Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting - July 19, 2017
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Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting - July 19, 2017
The Sacramento Preservation Commission convened on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at 5:32 PM at New City Hall, 915 I Street Council Chambers, and adjourned at 8:09 PM. All commissioners were present except Chad Moffett. The meeting covered updates on the Mid-Century Modern Historic Resources Survey, the Downtown Specific Plan revised schedule, the Ad Hoc Committee's draft recommendations for infill development in historic districts, and a status report on the 2218 Capitol Avenue appeal.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (June 21, 2017): Moved, seconded, and carried (Whitelam/Valania; 6-0-1, Moffett absent) to approve the minutes as amended (correcting chair/vice chair designation on page one).
- Director's Report: Received and filed. Topics included Memorial Auditorium progress (50% design review, respectful treatment), staffing updates (new preservation intern Tommy Chung, junior planner starting, no update on structural engineering expert applicants or planning director search).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 4 (Downtown Specific Plan): William Burg, representing Preservation Sacramento, presented a draft "preservation toolbox" advocating for updated historic resource surveys, Mills Act implementation, adoption of the ad hoc committee's infill recommendations, protection of the tree canopy, education on California Historic Building Code, and removal of a proposed R3A commercial-by-right provision that was found inapplicable. He argued that "affordable by design" should genuinely produce affordable units.
- Item 5 (Ad Hoc Committee Draft Recommendations): Six members of the public spoke in support:
- William Burg reiterated Preservation Sacramento's support and emphasized that affordability must be reflected in actual unit sizes and prices.
- Eric Knutson (Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association Board) urged a unanimous vote in favor, calling the recommendations "considered and comprehensive."
- Margaret Buss (resident of Boulevard Park) strongly endorsed the guidelines, warning that oversized alley development is "killing the goose that laid the golden egg" and citing per‑square‑foot pricing data showing smaller homes command higher values.
- Sally Flory-O'Neil supported the principles, noting historical mistakes from the 1960s‑70s and urging against repeating them.
- Matthew Piner (appellant on 2218 Capitol Avenue) highlighted the historic spatial relationships that allowed sunlight and air, and stressed that future net‑zero energy requirements would benefit from these patterns.
- Sue Mortensen (Capitol Mansions Neighborhood Association) conveyed the association's support and noted a letter was sent to the mayor and council.
Discussion Items
- Item 3: Mid-Century Modern Historic Resources Survey Update – Staff and consultants (Mark Bowen, GEI; Gretchen Steinberg, Sacramento Modern) reported on the project funded by a CLG grant. Approximately 35 volunteers have documented nearly 1,900 resources using a smartphone app, focusing on modernist buildings from 1940-1970 (excluding ranch and minimal traditional styles). Five intensive evaluations are underway: Gunther's Ice Cream, Shepherd Garden and Art Center, String Brothers Residential District (non-contiguous), 4100 Folsom Boulevard, and Chase Bank. The historic context statement will address redlining and other topics. Commission asked about public access to survey data (to be integrated into city's permitting system) and future nominations (to come for commission action). Staff will return in August with further details.
- Item 4: Downtown Specific Plan Revised Schedule – Staff reported that the public draft has been pushed to mid-September 2017, with a preservation commission workshop in September/October and council consideration in early 2018. Separate design guidelines for historic districts were deemed infeasible; instead, Central City Neighborhood Design Guidelines will be updated to incorporate DSP references and strengthen preservation language. Commissioner Whitelam shared updates from Greg Sandlin: an implementation section in the DSP will reference needed infill standards; goals and policies will support affordable‑by‑design alternatives (tiny houses, shipping containers); and the draft DSP will include EIR, special planning district, finance plan, and general plan text changes—all expected in late September. The commission reviewed and commented.
- Item 5: Ad Hoc Committee Draft Recommendations for Infill Development in Historic Districts – Chair Marshack presented modifications to the 20 interim principles based on June feedback: Principle 14 changed from "not allowing deviations" to "strongly discourage" height/FAR deviations; Principle 18 (requiring similar size/scale of building components) was deleted to avoid dictating style; Principle 21 on alley activation was softened to allow front entrances facing the alley unless incompatible. Ron Verlachis, architect and developer, presented graphics proposing a 40‑foot building depth from the alley and a 20‑foot plate height, arguing this allows economically viable projects (approx. 2,700 sq ft, ~$400,000 profit) while maintaining compatibility. All six present commissioners expressed individual support for the draft recommendations. Attorney noted that the agenda only allowed review and comment (not a vote) due to Brown Act noticing; a formal vote will occur at a future meeting.
