MINUTES

 

MEETING OF THE

LANDMARKS COMMISSION

Founded 1875

“Populus felix in urbe felici”

 

 

 

 

Monday, September 9, 2002

City Council Chambers, Room 213

7:00 p.m.

1685 Main Street, Santa Monica

 

CALL TO ORDER:  7:06 p.m.

 

1.     ROLL CALL    

Present:

Commissioner Fresco

Commissioner Posek

Commissioner Schnitzler

Chair Pro Tem Genser

 

Also present: 

Liz Bar-El, Commission Liaison

Kimberly Christensen, Senior Planner

Barry Rosenbaum, City Attorney

Arlene Johnson, Staff Assistant

 

Absent:

Chairperson Lehrer

 

2       REPORT FROM STAFF:

 

Ms. Bar-El informed the Commission that the Historic Preservation Element will be reviewed by the Planning Commission on Wednesday, September 11, 2002.  Also, the Ocean Park Community Organization will have its first Historic Home Tour and Wine Tasting on Sunday, September 15th, 1-3 pm.  Those interested should register on the lawn in front of the library.  She also mentioned that a tax deductible donation of a minimum of $30.00 will benefit the relocation and rehabilitation of the last intact Shotgun House in Santa Monica.

 

3.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

         Public Input Permitted

                                     

A.  August 12, 2002

 

         Commissioner Schnitzler made a motion to approve the minutes.  Commissioner  Fresco seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote.

 

         Ayes:     Fresco, Posek, Schnitzler, Genser

         Nayes:   None

         Absent:  Lehrer

 

   4.   PUBLIC INPUT: (On items not on agenda and within the jurisdiction of the Commission)

 

5.      COMMUNICATIONS: (Presentation of items not on agenda and within the jurisdiction of the Commission by members of the public. Public discussion is only extended to the person presenting the communication unless consent is given by 2/3 vote of the Commissioners present.)

 

None.

        

6.      CONSENT CALENDAR:

         Public Input Permitted

 

A.  Statement of Official Action: Certificate of Appropriateness Application No. LC-02CA-011, 400 Santa Monica Pier to Install One 3” x 18” Cylindrical Antenna on the rooftop of the Pier Harbor Office to improve data communication between City Hall and City facilities on the Santa Monica Pier        

 

B.  Statement of Official Action: Certificate of Appropriateness Application No. LC-02CA-012, 1685 Main Street, to Install One 3” x 18” Cylindrical Antenna on the rooftop of City Hall, a designated landmark, to improve data communication between City facilities.

 

Commissioner Posek made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar.              Commissioner Schnitzler seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote.

 

7.      NEW BUSINESS / PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

         Public Input Permitted

                   

A.  Certificate of Appropriateness Application No. LC-02CA-015, 200 Santa
      Monica Pier, to amend Certificate of Appropriateness No. LC-02CA-009 
      in which the Commission approved the design of a directory sign in the
      Central Plaza Area of the Landmark Santa Monica Pier. This application
      requests approval for a second directory sign to be located next to
      Carousel Park by the western steps to the Pier, and requests sign
      adjustments for both signs.  (Continued from August 12, 2002)

 

Staff report presented by Ms. Bar-El.

 

The following member of the public addressed the Commission: Elana Buegoff, Resource Management Division.

 

Commissioner Posek made a motion to approve the second directory sign and sign adjustments for both signs.  Commissioner Fresco seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote:

 

Ayes:          Fresco, Posek, Schnitzler, Genser

Nayes:        None

Absent:      Lehrer

 

B.  Certificate of Appropriateness Application No. LC-02CA-005, 224 18th Street, requesting demolition of a main residence and garage structure on a property designated as a Structure of Merit.

 

Staff report presented by Ms. Bar-El including an explanation of environmental review under CEQA and the proposed negative declaration.

 

The following members of the public addressed the Commission:  Mark Schrobilgen, applicant / property owner and Tom Larmore.

 

Following a brief discussion, Commissioner Posek made a motion to adopt the Negative Declaration on 224 18th Street.  Commissioner Schnitzler seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote: 

 

Ayes:     Fresco, Posek, Schnitzler, Genser

Nayes:   None

Absent:  Lehrer

 

Commissioner Schnitzler made a motion to approve with the amended findings as follows: “The Landmarks Commission finds that this structure was designated as a contributor to a potential district known as the 18th Street Grouping.  The criteria in the Commission’s Findings and Determination for Designation as a Structure of Merit still apply based on the inclusion of the structure in this district.  However, because there is no certain and immediate time frame for district designation, the Commission finds that it is appropriate in this case to allow the proposed demolition.” Commissioner Posek seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote: 

 

 

Ayes:     Fresco, Posek, Schnitzler, Genser

Nayes:   None

Absent:  Lehrer

 

C.  Certificate of Appropriateness Application No. LC-02CA-010, 2609 ˝ Third Street, requesting demolition of a rear dwelling unit on a property designated as a contributor to the Third Street Neighborhood Historic District.

                                                                                                           

Staff report presented by Ms. Bar-El including an explanation of environmental review under CEQA and proposed  the negative declaration.

 

The following members of the public addressed the Commission: James Bianco and Bea Nemlaha.

 

After further discussion by the Commission, Commissioner Posek made a motion to adopt the Negative Declaration.  Commissioner Schnitzler seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote: 

 

Ayes:     Fresco, Posek, Schnitzler, Genser

Nayes:   None

Absent:  Lehrer

 

Commissioner Fresco made a motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness.  Commissioner Schnitzler seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote:

 

Ayes:     Fresco, Posek, Schnitzler, Genser

Nayes:   None

Absent:  Lehrer

 

D.  Review of Commission Rules of Order to consider whether any changes to the current Rules are appropriate, including whether the Rules should be modified to establish guidelines for ex-parte communications.

