MINUTES

 

MEETING OF THE

LANDMARKS COMMISSION

Founded 1875

“Populus felix in urbe felici”

 

 

 

 

Monday, February 10, 2003

 

7:00 p.m.

City Council Chambers, Room 213,

1685 Main Street, Santa Monica

 

CALL TO ORDER:              7:03 p.m.

 

1.         ROLL CALL

 

Present:

Nina Fresco

Roger Genser

Barbara Kaplan

Ruthann Lehrer

Robert Posek

James Rosenfield

Barbara Schnitzler   

 

Also Present:

Kimberly Christensen

Elizabeth Bar-El

Barry Rosenbaum

Arlene Johnson

Councilman Michael Feinstein

 

Absent:

None

 

2.      INDUCTION OF NEWLY APPOINTED COMMISSIONER: BARBARA KAPLAN, COMMISSION LICENSED ARCHITECT

 

3.      REPORT FROM STAFF:

 

Ms. Bar-El informed the Commission that the 2nd reading for the Landmarks Ordinance revisions is scheduled to go to the City Council on February 10, 2003.  If approved, it will become effective in 30 days, which would be March 13th.  Staff will also be making a fee revision recommendation that will be included with the budget for the new fiscal year. 

 

Also, staff received a letter from Mr. Monkarsh on the Oscar Neimeyer house.  It is currently in escrow and will be closing within a few weeks.  Also, the buyer is interested in preservation of the house.  She also passed around the Governor’s Historic Preservation Awards application.

 

4.      COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS:  None

 

5.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

         Public Input Permitted

                                     

A.  January 13, 2003

 

Commissioner Genser made a motion to approve the minutes, with a correction to the spelling of Mr. Rosenbaum’s name.  Commissioner Fresco seconded the motion, which passed unanimously by voice vote.  Commissioner  Kaplan abstained.

 

   6.   APPROVAL OF STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL ACTION:

 

None.

 

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

 

         None.

 

8.      CONSENT CALENDAR:

         Public Input Permitted

 

         None.

 

9.      OLD BUSINESS:

         Public Input Permitted

 

A.  Continued Discussion on the placement of additional plaques on designated City Landmarks. (continued from January 13, 2003)

 

Ms. Bar-El stated that the Commission should decide on priorities for offering plaques to Landmark property owners.

 

Commissioner Rosenfield suggested a separate program in conjunction with a brass plaque, which could be less expensive.

 

      Commissioner Schnitzler concurred with Commissioner Rosenfield in that the ideal of a smaller plaque is good for residential properties.

 

Commissioner Fresco agreed that a small plaque with the year and city logo is a nice idea for a home.  She also suggested considering installation of a plaque embedded in the sidewalk so that people will see that they are entering a historic district.

 

Commissioner Schnitzler suggested forming a subcommittee to go through the list and to consider how districts might be handled in a different way than individual landmarks. 

 

Commissioner Posek, suggested placing signs on the street like in Pasadena as a reasonable and inexpensive possibility.

 

Chairperson Lehrer concurred with Commissioner Posek that a metal sign on a pole might work.

 

Commissioners Schnitzler, Posek and Chair Pro Tem Genser volunteered for the ad-hoc sub-committee.

 

B.  Continued discussion to finalize a letter to the Council and Parks & Recreation Commission recommending the adoption of a Tree Ordinance.

 

Chairperson Lehrer stated that the draft letter should be addressed to the Parks and Recreation Commission with a copy to the City Council.  No other changes were proposed.

 

Councilmember Feinstein stated that there is a draft ordinance in the works with Community and Cultural Services presently. 

 

Ms. Bar-El suggested changing the last sentence in the letter to, reflect recognition that this ordinance is already under consideration.

 

10.    NEW BUSINESS/PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

         Public Input Permitted

                   

A.  Certificate of Appropriateness Application No. LC 02CA-021, requesting an upper level addition at the youth hostel located on the designated Landmark property located at 1438 2nd Street (Rapp Saloon).

 

Staff report presented by Ms. Bar-El.

 

The following member of the public addressed the Commission:  Ralph Mechur.

 

Chair Pro Tem Genser stated that the youth hostel is a great example of what can be done on a landmark property without impacting the historic resource.

 

Chair Pro Tem Genser made a motion to approve per staff recommendation.  Commissioner Posek seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote:

 

Ayes:     Fresco, Genser, Kaplan, Posek, Rosenfield, Schnitzler, Lehrer

Nayes:   None

Abstain: None

Absent:  None

 

B.  Landmark Designation Application LC-02LM-008, 317 Georgina Avenue, for formal consideration of designation of the structure as a City Landmark.

 

Staff report presented by Ms. Bar-El.

 

The following member of the public addressed the Commission:  Jeff Beall, property owner.

 

Following a brief discussion regarding the Landmarks fees paid by the applicant, Commissioner Posek made a motion to designate the property as a Landmark based on staff findings.  Commissioner Rosenfield seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote:

 

Ayes:     Fresco, Genser, Kaplan, Posek, Rosenfield, Schnitzler, Lehrer

Nayes:   None

Abstain: None

Absent:  None

 

C.    Landmark Designation Application LC-02LM-009, 507 Wilshire Boulevard for formal consideration of designation of the structure as a City Landmark.

 

         Staff report presented by Ms. Bar-El.

