Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2404-2898CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Monday, April 22, 2024 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM     Agenda Item     Item 12: Two Additional "Opt-In" Owners of Properties for April 22, 2024 Council Action on Nominations to Local Historic Resources Inventory (HRI)   City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: AMENDED AGENDA ITEMS Lead Department: Planning and Development Services Meeting Date: April 22, 2024 Report #:2404-2898 TITLE Item 12: Two Additional "Opt-In" Owners of Properties for April 22, 2024 Council Action on Nominations to Local Historic Resources Inventory (HRI) RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council place two additional properties on the local HRI on April 22, as owners reached out after the packet publication date but prior to the April 22 meeting with ‘opt in’ confirmations for listing on the HRI. BACKGROUND After the publication of the Council packet for April 22, two property owners responded to staff’s certified letters requesting to ’opt in’ to the inventory placement on April 22nd. These owners were previously told if they did not object to listing on the inventory, their properties would be forwarded to the City Council. The week prior to the packet, staff pivoted to the ’opt in’ approach. Staff had limited success researching owner information beyond what the County records showed for each property. ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES •825 Kipling Street1, is recommended for placement on the HRI as a Category 2 resource, under local Criteria 2 and 6. Built in 1898, it is significant as one of the most elaborate early square cottages in Palo Alto that uses Queen Anne style detailing and is reminiscent of several typical pattern book designs of the late nineteenth century that used the diagonal projecting wing plan. The building illustrates the familiarity of local builders with the popular pattern book designs of the day. 1 Link to nomination form and evaluation: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/planning-amp- development-services/historic-preservation/historic-inventory/kiplingst_825.pdf •211 Quarry Road2 is recommended for placement on the HRI as a Category 1 resource, under local Criteria 1, 2, and 5. Built in 1931, it is significant as a late and rare surviving example of a hospital based on the pavilion plan and was designed in the Art Deco style by the important Oakland firm of Reed and Corbett. It is also significant as an example of one of several Palo Alto municipal hospitals. Note, this is one of the few properties with significance at the national level given its Art Deco pavilion plan design. Due to this stylistic importance, it has been assigned a Category 1 rating for the Palo Alto Historic Inventory. FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT This action has no fiscal impact. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Revised Record of Land Use Action to include these two additional properties APPROVED BY: Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director 2 Link to nomination form and evaluation: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/planning-amp- development-services/historic-preservation/historic-inventory/quarryrd_211.pdf Page 1 of 4 4 1 0 0 ATTACHMENT A ACTION NO. ------2024 RECORD OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO’S LAND USE ACTION (1) RECEIVING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD AND (2) PLACING 18 PROPERTIES ON THE LOCAL HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY WHOSE OWNERS POSITIVELY AFFIRMED INVENTORY PLACEMENT On April 22, 2024, the Council reviewed the recommendations of the Historic Resources Board and staff regarding the placement of properties previously deemed eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historical Resources, and approved the placement of the properties, for which no objections were received from the property owners, on City’s Historic Resources Inventory, making the following findings, determination, and declarations: SECTION 1. Background. The City Council of the City of Palo Alto (“City Council”) finds, determines, and declares as follows: A. In 2022, the City Council directed the City to obtain consultant assistance (ID # 14189) and the City’s consultant, Page and Turnbull, conducted the 2023 Historic Reconnaissance Survey, finding 147 properties still extant with integrity and eligible for listing on the local historic resources inventory. B. The Historic Resources Board (HRB) conducted four public hearings to consider the eligible properties identified in the survey, on November 9 and December 14, 2023, and January 11 and January 25, 2024; the HRB received the staff reports and conducted public hearings where public comments were provided, and staff and the HRB received many property owners’ written and oral objections regarding the recommendations. C. Staff held many conversations with property owners, but most owners objected without having conversations or attending the hearings. During and after the HRB hearings, staff tallied the properties for which no objections had been received. D. For the April 22, 2024 Council action, staff recommends Council place the properties on the local Historic Resources Inventory properties whose owners have positively affirmed the listing previously (unless they object during or prior to the City Council meeting); staff is seeking alternative methods to certified mailings to reach out again to all ‘non- objections’ properties requesting they contact staff prior to the April 22, 2024 meeting to affirm the local inventory listing. E. The City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Program L7.1.1 states: “Update and maintain the City’s Historic Resource Inventory to include historic resources that are eligible for Page 2 of 4 4 1 0 0 local, State, or federal listing. Historic resources may consist of a single building or structure or a district.” F. The City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Program L-7.2 states: Policy L-7.2 states “If a proposed project would substantially affect the exterior of a potential historic resource that has not been evaluated for inclusion into the City’s Historic Resources Inventory, City staff shall consider whether it is eligible for inclusion in State or federal registers prior to the issuance of a demolition or alterations permit. Minor exterior improvements that do not affect the architectural integrity of potentially