CHC Minutes-2007-09-25MEMORANDUM October 4, 2007
TO: Dave Adams, City Manager
Steven Apple, Planning Director
FROM: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager
Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary
SUBJECT: Cultural Heritage Commission Actions of September 25, 2007
This memorandum summarizes the actions taken by the Cultural Heritage Commission at
their Tuesday, September 25, 2007 meeting. No action is required unless the City Council
wishes to hold special review of an item.
CALL TO ORDER
Vice-Chair Nunez called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Ed Nunez, Vice-Chair
Jess Andrews
Nathan Banda
Alana Jolley
Lorie Porter
Janet Siegel
Absent: Don Tryon, Chair (excused)
Staff: Teri Delcamp, Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary
Lynnette Lehmann, Senior Management Analyst
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Consideration of Architectural Control 06-14, Tree Removal Permit 07-131, Little
Hollywood Expansion (Little Hollywood Affordable Rental Unit Expansion Project)
City Council Priority #7A. (Applicant: San Juan Capistrano Community Redevelopment
Agency) Lynnette Lehmann, Senior Management Analyst, made the staff
Dave Adams, City Manager 2 October 4, 2007
presentation and recommendation that the Commission provide input, find the
project consistent with the Los Rios Specific Plan and recommend approval to the
Planning Commission. The project includes a site plan, elevations, grading,
landscaping, and tree removals for a proposal to add 10 additional affordable
manufactured housing rental units on approximately 1.67 acres in Little Hollywood
located at the northern terminus of Paseo Adelanto between Ramos and Mission
Streets (Assessor Parcel Number (APN) 121-142-01, 07).
Commissioner Andrews asked if the extension of Paseo Adelanto through to
Avenida de la Vista is still a possibility. Ms. Lehmann responded that staff took that
issue to the City Council as a separate item early on in the process and the Council
voted not to extend Paseo Adelanto through. Commissioner Andrews commented
that the project is very attractive, the landscape is appropriate and she is happy
Paseo Adelanto will not be extended through the project.
Commissioner Porter asked about the removal of trees at the northerly end of the
project, and commented that this plan looks more “designed” or “master planned”
than the existing homes. Staff responded that the previous affordable housing units
were placed directly on the pads of the demolished structures; however, with this
project, there were no existing pads. Three different site plan scenarios were
developed and reviewed by the DRC and the proposed one was selected as the
best to meet all of the various codes and needs of the project. The maintenance of
some of the existing landscape in the area has been an issue, and some of the
existing trees are too close to structure. The current plan is intended to address this
and retain as many trees as possible.
Staff responded to additional questions regarding the total number of existing
affordable units in San Juan Capistrano, and the number the city is obligated to
provide. The Commissioners concurred that the project is well designed and will be
an asset.
After due consideration, Commissioner Siegel moved, and Commissioner Andrews
seconded, to approve staff’s recommendation. The motion was approved by a vote
of 6-0.
INFORMATION ITEM
1. Congdon House ADA Improvements, 32701 Alipaz Street (CIP No. 452); (Applicant:
San Juan Capistrano)(Case Planner: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager) Teri
Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager, made the made the staff presentation and
recommendation that the Commission provide input regarding the pending
Administrative Approval of the plans and their compliance with the Secretary of the
Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The plans provide for
an accessible parking space, wood ramp, path of travel to and through the first floor
Dave Adams, City Manager 3 October 4, 2007
of the Congdon House and an accessible restroom in the rear to facilitate use as a
museum on the first floor.
Commissioner Andrews asked if the changes affect the front door to which Ms.
Delcamp replied the front doors will not be touched.
Commissioner Porter asked why the existing house bathroom is not being proposed
for the ADA restroom. She said that the laundry room was the back porch where the
milk was delivered and Rita Nieblas’s family canned foods; she feels the room
should be allowed to be interpreted in this way instead of having the ADA restroom
there. The existing restroom should be modified instead, even if a door has to be cut
through the small closet to get there. Staff replied that, while the existing bathroom
is large enough to meet ADA requirements once inside the room, it is not physically
possible to meet ADA requirements to get into the room without significantly
affecting existing historic materials by cutting a new doorway through a wall.
Vice-Chair Nunez asked if the museum’s programming is known yet, and wanted to
make sure the improvements are reversible.
