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City
Council Report |
City Council Meeting: November
10, 2009
Agenda Item: 1-G
To: Mayor and City Council
From:
Subject: Statement of Official Action Upholding
Appeal of Landmarks Commission
Designation of
Recommended
Action
Staff recommends the City
Council approve the attached Statement of Official Action upholding Appeal
08APP-005 and reversing the decision of the Landmarks Commission to designate the property at
Executive
Summary and Discussion
This staff report transmits for City Council certification the Statement of Official Action for Appeal 08APP-005. After holding a public hearing, the City Council upheld Appeal 08APP-005 and reversed the Landmarks Commission’s designation of the structure located at 3030-3060 Nebraska Avenue as a City Landmark, and of the real property commonly known as 3030-3060 Nebraska Avenue (SANTA MONICA LOT COM AT MOST N COR OF LOT 2 BLK 199 TH SE ON NE LINE OF SD LOT 110 FT WITH A UNIFORM DEPTH OF 150 FT SW AT R/A PART OF LOT 2 BLK 199) as a Landmark parcel, based upon findings contained in the attached Statement of Official Action.
Financial Impacts &
Budget Actions
The recommendation presented in this report does not have any budget or fiscal impact.
Prepared by:
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Approved: |
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Forwarded to Council: |
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Director,
Planning & Community Development |
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City Manager |
Attachment: Statement of
Official Action
ATTACHMENT
A
STATEMENT
OF OFFICIAL ACTION
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SANTA
MONICA
STATEMENT OF
OFFICIAL ACTION
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PROJECT CASE
NUMBER: Appeal 08APP-005 LOCATION: APPLICANT: City of APPELLANT: NMS
Properties, Inc. and PROPERTY OWNER: CASE
PLANNER: REQUEST: Appeal 08APP005 of
Landmarks Commission Designation of the Property at CEQA
STATUS: The project is
categorically exempt from the provisions of California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) pursuant to 15331, Class 31 of the State Implementation Guidelines
in that the project consists of designating a property as a Landmark thereby
aiding in the preservation of a historic resource in a manner consistent with
the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic
Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and
Reconstructing Historic Buildings (1995),
Weeks and Grimmer. The
project is also exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). Section 15061(b)(3) provides that CEQA only
applies to those projects that have the potential for causing a significant
effect on the environment. Since the
proposed action would result in the retention of the existing structure and
would not change the existing environmental baseline, there is no potential
that the project would cause a significant effect on the environment. |
CITY COUNCIL ACTION
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September 8, 2009 |
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Date |
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X |
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Appeal upheld and Landmarks
Commission approval reversed based upon the findings below: |
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Appeal denied and Landmarks
Commission designation upheld based on the following findings: |
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Other. |
EFFECTIVE DATE OF ACTION: September
8, 2009
The City Council, having held a public
hearing on September 8, 2009, hereby upholds Appeal 08APP-005 and reverses the
Landmarks Commission’s designation of the structure located at 3030-3060
Nebraska Avenue as a City Landmark, and of the real property commonly known as
3030-3060 Nebraska Avenue (SANTA MONICA LOT COM AT MOST N COR OF LOT 2
BLK 199 TH SE ON NE LINE OF SD LOT 110 FT WITH A UNIFORM DEPTH OF 150 FT SW AT
R/A PART OF LOT 2 BLK 199) as a
Landmark Parcel based on the findings and determinations below.
Each and all of the findings and
determinations are based on the competent and substantial evidence, both oral
and written, contained in the entire record relating to the Project. All summaries of information contained herein
or in the findings are based on the substantial evidence in the record. The absence of any particular fact from any
such summary is not an indication that a particular finding is not based in
part on that fact.
Findings and
determinations for Designation of the Landmark Parcel and Structure Per SMMC
9.36.100(a)
(1)
It exemplifies, symbolizes, or manifests elements of the cultural, social,
economic, political or architectural history of the City.
The subject building was initially
constructed in 1951 to expand available industrial/manufacturing space within
the City. In later years (1972-1992), it
housed the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), an academic
institution that has achieved worldwide prominence and acclaim. While it is agreed that SCI-Arc is significant
to the City’s cultural heritage, the property at
(2) It has aesthetic or artistic interest or
value, or other noteworthy interest or value.
As a
vernacular, utilitarian industrial building the subject property does not articulate
a particular or noteworthy concept of design sufficient enough to express an
aesthetic ideal beyond that represented by other properties of the same type
and style located in the City. Therefore, the subject property does not meet
this criterion.
(3) It is identified with historic personages or with important events
in local, state or national history.
The subject building housed SCI-Arc from 1972 to
1992. Its founder and Director from 1972
to 1987, Ray Kappe, is an internationally recognized and published
architect. However, the building is not
expressive or representative of his work or philosophy and does not best
represent his historic contributions to architectural education. Therefore,
the subject property does not meet this criterion.
(4) It
embodies distinguishing architectural characteristics valuable to a study of a period,
style, method of construction, or the use of indigenous materials or
craftsmanship, or is a unique or rare example of an architectural design,
detail or historical type valuable to such a study.
The property
does not appear to satisfy this criterion. The subject property is a common example
of a vernacular, utilitarian industrial building erected in the 1950s as
represented in industrial areas along both sides of Olympic Boulevard in
(5) It is a
significant or a representative example of the work or product of a notable builder,
designer or architect.
Building
permits indicate that there was no architect associated with the design of the
subject property; however, owner John F. Drescher was identified as the building’s
contractor. Architect Otto Beyerle designed the nondescript penthouse addition
constructed one year later. Current research revealed no information suggesting
that either Drescher or Beyerle were considered notable members of their
respective professions. Therefore, the subject property does not appear eligible
for local landmark designation under this criterion.
(6) It has a
unique location, a singular physical characteristic, or is an established and familiar
visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the City.
The subject
property is located on the south side of
VOTE (on motion to uphold appeal and reverse Landmarks
Commission decision)
Ayes: Bloom,
Nays: McKeown, Shriver
Abstain:
Absent:
NOTICE
If this is a final decision not subject to
further appeal under Article 9 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code, the time
within which judicial review of this decision must be sought is governed by
Code of Civil Procedures Section 1094.6, which provision has been adopted by
the City pursuant to Municipal Code Section 1.16.010.
I hereby certify that this Statement of
Official Action accurately reflects the final determination of the City Council
of the City of
_____________________________ ______________
MARIA M. STEWART, City Clerk Date