Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

DocuSign Envelope ID: 6D5DC8D0-43A1-4FCC-838E-0C5FCF9FF2DB MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Thursday, February 13, 2020 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM 580 PACIFIC STREET, COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Members Present: Dawson, Napoli, Barlow, Collum, O’Neil, Smith-Crivello Members Absent: O’Brien Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Flower, 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. November 14, 2019 Action: Approved as submitted. On a motion by Commissioner O’Neil, seconded by Commissioner Barlow, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved the November 14, 2019 HPC minutes as submitted. Dawson, Napoli, Barlow, Collum, O’Neil, Smith- AYES: 6 MEMBERS: Crivello NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSTAIN: 1 MEMBERS: O’Brien RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Confirm Annual Appointments for Chair, Vice Chair, and Subcommittees (CEQA: Exempt per CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 and 15061 - Not a Project) Action: Confirmed annual appointments for Chair and Vice Chair, with Vice Chair Napoli taking Chair and Commissioner Collum taking Vice Char. DocuSign Envelope ID: 6D5DC8D0-43A1-4FCC-838E-0C5FCF9FF2DB Thursday, February 13, 2020 Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Principal Planner Flower explained the annual rotation of Chair and Vice Chair, noting that Commissioner Napoli would take Chair and Commissioner Collum would take Vice Chair, according to the rotation procedures. Public Comments None. Commissioner Comments None. On a motion by Commissioner Smith-Crivello, seconded by Commissioner Barlow, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved the Chair and Vice Chair rotation, with Commissioner Napoli taking Chair and Commissioner Collum taking Vice Chair. AYES: 6 MEMBERS: Dawson, Napoli, Barlow, Collum, O’Neil, Smith- Crivello NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSTAIN: 1 MEMBERS: O’Brien RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None PUBLIC HEARING 4. Consider 562 Pearl Street; HP-20-0012 to Remove a Property from the Downtown Area Context Statement and Reconnaissance Survey List; Applicant Damien Georis; Owner Kristen Hemanes; PC-D-ES Zoning District; Commercial General Plan Designation; Exempt from CEQA Requirements per Article 19, Section 15305, Class 5 Action: Approved HP-20-0012 for removal of property at 562 Pearl Street from the Downtown Area Context Statement and Reconnaissance Survey List. Staff Presentation Associate Planner Sabdo presented the Agenda Report and took Commissioners’ questions. The HPC asked questions regarding the Emergency Shelter (ES) Overlay Zoning, and Ms. Sabdo explained ES Zoning Overlay. Principal Planner noted that staff would be able to give a future presentation on ES overlay zoning to the HPC. Commissioner O’Neil noted that during the field trip, neighbors had expressed concerns that the home would be demolished if it were removed from the reconnaissance survey. She asked if design guidelines existed for this neighborhood. Ms. Sabdo explained that if the property were removed from the reconnaissance survey, any future modifications must be consistent with the Downtown Specific Plan and would be reviewed as appropriate. Commissioner Dawson asked for more information on the detached accessory structure and Ms. Sabdo deferred to Historic Consultant Dr. Anthony Kirk. 2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 6D5DC8D0-43A1-4FCC-838E-0C5FCF9FF2DB Thursday, February 13, 2020 Public Comments Mayor Clyde Roberson said that he was honored to be the Mayor of Monterey and thanked the HPC for their service. Mayor Roberson explained Emergency Shelter designation and how it was mandated by State law and adopted by Council. He noted that the zoning existed in primarily mixed-use areas of the City. He noted that the community gave much input on it. Ms. Sabdo read a letter from Curt and Marietta Tipton, which expressed opposition to the removal of the property from the historic reconnaissance survey and asked that the property remain on the historic context statement. Applicant Damien Georis of Lewis Builders spoke on behalf of the property owners, noting that they had requested removal from the reconnaissance survey due to the extensive nature of repairs that the house needed. He noted that a concept of the interior remodel had been submitted and that it would clarify the work needed, adding that he was aware of the potentially historic nature of the home and that process would be followed as appropriate. He further noted that extensive external repairs were not proposed, that the building footprint would not change and that new windows were proposed for egress. Dr. Anthony Kirk provided information regarding the accessory structure at the rear of the property, noting that it consisted of plywood with metal windows. He answered Commissioner Smith-Crivello’s question regarding any advantages to removing the property from the historic survey, clarifying that if it were removed, the builder would have more freedom with design. He clarified that the original entrance had been on the first floor where the current stairway appeared. In addition, he mentioned that significant alterations had been made to the exterior of the home and that he was not sure where the original windows were placed, as no photos existed of original window placement. Commissioner Smith-Crivello asked if the outside stairs would be removed in order to recreate the entryway and Mr. Georis said that the stairs would be maintained and that a front door would be placed to the side of them. Commissioner Comments Commissioner O’Neil expressed the struggle she felt with delisting the property because she felt it would then be easy to demolish. She added that given the changes made to the exterior, she was not sure that it could be maintained as a historic structure. Commissioner Smith-Crivello spoke against removing the property from the reconnaissance survey, and said that she would like to see concrete reasons on why it should be removed. She noted that while it was not the well-built structure typically seen on historic reconnaissance surveys, it was a part of the historic Japanese community: Chair Napoli noted that once an intensive survey was done, the property did not satisfy qualifications that would render a property historic. **REOPEN PUBLIC COMMENT** Dr. Kirk said that under California registered resources, there are specific criteria by which to review the house. He said, by those