CHC Minutes-2006-05-25MEMORANDUM May 31, 2006
TO: Dave Adams, City Manager
Molly Bogh, Planning Director
FROM: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager
Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary
SUBJECT: Cultural Heritage Commission Actions of May 25, 2006
This memorandum summarizes the actions taken by the Cultural Heritage Commission at
their Thursday, May 25, 2006, meeting. No action is required unless the City Council
wishes to hold special review of an item.
A. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Porter called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL
Present: Lorie Porter, Chair
Tony Forster, Vice-Chair
Jess Andrews
Ed Nunez
Janet Siegel
Don Tryon
Absent: David Belardes
Staff: Teri Delcamp, Cultural Heritage Commission Secretary
C. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
D. OLD BUSINESS
None.
The Commission took Item F.1 out of order since both the applicant and representative
were present.
Dave Adams, City Manager 2 May 31, 2006
F. INFORMATION ITEM
1. Potential Revision to the Historic Depiction Program (HDP) for Mammoth
Professional Buildings (AC) 03-09. A request for input regarding the potential
modification of the approved Mammoth HDP. (Project Manager: Teri Delcamp,
Historic Preservation Manager on behalf of Larry Lawrence, Consultant) Teri Delcamp
made the staff presentation and requested that the Commission provide input
to the applicant on the advisability of changing the approved HDP from the
airport history of San Juan Capistrano to a paleontology theme. The HDP
would include information about fossil finds in San Juan Capistrano in the
form of interior lobby displays. The program could also include the mammoth
sculpture that is being created in a central courtyard. Staff and the applicant
have received ambiguous information regarding whether mammoths existed
in the San Juan Capistrano area. However, there is evidence of other
Pleistocene-era fossil finds in town.
Phil Schwartze, representing the applicant, committed to another project
utilizing the airport history information already prepared for the approved
Mammoth HDP. Before the applicant spends the time and money to
determine exactly what fossils have been found in San Juan Capistrano to
fully develop the new HDP, they want to know if the Commission would even
support the concept of a paleontological HDP.
Kent Ahlering, Mammoth Equities, explained that the project will be the new
corporate headquarters for the company.
Chair Porter, Vice-Chair Forster and Commissioners Nunez and Tryon
generally supported the concept of a paleontological HDP. The theme has
not been used yet and it is unlikely any other project will do so. Vice-Chair
Forster is certain that a tusk fossil was found in the Laguna Niguel area.
Commissioners Siegel and Andrews questioned the validity of a
paleontological HDP. It is unclear how many fossils have been found in San
Juan Capistrano; so far the existence of mammoths in town cannot be
validated; and they are not comfortable with a paleontological focus for an
HDP.
After due consideration, the general consensus of the Commission was that,
if a paleontological HDP is to be prepared, then it needs to accurately portray
pre-historic life in the Capistrano Valley. If there is no evidence of mammoths
in San Juan Capistrano, then the mammoth should be eliminated from the
HDP. The displays could include fossils, and should include information
about the animals for which fossils have been found in town, as well as a
Dave Adams, City Manager 3 May 31, 2006
map of the locations. The airport HDP needs to be used for another
appropriate project so that part of the town’s story is not lost.
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. Consideration of Portion of Downtown Way-Finding Signage Program in Los
Rios Historic District. A request for a recommendation to the Planning
Commission and City Council regarding the potential inclusion of way-finding
signage in the Los Rios Historic District. (Project Manager: Teri Delcamp, Historic
Preservation Manager on behalf of Economic Development Manager) Teri Delcamp
made the staff presentation and recommendation that the Commission
provide a recommendation on the proposed pedestrian signs in the Los Rios
Historic District. Two potential signs had been added to the project in
response to input from the public at a previous stakeholders meeting in order
to draw attention across the railroad tracks to the Historic District. One
pedestrian sign would be located in the entry plaza and the second sign
would replace an existing aluminum sign in front of the Rios Adobe property.
Stan Wylazlowski, Chamber of Commerce, spoke in favor of the overall way-
finding program and providing adequate signage, while recognizing that the
Los Rios Historic District is a unique area.
The Commission was in consensus that the term “attractions” on the
pedestrian sign needs to be replaced, perhaps with “museums” as suggested
by Commissioner Siegel. Ultimately, the Commission concurred that the
proposed pedestrian signs are too modern for the character of the Los Rios
Historic District and should not be included in the program, so the proposed
wording on the sign is irrelevant.
The Commission discussed the idea that part of the charm of the Los Rios
area is due to the fact that people have to search for it a little. The
Commission felt that less signage, rather than more, is appropriate in the
District. They like the “finger sign” and agreed that it should remain, along
with the marker sign and the sand-blasted wood signs. The overall design of
the way-finding program is excellent but the City should be careful about how
much signage is installed in the Downtown.
Chair Porter suggested relocating the existing sand-blasted wood “Los Rios
Historic District” sign in front of the Combs House to the planter in the center
of the entry plaza. The sign could be slightly lowered, and re-painted in the
color palette proposed for the way-finding sign program to achieve the
desired branding recognition.
Dave Adams, City Manager 4 May 31, 2006
After due consideration, Commissioner Siegel moved, and Commissioner
Tryon seconded, a motion recommending the following to the Planning
Commission and the City Council:
1. Do not include two new way-finding pedestrian signs in the Los Rios
Historic District near the entry plaza.
2. Relocate the existing sand-blasted wood “Los Rios Historic District”
sign from its location in front of the Combs House to the center
landscape planter at the entry plaza. The sign could be slightly
lowered, placed toward the east side of the planter and re-painted in
the way-finding sign program’s color palette.
3. The existing, non-City owned “finger sign” should remain and
merchants should not be prevented from updating the small signs as
long as they are consistent with the rustic character of the existing
sign.
4. Overall, the way-finding sign program design is excellent. However,
there are too many signs proposed, which will detract from the
character of the Downtown area.
The motion was approved unanimously.
G. COMMISSION/STAFF COMMENTS
Vice-Chair Forster announced that the Historical Society’s annual mixer will be on
Thursday, June 8, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the O’Neill Museum.
Commissioner Tryon asked staff to follow up with the owner of Capistrano
Collections to ensure that the HDP is repaired and maintained. He also reported that
the new combination wrought iron and stucco wall around the Old Mission Cemetery
looks excellent.
Commissioner Siegel reported that the activities of Historic Preservation Week were
a great success.
Chair Porter reported that heritage tourism is gaining momentum, and there is a
website regarding proposed California legislation that would promote historic areas
under a new California Heritage Corridor Act (http://www.caculturalheritage.org/).
Teri Delcamp reported that the City Council acted on the appeal of the
Commission’s approval of the amended Ortega Ranch HDP to include a plaque for
the Old Mission Cemetery. The Council approved staff’s recommendation with a
Dave Adams, City Manager 5 May 31, 2006
modification to clarify that Mr. Sheehan sold the land to the “Catholic” church. The
sentence stating who owns the site and is responsible for it was left in the text.
H. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Porter adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m.
cc: Bill Huber, Assistant City Manager
Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager
Sandy Kell, Administrative Secretary
CHC Members
CHC Minutes File
Douglas Dumhart, Economic Development Manager