CHC Minutes-2010-08-24Im1:4 TJ 101 7_1 ki1:91114
TO: Joe Tait, City Manager
Grant Taylor, Development Services Director
FROM: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager r'lIN
u
Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary
August 30, 2010
SUBJECT: Cultural Heritage Commission Actions of August 24, 2010
This memorandum summarizes the actions taken by the Cultural Heritage Commission
at their Tuesday, August 24 meeting. No action is required unless the City Council
wishes to hold special review of an item.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Siegel called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Janet Siegel, Chair
Lorie Porter, Vice -Chair
Don Tryon
Absent: Nathan Banda (excused)
Ed Nunez (excused)
Staff: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager/Cultural Heritage
Commission Secretary; David Contreras, Senior Planner
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Ilse Byrnes, San Juan Capistrano resident, addressed the Cultural Heritage
Commission (CHC) with congratulations on the Montanez Adobe re -opening and the
restoration project; concern about the City consultant Studio One Eleven's draft Historic
Town Center Master Plan proposed loss/relocation of the historic barn on the privately -
owned, National Register -listed Manuel Garcia Adobe site for. a parking structure
expansion and proposed road just south of the Blas Aguilar Adobe; and concern about
the lack of maintenance of the Manuel Garcia Adobe itself, which has been
communicated to the City, California Office of Historic Preservation, California
Preservation Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Western
Regional office.
Jerry Nieblas, San Juan Capistrano resident, shares Ms. Byrnes' concerns about the
Garcia Adobe property. Orange County history began here in San Juan Capistrano and
our town needs to set an example for the rest of the County by how we treat our historic
resources. He encouraged the CHC to do all they can to ensure preservation of the
buildings on the Garcia property, and expressed a desire to tour the Garcia Adobe.
Joe Tait, City Manager 2 August 30, 2010
David Belardes, stated Chief and Chairman . of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians
Acjachemen Nation, echoed the concerns already expressed. The Garcia Adobe
property has the Domingo Yorba Adobe in addition to the barn, all part of the National
Register listing. The property is owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and
San Juan Capistrano has already lost other buildings in the past that were owned by the
Diocese and managed by this same property management company.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Consideration of Cultural Resources Analysis for General Plan Amendment
(GPA) 10-001, Rezone (RZ) 10-001, Architectural Control (AC) 10-002, Grading
Plan Modification (GPM) 10-001, Tree Removal Permit (TRP) 10-003, Floodplain
Land Use Permit (FP) 10-001, Tentative Parcel Map (TPM) 10-001, Plaza
Banderas Hotel; located at 26871 & 26891 Ortega Highway and generally
located at the northeast corner of Ortega Highway and EI Camino Real (APN124
-170 -12,14,15,16) (Applicant: Stroscher G3, Gretchen Stroscher Thomson) Project
Manager David Contreras, Senior Planner, made the staff presentation and
recommendation that the Commission recommend approval of the draft
Environmental Impact Report for a proposed mixed-use development that
encompasses a 74,973 square foot, 124 -room hotel, approximately 14,500
square feet of commercial land uses, including 6,509 square feet of retail
commercial floor area, a 5,747 square foot restaurant, and a 1,971 square foot
private office on an existing 3.18 acre property.
Jerry Nieblas spoke regarding the archaeological sensitivity of this site. He hopes
that the .Stroscher Thomson family will incorporate their family history, artifacts
and photos into the project. He expressed concern about the impact the buildings
will have on the existing welcoming views of the Mission entering town,
David Belardes stated he had consulted with the City under Senate Bill 18 for
tribal consultations, has monitored cultural resources for many projects in the
area, and provided information to the applicant's archaeologist. The area has a
significant amount of cultural resources and sensitivity. He stated there ought to
be mitigation requiring more cultural resources study, especially regarding the
historic kiln, before work commences on the site; expressed a desire to
participate in such studies; and encouraged the applicant to communicate openly
with the Native American community.
Commissioners asked questions and discussed the mitigation measures,
monitoring plan, the status of the subsurface kiln resource, and the location and
amount of fill dirt for the project. The general consensus was in support of the
Joe Tait, City Manager 3 August 30, 2010
overall project, and that the mitigation measures adequately address the project's
potential impacts on cultural resources.
The CHC encouraged the applicant and their contractors to be as sensitive to
cultural resources as possible, and also encouraged the project to incorporate
artifact displays (which could include the existing kiln foundation excavated in a
viewing well or a reconstruction, etc., if possible) into the project and asked staff
to forward these comments to the project decision -makers.
After due consideration, Commissioner Tryon moved, and Vice -Chair Porter
seconded, to recommend that the Planning Commission approve the
cultural/scientific resources analysis as part of the Draft Environmental Impact
Report. The motion was approved unanimously by a vote of 3-0.
INFORMATION ITEM
Nmi-
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COMMISSION/STAFF COMMENTS
Commissioner Tryon mentioned that when he met recently with a property owner
adjacent to the Forster Mansion regarding historic materials, the property owner said
the use at the Forster Mansion is not in compliance with the approved conditional use
permit and the City has not done enforcement. Staff responded that the City has
received numerous reports about the Forster Mansion from the neighboring property
owner and is proceeding as deemed appropriate by executive staff and the City
Attorney.
Vice -Chair Porter encouraged members of the public to write letters to the City
regarding the great restoration job at the Montanez Adobe.
Teri Delcamp announced that the Montanez Adobe is currently being opened by staff
two days a week for now, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 am to 2 pm. She
encouraged more volunteer docents to apply as City volunteers so the Adobe can be
open additional hours. She also updated the Commission regarding pending City
Council items that will be scheduled (likely in September): The Ecology Center license
agreement at the Congdon House; a report back on the federal grant and a potential
discussion about selling the Parra Adobe/Harrison House property; and a report back
on a strategy to improve pedestrian and vehicular circulation on Los Rios Street.
Joe Tait, City Manager 4 August 30, 2010
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Siegel adjourned the meeting at 5:59 p.m.
cc: Steven Apple, AICP, Deputy City Manager
Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager
Christina Gomez, Administrative Specialist
David Contreras, Senior Planner
Karisa Rojas -Norton, Administrative Specialist — Economic Development
CHC Members
CHC Minutes File