CHC Minutes-2009-10-27MEMORANDUM
November 10, 2009
TO: Joe Tait, Interim City Manager
Steven Apple, AICP, Community Development Director
FROM: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager
Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary
SUBJECT: Cultural Heritage Commission Actions of October 27, 2009
This memorandum summarizes the actions taken by the Cultural Heritage Commission
at their Tuesday, October 27 meeting. No action is required unless the City Council
wishes to hold special review of an item.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Banda called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Nathan Banda, Chair
Janet Siegel, Vice -Chair
Lorie Porter
Don Tryon
Absent: (Ed Nunez recused himself from both items due to a potential
conflict of interest, and left the meeting)
Staff: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager/Cultural Heritage
Commission Secretary
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Ilse Byrnes addressed the Commission regarding reinstatement of a previous City
policy requiring historic buildings to be incorporated into projects. She has sent a
number of letters to the Council and Mayor but has not received responses. She asked
if the Commission would consider asking the Council to re -instate the policy. Staff
responded that a discussion would need to be placed on a future agenda in order for
the Commission to discuss it.
OLD BUSINESS
Follow -Up Review of Sign at Mission San Juan Capistrano (SPR 07-401), a
request to receive and approve the proposed sign to be installed per Condition
No. 13 of SPR 07-001, at the at the Mission San Juan Capistrano Rectory
Garden, located at 26801 Ortega Highway (APN 124-180-46) (Applicant: Mechelle
Lawrence -Adams). Project manager Teri Delcamp made the staff presentation and
recommendation that the Commission receive and approve the proposed sign to
Joe Tait, Interim City Manager 2 November 10, 2009
satisfy the conditions of the project. Per the press release regarding a settlement
agreement, the sign is to be installed on the north side of the wall in the Rectory
Garden and is intended to add more commemorative information about the
Acjachemen ancestry of the persons known to be buried in the Cemetery, with
the form and content of the sign to be determined by the Mission.
Chair Nathan Banda stated for the record that he has not been employed by the
Diocese of Orange or the Mission for over a year, and he has no conflict of
interest.
The Commission asked several questions about the text and their purview on the
sign. They asked the applicant to consider removing two words from the text, one
"While" in the first paragraph and the other "However" in the second paragraph,
but it was only a suggestion and not a specific part of the motion. After due
consideration, Commissioner Tryon moved, and Vice -Chair Siegel seconded, a
motion to receive and approve the sign. The motion was approved by a vote of 4-
0-1 (Nunez recused and absent).
NEW BUSINESS
None.
INFORMATION ITEM
Conditional Use Permit CUP 09-011 Olivares House B&B/CUP 06-01
Modification Zoomars 31791 Los Rios Street; an informational report on the
status of an application requesting a bed and breakfast (B&B) use for overnight
guests and expansion of the Zoomars use during the day in the Olivares House
located at 31791 Los Rios Street (APN 121-360-17) (Applicant: Carolyn Gonzalez).
Project Manager Teri Delcamp made the staff presentation and recommended
that the Commission receive and file the informational report. The project is being
reviewed by staff and will go to the Planning Commission for action at a future
date.
Commissioner Porter said she loves the idea of a B&B there, but is also
concerned about events until 8 pm on the weekends. Chair Banda and Vice -
Chair Siegel shared her concerns but also like the B&B concept.
Ms. Gonzalez responded that with the Vaquero West project, re -opening of the
theater and the Park there is more activity in the area and she intends to
complement Zoomars and enhance the Los Rios area.
Jonathan Volzke, San Juan Capistrano resident, spoke in favor of the project.
Los Rios Street is a pass-through for the adjacent neighborhoods. Addition
positive evening activity would be a benefit for the residential area and would cut
down on vandalism and undesirable activity.
Joe Tait, Interim City Manager 3 November 10, 2009
COMMISSION/STAFF COMMENTS
Commissioner Porter announced that the annual Ghost Tours were very successful with
about 200 people. For the first time they partnered with the Playhouse actors which
enhanced the overall experience. She also stated that the Los Rios Park Historic
Depiction Program wall is very successful as an attraction to Park visitors. Lastly, she
announced that the Community Presbyterian Church is celebrating its 901" anniversary
this year.
Staff updated the Commission regarding plans to rent the Williams/Swanner House to a
residential tenant for the short-term and a property management company has been
retained to advertize the property and accept applications. The Montanez Adobe repair
and restoration project is out to bid and staff anticipates starting construction in the next
month or so.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Banda adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
cc: Cindy Russell, Assistant City Manager
Grant Taylor, Assistant Community Development Director
Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager.
Christina Gomez, Administrative Specialist
CHC Members
CHC Minutes File
Douglas Dumhart, Economic Development Manager