07-0822_CC_Minutes_Adjourned Regular MeetingMINUTES
' AUGUST 22, 2007
CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
CITY COUNCIL - PLANNING COMMISSION — DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
JOINT WORKSHOP
Mayor Allevato called the adjourned, regular, joint workshop of the City Council,
Planning Commission, and Design Review Committee of the City of San Juan
Capistrano to order at 7:03 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Council Member Hribar
led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Dr. Londres Uso, Mark Nielsen, Tom Hribar, Mayor
pro tem Joe Soto, and Mayor Sam Allevato
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Tim Neely, Virginia Kerr, Gene Ratcliff, Vice
Chairman Sheldon Cohen
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Chairman Robert Cardoza (excused)
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Jeff Parkhurst (Planning
Commissioner Tim Neely also serves on the committee)
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: (Planning Commissioner
Chairman Robert Cardoza serves on the committee and as noted above had an
excused absence.)
STAFF PRESENT: Steven A. Apple, Planning Director; Grant Taylor, Assistant
Planning Director; David Contreras, Senior Planner; Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation
Manager; Douglas Dumhart, Economic Development Manager; Meg Monahan, City
Clerk
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1, CONSIDERATION OF APPEAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION DENIAL OF
ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL (AC) 06-12, MEXICO LINDO-VAQUERO WEST
BUILDING, 26755 VERDUGO STREET (410.60)
Description:
On July 17, 2007, the City Council considered the appeal of the Planning
Commission denial of an Architectural Control application for a 4,746 square foot
addition to the existing building located at 26755 Verdugo Street. At that
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meeting, the City Council voted to continue consideration of the project at a joint
meeting with the Planning Commission and Design Review Committee. The
intent of the workshop is to provide collective direction to the applicant on
whether the existing building, which is on the Buildings of Distinction (BOD) list
should be saved as part of the proposal, or razed, allowing for development of a
new building, or left substantially as is with tenant improvements.
Written Communications:
Report dated August 22, 2007, prepared by David Contreras, Senior Planner.
Staff Discussion & Presentations:
David Contreras, Senior Planner, summarized the agenda report. During
workshop discussion he verified that a new building in this location had a Not
line setback requirement.
Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager, reported the Cultural Heritage
Commission had placed the building on the BOD list due to the possibility it is
connected with the community's Basque history, which needs to be documented
through a cultural resources report. The estimated cost to prepare a report is
$10,000 to $15,000. The report would be utilized in the environmental analysis
of the project. Since the Cultural Heritage Commission membership has
changed, the result of a re -review may differ from the initial building review.
Eric Altman, applicant, San Juan Capistrano, provided a power point
presentation and handout, including sketches of building design proposals
prepared since the July 17, 2007 Council meeting. Proposals included buildings
ranging from 7,880 to 8,800 square feet. He stated that an 8,800 square foot
building was needed for the project to be financially viable. His proposals have
assumed retaining and adding to the existing building, based on direction from
the Cultural Heritage Commission. If the City now desires the building razed, this
will cost approximately $500,000 to $600,000 more. He requested the City assist
in the financial viability of the project and design the building.
Public Comment
Don Tryon, City resident, (not representing the Cultural Heritage Commission),
stated that as Cultural Heritage Commission members, he and Jan Siegel were
the two dissenting votes when the Commission placed the building on the
Buildings of Distinction (BOD) list. He felt the building should be removed, while
retaining the pavilion at the rear, because the depot is a very prominent historic
building and needs to be protected visually and physically.
Ken Friess, City resident, felt that the project had to make financial sense. He
recommended the City contact Pamela Gibson and the few remaining Basque
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descendents in the community, in order to determine the historical value of the
building. This would quickly and inexpensively resolve whether the building
should remain as a BOD.
Jennifer Cox, Partner with Eric Altman, E & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto, asked for
clear direction as to how to proceed with development of the building. She and
the applicant have tried to respond to the varying direction received during the
processing of the application, which has been costly. They need to know what
the City wants before considering razing the building.
David Streshinsky, Principal, DKY Architects, Irvine, ascertained from discussion
that if the building were removed, a new building in its place would be massed
toward the east and north, using the design style of the depot and Franciscan
Plaza. He felt an interesting project that provided a better pedestrian experience
from Verdugo Street was possible.
Council/Commission/Committee General Discussion:
Council, commissioners and committee members expressed general concern
with the massiveness of the applicant's proposal. Views to and from the depot
are important to retain, as the proximity and relationship to the depot. Razing the
existing building, would allow for the desired departure from the boxy appearance
of the existing building architecture. The project elevation facing the depot and
the Verdugo Street elevations are the most important.
Council Member Nielsen felt the project could expand to the rear, but not as
presented. The Verdugo Street elevation should draw people down the street
toward the depot and landscaping was needed on the west and Verdugo
elevations.
There was concurrence among Council Members that the Community
Redevelopment Agency (CRA) should consider potential project financial
support. The applicant could present the economics of constructing buildings of
various sizes such as 5,000; 6,000; and 7,000 square feet for the CRA to
consider.
Commissioner Kerr suggested the applicant consider a design charrette process
to inexpensively explore design ideas. Council Member Hribar suggested she
initiate such a process.
Commissioner Neely was opposed to BOD reconsideration returning to the
Cultural Heritage Commission. He felt, instead, the reconsideration should be
decided by the City Council with the City Council directing the Cultural Heritage
Commission what to include on the BOD list.
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Items of Council/Commission/Committee General Consensus: The following
design direction to the applicant met general consensus:
• The existing building should be razed.
• The east elevation is the most suitable for two story building massing. There
is less concern for variation or architectural interest.
• Some seating area close to the depot should be retained.
• The Verdugo Street elevation should be pedestrian oriented.
• The west elevation, facing the depot, should include variation and interest in
the building setback, design elements, and massing.
• Building architecture should reflect the styles of the Santa Fe Train Depot
and/or the Franciscan Plaza
• Staff should expeditiously schedule Community Redevelopment Agency
review of the project in order to determine the Agency's participation in the
project development.
Action: Moved by Council Member Nielsen, seconded by Council Member Uso,
and carried 9-1-1 with Planning Commissioner/Design Review Committee
Member Neely opposed, and Planning Commissioner/Design Review Committee
Member Cardoza absent, to direct Cultural Heritage Commission to reconsider
whether the Mexico Lindo-Vaquero West Building, located at 26755 Verdugo
Street, should be placed on the City's Buildings of Distinction list, considering
opinions from Pamela Gibson and the community's Basque descendents. _
ROLL CALL
AYES:
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBER: Parkhurst
PLANNING COMMISSIONER: Kerr, Ratcliffe, Cohen
COUNCIL MEMBER: Uso, Nielsen, Hribar, Soto, and Mayor Allevato
NOES:
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBER: None
PLANNING COMMISSIONER: Neely
COUNCIL MEMBER: None
ABSENT:
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBER: None
PLANNING COMMISSIONER: Chairman Cardoza
COUNCIL MEMBER: None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Allevato adjourned the joint workshop at 9:08
p.m.
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• The City Council was adjourned to Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. for
' Closed Session, and 7:00 p.m. for the Business Session, in the City Council
Chamber.
• The Planning Commission was adjourned to Tuesday, August 28, 2007, at 7:00
p.m. in the City Council Chamber.
• The Design Review Committee was adjourned to Thursday, September 6, 2007
at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber.
Respectfully submitted,
R. MONAHAN, CITY CLERK
September 18, 2007
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