historic buildings shall be exempt from consideration. Examples of minor improvements may include repair or replacement of features in kind, or other changes that do not alter character-defining features of the building.” G. The City of Palo Alto is a Certified Local Government with the obligation to maintain a system for the survey and inventory of local historic resources; the City of Palo Alto has conducted three surveys and also prepares individual historic resource evaluations on a case-by-case basis (when demolition is proposed or in response to property owner request) to determine whether these are historic resources subject to the California Environmental Quality Act. SECTION 2. Environmental Review. Maintenance of the historic designation of properties or reclassification of a historic designation of a property is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and CEQA Guidelines per Section 21065. SECTION 3. Designation Findings. A. The following criteria, as specified in Municipal Code Section 16.49.040 (b), have been used as criteria for designating historic structures/sites to the historic inventory: (1) The structure or site is identified with the lives of historic people or with important events in the city, state or nation; (2) The structure or site is particularly representative of an architectural style or way of life important to the city, state or nation; (3) The structure or site is an example of a type of building which was once common, but is now rare; (4) The structure or site is connected with a business or use which was once common, but is now rare; (5) The architect or building was important; (6) The structure or site contains elements demonstrating outstanding attention to architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship. B. Municipal Code Section 16.49.020 (b) provides definitions for the local historic resources inventory categories: Page 3 of 4 4 1 0 0 Category 1: "Exceptional building" means any building or group of buildings of preeminent national or state importance, meritorious work of the best architects or an outstanding example of the stylistic development of architecture in the United States. An exceptional building has had either no exterior modifications or such minor ones that the overall appearance of the building is in its original character. Category 2: "Major building" means any building or group of buildings of major regional importance, meritorious works of the best architects or an outstanding example of an architectural style or the stylistic development of architecture in the state or region. A major building may have some exterior modifications, but the original character is retained. Category 3 or 4: "Contributing building" means any building or group of buildings which are good local examples of architectural styles and which relate to the character of a neighborhood grouping in scale, materials, proportion or other factors. A contributing building may have had extensive or permanent changes made to the original design, such as inappropriate additions, extensive removal of architectural details, or wooden facades resurfaced in asbestos or stucco. C.Designation of historic structures/sites is covered under section 16.49.040 of Chapter 16.49: Procedure for Designation of Historic Structures/Sites or Districts. Any individual or group may propose designation as a historic structure/site or district. Such proposals shall be reviewed by the historic resources board, which will make its recommendation to the council. Designation of a historic structure/site or district must be approved by the city council. The procedure for such designation is as follows: (a) The historic resources board shall recommend to the city council approval, disapproval or modification of an application for designation. (b) The city council may approve, disapprove or modify a recommendation for designation and, in any case where an application for a planning or building permit is pending concurrently with the proposal for designation, such decision shall be made within thirty days of the recommendation, if any, of the historic resources board. (c) After approval of the designation of a structure/site or district, the city clerk shall send to the owners of the property so designated, by mail, a letter outlining the basis for such designation and the regulations which result from such designation. Notice of this designation shall also be filed in the building department and the department of planning and development services files. SECTION 5. Placement on Local Historic Resources Inventory Approved. The City Council approves the placement of the following properties whose owners have affirmed acceptance with placement on the City’s Historic Resources Inventory: 1. 731 Emerson Street as a Category 2 resource, under local Criteria 2 and 5 2. 243-245 Webster Street as a Category 2 resource, under local Criterion 2 3. 330 Cowper Street as a Category 2 resource, under local Criterion 1 Page 4 of 4 4 1 0 0 4. 541 E Crescent Drive as a Category 2 resource, under local Criteria 2, 5, and 6 5. 421 California Avenue as a Category 2 resource, under local Criteria 2 and 5 6. 1401 Edgewood Drive as a Category 2 resource, under local Criteria 1, 2, and 5 7. 1474 Edgewood Drive as a Category 2 resource, under local Criteria 2 and 5 8. 2340 Tasso Street as a Category 2 resource, under local Criteria 2 and 5 9. 311 El Carmelo Avenue as a Category 2 resource, under local Criterion 2 10. 541 Bryant Street as a Category 2 resource, under local Criteria 2, 5, and 6 11. 437 Kipling Street as a Category 2 resource, under local Criteria 1, 2, and 4 12. 1275 Dana Avenue as a Category 1 resource, under local Criteria 5 and 6 13. 832 Kipling Street as a Category 2 resource, under local Criterion 2 14. NW of Palo Alto Avenue & Hale Street (Cistern and Pump House) as a Category 2 resource under local Criteria 1 and 2 15. 201 Alma Street (water tower site) as a Category 1 resource under local Criteria 1, 4, and 5 16. 2601 East Bayshore Road (The Federal Telegraph Company – Marsh Station) as a Category 1 resource under local Criteria 1, 4, and 5. 17. 825 Kipling Street as a Category 2 resource, under local Criteria 2 and 6 18. 211 Quarry Road as a Category 1 resource, under local Criteria 1, 2, and 5 PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: APPROVED: _________________________ ____________________________ City Clerk Director of Planning and Development Services APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________________ Senior Asst. City Attorney