CITY OF SANTA ROSA CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010

2:30 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Chair Much called the regular meeting of the Cultural Heritage Board to order at 2:30 p.m. on this day of Wednesday, May 5, 2010.

Present:          DeBacker, Flock, Garrett, Jessen, Much, Stoural     

Absent:            Nieto

2. PUBLIC APPEARANCES - None

3. STATEMENT OF ABSTENTIONS BY BOARDMEMBERS – None

4. SIGN PERMIT – THE GARDEN SHOP COKAS DIKO – One new projecting sign on the contributing building located at 127 4^th Street in the Railroad Square Preservation District – SI10-022

City Planner Jessica Jones gave a presentation.

Ex Parte Disclosures

Chair Much and Boardmember Stoural visited the site.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

MOVED by Boardmember Flock, seconded by Boardmember Garrett, and carried with the following vote:

AYES:              (6)        DeBacker, Flock, Garrett, Jessen, Much, Stoural

NOES:             (0)

ABSTAIN:        (0)

ABSENT:         (1)        Nieto

to adopt and waive the reading of the text of the resolution in item 4 as follows:

RESOLUTION NO. 263 ENTITLED:  RESOLUTION OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA APPROVING A SIGN PERMIT FOR THE GARDEN SHOP COKAS DIKO LOCATED AT 127 4^TH STREET IN THE RAILROAD SQUARE PRESERVATION DISTRICT, ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NUMBER 010-074-015, FILE NUMBER SI 10-022

5. CONCEPT REVIEW – RENOVATION PROJECT 2010 – Renovation of the duplex located at 923/925 Cherry Street in the Cherry Street Preservation District – LMA10-007

Senior Planner Bill Rose gave a presentation. This item was originally submitted in February as an application for a major landmark alteration. Based on initial referral feedback and in consultation with Mr. Rose, the applicant decided to request a concept review of the project. The applicant has also been encouraged to obtain a report by an architectural historian. Applicant Lisa Tamayo and Designer Norm Oliver addressed the Board.

Ex Parte Disclosures

• Boardmembers Flock and Stoural visited the site.
• Chair Much visited the site. He saw the interior of the house four years ago. He considered buying the house eight years ago.

Public Comment

• Guillermo Madrigal, 903 Cherry Street, spoke about a possible precedent being set if this project is approved. Aesthetically, it would is an improvement but, philosophically, it represents a departure from the nature of the preservation district.

Chair Much responded that where structures are subject to the decisions of the Board, a distinction is made between “contributing” and “non-contributing” structures, where what is impermissible for the former might be  permissible for the latter.

Board Comment

1. Supports the applicant obtaining new information from a professional architectural historian to determine the status of the house, whether it is a contributor or a non-contributor to the district
2. Supports the applicant taking steps toward returning the house to its original form
3. Concern about the massing of the front porch in relation to what is viewed as the structure below
4. Concern about the top-heavy porch
5. Concern about the types of windows; looking for consistency among the windows
6. Concern with the top gable and the change to horizontal siding
7. As much as possible, maintain the original configuration of the doors and windows
8. Simplify the design
9. Consider an addition to the back of the house, instead

6. REPORT ITEM – COUNTY RETROFIT PROGRAM

Boardmember DeBacker gave a presentation regarding the County Retrofit Program. This item was added to the agenda when the topic was raised at the April 7 Board meeting. A subcommittee was formed to further investigate the program and report back to the Board at it’s June 2 meeting.

7. BOARDMEMBERS’ REPORTS

The Boardmembers made announcements and reported on items of interest to the Board.

8. DEPARTMENT REPORT

Ms. Hartman reported on items of interest to the Board.

9. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The Cultural Heritage Board minutes of April 7, 2010 were approved as submitted.

10. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business before the Cultural Heritage Board, Chair Much adjourned the regular meeting at 4:40 p.m. to the regular meeting of Wednesday, June 2, 2010.