Preservation Commission Meeting – December 15, 2021

This regular meeting of the City of Sacramento Preservation Commission convened via teleconference at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, and adjourned at 7:28 p.m. The commission considered two public hearings: an appeal of a 72-unit mixed-use project in the South Side Historic District and a landmark nomination. All six commissioners were present.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Approved the minutes of the October 20, 2021 meeting.
• Item 2: Adopted the 2022 regular meeting calendar (3rd Wednesday monthly, no July meeting).
• Item 3: Received and filed the report on teleconferencing meetings during the COVID-19 state of emergency.
• Motion carried 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

Item 4 – 1901 8th Street KIND Project Appeal

• Paul Trudeau (Southside Park resident): Supported the appeal, citing parking shortages and lack of affordability. Noted that rents quoted ($1,350/month) are far above what low-income residents can afford.
• Marnie Ledger (Southside Park resident): Strongly opposed the project, arguing the city is subsidizing developers by waiving parking requirements. Called for conditions such as directing park impact fees to South Side Park and requiring affordable units.
• Mark Taviani (resident): Raised concerns about the adequacy of bike parking for e-bikes, the risk of creating a “ghetto for workforce housing,” and the impracticality of forcing tenants to give up cars without robust transit alternatives.
• David Mandel (T Street resident): Emphasized the need for truly affordable, low-income housing; criticized market-rate development as gentrification. Advocated for significant numbers of deeply affordable units.
• PJ (midtown resident, 20 years): Opposed the project due to parking externalities, argued that rents ($4.69/sq ft) far exceed market comparables ($3.08/sq ft) and that the city lacks sufficient affordable housing (shortfall of 59,000 units).
• Written and e-comments: Staff reported 21 emails in opposition and 4 in support, plus 5 e-comments as of the meeting date.
• Appellant (Southside Park Neighborhood Association): Presented slides arguing the parking waiver amounts to a subsidy; claimed 59 cars would be associated with the development (based on census data) with only 15 on-site spaces, forcing cars onto neighborhood streets. Also cited unit sizes of 280 sq ft (later corrected to 350 sq ft with mezzanine) as too small for families.
• Applicant (Julie Young, developer): Defended the project as “attainable workforce housing” with rents starting at $1,350/month including utilities. Highlighted that unit sizes include a mezzanine (350 sq ft total), that they added secure interior bike storage for 32 bikes, and that they are leasing 17 off-site parking spaces (they own the adjacent lot). Emphasized high demand for similar units in West Sacramento (waiting list of 40 for 148 units).
• Commissioner Whitelam (disclosure): Met with the neighborhood association on December 3 to hear their concerns; noted that most points raised during that meeting were addressed in the staff report.

Item 5 – 2701 E Street Landmark Nomination

• Property Owner Kelly Kennedy: Stated that they purchased the property in 2015, have restored it as a family home, and support the landmark designation.
• No other public comments.

Discussion Items

Item 4 – Appeal of 1901 8th Street KIND Project (PB21-011)

• Project Description: Demolish a portion of an existing contributing commercial building (more than 50 feet of exterior wall), remodel the remaining 2,053 sq ft single-story commercial space, and construct a three-story mixed-use addition of approximately 31,427 sq ft (agenda states 33,524 sq ft – the transcript notes this discrepancy) with 72 dwelling units (studios, 1BR, 2BR) and a waiver of 42% of required off-street parking within the General Commercial (C-2-SPD) zone and South Side Historic District.
• Staff Recommendation: Approve the project and deny the appeal, finding consistency with the South Side Historic District Plan, Secretary of the Interior Standards, and city code.
• Commission Discussion:
  • Commissioner Whitelam expressed a desire for more detailed parking impact analysis from the Parking Services Department before voting, but did not formally move for a continuance. Other commissioners felt adequately informed.
  • Commissioners Lemon, Miller, Miller-Cruiess, Carter, and Valania all stated that the architectural design is sensitive to the historic context and meets district guidelines. They noted that affordability and parking are not primary criteria for the commission’s review, and that the project provides needed housing on an underutilized lot.
  • Commissioner Miller stated that the city is not a financial partner in this private project, so the developer’s profit margin is beyond the commission’s scope.
• Motion: Commissioner Lemon moved to approve the project and deny the appeal, seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Vote: 6-0 in favor. (Commissioners Carter, Lemon, Miller, Whitelam, Miller-Cruiess, Valania)

Item 5 – Ordinance Listing 2701 E Street as Landmarks on the Sacramento Register

• Staff Presentation: The property at 2701 E Street is a particularly good example of the Craftsman architectural style, with characteristic features such as gable roof, clinker brick, wood siding, knee brackets, and a full-width porch. Staff recommends listing under Criterion 3 (distinctive architectural style).
• Property Owner Statement: Kelly Kennedy confirmed the property has been restored and is used as a family home.
• Commission Discussion: No questions or debate.
• Motion: Commissioner Miller moved to recommend approval to City Council, seconded by Vice Chair Miller-Cruiess.
• Vote: 6-0 in favor.

Key Outcomes

• Item 4: The appeal was denied, and the preservation site plan and design review were approved, including the environmental exemption (PRC §21155.4) and the 42% parking waiver. The project will proceed.
• Item 5: The commission voted to recommend that City Council adopt an ordinance listing 2701 E Street as a landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources.
• Consent Calendar: All three items approved unanimously.

Director’s Report

• Grants:
  • The CLG commissioner training grant (October 21-22) has been completed and closed.
  • The public outreach CLG grant deliverables (website audit, postcard, educational videos) are nearly final; will be presented to the commission in early 2022.
  • The National Trust African American experience grant has launched with stakeholder groups and a request for proposals to be issued in January 2022.
• Staffing:
  • Former Director Anderson is working as a retired annuitant on grant projects.
  • The department is interviewing for a new junior preservation planner.
  • Two part-time interns are continuing.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.