criteria, he saw no historic events that had occurred there, no important historic figures had lived there, and that the architectural design was not significant to a particular style. He noted that eventually the building may be torn down and something would be placed in its stead, but that evidence revealed that it was not a significant home. 3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 6D5DC8D0-43A1-4FCC-838E-0C5FCF9FF2DB Thursday, February 13, 2020 Historic Preservation Consultant Kent Seavey said that integrity is key to determining historic significance and if a property lacks integrity, such as this one, it would not qualify for the state or national register. He further noted that if properties such as this one were maintained on the reconnaissance survey list, they would lower the bar for other historic properties. **CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT** Commissioner Dawson asked if the property would require review by the Architectural Review Committee if it were removed from the reconnaissance survey and Mr. Flower said that the property would require architectural review depending on the extent of the proposed changes. Commissioner Dawson asked if the HPC could condition the future design to prevent a structure that grossly stood out from the surrounding buildings in the neighborhood and Mr. Flower noted that any future designs would have to be compatible with the Downtown Specific Plan., and with the character of the neighborhood. Commissioner Barlow said that he had been surprised to see the amount of discussion inspired by the item because of the significant changes that had been made to the exterior. He expressed concerns on how its original design would be determined and therefore it would be very difficult to deem historically accurate to qualify for a Mills Act Contract. He added that the structure could not be considered in context with what the future neighborhood may look like. Commissioner O’Neil said that the purview of the HPC addresses the historic context of structures such as this one and that many original characteristics had been altered, affecting its overall historic integrity. On a motion by Commissioner Dawson, seconded by Commissioner O’Neil, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved HP-20-0012 for removal of property at 562 Pearl Street from the Downtown Area Context Statement and Reconnaissance Survey List. AYES: 5 MEMBERS: Dawson, Napoli, Barlow, Collum, O’Neil NOES: 1 MEMBERS: Smith-Crivello ABSENT: 1 MEMBERS: O’Brien ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None 5. Consider 490 Camino El Estero; Application HP 20-0025 for H-2 Historic Zoning; PC-D-ES Zoning District; Commercial General Plan Designation; Exempt from CEQA per Article 19, Section 15305, Class 5 Action: Approved Application HP 20-0025 for H-2 Historic Zoning; PC-D-ES Zoning District. Staff Presentation Principal Planner Flower presented the Agenda Report and took Commissioners’ questions. Commissioner O’Neil asked if the church had been altered much since 1926 and Mr. Flower Flower: deferred to historian Public Comments 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 6D5DC8D0-43A1-4FCC-838E-0C5FCF9FF2DB Thursday, February 13, 2020 None. Applicant Bob McIntire, representing El Estero Presbyterian Church, said he was available to answer questions. Commissioner Smith-Crivello requested that Mr. Seavey present a historic background of the property. Historic Consultant Kent Seavey noted that the elevator shaft had been recently added, while trying to maintain the character of the building but that it was a requirement to be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant. He noted that a gabled roof had been added to provide access to the kitchen and shelter from the rain. He said that the building had been painted many times by prolific artists and that the stained glass windows were installed in the 1980s, but that it was in excellent condition and the arched openings remained the same. He said that the structure was socially, culturally, and spiritually important. Robert Suzuki said that he grew up in the church and was a commercial fisherman. He said that he had witnessed changes such as the elevator shaft, which was a benefit to the congregation, and said that he wished to preserve the building. Ted Esaki, current pastor of the church, said that in 1897 his grandfather was one of the first Japanese immigrants to Monterey and that he had entered into a partnership that formed the abalone industry on the Monterey Peninsula. He explained that there are not many Christians in Japan and he described how the Christian faith came to be with Japanese immigrants in the Monterey area. He explained how the Christian faith came to be in this area with Japanese immigrants. He said that his grandparents were the first members of the church and that the church served as a focal point for the Japanese American community. Commissioner Comments The HPC spoke in favor of approving the structure for H-2 Historic Zoning and thanked the applicants and public commenters for their presentations. On a motion by Commissioner Barlow, seconded by Commissioner Smith-Crivello, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved Application HP 20-0025 for H-2 Historic Zoning; PC-D-ES Zoning District. AYES: 6 MEMBERS: Dawson, Napoli, Barlow, Collum, O’Neil, Smith- Crivello NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 1 MEMBERS: O’Brien ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None 5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 6D5DC8D0-43A1-4FCC-838E-0C5FCF9FF2DB Thursday, February 13, 2020 COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Barlow expressed interest in beginning the process of surveying the Japan Town in order to learn more on its rich history. Commissioner Collum said that, as she worked at the visitor’s center down the street, it would be very helpful to have access to that information. Commissioner Smith-Crivello said that as a member of the Old Town Neighborhood Association, she had recently attended a meeting that addressed tracing the history of homes in Monterey. Commissioner Barlow added that the phone books in the history room at the Monterey Public Library presented another good historic resource. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 6. Planning Office Update  Update received. Commissioner Collum commended the work done on the wall at 554 Van Buren Street. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:14 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Ande Flower, AICP Chair Principal Planner Historic Preservation Commission 6