CHC Minutes-2009-01-27MEMORANDUM January 28, 2009
TO: Dave Adams, City Manager
Steven Apple, AICP, Community Development Director
FROM: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager--,,-, '
Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary
SUBJECT: Cultural Heritage Commission Actions of January 27, 2009
This memorandum summarizes the actions taken by the Cultural Heritage Commission at
their Tuesday, January 27 meeting. No action is required unless the City Council wishes to
hold special review of an item.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Nunez called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Ed Nunez, Chair
Nathan Banda, Vice -Chair
Janet Siegel
Don Tryon
Absent: Lorie Porter (excused)
Staff: Teri Delcamp, Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
Control (AC) 07-017, a request for approval of a timeline walkway and pedestals
with plaques and graphics related to the history of commerce in San Juan
Capistrano, located along the east side of Rancho Viejo Road, north of Spotted Bull
Lane (APN: 650-011-34 & 39). (Applicant: The Koll Company) Teri Delcamp made the
staff presentation and recommendation that the Commission approve the proposed
HDP subject to conditions.
Dave Adams, City Manager 2 January 28, 2009
The HDP is proposed to be installed on the middle of three terraces that comprise
the 68,000 square foot Koll San Juan office complex project. A colored concrete
walkway band will extend all the way around the terrace, connecting entrances to
seven of the nine proposed office buildings. It will display the historic eras
sandblasted into the concrete. Ten slant -topped concrete pedestals spaced around
the timeline will feature commerce events related to each of the historic eras.
Joe Yee, LPA, representing the applicant, responded to questions.
The Commissioners commended the applicants and were in agreement that the
proposed HDP is an exciting, unique and creative concept. The Commission then
focused comments on Figure D of the HDP submittal, which is the narrative text for
the 10 historic events (the eras are numbered as well for 14 total), and made the
following comments and suggested revisions:
Commissioner Tryon:
No. 3: he will verify the accuracy of the history related in No. 3 with a local expert on
the topic.
No. 7: he doubted the accuracy and suggested deleting the phrase regarding re-
supplying materials for gold prospectors
No. 14: while important, it is too recent an event and not yet historic.
Commissioner Siegel:
No. 8: she suggested the addition of two other occurrences, the barbed wire act and
the severe drought at the time.
No. 13: she does not feel this is a historic or appropriate event to include, and
suggested replacing it with the incorporation of the City.
She asked if the pedestal heights would be accessible, and the applicant responded
that they are intended to be readable at wheelchair height, but they will adjust the
heights if necessary to ensure that they are.
Vice -Chair Banda:
Agreed with the comments so far.
No. 2 and the Spanish Era: the HDP should begin with commerce of the indigenous
Pre -Historic people of the area, the Acjachemen.
Chair Nunez:
Agreed with all of the comments and emphasized inclusion of the indigenous Pre -
Historic era.
After due consideration, Vice -Chair Banda moved, and Commissioner Siegel
seconded, adoption of a resolution to approve the HDP, subject to Resolution No.
09-1-27-1 and modifications to the conditions. The motion was approved by a vote
of 4-0. The following modifications to Condition No. 1 were approved:,
Dave Adams, City Manager 3 January 28, 2009
o A new first era (to be No 1 of Fig D) and related historic event (to be No. 2 of
Fig. D) shall be added to the HDP relating to the Pre -Historic Era and the history
of commerce with the Acjachemen indigenous people.
o The accuracy of the narrative regarding winemaking (original No. 3 of Fig. D)
shall be verified or modified as necessary for accuracy.
o The first sentence of the event in original No. 7 of Fig. D shall end after "...San
Diego/Los Angeles."
o The first sentence of the event in original No. 8 of Fig. D shall add references to
the severe drought and the barbed wire fence laws (i.e., repeal of the 1850
Trespass Act) as contributing to the break-up of the Ranchos. In addition, the
second sentence shall also include "avocados" with the list of crops.
o Original Nos. 13 and 14 of Fig. D shall be deleted. A new Fig. 14 shall reference
.a historic commerce event in the 20th century that occurred at least 45-50 years
ago.
INFORMATION ITEM
None.
COMMISSION/STAFF COMMENTS
Staff reported that the repair work and restoration of the historic paint colors to the water
tower at the historic Joel Congdon House (CIP No. 459) has been completed.
Commissioner Siegel asked staff to find out more information on work behind the historic
Avila Adobe where the railing next to the HDP feature has been removed and the
monument plaque has been covered.
Chair Nunez asked staff if the Imlay Historic Depiction Program plaque has been installed,
and staff replied that it still needs to be submitted to the Commission for final approval.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Nunez adjourned the meeting at 5:28 p.m.
Grant Taylor, Assistant Community Development Director
Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager
Christina Gomez, Administrative Specialist
CHC Members
CHC Minutes File
William Ramsey, AICP, Principal Planner