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M I N U T E
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MEETING OF THELANDMARKS COMMISSION Founded 1875 “Populus
felix in urbe felici” |
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Monday,
December 8, 2003 |
City Council
Chambers, Room 213, |
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7:00
p.m. |
1685 Main
Street, Santa Monica |
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting
was called to order at 7:05 p.m.
Nina
Fresco
Roger
Genser
Ruthann Lehrer,
Chairperson
Debra
Levin
Also Present: Elizabeth Bar-El, Commission Secretary
Kyle
Ferstead, Staff Assistant
Barry
Rosenbaum, Senior Land Use Attorney
2. REPORT FROM STAFF:
Ms. Bar-El reported that the City
Council is scheduled to receive and accept the resignation of Commissioner
Rosenfeld on December 9, 2003. Following that acceptance, the City Clerk will
post the vacancy. She also reported that the City Manager’s Office is preparing
a booklet on the history of City Hall. This publication will be made available
to the Commission when it is completed.
3. COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Commissioner Genser commented that
he read in the press that the City’s Landmarks Ordinance was rated an A- by the
Los Angeles Conservancy and that the minus was due to the high fees charged by
City. Ms. Bar-El noted that the survey was done in March of this year and fees
were reduced in April. She stated that she contacted the L.A. Conservancy
regarding this change.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
4-A. November 10, 2003
Commissioners Berley and Genser
asked for several corrections to the minutes. Commissioner Fresco made a motion
to approve the minutes as amended. Commissioner Berley seconded the motion,
which was approved by voice vote with Commissioner Genser abstaining.
5. APPROVAL OF STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL
ACTION:
None.
6. PUBLIC
INPUT: (On items not on agenda and within the jurisdiction
of the Commission)
Chris Daine and George Maimon gave a
short presentation on 1401 Palisades Beach Road. They asked that the Commission
consider designation of this building.
7. CONSENT
CALENDAR: None.
8. OLD BUSINESS:
8-A. Discussion of the Historic Significance of the Street Lamps
on Broadway and Consideration of Whether to File an Application For
Designation as City Landmarks. (Continued
from November 10, 2003)
Ms. Bar-El introduced Dave
Britton, Senior Civil Engineer with the Environmental and Public Works
Management (EPWM) Department, Project Development Office. Mr. Britton gave a
detailed report on the background of ornamental street lighting in Santa Monica
and his Departments policy to replace ornamental street lighting in-kind when
feasible. He also related that the City Council set a policy that three types
of street lights will be used in the City, this includes the cobra-style
lights, acorn lights and the double acorn lights on Broadway. Mr. Britton
explained that approximately half the street lights on Broadway were damaged in
the 1994 earthquake and Federal Transportation funds were used to restore the
historic lighting. He stated that the restoration including having a mold of
the light fixture made and this mold is available for the City’s use.
Chair Lehrer asked Mr.
Britton what percentage of the streetlights on Broadway are replacements. Mr.
Britton stated that nearly 50% are replacements and that the newer ones have
slightly lighter color to them but will darken over time.
Chair Lehrer asked Mr.
Britton if the replacement policy was written down. Mr. Britton stated that it
is not, however the Director of EPWM would be open to codification of the
policy.
The Commission was pleased
with the City’s enlightened approach to replacement of historic streetlights
and were in consensus that the designation route was not the appropriate avenue
to take. They directed staff to address a letter to the City Council requesting
that the replacement of ornamental streetlights be codified as a written policy
for Broadway and other streets in the City. Ms. Bar-El stated she would draft
the letter for the Commission to consider at the next meeting.
9. NEW
BUSINESS/PUBLIC
HEARINGS:
9-A. Certificate of Appropriateness LC 03CA-012, 128 Hollister
Avenue, a
City-designated Landmark property,
requesting modifications including a new vent above the roofline, removal of an
exterior staircase and replacement of a second floor door with a window.
Ms. Bar-El gave the staff report.
The applicant’s representative, Charles Kluger, was
present to discuss the proposed modifications to 128 Hollister Avenue.
No members of the public submitted request to speak
forms. Chair Lehrer asked the Commission to make their ex parte
communication disclosures. Commissioner Fresco disclosed that she spoke to the
applicant briefly to verify the facts of the matter. There were no other
disclosures.
Commissioner Kaplan commented that the proposed
changes are minimal and that the project overall saves the historic building.
Commissioner Kaplan expressed concern regarding the replacement of the door
with a double-hung window. Chair Lehrer asked the applicant if he could use a
fixed window with a sash design that looks like a double-hung window. Mr.
Kluger was agreeable.
Commissioner Fresco made a motion to approve the
Certificate of Appropriateness for 128 Hollister with the condition that the
replacement window be a fixed, double-hung design.
Commissioner Genser seconded the motion.
The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Berley, Fresco, Genser, Kaplan, Lehrer, Levin.
9-B. Landmark Designation Application LC-03LM-008, 1414 Idaho
Avenue, to
determine whether the Craftsman-style bungalow should be designated as a City
Landmark.
Ms. Bar-El gave the staff report, noting that the
property meets two of the designation criteria.
The applicant and property owner, David Wilson, was
present to discuss the designation application.
Commissioner Genser asked Mr. Wilson if the
designation includes the structure at the rear of the property. Mr. Wilson
stated that this is a detached garage and is part of the designation
application.
Chair Lehrer informed Mr. Wilson that she is
gratified that he came forward with this designation application. Chair Lehrer
also stated for the record that no members of the public submitted request to
speak forms.
