Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Thursday, August 13, 2015 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Barlow, O'Neil, Fletcher, Hawley, O'Brien, Petty Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Caraker, Senior Planner Hopper, Recording Secretary Leinen CALL TO ORDER Chair Barlow called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. CONSENT ITEMS Vice Chair O’Neil made a motion to approve the Consent Items. Commissioner Barlow seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner O'Neil, seconded by Commissioner Barlow, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved the CONSENT ITEMS: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Barlow, O’Neil, Fletcher, Hawley, O’Brien, Petty NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Approval of Minutes 1. March 19, 2015 ACTION: Approved as amended. Commissioner Hawley asked that the end of the first sentence in the second paragraph of page 3 reading “…and that the HPC is interested in the success of businesses” be struck. She also requested that the vote on item #2 of the minutes be corrected to reflect that she voted against the item. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS Kent Seavey, historic preservation consultant, said there are two historic buildings in the city that he is concerned with. The first building, he said, is Mariposa Hall at Irving Avenue and Lighthouse Avenue, which has H-2 zoning and is not being kept up. Mr. Seavey said the second building is the Estrada Adobe in Downtown Monterey, zoned H- 1, which he knows the HPC has jurisdiction to require the owner to keep up the property. PUBLIC HEARING  Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, August 13, 2015 2. Consider 1008 West Franklin Street; HP Application 15-243 for a Mills Act Contract and H-2 Historic Zoning; Applicant/Owner Teresa Hanna; R-1-6 Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements ACTION: Adopted a Resolution recommending that the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council adopt an Ordinance to rezone the property as a City Historic Resource from R-1-6 to R-1-6-H-2 and a Resolution recommending that the City Council approve a Mills Act Contract (property tax savings program for historic structures) for the property. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Christy Hopper presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Applicant No applicant present. Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments Vice Chair O’Neil said the proposed project is a good project and that she did not realize the house was there previously due to the shrubbery. Commissioner O’Brien said the building is beautiful. Commissioner Petty said he is a resident of Old Town and is pleased to see that the owners are interested in preserving the property. Vice Chair O’Neil made a motion to adopt a Resolution recommending that the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council adopt an Ordinance to rezone the property as a City Historic Resource from R-1-6 to R-1-6-H-2 and a Resolution recommending that the City Council approve a Mills Act Contract (property tax savings program for historic structures) for the property. 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 Adopted a Resolution recommending that the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council adopt an Ordinance to rezone the property as a City Historic Resource from R-1-6 to R-1-6-H-2 and a Resolution recommending that the City Council approve a Mills Act Contract (property tax savings program for historic structures) for the property: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Barlow, O’Neil, Fletcher, Hawley, O’Brien, Petty NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None Chair Barlow recused himself from item #3 due to a conflict of interest and left the room. 3. Consider 138 Seafoam Avenue; HP Application 15-227 for a Mills Act Contract and H-2 Historic Zoning; Applicant/Owner Carol Harpster; R-1-6-D1 Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 13, 2015 2 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, August 13, 2015 ACTION: Adopted a Resolution recommending that the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council adopt an Ordinance to rezone the property as a City Historic Resource from R-1-6-D1 to R-1-6-D1-H-2 and a Resolution recommending that the City Council approve a Mills Act Contract (property tax savings program for historic structures) for the property. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Fernanda Roveri presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Applicant Kent Seavey, architectural historian, said Mark Mills is a very significant American Architect whose work is highly visible in Europe. He also said Mark Mills built the house by hand and work that has been done to the house is consistent with Mills’ use of organic materials and colors. Mr. Seavey said the house is delightful and is eligible for the National Historic Register. Mr. Seavey also gave a brief history of Mark Mills, Frank Lloyd Wright and Paolo Soleri and their work. Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Hawley said it is rare to see property younger than 50 years old requesting a Mills Act Contract and that she would approve the project based on staff’s recommendation. Commissioner Petty asked how important the age of the house is when applying for a Mills Act Contract. Ms. Roveri said per the National Register for Historic Properties, a house can be historic if it is found to meet one of four stated criteria. Ms. Hopper said 50 years is only a guideline, not an absolute requirement. Commissioner O’Brien made a motion to adopt a Resolution recommending that the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council adopt an Ordinance to rezone the property as a City Historic Resource from R-1-6-D1 to R-1-6-D1-H-2 and a Resolution recommending that the City Council approve a Mills Act Contract (property tax savings program for historic structures) for the property. Commissioner Hawley seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner O'Brien, seconded by Commissioner Hawley, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission Adopted a Resolution recommending that the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council adopt an Ordinance to rezone the property as a City Historic Resource from R-1-6-D1 to R-1-6-D1- H-2 and a Resolution recommending that the City Council approve a Mills Act Contract (property tax savings program for historic structures) for the property: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: O’Neil, Fletcher, Hawley, O’Brien, Petty NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Barlow Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 13, 2015 3  Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, August 13, 2015 4. Consider 280 and 290 Reeside Avenue; HP Application 15-279 Requesting Removal of Property from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey List; Applicant/Owner J. Daniel Clarke; C-2 Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements ACTION: Adopted a Resolution removing 280 and 290 Reeside Avenue from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey List and confirm that the properties are not eligible as historic resources. