Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

DocuSign Envelope ID: 4E1B1F87-FA40-44DD-BC9D-A1BD965FE5DE MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Thursday, January 13, 2022 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND TELECONFERENCE MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Members Present: O’Neil, Smith-Crivello, Collum, Dawson* Hambaro*, Rath, Rodriguez* Members Absent: None *Participated remotely by videoconference Staff Members Present: Community Development Director Cole, Principal Planner Roveri, Recording Secretary Barrera 1. Meeting Procedures CALL TO ORDER Chair O’Neil called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. Recording Secretary Barrera provided information on how to participate and provide public comment live during the meeting. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 2. December 9, 2021 Vice Chair Smith-Crivello motioned to approve the December 09, 2021 minutes with an amendment on page 6 of the Agenda Packet to specify she recommended that all commissioners are trained in current guidelines for decision making when it comes to the job, taking properties off the historic list, recommending for Mills Act contracts, or adding properties to the historic list. Action: Approved as Amended. On a motion by Vice Chair Smith-Crivello, seconded by Commissioner Collum, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission approved the December 9, 2021 HPC minutes as amended: O’Neil, Smith-Crivello, Collum, Hambaro, Rath, AYES: 6 MEMBERS: Rodriguez NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSTAIN: 1 MEMBERS: Dawson RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC HEARING DocuSign Envelope ID: 4E1B1F87-FA40-44DD-BC9D-A1BD965FE5DE Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, January 13, 2022 3. Consider 470 Foam Street; Application HP-21-0233 to Remove the Property from the New Monterey Historic Context Statement and Reconnaissance Survey List; Applicant Mark Avila; Property Owner Craft Marchele D Trust et al; PC-LH Zoning District; Commercial General Plan Designation; Exempt from CEQA Requirements per Article 19, Section 15305, Class 5 Action: Denied application HP-21-0233 to remove 470 Foam Street from the New Monterey Historic Context Statement and Reconnaissance Survey List. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Principal Planner Roveri presented the Agenda Report and answered Commissioner questions. Ms. Roveri explained the criteria for removal of properties from survey lists and criteria for adoption of historic zoning for Mills Act eligibility are the same. Chair O’Neil asked clarifying questions about the windows. Commissioner Hambaro questioned the number of homeowners and their significance. Commissioner Rodriguez asked how many of the 8 criteria are needed to be considered Victorian. Eight or less? Commissioner Rodriguez asked for clarification on project applicants due to a potential conflict. Ms. Roveri recommended referring to Project Historian Meg Clovis and the applicant for clarification. Applicant Comments Applicant Mark Avila presented history of home ownership within applicant family. Mr. Avila shared that a fire and renters have negatively affected the property. Mr. Avila said the owners do not have the energy, health, or resources to restore or rent the property and confirmed there is glass behind the plywood covering the windows. Public Comments Applicant’s realtor, Peter Baird, spoke in favor of removing property from historic list. Mr. Baird said that the home does not fit historic criteria and cannot be considered for Mills Act. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Dawson asked for clarification on Criterion 1. Ms. Roveri confirmed Meg Clovis’ findings, the property does not meet Criterion 1. Chair O’Neil noted the defining feature of Cannery Row is the mixed use residential and Criterion 1 is relevant. Commissioner Rodriguez questioned Criterion 3 and asked how many characteristics are needed to be considered folk Victorian. Commissioner Rodriguez expressed concerns about owners being incentivized to willfully neglect homes in order to remove from historic list. Commissioner Rodriguez thanked Mr. Avila for clarifying relation to applicant, confirmed he has no conflict with the property. Chair O’Neil stated the Historic Preservation Commission’s (HPC) job is subjective, National Bulletin 15 lays out conflicting rules and guidelines and the purpose of HPC is to analyze. DocuSign Envelope ID: 4E1B1F87-FA40-44DD-BC9D-A1BD965FE5DE Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, January 13, 2022 Commissioner Hambaro stated she had questions for Ms. Clovis, specifically about age of home and previous owner significance. Commissioner Dawson agrees with Commissioner Hambaro and disagrees with Commissioner Rodriguez, demolition by neglect is not something to consider. Commissioner Dawson asked for clarification on difference between Mills Act and historic list criteria. Community Development Director Cole clarified the steps