Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting Summary – August 16, 2017
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Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting – August 16, 2017
The Sacramento Preservation Commission met on August 16, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at New City Hall, 915 I Street. The meeting included a consent calendar, a public hearing on an appeal of a tentative parcel map, and discussion items on the Mid-Century Modern Historic Resources Survey, the Sacramento Valley Station Master Plan, and an update on infill development within historic districts. The meeting adjourned at 9:26 p.m.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes of July 19, 2017 Meeting: Approved by a vote of 5-0-2 (Commissioners Marshack and Moffett absent).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Appeal of 2422 U Street Tentative Map (Z17-028): The Newton Booth Neighborhood Association (represented by John Hager) appealed the zoning administrator’s approval of a lot split, arguing that the process enabled speculation and blight. Public speakers Karen Jacques, Jacob Rigoli, Sue Mortenson, William Burg, Sean Manwaring, Kevin Eslinger, April Hennessy, and Tom Jensen expressed concerns about vagrancy, safety, and the lack of development plans. The applicant, Steve Norman, and the owner, Masood Esnari, stated they intended to rehab the front house and eventually build on the rear lot, and that the site would be secured.
- Sacramento Valley Station Master Plan: William Burg spoke in favor of Option 1, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a visible connection between the historic depot and the tracks.
- Ad Hoc Committee Update on Infill Development: William Burg urged the commission to adopt infill development principles as soon as possible, presenting Preservation Sacramento’s toolkit.
Discussion Items
- Appeal of 2422 U Street Tentative Map: The commission heard staff presentation, applicant rebuttal, and public testimony. After discussion, the commission voted 5-0-2 to recommend approval to the Planning and Design Commission, thereby denying the appeal, subject to an advisory condition that staff work with the applicant to better secure the property site. The motion included a revision to address site security.
- Mid-Century Modern Historic Resources Survey – Draft Historic Context Statement: Consultant Mark Bowen (GEI Consultants) presented an update on the survey, which included 1,812 parcels surveyed by 22 volunteers. The survey focused on the 1940–1970 period. The commission reviewed and commented on the draft context statement, noting areas for refinement (e.g., clarifying architectural style classifications, strengthening local architect information). No action was taken.
- Sacramento Valley Station Master Plan: Greg Taylor (Supervising Architect) presented two concept alternatives for the station site, focusing on mobility, placemaking, and development potential. The commission provided comments on pedestrian connectivity, the relationship between the historic depot and new concourse, vehicular access, and parking. No action was taken.
- Ad Hoc Committee Update on Infill Development Within Historic Districts: Commissioner Alice Valania (committee member) reported on the committee’s progress, including a meeting with Urban Design Manager Bruce Monighan to discuss refinements to interim infill development principles (specifically principles 4 and 11). The committee agreed to have Monighan present his ideas to the full commission at the September meeting, with the goal of finalizing principles by October to align with the Downtown Specific Plan. No formal action was taken.
- Directors Reports: Preservation Director Carson Anderson provided updates on personnel, training documentation for the Certified Local Government grant, and upcoming events (CPF webinar, Sacramento Valley Station award ceremony, City Cemetery exhibition). The report was received and filed.
Key Outcomes
- Vote on Appeal (Z17-028): Motion carried 5-0-2 (Abrahams/Valania) to recommend approval of the tentative parcel map to the Planning and Design Commission, thereby denying the appeal, with an added advisory condition to work with staff to secure the property site. Commissioners Marshack and Moffett were absent.
- No formal decisions were made on the Mid-Century Modern Survey, Valley Station Master Plan, or Infill Development principles; these items were for review and comment only.
- The commission approved the minutes of the July 19, 2017, meeting (5-0-2).
Meeting Transcript
2017 meeting of the City of Sacramento's Preservation Commission, and so I'm calling this meeting to order. And before we start, I will 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 of the items according to the order provided on the agenda. There are no changes to the agenda. Each item in the public hearing portion of the agenda will begin with a brief presentation by staff, followed by questions of staff by the commission, a presentation by the applicant if they choose, followed by questions of the applicant by the commission. And then opportunities for public comment. And tonight's because item two is an appeal. Speaker forms for members of the public are on the table in the back of the room. If you would like to speak, please fill out a form. Note the agenda item on which you would like to speak and bring it up to the clerk to the left of the dice. There is a three minute limit to public comments. Members of the audience may also address the commission on items that are not on the agenda, which is agenda item. Number seven. Agenda item seven. Public comments matters not on the agenda. At this time, we ask that you please turn off all cell phones or paging devices. I will now proceed with the agenda. So can we have the roll caller? Yes, Commissioner Abrahams. Commissioner Bones. Commissioner Fuller. Commissioner Marshak. Commissioner Moffitt. Commissioner Velania. And Vice Chair Whitlam. Here. Quorum attained. Okay, so we will now move on to the consent items. And there is only one item on the consent calendar, which is approval of the minutes of the July 19th, 2017 meeting. If any of the commission members have any we can approve these items without discussion unless there are corrections or edits. Okay. So since we had the motion, somebody want to second that. Second. Okay. And so all in favor? Aye. Aye. Okay. So we're going to move on to agenda item two, which is Z 17028, appeal of 2422 U Street Tentative Map. And before we proceed on that, do you have something you need to say? Madam Chair and members of the Commission. I was the hearing officer, the preservation officer in the case that is now pending before you, and therefore I have to recuse myself from the discussion that's about to occur. I want to uh take this moment to introduce the two planning staff who will fill in for me and discussing the item. They include our principal planner, Stasia Cosgrove, who is standing of the wings over there, and uh senior planner uh Teresa Henge. Uh they will uh possibly take turns in uh helping further the discussion based on um how long the uh item takes to uh to resolve. So with that I'm going to uh excuse myself from the room and I invite um Ms. Cosgrove up to step forward, please. Okay, so um does staff wish to make a presentation? Yes.
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