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Ms. Hopper presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioners’ questions. Applicant Dan Clarke, applicant, said he and his wife, along with consultant Anthony Kirk, are available to answers questions. Regarding the Commissioners’ question about the window returns, Mr. Clarke said they have all been removed and none have been preserved. Anthony Kirk said he evaluated the two houses and attached garage on Reeside Avenue. He gave a brief history of the site and shared details regarding his evaluation process and findings. Mr. Kirk said alterations to the house include replacement of nearly all windows on two occasions, filling-in of two windows, replacement of both doors, and changes to the garage doors. He also said the structures are very simple stucco boxes with minimal details, and that the four-unit complex may have been significant when built, but the loss of integrity makes the buildings no longer eligible for historic status. In response to Chair Barlow’s question regarding the age of clay tiles, Mr. Kirk said he examined the tiles but is not a specialist and does not have a determination on the age. Mr. Kirk also commented on letters sent to the Commission and said the two buildings on Reeside are tucked away from view when entering New Monterey on Lighthouse Avenue. In response to Commissioner Petty’s question, Mr. Kirk said in his opinion eligibility for the California Historic Register comes down to character of the building and the alterations causing a loss of integrity, and is not necessarily quantitative based on the five of eight aspects of integrity being met. In response to Vice Chair O’Neil’s question, Mr. Kirk said the garage appears to be how it was constructed, but all three original garage doors are no longer present. Public Comments Laurie Hambaro read a letter into the record from Sharon Dwight, on behalf of the New Monterey Neighborhood Association. Ms. Hambaro said she these houses were built for workers because New Monterey is a working community and she would like to save buildings like these buildings that represent the true history of Monterey, not just large houses and hotels. She also said with the number of aspects of integrity that the property meets it should be kept on the historic context survey. Ms. Hambaro expressed confusion as to why the buildings were initially deemed potentially historic but have been determined by another historian to not be historic. Patricia Domingo said her family has been in Monterey for almost 100 years. She also said it is important to keep the buildings under consideration for historic status. Ms. Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 13, 2015 4 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, August 13, 2015 Domingo said these buildings are very familiar buildings at the entry way to New Monterey and are worth at least a second opinion and further consideration. Mr. Kirk clarified that the initial evaluation was not intensive and was only a windshield survey, which is why he was contacted to evaluate the properties. He also said his research shows that only one individual who worked in the canning and fishing industry lived on site. Mr. Clark said the tile on all the shed roofs has been replaced within the last 30 years. He also said the HPC’s decision should be based on the historian’s report and that it is inappropriate to discuss redevelopment at this stage because it is not what he is requesting. Commissioner Comments Chair Barlow summarized for the record a letter to the HPC received from Nancy Runion. In response to Vice Chair O’Neil’s question, Ms. Hopper said properties that are rezoned as historic in the City are automatically eligible for the California Register and that the property was evaluated based on the California Register’s four criteria. Commissioner Hawley said it is important to keep in mind how the site was intended to be in the beginning if evaluating its integrity, and it has lost the original four-unit aspect so it should be removed from the list. Vice Chair O’Neil said she likes the simplicity of the buildings and that she is afraid if bigger Victorian buildings get saved but simple buildings are looked over then the charm of Monterey will be lost. She also said the changes may have been considered not significant on a larger property, but are considered more significant given that this is a smaller house and that the changes to the two houses seem reversible. Commissioner Hawley said that removing the properties from the list does not necessarily mean that bodies reviewing projects in the future would not also prefer smaller, charming structures and be concerned with the feel of New Monterey. Vice Chair O’Neil said the plywood could be removed from the outside of the garage doors. Chair Barlow said since the property was originally designed as a residential complex, some of the historical aspects have already been lost. Committee Member Hawley said the City requires applicants to hire a qualified historian to evaluate the property and its integrity in order to be removed from the list, so the HPC has to trust the historian’s judgment or their own judgment, and in this case she questions why the HPC would not trust the judgment of the qualified historian and City staff. Commissioner Petty said there is room for differing opinions, but he finds three different authors in the staff report identifying the property as not eligible for historic status. He also said there are numerous examples of how the buildings have lost physical integrity and stylistic features and these factors sway his decision the most. Commissioner Fletcher said the buildings have been degraded from the original set of four structures, and while they may appear as something worthy if just looking at one building alone, it is important to step back and look at the property as a whole. For this Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 13, 2015 5 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, August 13, 2015 reason, he said, he supports removal. Commissioner Fletcher made a motion to adopt a Resolution removing 280 and 290 Reeside Avenue from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey List and confirm that the properties are not eligible as historic resources. Commissioner Petty seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Fletcher, seconded by Commissioner Petty, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission Adopted a Resolution removing 280 and 290 Reeside Avenue from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey List and confirm that the properties are not eligible as historic resources: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Barlow, Fletcher, Hawley, O’Brien, Petty NOES: 1 COMMISSIONERS: O'Neil ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Hawley said the Carmel Sand Castle Contest will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Vice Chair O’Neil asked when the HPC will be viewing in the California Preservation Foundation webinar on windows. The Commission discussed possible dates and decided on the regularly scheduled HPC meeting date of November 12, 2015. Commissioner Barlow said he attended the CPF training at Pier 70 a few weeks ago and offered to share handouts and outlines with the Commissioners. In response to Vice Chair O’Neil’s question, Ms. Hopper said the development at 201 Cannery Row is a five unit condominium project. Commissioner O’Brien asked if the Kent Seavey would be willing give a talk to the HPC and the public regarding historic architecture in the City. She also said it would also be interesting to have the Work family speak their history and their new building on Alvarado Street. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS Ms. Caraker reminded the HPC of the upcoming free Historic Preservation training in Capitola on August 21, 2015 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Ms. Caraker said the tour of the Waterfront Area in preparation for the September 10, 2015 meeting will take place on Monday, August 17, 2015 and will depart from behind Colton Hall at 4:00 pm. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:32 pm. Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 13, 2015 6 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, August 13, 2015 Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Elizabeth Caraker, AICP Chair Principal Planner Historic Preservation Commission Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 13, 2015 7