HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-29-2005ACTION MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND HISTORIC RESOURCES COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA
September 29, 2005
CALLED TO ORDER: CITY HALL ROSS ANNEX
22 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA
FIRST FLOOR, CONFERENCE ROOM 1600
SANTA ANA
5:07 P.M.
Planning Commissioners Present:
Don Cribb
Harvey De La Torre
James Gartner
Tom Lutz
Alexander Nalle
Historic Resources Commissioners:
Paul Giles, Chairman
Alfonso Bustamante
Rita Corpin
Thomas Lutz
Blair O'Callaghan
Vincent Sarmiento
Michael Seeley
Commissioners Absent:
Christopher Leo, Vice Chairman
Rigoberto Rodriguez
Phillip Schaefer, Vice Chairman
Philip Chinn
Staff Present:
Jay Trevino, Ex. Dir., Plan. & Bldg. Agency
Ben Kaufman, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Karen Haluza, Principal Planner
Vince Fregoso, Senior Planner
Martha Ramirez, Recording Secretary
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Martha Ramirez, Recording Secretary
AGENDA
The first order of business was to appoint an Acting-Chairman for the Planning
Commission. The Planning Commission appointed Commissioner Alexander Nalle as
Acting-Chairman.
1. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jeff Dickman distributed written comments on the Citywide Design Guidelines.
WORK STUDY SESSION:
2. DISCUSSION OF THE DRAFT CITYWIDE DESIGN GUIDELINES
Vince Fregoso introduced the staff involved in the preparation of the Citywide
Design Guidelines: RBF Consultant, David Barquist, Karen Haluza, Lucy
Linnaus, Hally Soboleske, Pedro Guillen, and Sergio Klotz. Mr. Fregoso
reviewed the selection for the consultant; staff's effort to streamline the process,
and gave an overview of the discussion.
Special Planning/Historic Resources Commission Minutes 1 September 29, 2005
Mr. Trevino reviewed the procedure and areas of commonality between the
Planning and Historic Resources Commissions. He indicated that each
commission would have another opportunity to further discuss their applicable
issues.
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Mr. Barquist gave an overview of the Work Program; he reviewed the
presentation outline and discussed the components of the document. During the
overview of the process, he highlighted the key features of the Design Guidelines
Manual noting the richly illustrative document, organized by development type,
and comprehensive in scope. Mr. Barquist discussed the design outline contents
with a brief description of each chapter contained within the binder
Discussions were led by Jay Trevino with a full review of both commissions on
the following topics.
1. Reviewing eligible and infill structures in historic districts
• Consensus indicated the need to identify at which Commission is
review proper.
• Discussion held on how the two commissions dealt with split decisions
whereby Historic Resources Commission reviews projects dealing with
the facade of the structure.
2. Providing for appropriate vinyl windows
• Staff will return with information on how the Design Guidelines ensure
quality of design for new windows, independent of material.
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3. Ensuring that the downtown development pattern is compatible in design
and scale with the existing development pattern -Requires more time to
discuss details, illustration for consideration. What would you like to see
as guidelines downtown:
• Consensus of both groups was that infill development in historic
districts should not be jarring, but that a variety of architectural styles
could be accommodated.
4. Preserving the historic fabric of buildings by discouraging faux historic
additions
• Have Commissions review the policy language in the guidelines; keep
with the Secretary of Interior Standards policy, include examples of
bad faux additions, consider whether it is referential to the original
historic building to the extent that it's diminishing to the original
structure.
• Commission discussion recommended dissemination of information,
guidelines to involve the realty boards and escrow companies,
upholding policy for Design Review, emphasize education process for
the consumer, accessing available resources, neighborhood referrals
and suggested an effective outreach.
5. Maintaining the livability of historic buildings by allowing historic buildings
to be retrofitted to accommodate modern conveniences.
• Commissioner Lutz commented on older buildings (50 years ago) that
do not fit needs of today's lifestyles, need to have guidelines
established to upgrade for habitation for both interior and exterior.
Special Planning/Historic Resources Commission Minutes 2 September 29, 2005
6. Next Steps
• The final draft will be reproduced on CD and distributed to interested
parties. Staff will provide a presentation on the final draft to Com-Link
in October followed by consideration by the Planning Commission and
Historic Resources Commission in November. City Council
consideration will follow in December.
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• Chairman Giles suggested that photographs of notable homes have an
identifying caption.
• Commissioner Bustamante recommended updating pictures that are
currently used for illustrations.
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3. ADJOURNMENT: 7:02 p.m. by acclamation
Martha Ramirez
Recording Secretary
Special Planning/Historic Resources Commission Minutes 3 September 29, 2005