Title
Draft Meeting Minutes - April 3, 2014
Body
DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY OF ALAMEDA HISTORICAL ADVISORY BOARD
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014
1. CONVENE: 7:02 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL: Present: Chair Owens, Board Members Lynch and Vella. Vice Chair Rauk was absent.
3. MINUTES:
3-A. Draft Meeting Minutes for December 5, 2013
Board member Lynch motioned to approve the minutes as amended.
Board member Vella seconded.
Motioned passed, 3-0
3-B. Draft Meeting Minutes for February 6, 2014 - Tabled for quorum
4. AGENDA CHANGES AND DISCUSSIONS: None
5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None
6. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: There were two emails, one concerning the Mound Street project, and one concerning Del Monte.
7. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:
7-A. Certificate of Approval - PLN13-0357 - 1315 Mound Street - Joseph Xu for John Jiang - The applicant requests a Certificate of Approval for structural alterations to a Historical Buildings Study List structure that will result in the removal of more than 30% of its value. The primary work consists of raising the building 1' 6" to create habitable space in the basement. The applicants also propose reconfiguring the roof of a previous rear addition to create a uniform roofline. Restoration of the building's decorative elements will also take place as part of the project. This project is deemed categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Mr. Allen Tai, Secretary to the Board, provided a briefing on the project since the last meeting.
Chair Owens called for speakers.
Mr. Mike Van Dine, requested the garage be single car instead of the proposed two-car garage covering most of the back yard. There are nine neighbors who look into this property's back yard as open space and he would like to see this kept as open as possible.
Ms. Maria Perales, neighbor, also supported a single-car garage.
Mr. Jerri Schneider, neighbor, asked the Board to require the owners to restore the house to its original form.
Mr. Jim Smallman spoke on behalf of the owner and noted that he met with the owner since the last public hearing. He reported that the owner is not planning to convert this house to a multi-family building. He commented that the owner has been cooperative and willing to work on the restoration. There have been many improvements to the plans since the last meeting.
Mr. Greg Wong, neighbor, noted several discrepancies with the foundation details on the plans. Board member Lynch asked if he had been involved with Mr. Smallman's discussions with the owner. Mr. Wong stated he has no knowledge of the meetings.
Ms. Maria Carballedo, spoke on not understanding why the owners are changing the house.
Mr. John Jiang, owner, stated he has been an Alameda resident for many years. He wants to move his family in to this residence. He has been working with City staff and HAB and has been trying to accommodate the neighbor requests. He reported on improvements to the plans that have been made since the last meeting, and what he is committed to doing to restore the building.
Chair Owens reported going to the building and spoke with the owner. He was open to working on the suggested changes.
Board member Vella asked about the driveway and garage and why is it so far back on the property.
Mr. Tai explained that the zoning ordinance encourages garages to be as far back of the property as possible to avoid blocking neighbor windows. The proposed two-car garage is compliant with applicable codes.
Board member Vella asked about the planter box located at the front of the property. Mr. Tai reported that the planter box encroaches on the public right of way, but it causes no concerns unless the City needs to utilize that space for repair or maintenance work, at which time the property owner is responsible for the cost of removal.
Chair Owens noted the massing of the garage had been reduced along with the pitch roof. He is asking if the back could pitch in the opposite direction be possible. He suggested the double door on the second floor be redesigned. He commented on the garage issue being compliant with codes and the owner's right to do what they want. He reported on meeting the owner and staff regarding the front stairs.
Mr. Smallman asked for the Board support on the restoration project. He is a restoration specialist and strongly believes that owner is willing to make accommodations.
Board member Lynch asked whether the owner has hired a new contractor. Mr. Jiang reported he would hire a new contractor.
Board member Lynch stated she is not ready to vote on this approval due to outstanding neighborhood concerns.
Mr. Tai explained the findings that the Board is required to make for a certificate of approval. He believes the applicant has fully addressed the recommendations of the board and those of the neighbors. Regarding the garage concerns, he noted that some of the adjacent neighbors have two-car garages in the backyard. Mr. Tai recommended the Board make an objective decision based on the facts presented in the record.
Chair Owens motioned to approve the draft resolution with the edits staff reviewed.
Board member Lynch reiterated her concerns over the lack of trust between the neighbors. She wanted the applicant to meet with the neighbors.