needed to qualify for Mills Act and historic list. Chair O’Neil asked for explanation of 7R. Ms. Cole defined 7R and windshield surveys. Commissioner Rodriguez inquired about the decline of the home pre fire and why it was neglected for so many years. Vice Chair Smith-Crivello emphasized that the City hired the Qualified Historian and reiterated that sometimes tenants let homes fall into disrepair. Commissioner Hambaro asked about the method of finding previous owners and age of structure. Meg Clovis, Qualified Historian, clarified she used Sanborn maps, photographs of the property, and housing directories to determine age. The DPR form completed by Ms. Clovis referenced the names of subsequent owners. Commissioner Hambaro expressed disappointment in the process, would like information included in the packet. Chair O’Neil agreed. Commissioner Dawson asked for clarification of Criterion 1 and if the home qualifies. Ms. Clovis confirmed it does not qualify, without explanation. Chair O’Neil asked which parts do not qualify under Criterion 1. Ms. Clovis referenced Bulletin 15, the home is not associated with any event that helped illustrate context. Commissioner Rath expressed concern over losing significant homes and losing the defining characteristic of being mixed use. Chair O’Neil found the property did have integrity. Ms. Clovis added that integrity is not part of the evaluation. Vice Chair Smith-Crivello articulated that the home is visually attractive and reminds people of the history but it does not meet criteria. Vice Chair Smith-Crivello stated that although HPC’s hearts are sincere, there is no value in delaying the inevitable. Chair O’Neil disagrees and reiterated HPC’s task of looking at building. Commissioner Dawson asked if denial of a Mills Act contract would be grounds to take the property off the historic list. Ms. Roveri explained that for a property to be eligible for a Mills Act contract, an intensive survey would have to say it meets one of the criteria, but we don’t have it for this property. Vice Chair Smith-Crivello said she does not believe the house would be considered for Mills Act because it lacks criteria. DocuSign Envelope ID: 4E1B1F87-FA40-44DD-BC9D-A1BD965FE5DE Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, January 13, 2022 Commissioner Hambaro stated she does not understand how it was determined that the house was not owned by someone significant and would like to see more information included in packets because once a property is removed there is no coming back. Vice Chair Smith-Crivello made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Collum, to approve application HP-21-0233 to remove 470 Foam Street from the New Monterey historic context statement and Reconnaissance Survey List. With Smith-Crivello, Collum, and Rodriguez voting yes, and O’Neil, Dawson, Hambaro, and Rath voting no, the motion did not carry. Ms. Cole clarified that another motion may be made. Vice Chair Smith-Crivello expressed hope that other Commissioners would attend the appeal hearing. Commissioner Rath made a motion to deny the application because the house contributes to the character of the neighborhood, uniqueness of Monterey, and wide variety of houses represented in the area. It is important to protect individual houses. We feel it meets Criterion 1 for its association with the marked growth and development of New Monterey in the first decades of the 20th century, and the fact that the house is in poor condition does not disqualify it from being historic. This is one of the few examples of the style in the Cannery Row area and New Monterey without structural changes. Commissioner Dawson added that it maintains integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, and feeling. Commissioner Dawson seconded the motion. On a motion by Commissioner Rath, seconded by Commissioner Dawson, and carried by the following vote, the Historic Preservation Commission denied application HP-21-0233 to remove 470 Foam Street from the New Monterey historic context statement and Reconnaissance Survey List: AYES: 4 MEMBERS: O’Neil, Dawson, Hambaro, Rath NOES: 3 MEMBERS: Smith-Crivello, Collum, Rodriguez ABSENT: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None DocuSign Envelope ID: 4E1B1F87-FA40-44DD-BC9D-A1BD965FE5DE Historic Preservation Commission Minutes Thursday, January 13, 2022 COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Collum asked if there was additional information on 527 Van Buren. Ms. Cole encouraged safety concerns be forwarded to her via email for Code Compliance review. Commissioner Dawson stated that HPC has approved homes for Mills Act contracts with significant modifications. Commissioner Hambaro asked why homes are allowed to deteriorate before Code Enforcement addresses issues. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS Update received. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:54 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Fernanda Roveri, AICP Chair Principal Planner Historic Preservation Commission