Cultural Heritage Committee Action Update

April 28, 2008                       Monday                                5:30p.m.

OATH OF OFFICE:  City Clerk Audrey Hooper administered the oath of office to new Committee member Katy Davis. 

ROLL CALL:      Committee Members Chuck Crotser, Katy Davis, John Fowler, Lynne Landwehr, Dean Miller, Elise Wheeler, Vice Chair-Vacant, and Chairperson Barbara Breska.  All members were present. 

STAFF:                Kevin Waldron, Planning Intern, Phil Dunsmore, Associate Planner, and Jeff Hook, Senior Planner 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  There was no public comment.   

ELECTION:  On unanimous votes, Elise Wheeler was elected Chairperson and John Fowler was elected Vice-Chairperson. 

MINUTES:  Minutes of March 24, 2008, regular meeting. 

On a motion by Committee Member Breska, seconded by Committee Member Crotser, the minutes were approved as amended on a 7:0 vote.

 PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: 

1.        752 Buchon Street.  ARCMI 35-08; Request to add a detached garage to the historic Stanton House property; R-2-H zone; Michael and Dianne Draze, applicants. (Phil Dunsmore) 

Phil Dunsmore, Associate Planner, presented the staff report and Michael Draze, applicant, explained the project details.  He explained that the Administrative Hearing Officer had approved a reduced side yard setback and allowed two-foot spacing between the proposed garage and the historic house.  He noted that the exact location of the property line was uncertain and, until it was surveyed, he asked the CHC to allow spacing between the garage and house of not less than two feet. 

Committee members supported the proposed garage addition and spacing request and recommended the Community Development Director approve the proposed remodel as Minor or Incidental.  

2.        3897 S. Higuera Street & 120 Tank Farm Road.  ARC 170-07; Review proposed commercial development on the historic Long-Bonetti Ranch property; M-SP zone; Long Street Farm, LLC, applicant.  (Phil Dunsmore) 

Phil Dunsmore, Associate Planner, presented the staff report and Carol Florence, project planner, and Ted Moore, developer, explained the project.  Committee Member Landwehr noted that historic information on Joseph Grant, an early County pioneer, needed to be addressed in the historical information on the Long-Bonetti Ranch.  

After extended discussion, the Committee determined that the conceptual site plan, with revisions, is consistent with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines and the adaptive reuse plan for the property and continued the item to a date uncertain to return with complete project details.

3.        750 Pismo Street.  CHC 25-08; Request to add the former Fire Station #1 to the master list of historic resources; O zone; Robin L. Rossi Living Trust, applicant. (Brian Leveille)   

Jeff Hook presented the staff report, recommending the Committee nominate the former Fire Station #1 to the Master List of Historic Resources.  Committee members felt the historic report prepared by Betsy Bertrando was excellent and asked staff to make the report available to the SLO County Historical Museum and the City-County Library.  Donna Meyers, applicant’s representative, answered Committee member questions about the building.   

After a brief discussion, the Committee recommended the City Council add the Old Fire Station No. 1 to the Master List of Historic Resources as a Type 5 historic property. 

4.        Monterey Heights Neigborhood.  CHC 94-04; Consideration of nominating properties located at 285, 405, and 495 Buena Vista, 2102, 2122, 2140, 2160, and 2190 Loomis, 326 Santa Maria, 398 San Miguel, and 2243 Santa Ynez to the inventory of historic resources; R-1 zone; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.       

Jeff Hook introduced Kevin Waldron, Planning Intern, who presented the staff report.  Mr. Wadron described the history of the Monterey Heights neighborhood and presented slides and descriptions of the 12 properties being considered for historic nomination.  He said staff recommended adding 8 properties to the Contributing Properties List, one property as a “Potentially Contributing” property, and two as non-contributing.    

Chairperson Wheeler opened the public hearing.  Jeff Prostovich and Sharon Lovesay , property owners, spoke in support of historic listing. 

Committee members discussed each property and concurred with the staff recommendation, with the exception of 2243 Santa Ynez, which the CHC felt met eligibility criteria for the Master List of Historic Resources due to the house’s notable attractiveness with aesthetic appeal because of its uniqueness, artistic merit, details and craftsmanship.  The Committee recommended that the City Council: 

1.            Add these properties to the Contributing Properties List: 285, 405, and 495 Buena Vista, 398 San Miguel, 2102, 2122, and 2160 Loomis; 

2.            Determine that 2190 Loomis is Potentially Contributing; 

3.            Determine that 2140 Loomis and 326 Santa Maria do not meet eligibility criteria for historic listing due to significant changes that have affected the properties’ original architectural character and integrity; and 

4.            Add the property at 2243 Santa Ynez to the Master List of Historical Resources as the historic Faulstich House, a Type 5 property, finding that the property met Eligibility Criterion II - Design, in the Historical Preservation Program Guidelines. 

5.        Orcutt Area Specific Plan and EIR.  SP/ER 209-98:  Review and discussion of the Orcutt Area Specific Plan and Draft EIR; Barbara Parsons, applicant. (Michael Codron)  (Continued from March 24, 2008)

Michael Codron presented the staff report and provided historic background on early SLO pioneer Jacob H. Orcutt, who owned what is now the Orcutt Area Specific Plan area in the late 19^th century.  After a brief discussion, the Committee provided the following direction to staff: 

1.            Update the Draft Orcutt Area Specific Plan with a discussion of the historic significance of the Righetti Ranch House complex and Jacob H. Orcutt. 

2.            Incorporate a new policy into the Orcutt Area Specific Plan that will reference Section 4.30 (Mitigation Methods - Avoidance) of the City’s Archeological Resource Preservation Guidelines. 

3.            Add a policy to the specific plan to require consultation with tribal representatives as part of the process to create an open space management plan for Righetti Hill. 

DISCUSSION ITEM: 

6.        Introduction to updated Archaeological Resource Preservation Program Guidelines. 

Jeff Hook introduced the updated Archaeological Resource Preservation Program Guidelines and noted that this was an informational item; no action was necessary at this meeting.  He explained that the Draft Guidelines had been routed to Native American Tribal representatives and to cultural resource professionals for review and comment, and that the item would return to the Committee at its May 27^th meeting for further review and possible action. 

COMMUNICATIONS: 

a.      Agenda Forecast – Staff 

      Staff provided an agenda forecast. 

b.      South Broad Street/Little Italy Historic Survey Status update 

Committee Member Crotser noted that he had completed historic survey forms with property addresses.  Committee members decided to continue this item to the May CHC meeting. 

c.      Committee 

ADJOURNMENT