Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting - May 18, 2016

The Sacramento Preservation Commission met on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at 5:31 p.m. in the Council Chambers of New City Hall, 915 I Street. All seven commissioners were present. The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. The agenda included a consent calendar, two public hearings, three staff report items, and public comments both on and off the agenda.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (April 13, 2016): Passed unanimously (7:0:0) on a motion by Commissioner Whitelam, seconded by Commissioner Huck.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 2 – 629 J Food Hall: No public testimony received.
• Item 3 – Matsui Alley Barn/Garage Nomination: William Burg spoke in support of nomination, citing the barn’s history as a workplace for plasterer Mannix and its rarity as a surviving accessory structure. Property owner’s attorney, Michael Cook, argued against listing, stating the barn is not unique, that similar structures exist in the neighborhood, and that demolition would allow a carriage house to reactivate the alley and provide parking.
• Item 5 – Discretionary Project Noticing: Three speakers addressed deficiencies in the current noticing system:
  • William Burg noted that mailed notices often arrive too late for community organizations, and that developers frequently fail to conduct meaningful outreach.
  • Margaret Buss, a 26-year resident of Boulevard Park, emphasized that neighborhood associations are voluntary and cannot substitute for city notification to property owners.
  • Deborah Condon urged that property owners within 500 feet be notified by mail early in the process, not just at the 10-day legal notice stage.
• Item 7 – Public Comments (Matters Not on the Agenda): Six speakers addressed the future of the City Cemetery gardens, particularly the rose garden. They requested transparency, inclusion of volunteer garden coordinators and external experts (e.g., old-rose specialist Greg Lowry), and creation of a Cemetery Treatment Plan or Cultural Landscape Plan before forming a Technical Advisory Committee.

Discussion Items

• Item 2 – PB16-016 629 J Food Hall: Staff presented a removable glass stair enclosure on the 7th Street side and a mezzanine on the north end of the banking hall. The applicant (Jeff Stoll, Silver Still Architects) requested flexibility on mezzanine notches, stating that deep recesses per staff’s recommendation would “kill the project” due to business and health-department concerns. Commissioner questions focused on the stair enclosure height, mezzanine structural connections, and bicycle parking. The commission debated whether the project was ready for final approval.
• Item 3 – M16-055 Nomination of Matsui Alley Barn/Garage: Preservation Director Roberta Deering presented the nomination, citing the barn (built with the house ca. 1900) as a rare surviving horse stable in the Capitol Mansions Historic District, meeting eligibility criteria for a landmark. The property owner’s attorney opposed, arguing it has low utility and is not the best or last example. Commissioners discussed the structure’s integrity and the demolition review process if listed.
• Item 4 – P15-040 Sacramento Railyards: Staff (Teresa Haenggi) reviewed proposed amendments to the Railyards Specific Plan, Special Planning District, and Design Guidelines to accommodate a soccer stadium and Kaiser hospital. Key elements: creating a transition zone north of the central shops, with building heights of 85 to 100 feet; requiring new buildings to be 20 feet from historic structures; and relocating but retaining the water tower. Commissioners questioned the transfer table preservation, the lack of massing studies, the impact of tall buildings on views of the historic shops, and the appropriate height for Lot 40 near the depot. Public comment was not taken on this item.
• Item 5 – Report Back on Discretionary Project Noticing: Urban Design Manager Bruce Monighan outlined current early outreach practices (routing lists to neighborhood associations, website project lists) and described a planned computer system for electronic notification. Commissioners supported the automated system and suggested using tools like Nextdoor. The report was received and filed.
• Item 6 – Director Report: Roberta Deering announced her retirement at the end of August 2016 and that the senior planner preservation position is open. She also noted that Chairman Chad Moffet had been nominated for reappointment, and the Bellevue Apartments were formally listed on the National Register.
• Item 8 – Member Comments: Commissioner Piner requested a report back on the City Cemetery Technical Advisory Committee. Commissioner Huck highlighted the 40th Anniversary of Preservation in Sacramento (banners, exhibit, May 21 reception) and read a City Council resolution recognizing 40 years of preservation and 50 years of the National Historic Preservation Act. Commissioner Marshak requested 3-minute public comment limits and expressed a preference for review-and-comment meetings before final actions on complex projects.

Key Outcomes

• Item 2 – 629 J Food Hall: Approved with amended conditions (motion by Whitelam, second by Piner; vote 6:0:1, Commissioner Fuller recused). Conditions included: the mezzanine may extend to the third bay on the north end, with work to continue with staff; the stair enclosure shall be no higher than the base of the columns and made of a non-glass transparent material; the dining area enclosure to apply only to the 7th Street entry; and bicycle parking details to be resolved with staff.
• Item 3 – Matsui Alley Barn/Garage Nomination: The commission voted unanimously (6:0:1, Commissioner Piner recused) to forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council for listing the barn and garage as a Landmark and Contributing Resource in the Capitol Mansions Historic District.
• Item 4 – Sacramento Railyards: No action taken; the commission provided review and comment for staff and applicant to consider. Commissioners requested further detail on massing, transition zone heights, transfer table protection, and lot 40 height restrictions.
• Item 5 – Discretionary Project Noticing: Received and filed. The commission supported development of an automated electronic notification system.
• Item 6 – Director Report: Received and filed.
• Item 7 – Public Comments: Heard; no action.
• Item 8 – Member Comments: Commissioner Piner’s request for a report back on the City Cemetery Technical Advisory Committee will be placed on a future agenda.