HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem No. 1 Public Comment_HardyFrom:Ginelle Hardy
To:eComments, PBA
Cc:Gomez, Pedro
Subject:Planning Commission Public Hearing Agenda Item #1 Site Plan Review No. 2022-04
Date:Monday, October 10, 2022 3:12:32 PM
Attachments:item#1_review#2022-04.pdf
Please distribute and make part of the record the following letter and comments regarding
October 10, 2022 Planning Commission Public Hearing Agenda Item #1 Site Plan Review
No. 2022-04.
Thank you,
October 10, 2022
Regarding: Planning Commission Public Hearing Agenda Item #1 Site Plan Review No. 2022-
04
922 S Birch Street, a 111 year old California Bungalow located in Heninger Park
neighborhood’s Special District
40 (SD-40), and related proposed major residential addition to existing and an addition to an
existing ADU.
Planning Commissioners,
Over two years ago on, December 27, 2019, a required Heninger Park Neighborhood Review
of proposed project
at 922 S Birch Street, provided direction to the property owner and Santa Ana Building &
Planning Agency in the
form of historical content, identification of architectural character defining features, possibility
of eligibility for listing
on City historic register, and comments and recommendations related to the proposed project.
The property owner
was asked to, "Please consider an unobtrusive addition positioned at the rear of the house, so
as not to require the
demolition of the existing 108 year old front facade.”
Except for communication over a year ago from planning staff regarding the proposed project
not moving forward
at that time, a notice of public hearing before the Santa Ana Planning Commission on
Monday, October 10, 2022
was the first time it was learned that the property owner was taking the proposal to this next
step in a direction to be
approved.
Because the property at 922 S Birch Street was not found to be among the properties in
Heninger Park Architectural
Guidelines Appendix A - Properties Listed or Eligible for Listing on the Santa Ana Register of
Historical Properties,
the guidelines (and protections) within this document do not apply.
Because the existing ADU at 922 S Birch Street was permitted possibly before particular
guidelines, and now
with the recent regulations regarding ADUs, most discussion about such development is off
the table.
Because the house at 922 S Birch Street has a front yard setback that is nonconforming,
(greater than neighboring
homes and on the street), and because of the location of the existing ADU on the property, in
order to grow the
existing 111 year old house in size building out from the front facade has become an option
that is being considered
for approval at this time.
Had 922 S Birch Street been listed in Appendix A, had the location of the existing ADU
allowed for size
of proposed addition to be built at rear of house or had the front yard setback been conforming
to neighbors,
a proposed major residential addition on the front of the existing house requiring the
demolition of an over 100
year old front facade with intact architectural character defining features that contribute to the
over all historical
look and feel of the street, neighborhood and SD-40 - perhaps then an argument for
preservation would be possible.
Looking toward the future for preservation of historical resources in Heninger Park the
following needed measures
have been identified, • update to Appendix A with additional properties, • update Heninger
Park’s existing
architectural survey, • identify, find, secure funding to enable aforementioned measures.
I support the Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution approving Site Plan Review No. 2022-
04 as conditioned.
Sincerely,
Ginelle Hardy
Heninger Park, President
Historic Resources Commissioner
ginelleann@gmail.com