Mr. Thomas, City Planner, clarified that neighborhood trust is not a required finding in the municipal code. He explained that staff has worked with the owner and neighbors, but it is not the role of this Board to address trust among the neighbors. Mr. Tai explained that if the motion fails, then the project would be denied and the applicant would then have to appeal the decision to the City Council.
Board member Lynch motioned to continue the item to the next meeting.
Chair Owens seconded.
Motioned passed, 3-0.
7-B. Public Workshop for a Certificate of Approval at 1501 Buena Vista Avenue - PLN14-0059 - Northern Waterfront Cove, LLC. The applicant is requesting a Certificate of Approval to restore and modify the Del Monte Warehouse Historic Monument.
Mr. Andrew Thomas, City Planner, provided a briefing on the project and the Certificate of Approval.
Mr. Mike O'Hara, Tim Lewis Communities, and Mr. William Dunkinson, BAR Architects, made a presentation and project update.
Mr. Christopher VerPlanck, historic preservation consultant, reported on the removal of materials and the addition of two stories above the structure. He reviewed other examples of similar upper-story additions to historic structures that were approved by the National Park Service as being consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.
Chair Owens opened the item to public speakers.
Speakers:
Mr. Nick Cabral, a long time resident in the area, was excited to see a new project for this building moving forward.
Mr. Christopher Buckley, AAPS, provided a handout, and stated a letter has been provided. He reviewed points from the letter.
Chair Owens would like to see a more subdued color and the stucco be more muted. The drawings showing scale and color of the new project would help. He would like to see the elevations and contrast from the street. He is concerned with the glass canopy, and agreed corrugated material might appear better. He asked questions about the recessed windows and stairwell location. He expressed concerns over whether the addition would meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. He liked the exposed trusses and beams.
Mr. Dunkinson explained the language and radial drawings. He has taken the color comments from the Board, and stated through the evolution of the design, the contrast worked best. He commented on the glazing detail of windows.
Mr. O'Hara commented on the tax credit for the historic building, and noted that if the units in the building were ownership then tax credits would not apply.
Board member Vella commented on the color palette needed to be more defined.
Mr. O'Hara stated the Master Plan will have the housing number details and there is a 15% affordable housing requirement by the City. Mr. Dunkinson stated the engineers on the project have a lot of experience working with historic buildings.
Chair Owens asked about recent fires around the bay, and is there a way for sprinklers to be activated during construction. Mr. O'Hara responded they have been talking with the Alameda Fire Department.
Mr. Thomas indicated a public tour of the building is being organized.
7-C. Alameda Point - Wayfinding Sign Program - PLN14-0127- City of Alameda. The City of Alameda is requesting a Wayfinding Sign Program for Alameda Point (AP). The proposed signs include street names and addressing, informal landmarks and district naming. Signs are proposed for up to 25 locations throughout Alameda Point.
Mr. Thomas provided an overview and presentation of the signage at AP.
Mr. Scott Cuyler, SquarePeg Design, made a presentation and introduced his company, and stated he is currently working on the Alameda Landing signage.
Board member Vella suggested color changes, including white lettering instead of black, color bands on signage instead of the proposed. She stated it was important for wayfinding signage to guide people coming and leaving AP.
Chair Owens noted that some of the signs are not two sided, and he stated that lighting is an issue at AP. Mr. Cuyler stated this is the initial comment phase and the next round will have more details of the signage.
Board member Lynch asked about the inspiration for the signage theme. Mr. Cuyler stated this is an interim program and wanted to focus on the present instead of having all the signs historic.
Mr. Thomas stated the logo has been approved by Council as the City's economic development brand. He stated lease revenue for Alameda Point would be used for to fund the signs. The comments at this meeting will be taken to the Planning Board.
8. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS: Board member Lynch provided a map, and handed out an Alameda Museum newsletter.
9. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS: Mr. Thomas reported on the street names of Alameda Landing from the previous meeting. He noted that the Planning Board reviewed and re-edited the list provided by HAB. Mr. Tai stated this Board maintains the list of names, and the Planning Board decides which names go with what streets.
Mr. Tai reported a Certificate of Approval was approved on two properties.
10. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None
11. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Owens called for a motion to adjourn at 10:17 p.m. Board member Vella moved to adjourn. Seconded by Board member Lynch. Approved 3-0.