Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Thursday, September 13, 2018 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Smith-Crivello, Dawson, Barlow, Collum, Napoli, O’Brien, O’Neil Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Community Development Director Cole, Housing and Community Development Manager Caraker, Principal Planner Flower, Associate Planner Schmidt, Recording Secretary Salameh CALL TO ORDER Chair Smith-Crivello called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. June 14, 2018 On a motion by Commissioner O'Neil, seconded by Commissioner O'Brien, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved the June 14, 2018 minutes as submitted. AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Smith-Crivello, Dawson, Barlow, Collum, Napoli, O’Brien, O’Neil NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC HEARING 2. Approve 503 Pearl Street; Application TM-17-0473 for Mills Act Contract and H-2 Historic Zoning; Applicant/Owner Patrick McNeill; PC-D-ES Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15305, Class 5, and Section 15331, Class 31 Action: Approved 503 Pearl Street; application TM-17-0473 for Mills Act Contract and H-2 Historic Zoning. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Associate Planner Schmidt presented the Agenda Report and took Commissioners’  Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, September 13, 2018 questions. Applicant Homeowner Pat McNeil spoke about how he and his wife discovered the history of their home. He said that he was constantly researching the home and one day happened to meet Mr. Watanabe’s granddaughter and later on more of his relatives, allowing him to learn more about the home’s history. Public Comments Kent Seavey, Historic Consultant, spoke about the history of the Watanabe family and their plight during World War II. He noted that despite suffering indignity during WWII, they came back to contribute to Monterey’s rich Japanese culture. Tim Thomas, a local historian and board member of the Japanese American Citizens League, described Mr. Watanabe’s contributions to Monterey’s fishing and Japanese cultures. He said that Mr. Watanabe was one of a small amount of Japanese divers that remained in Monterey and mentored young divers. Commissioner Napoli asked about Mr. Watanabe’s history after World War II, to which Mr. Thomas replied. Commissioner Comments Commissioner O’Neil asked if a plaque was required for the Mills Act Contract, and Ms. Caraker replied that it was a condition of approval. Commissioner Napoli asked if consideration had been given to roofing or exterior paint colors. ***REOPEN PUBLIC COMMENT*** Mr. McNeil said that as they worked on the house, they discovered that the original paint color was an off-yellow hue. He added that next time it was painted they would consider the original color. On a motion by Commissioner Dawson, seconded by Commissioner Napoli, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved 503 Pearl Street; application TM-17-0473 for Mills Act Contract and H-2 Historic Zoning. AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Smith-Crivello, Dawson, Barlow, Collum, Napoli, O’Brien, O’Neil NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None 3. Approve 442 Hawthorne; HP-18-0332 to Remove a Property from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey List; Owners Rick and Darlene Hartmann; R-3-5 Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements per Article 19, Section 15331, Class 31 Action: Approved application HP-18-0329 for the removal of 419 Watson Street Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes 2 Thursday, September 13, 2018 2 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, September 13, 2018 from the Lower Old Town Reconnaissance Survey List. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Principal Planner Flower presented the Agenda Report and took Commissioners’ questions. Commissioner O’Neil asked about restoration options, covered parking, and destruction of the subject site’s remaining integrity, to which Ms. Flower replied. Chair Smith-Crivello mentioned that lot’s small size and asked if it had once been part of a larger lot, adding that the rear of the property seemed dangerously steep. Ms. Flower explained that the house appeared to have been a fisherman’s flat, but was not a good representation of its style. She said that the lot may have been subdivided at one point, although she did not find record of that. Applicant Rick Hartmann said that he and his wife had purchased the subject site with hopes to build a home to retire in. He noted that it was not structurally sound and would need to be demolished. He expressed the desire to build a home to complement the fabric of the neighborhood and that would be an improvement to the area. Public Comments Mr. Seavey said that he consulted with structural engineer Belinda Taluban, who confirmed that the house was not structurally sound and that the interior was coated in tobacco smoke film. He said that no record existed of the original windows and explained that the lot had been subdivided long ago. He also confirmed that after speaking with Alliance of Monterey Area Preservationists President Nancy Runyon and other community members, the house was determined to be overall a lost cause. Commissioner Comments Commissioner O’Neil said that she had struggled with the thought of removing the subject property from the reconnaissance survey because it had all characteristics of a vernacular cottage, aside from the windows. Vice Chair Dawson noted that it would be worth saving, were it not for it being structurally unstable. Commissioner Barlow spoke to Commissioner O’Neil’s comments, noting that the structure had a nice scale, but that it had been neglected in an undeliberate manner. He said that he was inclined to support delisting it. Chair Smith-Crivello noted that the site did not lend to its surroundings and therefore delisting it seemed to be appropriate. Commissioner O’Neil asked if the house had been red-tagged, to which Ms. Flower responded no, because it was not currently inhabited. Chair Smith-Crivello commended the homeowners for their wishes to build a new home that would contribute to the neighborhood. Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes 3 Thursday, September 13, 2018 3  Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, September 13, 2018 On a motion by Commissioner Barlow, seconded by Commissioner O'Brien, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved permit HP-18-0332 to remove 442 Hawthorne from the New Monterey Reconnaissance Survey List. AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Smith-Crivello, Dawson, Barlow, Collum, Napoli, O’Brien, O’Neil NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None 4. Approve 419 Watson Street; HP-18-0329 to Remove a Property from the Lower Old Town Reconnaissance Survey List; Owner Chris Camire; R-3-6 Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements per Article 19, Section 15331, Class 31 Action: Approved application HP-18-0329 for the removal of 419 Watson Street from the Lower Old Town Reconnaissance Survey List. Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Principal Planner Flower presented the Agenda Report and took Commissioners’ questions. HPC Members asked questions regarding the substantial number of changes made to the property over time, its potential to become a multi-tenant property, and parking accommodations, to which Ms. Flower and Ms. Caraker responded. Applicant Mr. Seavey spoke on the applicant’s behalf, noting the structure had no foundation and that the windows had not been properly set. He said that it was too poor of condition in order for it to qualify for historic zoning. Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments Vice Chair Dawson said that she did not believe the site was red-tagged. Commissioner O’Neil noted that even if the existing home were to be bulldozed, a smaller structure may have to be built in its place because of setbacks. ***OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT*** Property owner Chris Camire expressed his appreciation for the community and the Planning department and said that his goal was to renovate the home to resell it or potentially move into with his family. Chair Smith-Crivello remarked that the home would benefit from improvement. Commissioner Napoli asked Mr. Camire if he intended to maintain a similar structure onsite. Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes 4 Thursday, September 13, 2018 4  Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, September 13, 2018 Mr. Camire confirmed that he intended no major modifications, only refresh the home. *** CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT*** On a motion by Commissioner O'Neil, seconded by Commissioner O'Brien, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved application HP-18- 0329 for the removal of 419 Watson Street from the Lower Old Town Reconnaissance Survey List. AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Smith-Crivello, Dawson, Barlow, Collum, Napoli, O’Brien, O’Neil NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ***At 5:11 p.m., Commissioner Barlow excused himself for the remainder of the meeting. *** 5. Initiate Alta Mesa Neighborhood Context Statement and Area-Wide Survey. Exempt from CEQA per Article 18, Section 15262 Staff Presentation/Commissioner Questions Associate Planner Schmidt presented the Agenda Report and took Commissioners’ questions. Chair Smith-Crivello asked why it had taken so long to arrange for a survey of the neighborhood, to which Ms. Caraker replied. Commissioner Napoli asked if properties could be removed from the survey, and Mr. Schmidt explained that the consultant would asses each property on an individual basis and all may not qualify. Commissioner Napoli asked about the possibility of denying the survey. Ms. Caraker explained that grant funds would have to be returned if the HPC denied the survey, as this was a process outlined in the City’s historic preservation ordinance. Mr. Schmidt noted that the intensive surveys would be valuable to each property owner, adding that it was not inexpensive to obtain an intensive survey. He said that the survey would serve to reinforce eligible properties and rule out those that were ineligible. Commissioner Napoli asked about the notification process, and Mr. Schmidt explained noticing procedures. Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments Vice Chair Dawson noted that Mr. Schmidt had reached out to the Alta Mesa Neighborhood Association regarding the survey, so they were aware of what to expect. Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes 5 Thursday, September 13, 2018 5 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, September 13, 2018 Mr. Schmidt explained that the final document would need to be approved by the City Council and that property owners had the right to object. Ms. Caraker noted that historic resources existed there, whether known or not, and that the survey provided a way to discover those resources. Mr. Schmidt clarified that nothing would be rezoned. Chair Smith-Crivello asked for more information on surveyed neighborhoods and Ms. Caraker said that staff could report on the topic. Vice Chair Dawson said that as resident of the Alta Mesa neighborhood and owner of a Mills Act home, she could that several homes there had been designed by notable architects. She also said that at least one other Mills Act home existed in addition to remarkable adobes there. She added that the survey area expanded beyond the actual borders of the Alta Mesa neighborhood. On a motion by Vice Chair Dawson, seconded by Commissioner Collum, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved the initiation of Alta Mesa Neighborhood Context Statement and Area-Wide Survey. AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Smith-Crivello, Dawson, Collum, O’Brien, O’Neil NOES: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Napoli ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Barlow ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner O’Neil asked about event permitting for the Cooper-Molera Adobe. She also expressed concern regarding the art display in the bakery area, noting that the property owner had said historic photos would be on display there. Ms. Caraker said that she would revisit the use permit and report back. Chair Smith-Crivello said that she had attended a docent meeting at the Cooper-Molera Adobe at which she learned that the bakery would feature rotating art and photos with interpretation. She also asked about the window at 698 W. Franklin, which had been reviewed by the HPC two years prior. Mr. Schmidt said that he had been working with the property owner and the Code Compliance Coordinator on an appropriate solution for the window at 698 W. Franklin. Vice Chair Dawson cited concerns with the newly-installed lift in the Council Chambers lobby and asked that staff improve communications on such projects. Chair Smith-Crivello said that she had hoped for a better accessibility solution in the Council Chambers lobby and expressed concern with the floor tiles being saved. Ms. Caraker explained that historic building interiors were not always within the purview Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes 6 Thursday, September 13, 2018 6  Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, September 13, 2018 of the HPC and that it was a case-by-case basis based on designation. She added that in this case, the interior had not been within the HPC’s purview. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 6. Planning Office Update  Update received ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:53 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Elizabeth Caraker Chair Housing and Community Development Manager Historic Preservation Commission Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes 7 Thursday, September 13, 2018 7