(Continued to October 14, 2002)

 

8.      OLD BUSINESS:

         Public Input Permitted

 

         None.

 

9.      DISCUSSION ITEMS:

         Public Input Permitted

 

A.  Review of Demolition Permits and Consideration Whether to File an Application For Designation of a Structure as a Landmark or Structure of Merit.

 

      The following member of the public addressed the Commission:  Norman Peterson.

 

1.   1544 7th Street (PC01339)

      C3/Downtown Commercial District

      15-Unit Apartment Building

      Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

      2.   754 24th Street (PC013405)          

            R1/Single Family Residential

            Single Family Residential w/Attached Garage

            Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

      3.   921 26th Street (PC013451)

            R1/Single Family Residential

            Detached Garage

            Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

      4.   1243 Franklin Street (PC013443)

            R2/Low Density Multiple Residential

            One-Story, Single Family Residence

            Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

      5.   1200 Wilshire Blvd. (PC013472)

            C6/Blvd Commercial District          

            Retail space formerly Goodyear Tires

            Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

6.   2818 Pearl Street (PC013502)

R1/Single Family Residential

Portion of Single Family Resident w/Detached Garage

            Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

      7.   954 5th Street (PC013440)

            R2/Low Density Multiple Residential

            One-Story, 2 Units w/2 car Detached Garage & Storage Shack

            Structure Identified in Historic Resources Inventory as 5D1

 

Commissioner Posek made a motion to continue Item 9A-7 to next month in order to obtain more information about the Turn-of-the-Century Thematic District properties. Commissioner Fresco seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote:

     

      Ayes:        Fresco, Posek, Schnitzler, Genser

      Nayes:      None

      Absent:     Lehrer

 

      8.   1027 10th Street (PC013452)

            R2/Low Density Multiple Residential

            1 SFR, 1 Garage and 2 Accessory Building, Rental Units          

            Structure Identified in Historic Resources Inventory as 5S3

 

The following member of the public addressed the Commission:  Hassan Majd.

 

No action taken on this item.

 

B.  Discussion of possible demolition/relocation of “Angel’s Attic” building, located at 516 Colorado Avenue  (Continued from 8/12/02).

 

      Mark Richter, Economic Redevelopment Division addressed the Commission on this item.  He stated that the City is working on a location to move the building to and that there are no plans to relocate outside of the City limits at this time.

 

      No action taken on this item.

 

C.  Discussion of the Oscar Niemeyer house at 1911 La Mesa Drive and consideration of whether to file an application nominating the property as a City Landmark (Continued from 8/12/02).

 

Kimberly Christensen, gave the Commission an update on staff’s meeting with the property owner.

 

Ken Kutcher, Attorney for property owner, addressed the Commission and a lengthy discussion followed.

 

The following members of the public addressed the Commission in favor of nominating this property as a landmark: Tom Cleys, Bea Nemlaha, Alan Leib, L.A. Conservancy.

 

The following member of the public addressed the Commission in opposition to nominating this property as a landmark: Mark Schrobilgen.

 

After further discussion between the Commission, Staff and the property owner’s legal representative, Chair Pro Tem Genser made a motion to table this item in order to clear the remaining items on the agenda while staff and the property owners reached agreement on a letter of commitment to be signed by the owners.  Commissioner Posek seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote:

 

      Ayes:        Fresco, Posek, Schnitzler, Genser

      Nayes:      None

      Absent:     Lehrer

 

The discussion resumed and Attorney Ken Kutcher read the following stipulation to the Commission:  “The property owner and any successor in interest to the property will not file a demolition permit application without providing the City with at least 45 days written notice, and if within those 45 days the City or any other party files an application for Landmark Designation for this property, then we shall not file such a demolition permit application for another 45 days, and we will further stipulate that we will notify the City if the property owner opens an escrow for the purchase of this property and we will further stipulate that we will have an obligation to notify any perspective purchaser of this property of this agreement. “

 

Chair Pro Tem Genser made a motion to continue this item to the November 11th meeting based on the stipulation that has been made by the property owner’s counsel tonight with the understanding that that stipulation will be submitted to staff in writing.  Commissioner Posek seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote:      

 

      Ayes:        Fresco, Posek, Schnitzler, Genser

      Nayes:      None

      Absent:     Lehrer

 

D.  Discussion of the Merle Norman building at 2525 Main Street and consideration of whether to file an application nominating the property as a City Landmark (Requested by Commissioner Fresco).

 

      The following members of the public addressed the Commission in favor of the nomination:  Rick Laudati and Bea Nemlaha.

 

      Commissioner Fresco made a motion to file an application to nominate this building as a Landmark.  Commissioner Schnitzler seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote:

 

      Ayes:        Fresco, Posek, Schnitzler, Genser

      Nayes:      None

      Absent:     Lehrer

 

E.  Commission consideration of a letter commending property owner on San Vicente Boulevard on the recent restoration on the home (Requested by Commissioner Schnitzler).

 

      After the Commission reviewed the letter, Commissioner Posek agreed to go look at the building, revise the letter and bring back a revised letter to the next meeting.

 

F.   Planning Commission Case List (Information Only)

 

10.   FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:  (Requests from Commissioners to add items to upcoming agendas)

 

Commissioner Posek asked that Barnum Hall at Santa Monica High School be agendized to discuss possible Landmark Designation including possible significant interior features, at the October 14th meeting.

 

11.    NEXT MEETING DATE AND COMMISSION AGENDA: Monday, October 14, 2002

 

12.    ADJOURNMENT:  10:25 p.m.