- Item 6: Report Back on 2218 Capitol Avenue Appeal – Staff reviewed the resolution of the appeal of the October 19, 2016 commission action. The appellant and applicant reached agreement to remove the third‑floor sleeping porch (though an open deck remains). The property is in escrow; any future significant modifications will require a new site plan and design review. Commissioner Whitelam noted that the third floor still has a sizable deck, and Commissioner Marshack criticized the findings in the record of decision as circular and setting problematic precedents. The commission reviewed and commented.
Key Outcomes
- Approval of June 21, 2017 minutes (6-0-1).
- Received and filed Director's Report.
- Reviewed and commented on the Mid‑Century Modern Historic Resources Survey; staff to return in August.
- Reviewed and commented on Downtown Specific Plan update; preservation commission workshop planned for September/October.
- All commissioners expressed support for the Ad Hoc Committee's draft infill development recommendations; formal vote deferred to a future meeting due to noticing requirements. The committee will continue monthly reporting.
- Reviewed status of 2218 Capitol Avenue appeal; noted resolution with design modifications.
- Public comment on non‑agenda matters: none.
- Member comments included requests for earlier agenda distribution (staff will aim for Thursday) and continuation of the ad hoc committee's monthly updates.
Meeting adjourned at 8:09 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. The July 19th, 2017 meeting of the Sacramento City of Sacramento Preservation Commission is called to order. Before we start, I want to review our procedures. Copies of the agenda for tonight's meeting are in the kiosk just outside the door. The commission will refer to each item according to the order provided on the agenda, and there are no changes to the to the order on the agenda at this time. Each item will begin with a brief presentation by staff, followed by questions of staff by the commission. If there is an applicant on an issue, then they will speak next. Following that, there will be an opportunity for public comment before the commissioners actually have a discussion of the item. If members of the public would like to speak on a particular item, there are speaker forms on the back table. And we would ask that you fill out a form, note the agenda item number on which you'd like to speak, and bring it up to the clerk at the left of the dais. You'll be called to speak at the appropriate time. And if there are a lot of comments, we may hold you to a three-minute comment limit. Also, if you'd like to address items that are not on the agenda, we do have a place on our agenda for that. Item seven, public comments, matters not on the agenda. So if you'd like to address us on something that isn't on our agenda, please uh fill out a speaker slip and indicate item seven. At this time, I'd uh request that you please turn off all cell phones and paging devices. I'll make mine silent as well. There we go. And okay, we'll now proceed to the agenda. Roll call. Commissioner Abrahams. Commissioner Moffat. Commissioner Bowns. Here. Commissioner Fuller. Here. Commissioner Vellania. Commissioner Whitelum. And Chair Marshak. Here. Okay, first item on the agenda approval of minutes for the uh June 21, 2017 meeting. Uh this is a consent item. Any corrections? Notations. Okay, not hearing any. I do have uh one that on page one of the minutes, the correct chair and vice chair be indicated in the upper left-hand corner. Okay. I move on the eight minutes for approval with your correction noted. I'd be happy to second that. Okay. Any discussion. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed. Abstain. Next item on the agenda is the director's report. Director uh Anderson. I'm going to give you a brief report tonight, in part because one of the items that usually takes up a lot of our time is discussion of our mid-century modern historic resources survey in the historic context, and that is actually a separate item on tonight's agenda, and you'll get a full briefing on what's going on in that regard. Let's see, in terms of the memorial auditorium project, the technical group continues meeting on a monthly basis, and there were some discussions with staff, both the design manager and preservation director about some of the details involved in the uh for the acoustical uh curtain that's been considered up in the upper balcony, uh excuse me, the dress circle area of the auditorium, and uh things like seat covers uh for uh the refurbished seating in the auditorium, uh minor changes like repainting in the dressing room. Fairly minor things have been talked with and vetted with staff for the project.
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