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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