLIC HEARING 2. Consider Requests for Exclusion of 824 Lobos Street, 487 Foam Street, and 704 Foam Street from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey for Recommendation to City Council; Exempt from CEQA Requirements (Section 15308) ACTION: Adopted a Resolution recommending that the City Council deny the requests to exclude 824 Lobos Street and 487 Foam Street from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey and approve the request to exclude 704 Foam Street from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, March 13, 2014 Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Christine Hopper presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Public Comments Frank Donangelo, Cannery Row Company, said major alterations including a complete second floor demolition, a north elevation change, and modifications to siding, windows, doors, decking and stairs make the property at 487 Foam Street ineligible for the Reconnaissance Survey. He also said listing the property would be a disadvantage, because the historic status would always have to be disclosed in the future. Regarding 704 Foam Street, Mr. Donangelo said a complete interior remodel, new roof, and changes to the deck, fence, and windows, make the property ineligible for the Reconnaissance Survey. Commissioner Comments Commissioner O’Neil said most of the changes to 704 Foam Street were interior and changes to the fence and porches are reversible. She also said no other information regarding alterations has been provided and the property needs to be protected as potentially historic. Committee Member Hawley said she is apt to agree with the property owners’ requests. She also said the property at 704 Foam Street has the least integrity of the three properties, the Victorian property at 487 Foam has been modified beyond being a valuable resource and the mid-century modern property on Lobos Street is not part of public view. In response to Commissioner McLain’s question, Ms. Hopper said the garages on the 704 Foam Street property are a different style and built at a different date, so would likely not be considered in an evaluation. Vice Chair Barlow asked if only one structure at the Victorian Inn property can be designated opposed to all buildings. Ms. Hopper said there is a method of designating historic portions of a lot while excluding non-historic portions, and reminded the Commission their discussion is limited to whether the properties are potentially historic. Regarding 704 Foam Street, Vice Chair Barlow said inclusion on the Historic List would create limitations and not serve to protect the best historic properties. Commissioner O’Neil said it is important to protect these unique properties and not only mansions. Chair Fletcher said any properties seen as potentially historic should remain on the List. He also suggested a separate vote for each property and recused himself from the vote on 487 Foam Street due to a possible conflict of interest. 824 Lobos Street Commissioner O’Neil made a motion to adopt a Resolution recommending that the City Council deny the request to exclude 824 Lobos Street from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey. Commissioner McLain seconded the motion. 2 Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, March 13, 2014 2 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, March 13, 2014 On a motion by Commissioner O'Neil, seconded by Commissioner McLain, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission adopted a Resolution recommending that the City Council deny the request to exclude 824 Lobos Street from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey: AYES: 3 COMMISSIONERS: Barlow, McLain, O’Neil NOES: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Hawley, Fletcher ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: O'Brien, Petty ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Commissioner O’Neil said it is incumbent on the property owner to provide proof of the non-historic nature of the property. Commissioner Hawley said photographs have not been enough in the past for a determination and a historic evaluation may be necessary. Vice Chair Barlow said the two similar neighboring properties have had remodels and are still included on the Reconnaissance Survey. 487 Foam Street Commissioner O’Neil made a motion to adopt a Resolution recommending that the City Council deny the request to exclude 487 Foam Street from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey. Vice Chair Barlow requested to modify the motion to allow the historic significance be limited to the one structure at the corner of the property. The motion maker agreed to the modification. Commissioner McLain seconded the Motion. On a motion by Commissioner O'Neil, seconded by Commissioner McLain, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission adopted a Resolution recommending that the City Council deny the request to exclude 487 Foam Street from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey and that the City Council exclude the newer hotel building from Historic Review: AYES: 3 COMMISSIONERS: Barlow, McLain, O’Neil NOES: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Hawley ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: O'Brien, Petty ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Fletcher 704 Foam Street Vice Chair Barlow made a motion to adopt a Resolution recommending that the City Council approve the request to exclude 704 Foam Street from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey. Commissioner Hawley seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Barlow, seconded by Commissioner Hawley, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission adopted a Resolution recommending that the City Council deny the request to exclude 704 Foam Street from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey: 3 Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, March 13, 2014 3  Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, March 13, 2014 AYES: 3 COMMISSIONERS: Barlow, Hawley, McLain NOES: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Fletcher, O’Neil ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: O'Brien, Petty ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Receive Report on the Status of Downtown State Historic Properties and Historic Tour Opportunities Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Elizabeth Caraker introduced presenters Michael Green and Kim Bui-Burton who both gave presentations and answered Commissioners’ question. Michael Green, Interpretive Program Manager for Monterey Historic Parks, said five of the seven adobes are available intermittently and principal buildings are open on weekends and Monday holidays. He also said paid tours hands-on programs for schools are available. Mr. Green said the most centrally located and visited adobes remained open when funding decreased and cell phone tours are provided for buildings that are closed. He also said the State Park’s cooperating association is currently funding all his staff positions and that trained curatorial staff is always used to maintain the adobe’s collections. Kim Bui-Burton, City of Monterey Community Services and Library Director, said she has been overseeing the City’s Museum and Cultural Arts division since 2004 and many agencies have been working together as part of Historic Monterey for over a decade to share and preserve historic resources. She also presented two brochures outlining historic resources and cell phone tours in Monterey that are available in hotels, the Aquarium, the French Consulate and all locations with brochure racks. Ms. Bui-Burton also said funding for additional historic signage could be obtained through the Community Foundation, but it is a challenge due to the many worthy projects competing. Public Comments Sherna Stewart said she is very concerned that the Downtown Specific Plan addresses historic resources but they are scattered throughout town and represented on the maps with small symbols regardless of their large size. She also said the adobes could be connected through backyards or garden gates and that creating a comprehensive historic district and visual connections between historic properties would put Monterey on the map. Commissioner Comments Chair Fletcher said that when the HPC considers the work program it should be reviewed in a holistic way to see the bigger picture as opposed to smaller pieces separately. Commissioner Hawley said the Lighting Standards were intended to create a subtle feeling of a greater historic district and indicate location of the adobes. She also said Google Maps allows users to add pathways to the map that they know about but may not be traveled. Commissioner O’Neil said that educating the Council and public on Monterey’s historic 4 Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, March 13, 2014 4 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, March 13, 2014 assets is no longer on the work program as it previously was. Vice Chair Barlow said he likes the idea of enhancing experiences along historic pathways with things like view corridors as opposed just getting travelers from point A to point B. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS In response to Commissioner McLain’s question, Ms. Caraker said that volunteers for the California Preservation Commission Conference are required to fill out a volunteer form, due by March 21, 2014. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS None. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:30 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Elizabeth Caraker, AICP Chair Principal Planner Historic Preservation Commission 5 Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, March 13, 2014 5