Several Commissioners discussed their concerns about spending money on
permanent improvements for a use whose future success is unknown. There is no
way to know how much these improvements will be used. They asked if temporary
improvements could be installed instead at first. They suggested a temporary metal
ramp and a portable toilet in the farm buildings behind the house, etc. Some
Commissioners said that the City had been talking about a museum in the house for
a long time, but nothing has happened so far. This seems like a lot of money to
spend.
Staff responded that the City has actually moved forward on this project. Although
the restoration was completed a few years ago, the City pursued two separate RFP
processes to identify a potential tenant. The RFP process was completed; the City
Council selected a tenant, San Juan Family Farm Museum. A license agreement
with the tenant was executed last year. That agreement places the responsibility for
the ADA improvements on the City, and the operational aspects of the museum on
the licensee. Staff submitted a CIP for the ADA improvements and both it and the
budget to support it were approved by the City Council in the current fiscal year.
Regarding temporary facilities, the Building Official has indicated in the past that the
City will not approve temporary facilities for a permanent use.
Staff will forward the Commission’s input to the Planning Director and other
department staff for discussion before the Director makes a decision on the
Administrative Approval. Staff will also discuss ideas with the project architect, and
meet with the licensee regarding the proposed plans and his time frame to process
Dave Adams, City Manager 4 October 4, 2007
the necessary approvals for the museum operation. Staff will report back to the
Commission on the outcome of the discussions and action at a future meeting.
2. Status of Mission Rectory Garden; a status report from staff regarding the site plan
review application and permit request and consideration of holding a special CHC
meeting on October 9, 2007 (Applicant: Mission San Juan Capistrano). Teri Delcamp
stated that the Mission has submitted the necessary application for the non-
permitted rectory garden improvements. Staff has reviewed the application, deemed
it to be incomplete, and notified the applicant regarding the additional information
and revisions to the plans that are required. Staff ascertained that a quorum of the
CHC should be available for a meeting on October 9. Commissioners requested that
staff arrange an opportunity or opportunities for them to have access to the project
site area prior to the adjourned regular meeting. Staff agreed to work with the
Mission to set up a special meeting during a window of time for access.
COMMISSION/STAFF COMMENTS
Commissioner Siegel announced the following:
• Over 100 women have registered to attend the annual Questers convention in San Juan
Capistrano October 11 – 13.
• With City approval of a Temporary Use Permit, the Historical Society will be hosting a
month-long exhibit in the Arley Leck House featuring Alice O’Neill Avery’s doll collection
from October 5 – 28.
• October 27 will be the Historical Society’s annual Ghost Walk in Los Rios.
Commissioner Andrews announced that nine alumni from her alma mater, Lake Forest
College in Chicago, will be in San Juan Capistrano on September 29 to complete a
community service project in celebration of the college’s 150th anniversary. The project will
be re-painting the wooden crosses at the Mission San Juan Capistrano cemetery next to
Peregrine Chapel.
Teri Delcamp announced the following:
• Work will be occurring at the Blas Aguilar Adobe to clean out the sewer lateral.
• The archaeological report for the Ventanas project’s CEQA process indicated that
archaeological testing should be conducted. A Native American monitor will be present
during the testing and the reports will be brought to the CHC for review in the future.
• The City Council approved an agreement on September 4, 2007, with Iraj Douraghi to
allow him to process the necessary approvals to relocate the Troubleman’s Cottage to
his property, which is the historic Rios-Stanfield House at 31701 Los Rios Street. The
City will be the lead on the Los Rios Specific Plan Amendment to change the zoning on
the rear portion of his lot from Park to Low Density Residential, and Mr. Douraghi is
required to submit and process the site plan review application which will come to the
CHC for review.
Dave Adams, City Manager 5 October 4, 2007
ADJOURNMENT
Vice-Chair Nunez adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m. to the Adjourned Regular Cultural
Heritage Commission Meeting to be held on Tuesday, October 9, 2007, at 5:00 p.m.
cc: Cindy Russell, Assistant City Manager
Grant Taylor, Assistant Planning Director
Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager
Christina Gomez, Administrative Specialist
CHC Members
CHC Minutes File
Douglas Dumhart, Economic Development Manager