Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

DocuSign Envelope ID: D3BB3859-5445-4141-98BD-E8EBACA38B3B MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Thursday, October 10, 2019 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Members Present: Dawson, Napoli, Barlow, Collum, O’Brien, O’Neil Members Absent: Smith-Crivello Staff Members Present: Housing and Community Development Manager Caraker, Associate Planner Sabdo, Administrative Assistant Salameh 1. Meeting Procedures CALL TO ORDER Chair Dawson called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 2. September 12, 2019 Action: Approved as amended. On a motion by Commissioner Barlow, seconded by Commissioner O’Brien, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved the September 12, 2019 minutes as amended. AYES: 6 MEMBERS: Dawson, Napoli, Barlow, Collum, O’Brien, O’Neil NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 1 MEMBERS: Smith-Crivello ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Approve 1281 5th Street; HP-19-0291 to Remove a Property from the Oak Grove Neighborhood Reconnaissance Survey List; Applicant and Owner Debbie Young; R-3-6 Zoning District; Medium Family Residential General Plan Designation; Exempt from CEQA Requirements per Article 19, Section 15331, Class 31 Action: Approved 1281 5th Street; HP-19-0291 to Remove a Property from the Oak Grove Neighborhood Reconnaissance Survey List Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions DocuSign Envelope ID: D3BB3859-5445-4141-98BD-E8EBACA38B3B Associate Planner Sabdo presented the Agenda Report and took Commissioners’ questions. Commissioner Barlow asked when the Oak Grove reconnaissance survey was conducted and Ms. Caraker replied that it was conducted in 2007. Public Comments Don Prescott said that he owned a property near the subject site and that he supported the applicant’s proposal and staff recommendation, noting that he felt that not all properties that were listed as potentially historic actually qualified. Applicant Debbie Young said that she had noticed the property several years ago, due to its poor upkeep. She said that she would like it removed from the reconnaissance survey list because extensive modifications were necessary to update and rehabilitate the property. She spoke of planned improvements and said that once complete, the home would be an asset to the neighborhood. Chair Dawson asked how much of the home Ms. Young planned to preserve and if it would look like the original structure. Ms. Young said that she did not plan to demolish the structure, but that plans had not yet been created. She explained that her husband was a general contractor and that they planned to improve and enhance the home, and that they would like to leave the front of the home as is. Commissioner Barlow asked Ms. Young if staff had informed her of the Mills Act program and Ms. Young said yes, but after researching the program she felt it would not be feasible with the amount of repairs to be made. She also noted that the expense of rehabilitating the house to historic standards was not something that they had budgeted for. Mr. Bergstein said that, as a consultant hired to analyze the subject, he felt that this was not an eligible property because not much of the original home remained and changes had occurred haphazardly over time. Commissioner Comments Commissioner O’Neil said that she felt the field trip had been very valuable, as the photos included in the agenda report did not do justice to the condition of the property. She said that she did not see much historical integrity in the subject site and that she supported the applicants’ request to remove it from the reconnaissance survey. On a motion by Commissioner O’Neil, seconded by Commissioner Collum, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved 1281 5th Street; HP-19-0291 to Remove a Property from the Oak Grove Neighborhood Reconnaissance Survey List AYES: 6 MEMBERS: Dawson, Napoli, Barlow, Collum, O’Brien, O’Neil NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 1 MEMBERS: Smith-Crivello ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None 4. Approve 554 Van Buren Street; Historic Permit HP-19-0263 to Allow Landscape Alterations; Applicant and Property Owner: Kenneth Williston; R-3-6-H2 Zoning Designation; Medium Family Residential General Plan Designation; Exempt from CEQA Requirements per Section 15301, Class 1, Section 15303, Class 3, and 15331, Class 31 2 DocuSign Envelope ID: D3BB3859-5445-4141-98BD-E8EBACA38B3B Action: Approved 554 Van Buren Street; Historic Permit HP-19-0263 to allow landscape alterations with staff-recommended conditions of approval and direction to the applicant to submit a letter from an architectural historian that evaluates the front stairs and walkway for consistency with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards. Staff Presentation Associate Planner Sabdo presented the Agenda Report and took Commissioners’ questions. Commissioners asked questions regarding landscape and hardscape, the logistics of narrowing the front walkway, and for what portion of the proposed project staff did not recommend approval, to which staff replied. Public Comments None. Applicant Karen Williston thanked staff for their help with the project. She said that the front steps were not to code and that the risers and treads were uneven. She added that their material, cement, was not historic in her opinion and that she would like permission to rebuild the steps to the proper dimensions. She said that her goal was not only to make the steps safe, but also attractive. Commissioner Comments Chair Dawson noted that without an intensive survey, the timeframe of the steps’ installation was uncertain. Vice Chair Napoli noted that the steps appeared to have been built later and that they did detract from the house. Chair Dawson said that it was possible the steps had been widened at one point, as the subject site had once been a duplex. Commissioner Barlow said that he did not have an issue with requiring a historic report solely for the front steps, but that he was not comfortable with alterations occurring to the front of the building if the stairs were to be removed and replaced. Chair Dawson said that she would like to see plans that illustrated how the walkway and stairs would be narrowed. Commissioner O’Neil said that without a historic report, the HPC did not have complete information to make a determination. Commissioner O’Brien noted that the original steps were most likely wood. Vice Chair Napoli agreed that the original steps were most likely wood and noted that a five- foot walkway would be an appropriate size for a historical structure. He said that it appeared the applicant had done research on their own and that they seemed to want to improve the historic resource rather than altering it. Chair Dawson suggested separating the motion into two parts; one for the landscape and one for the stairs. Ms. Sabdo asked HPC to consider staff’s recommended special conditions of approval in their motion. 3 DocuSign Envelope ID: D3BB3859-5445-4141-98BD-E8EBACA38B3B Commissioner Collum made a motion to approve the walkway, wall, gate and wrought iron and Commissioner O’Neil seconded the motion. Ms. Caraker noted that if the HPC would like to consider anything further, a new resolution would need to be drafted and brought back to the HPC. Chair Dawson noted that they did not know the best way to narrow the stairs, as no relevant plans had been presented. Commissioner Barlow agreed, adding that aside from an intensive survey on the steps, information had been provided on all other aspects of the project. Commissioners O’Neil and O’Brien said that they would like to see a historic report on the front steps. Commissioner Barlow noted that a historic report focused solely on the stairs should considerably reduce the cost. Ms. Caraker noted that a historic report is required by the historic ordinance. Commissioner O’Neil said that it was a lovely house and Commissioner Barlow thanked the applicant for working through the historic process. On a motion by Commissioner Collum, seconded by Commissioner O’Neil, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved 554 Van Buren Street; Historic Permit HP-19-0263 to allow landscape alterations with staff- recommended conditions of approval and direction to the applicant to submit a letter from an architectural historian that evaluates the front stairs and walkway for consistency with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards. AYES: 6 MEMBERS: Dawson, Napoli, Barlow, Collum, O’Brien, O’Neil NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 1 MEMBERS: Smith-Crivello ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: D3BB3859-5445-4141-98BD-E8EBACA38B3B COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Commissioners Collum and O’Neil spoke about upcoming events. Chair Dawson asked for an update on the historic ordinance and Ms. Caraker said that it would be presented for review in the near future. Chair Dawson asked that Commissioners wishing to attend meetings via teleconference please let staff know at least a week prior to the meeting. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 5. Planning Office Update  Update received. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:42 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Elizabeth Caraker, AICP Chair Housing & Community Development Manager Historic Preservation Commission 5