Commissioner Kaplan made a motion to approve
LC-03LM-008, 1414 Idaho Avenue, and designate it as a City Landmark.
Commissioner Berley seconded the motion, which was
approved by the following vote:
Ayes:
Berley, Fresco, Genser, Kaplan, Lehrer, Levin.
Nayes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
9-C. Landmark Designation Application LC-03LM-009, 1911 La Mesa
Drive (Oscar Niemeyer/Strick House), to determine whether the
single-family residence should be designated as a City Landmark.
Ms. Bar-El gave the staff report. She noted that this
property meets five of the six criteria for designation.
The applicant and property owner, Gabrielle Boyd, was
present to discuss the designation application.
No members of the public submitted request to speak
forms.
Commissioner Kaplan stated that she supports the
designation, despite the changes made to the balcony and louvers. She stated
that the building has retained sufficient architectural integrity and is a very
special building.
The Commission discussed changes to the building and
what types of changes required building permits and a Certificate of
Appropriateness.
Commissioner Genser commented that he loves the
louvers, especially when they are open, as they add to the great planes of the
building design. He also commented that the garage is a problem as it
“interrupts the flow.” Ms. Boyd stated that the City has required the garage
addition in order to compensate for conversion of the garage into a
library. She hopes that the new
landscaping will enable her to keep the louvers open most of the time.
Chair Lehrer commented that she has a problem with
the louvers because they fight the unified system of the building design.
Commissioner Berley made a motion to approve
LC-03LM-009, 1911 La Mesa Drive (Oscar Niemeyer/Strick House), and designate it
as a City Landmark.
Commissioner Fresco seconded the motion, which was
approved by the following vote:
Ayes: Berley, Fresco, Genser, Kaplan, Lehrer,
Levin.
Nayes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
10. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
10-A. Review of
Demolition Permits and Consideration of Whether to File an Application For
Designation of a Structure as a Landmark or Structure of Merit.
1. 1036 Berkeley Street (PC015175)
R-1 –
Single-Family Residential. Single-Family Residence, 1-1/2 Story California
Bungalow with Attached Garage. Structure Not Identified in the Historic
Resources Inventory
The Commission took no
action on this demolition application.
2. 2134 La Mesa Drive (PC015195)
R-1 – Single-Family
Residential, Single-Family Residence, 1-Story with Attached Garage. Structure
Not Identified in the Historic Resources Inventory
The majority of the
Commission expressed the desire to know more about this property, citing the
distinctive design and continued this item to the January 12, 2004, meeting.
3. 1415 Palisades Beach
Road (PC015236)
R-2B – Low Density Multiple
Residential Beach District. Multiple-Family Residence, 1-Story with Attached
Garage. Structure Not Identified in the Historic Resources Inventory
The majority of the
Commission expressed the desire to know more about this property.
The property owner, David
Newburg, was present and gave a brief history of the property and adjacent
properties owned by his family. The property has been vacant for almost a year
and was “Ellised” in 2002. The structure was built as three-units. He stated
that the intent has always been to demolish the structure, which is unsound (no
foundation) and straddles an adjacent property line.
The Commission directed
staff to do some research on the site and continued the item to January 12,
2004.
10-B. Review of Commission By-laws adopted in
December 2002, and discussion of whether it is necessary to amend them.
The Commission discussed various aspects of the By-Laws, including Rules 27 and 28. Senior Land Use Attorney Rosenbaum explained the genesis of the ex parte communication disclosure rule. He also informed the Commission that they can always amend the Rules of Order, except those rules that are required by the State Brown Act.
Commissioner Fresco asked that future meeting minutes include more information, especially on demolition permit reviews. She asked that the issues, pro and con, raised by speakers be cited in the minutes.
No action was taken regarding the by-laws.
10-C. Review of content and format of Landmarks
Commission staff reports.
The Commission generally approved of the staff report format and expressed their appreciation of the excellent content in the reports. Commissioner Genser suggested that deadline dates could be added to the staff reports like the ones in demolition permit reports.
10-D. Appointment of a Landmarks Commissioner to
replace a former commissioner as liaison to the Civic Center Working Group.
Ms. Bar-El stated that the Civic Center
Working Group is reactivating pending environmental work that has been in
process. She stated that the prior representative from the Commission was
Margot Alofsin.
Commissioner Berley volunteered to be the
Commission’s representative on the Civic Center Working Group and was
unanimously appointed.
10-E. Proposed
Demolition Permit Review Team Schedule for 2004.
The schedule was received by the Commission.
10-F. Discussion of Priorities for Proactive
Landmark Designation of Eligible Historic Properties. (Requested by
Commissioner Fresco)
Ms. Bar-El gave the history of this discussion item. She stated that she has been unable to locate the previously developed priorities list.
The Commission was in favor of developing a new list of all the “3”-rated buildings in the inventory for the downtown area. Commissioner Fresco offered her downtown booklet which lists eleven buildings that are eligible for National Register designation.
The Commission discussed strategies for locating endangered buildings.
Chair Lehrer asked that this discussion item be continued to the next meeting.
10-G. Planning Commission Case
List (Information Only)
The Case List was received by the Commission.
11. WRITTEN
COMMUNICATIONS: None.
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: (Requests
from Commissioners to add items to upcoming agendas)
The
Commission asked that discussion of nominating 1401 Palisades Beach Road for
Landmark designation be placed on the next agenda. Ms. Bar-El stated she will
look into the inventory records and attempt to determine the status of this
property.
13. NEXT MEETING
DATE AND COMMISSION AGENDA: Monday, January 12, 2004.
14. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:53 p.m.