 

Chair Pro Tem Genser had questions for staff regarding development potential for the property.  Staff answered and clarified that this was provided for information only and is not related to the criteria for designation.

 

Commissioner Fresco made a motion to designate the property as a Landmark based on staff findings.  Commissioner Posek seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote:

 

Ayes:     Fresco, Genser, Kaplan, Posek, Rosenfield, Schnitzler, Lehrer

Nayes:   None

Abstain: None

Absent:  None

           

D.  Landmark Designation Application LC-03LM-001, 710 Adelaide Place, to determine whether the proposed property is appropriate for formal consideration of the Landmark Designation Application.

 

Staff report presented by Ms. Bar-El.

 

The following members of the public addressed the Commission:  Paula Kayton and Stephanie Casale (property owner)

 

The Commission discussed the uniqueness of this property and the significance of its architect, Robert Stacey Judd.

 

Councilmember Feinstein suggested that upon designation, City TV could drive by and take a photo of the property and include it on the next City TV report.

 

Commissioner Schnitzler made a motion to consider this property for formal consideration as a Landmark.  Chair Pro Tem Genser seconded the motion, which passed by the following vote:

 

Ayes:     Fresco, Genser, Kaplan, Posek, Rosenfield, Schnitzler, Lehrer

Nayes:   None

Abstain: None

         Absent:  None

 

11.    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.

     

         1.      427 Alta Avenue (PC013893)

                  R1/Single Family Residential

                        One, 2-story Dwelling w/Detached 2-Car Garage

                        Structure Identified in Historic Resources Inventory (5D)

 

Ms. Bar-El stated that this item should be classified as 5S not 5D, as of the NOMA 2002 update.

              

The Commission discussed the property and the fact that it is not visible from public view due to high walls surrounding the property.

 

2.      550 Euclid Street (PC014072)

R1/Single Family Residential

         Single Family Dwelling w/Detached 1-Car Garage

         Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

3.      356 22nd Street (PC013980)

R1/Single Family Residential

         Single Family Residence w/Detached Garage

         Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

4.      515 4th Street (PC013953)

         R1/Single Family Residential

         Single Family Resident w/Attached Garage

         Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

5.      1419 19th Street (PC013911)

         C4/Highway Commercial District

         Three Existing Vacant Structures

         Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

6.      507 Ashland Avenue (PC 013962)

         OP2/Ocean Park Low Multiple

         Single Family Dwelling

         Structure Identified in Historic Resources Inventory (5D1)

 

         Ms. Bar-El stated that this application was incorrectly filed and is now void.

 

7.      1042 23rd Street (PC013975)

R1-Single Family Residential

Single Family Resident w/Detached Garage

         Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

        

         No action taken on Item 9A(1-7)

 

B.        Update and Discussion on Plans to Celebrate Preservation Week 2003,        

         May 5-11, 2003, including nomination of award recipients and program

         ideas.

 

Commissioner Schnitzler asked that it be publicized in Seascape.

 

Ms. Bar-El suggested that the Commission come up with a maximum of 5 nominations for Certificates of Recognition either tonight or at the March meeting.

 

Commissioner Schnitzler stated that she did not like the idea of finding a set number of nominations, but rather they should consider whether there are any properties worthy of recognition. 

 

Commissioner Fresco suggested advertising in community group newsletters so that people in the communities could participate.  This will get more people involved in thinking about historic preservation and historic buildings.

 

Chairperson Lehrer agrees with Commissioner Fresco’s idea about community outreach to group organizations.  She also suggested that this be done right away because community groups don’t meet often.  She asked if this is something that staff would handle.

 

Ms. Bar-El suggested that one of the Commissioners be in charge of this because staff would not be able to accomplish this in the next week or two.

 

Chairperson Lehrer suggested that somebody speak to Tom Cleys of the Santa Monica Conservancy about contacting neighborhood groups.

 

No conclusions were reached and discussion was continued.

 

C.  Discussion of ways in which the Commission can inform purchasers of structures over 40 years of age of Landmarks Commission review requirement through purchase contracts for residential Real Estate. (Requested by Commissioner Fresco)

 

Ms. Bar-El stated that she will speak to Tim McCormick regarding additional language on the Residential Building Report form.

 

Commissioner Schnitzler stated that she spoke with Mr. Perkins from the Northeast neighborhood organization, and he stated that there is a required disclosure in the San Fernando Valley and mentioned that another local neighborhood has been able to get another kind of disclosure and it should be no problem for Santa Monica to disclose this information. 

 

Councilmember Feinstein stated that the City Council asked Marsha Moutrie to look into this matter a year ago.  Mr. Rosenbaum stated that he would check on this and report back next month.

 

D.  Revised Demo Teams List (Information Only)

 

E.  Planning Commission Case List (Information Only)

 

Staff agreed to send copies of the Statement of Official Action for 145 Bay Street and 2525 Main Street, to the Commissioners, as they as individuals may be coming to testify on behalf of the appellants.

 

12.    WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:

         Public Input Permitted

 

         None.

        

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

 

Commissioner Fresco agendized a discussion on more procedural issues for building permit applications.

 

14.    NEXT MEETING DATE AND COMMISSION AGENDA: Monday, March 10, 2003.

                                                                                                                       

15.    ADJOURNMENT:  9:00 p.m.