MINUTES

 

REGULAR MEETING OF THE

LANDMARKS COMMISSION

Founded 1875

“Populus felix in urbe felici”

 

 

 

Monday, August 9, 2004

7:00 PM

City Council Chambers, Room 213,

1685 Main Street, Santa Monica

 

 

CALL TO ORDER:                          7:05 pm

 

1.         ROLL CALL    Present:    John Berley, Commissioner

Nina Fresco, Chair Pro Tem

Roger Genser, Chairperson

Ruthann Lehrer, Commissioner

                                                         Debra Levin, Commissioner

                                                         Colin Maduzia, Commissioner

 

                              Also Present:    Elizabeth Bar-El, Commission Secretary

Barry Rosenbaum, Senior Land Use Attorney

Arlene Johnson, Staff Assistant

 

                              Absent:              Barbara Kaplan, Commissioner

 

2.      INDUCTION OF RE-APPOINTED COMMISSIONER: COLIN MADUZIA, REAL ESTATE LICENSEE

 

3.      REPORT FROM STAFF:

Second meeting for the substantial remodel ordinance will be on tomorrow night’s City Council agenda.  The landmark designation at 125 Pacific Street has been appealed, and the City Council date is tentatively set for November 9, 2004.  She shared information from the California Performance Report.  There is concern about some recommendations in regard to historic preservation.  The report is recommending elimination of the Historic Resources Commission and the future of the Office of Historic Preservation. 

 

4.      COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

         None.

 

5.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

         Public Input Permitted

                                     

A.     July 12, 2004

 

      Chair Pro Tem Fresco made a motion to approve the minutes.  Commissioner Lehrer seconded the motion, which passed unanimously by voice vote, with the following corrections.

                         

Page 4, clarify Commissioner Lehrer’s statement regarding Item 11.

Page 5, paragraph 5, omit the word “incredibly”, change pedestrian to pedestrian friendly, and replace the word “create” with “break”.

Page 7, paragraph 2, replace the word “enough” to “consistent”. 

Page 7, paragraph 3, replace the word “compatible” to “incompatible”

Page 7, clarify Chairperson Genser’s statement regarding Item 12B.

 

6.      APPROVAL OF STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL ACTION:

        

         Findings and Determination: Landmark Designation Application LC-04LM-005, 1337 Ocean Avenue (Spanish Colonial Revival-Style Commercial (Residential) Property), designating the property as a City Landmark

 

Commissioner Lehrer made a motion to approve. Commissioner Levin seconded the motion, which passed unanimously by voice vote.

 

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

 

None.

 

10.    NEW BUSINESS/PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

         Public Input Permitted

 

A. Certificate of Appropriateness Application LM-04CA-007, 2402 Fourth Street, #14, for Approval of Exterior Modifications including New Shed Dormers, Relocation of Stairs, New Doors, Replacement of Damaged Chimney.

 

Commissioner Levin recused herself from the discussion of this item and left the Council Chambers.

 

Staff report presented by Ms. Bar-El.

 

The following members of the public addressed the Commission:  James Ries, applicant’s representative, Sheila Hayman, (applicant) and John Jenner.

 

Commissioner Lehrer expressed support and stated that the proposal was a very commendable plan, in that it is very sensitive to the historic character of the building and they’ve taken care to be sure that there is enough differentiation.

 

Commissioner Berley concurred, and also commended staff on their analysis.

 

Chair Pro Tem Fresco questioned the edge of the dormer and the moldings and asked that staff ensure that the building plans clarify sufficient differentiation from the historic structure.

 

Ms. Bar-El stated that she would review the plancheck to ensure that this issue is incorporated, and would add sufficient differentiation as a condition of approval in the STOA.

