Cultural Heritage Committee Meeting Update

December 14, 2009                    Monday                                           5:30 p.m.

ROLL CALL:      Committee Members Barbara Breska, Katy Davis, Buzz Kalkowski, Dean Miller, Jeff Oliveira, Vice-Chair Dan Carpenter, and Chair Chuck Crotser.  All members were present. 

STAFF:                Economic Development Manager Claire Clark, Senior Planner Jeff Hook, and Deputy Community Development Director Kim Murry                             

PUBLIC COMMENT:   

Council Member John Ashbaugh discussed the possibility of National Historic District status for Downtown San Luis Obispo and asked the Committee to consider the possibility of such historic listing. 

MINUTES:    Minutes of November 23, 2009, regular meeting, were unanimously approved as submitted. 

PRESENTATION ITEM: 

1.    Wineman Hotel Project – Presentation by Craig Smith, Architect, on the historic rehabilitation of the Wineman Hotel. 

Craig Smith gave a presentation on the rehabilitation of the Wineman Hotel and Committee members thanked him for his work on the project. 

DISCUSSION ITEMS: 

1.    Seismic Retrofit Review – Review status of City’s Seismic Procedures and Retrofit Program.  (Jeff Hook) 

Jeff Hook presented the staff report and Claire Clark explained the history of the seismic retrofit program and its status.  She added that the program had been very successful and that only 13 buildings remained to be retrofitted out of the City’s 126 unreinforced masonry buildings. 

David Brodie, San Luis Obispo, complimented the architect and the City on completion of the Wineman Hotel Rehabilitation and spoke in support of Downtown Historic Preservation. 

Elizabeth Abrahms, San Luis Obispo, expressed concern about “pseudo-historic” buildings proposed in the Chinatown Mixed-Use development in the Downtown. 

The Committee discussed the retrofit program and agreed that it has been highly successful and did not see a need for new or changed procedures.  The item was for information only and no Committee action was taken. 

2.    Proposed Historic District Sign (Old Town) – Consideration of a proposed sign for the Old Town Historic District; Pierre Rademaker, applicant.  (Jeff Hook) 

Mr. Hook presented the staff report and Pierre Rademaker, graphic designer, explained the proposed sign design.  Committee members generally liked the sign and asked Mr. Rademaker to consider changes to relate more closely to the Old Town Historic District and its period of historic significance.  Committee member Miller and Vice-Chair Carpenter indicated that it might be premature to approve the sign until the Draft Historic Preservation Ordinance was reviewed.  There was no public comment. 

On a motion of Jeff Oliveira, seconded by Katie Davis, the Committee continued consideration of the proposed historic district sign with the suggestion the graphic designer revise the sign to reflect the Committee’s discussion and come back to the Committee when ready.  The motion carried, 5:2 (Committee member Miller and Vice-Chair Carpenter voting no). 

3.    Historic Preservation Ordinance – Historic District Description:  GPI 72-09; Review Draft Description of the Old Town Historic District; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.  (Amber Piona) 

Mr. Hook presented the staff report. and asked for Committee input on the draft Old Town Historic District description.  Committee members discussed the draft Old Town Historic District description and, in general, supported the format and content.  Committee members liked the sample descriptions from the Cities of Davis, California, Wales, South Carolina, and Stapleton, Colorado.  There was no public comment.  There was no Committee action taken.  The Committee suggested that staff consider Committee input and develop similar descriptions for the four remaining historic district descriptions. 

COMMUNICATIONS: 

a.      Agenda Forecast – Staff 

Staff provided an agenda forecast for the CHC’s January 25, 2010, meeting.  Kim Murry explained that future CHC minutes will follow an abbreviated, “action minutes” format. 

b.   Committee – The Committee asked staff to draft a letter on the National Register nomination of the Shipsey House for the Chair’s signature. 

ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.