 

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

 

      Ayes:              Berley, Fresco, Lehrer, Maduzia, Genser

      Nayes:            None

      Abstain:          Levin

      Absent:           Kaplan

 

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.      150 Esparta Way (PC016223)

         R1-Single Family Residential

         Single Family Residence w/Detached 3-Car Garage

         Structure Not Identified in the Historic Resources Inventory

 

2.      624 23rd Street (PC016103)

R1-Single Family Residential

1 Non-permitted Storage Room, 1 Carport and Garage

Main Structure Identified in the Historic Resources Inventory - 5S3

              

      3.      609 7th Street (PC016244)

               R1-Single Family Residential

         Single Family Residence

         Structure Not Identified in the Historic Resources Inventory

 

 

4.      1919 4th Street (PC016265)

         OP2-Ocean Park Low Multiple Residential

         Two, Single Family Dwellings

         Structure Not Identified in the Historic Resources Inventory

         Previous permit (PC014585) expired 12/14/03

 

      No action was taken on these items.

 

B.  Discussion to Consider Whether to File an Application For Designation of the Property Located at 225 Santa Monica Boulevard (Bay Cities Guaranty Building) as a Landmark.

 

Chairperson Genser stated the Commission looked at a number of downtown buildings that are on the potential National Register list, then ranked them in order importance, and this building was ranked number one. 

 

Chair Pro Tem Fresco concurred, and felt that the Commission should proceed to file a Landmark designation application.  However, since the property owner was just notified the previous Thursday, they should continue until next month in order to give them a chance to address the Commission.

 

Commissioner Lehrer made a motion to continue this item to next month.  Chair Pro Tem Fresco seconded the motion, which passed by unanimously by voice vote.

 

C.  Appointment of a Landmarks Commissioner to Act as a Liaison to the Architectural Review Board and Attend Discussions on All Pending ARB Applications Involving Properties with Historic Resources.

 

      Chairperson Genser appointed Commissioner Kaplan, who previously requested to act as the liaison to the ARB.  Commissioner Berley was appointed as an alternate.

 

  1. Discussion to Consider Requesting the Council to Amend the Municipal Code to Require Realtors to Disclose that Landmarks Review is Required Prior to Issuance of a Demolition Permit for any Structure that is over 40 Years Old. (Requested by Commissioner Maduzia)

 

Following a discussion, Commissioner Lehrer made a motion to write a letter requesting the City Council to consider amending the Municipal Code to include the above disclosure.  The letter will be drafted by Commissioner Maduzia for signature by Chair Genser.  Commissioner Levin seconded the motion, which passed unanimously by voice vote.

           

E.  Discussion of the City Processes for Permitting Window Replacement and other Routine Alterations to Potentially Historic Buildings and Consideration of Potential Modifications to Those Processes. (Requested by Commissioner Fresco)

 

            The following member of the public addressed the Commission:  Rick             Laudati.

 

The Commission discussed their concerns regarding this matter and Ms. Bar-El explained the Planning review process and how these types of cases are handled.   Through coordination between Landmarks staff, the counter planner and the Urban Designer, historic buildings are increasingly reviewed with consideration of the SOI standards.

 

The Commission requested to continue the subject and asked Ms. Bar-El to bring back more procedural information next month. 

 

F.   Discussion of the Civic Center Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) as it Relates to the Historic Significance of the Main Street Bridge (Requested by Commissioner Fresco)

                                                   

Commissioner Fresco presented a PowerPoint presentation on the Main Street Bridge.  She stated that the bridge has architectural significance, according to the Environmental Impact Report.  But it also has social and historic local significance, and she felt that the proposed city service building would diminish the bridge’s visibility and undercut its significance.  She felt that the bridge needed to be protected.

 

Commissioner Lehrer stated that what the EIR fails to acknowledge is, that it’s a bridge, and a bridge has a connection, a vista and landscape context.  She thanked Chair Pro Tem Fresco for bringing this to the Commission’s attention.

 

G.  Planning Commission Case List (Information Only)

 

12.                   WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:

            Public Input Permitted

 

            None.

 

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

 

Chair Pro Tem Fresco requested to agendize a discussion to nominate the Main Street bridge for Landmark designation.

 

Commissioner Berley requested to agendize a discussion on the California Performance Review.

 

Commissioner Berley requested to agendize a discussion regarding alterations made to structures that have pending demolition permits and City enforcement procedures.

 

 

Chair Pro Tem Fresco requested to agendize a discussion of street lamps.  

           

14.       NEXT MEETING DATE AND COMMISSION AGENDA: Monday, September 13, 2004.

                                                  

15.       ADJOURNMENT:   8:50 pm