Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting – May 17, 2023
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Sacramento Preservation Commission Meeting – May 17, 2023
The Sacramento Preservation Commission met on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 1:30 PM in City Hall (1st Floor) and via Zoom. The meeting included a public hearing on a mixed-use development in the Old Washington School Historic District, adoption of a historic district plan for the Sacramento Shops, a zoning overview presentation, and several public comments. The commission voted on two items after deliberation.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Approval of Minutes: The commission unanimously approved the March 15, 2023 meeting minutes. (Motion by Commissioner Montemayor, seconded by Commissioner Nayar; 5-0 vote.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 2 – The Grace Rezone & Mixed-Use (P21-032): Two speakers addressed the commission:
- Mark Riser (former owner of adjacent landmark at 1425-27 G Street) opposed the project, arguing that the staff report lacked a genuine analysis of the project’s impact on historic resources, selectively cited design guidelines, and used a height calculation method that understated the building’s impact. He also noted that his six-page letter from April 2022 was not included in the packet.
- James Allison (Midtown Association) spoke in support, citing the need for housing, responsible urban infill, and the project’s alignment with city goals for growth and residential density.
- Item 3 – Sacramento Shops Historic District Plan: No public comments were received.
- Public Comments – Matters Not on the Agenda:
- William Berg (Chair, Preservation Sacramento) promoted upcoming Jane Jacobs walks (May 20, 21, 28) and the annual home tour on September 17, 2023, in East Sacramento.
- Giovanna (Brazilian Center) described an incident on April 26, 2023, where she was verbally and nearly physically assaulted at the Clara Performing Arts Studio (former Fremont Adult School). She alleged exclusion from activities, rent increases despite a $1 million grant, lack of lighting, and denied restroom access. She requested assistance from District 4 Councilmember Valenzuela.
Discussion Items
- Item 2 – The Grace Rezone & Mixed-Use (P21-032): Staff (Sierra Peterson) presented a proposal to rezone 620 15th Street from R-3A-SPD to C-2-SPD and approve site plan and design review for a three-story, 25,925± sq. ft. mixed-use building with 40 dwelling units (8 deed-restricted for low-income households at 80–120% AMI) and 1,786 sq. ft. of commercial space. The project requires two height deviations: exceeding the Central City SPD transitional height limit by 3 feet (45 ft. to 48 ft.) and exceeding the historic district 150% height standard by 0.75 feet (based on adjacent contributing resources at 26.5 ft. and 31.5 ft.). Staff supported the deviations, citing design refinements, setbacks, and the need for dense housing. The applicant (Chav Venyoki, Urban Capital) noted extensive design collaboration with staff and the neighbor (Mr. Riser), inclusion of 20% affordable units, and a three-foot parapet. Commissioner Burns raised concerns about the lack of time for Mr. Riser’s full testimony and the potential visual impact of the building’s height (exceeding 48 ft. including parapet). After the first motion failed (3-1, needing 4 votes), further discussion ensued, and the commission voted 4-0 to recommend approval to the Planning and Design Commission. The motion included forwarding staff’s recommendation for Items A (CEQA exemption) and C (Site Plan and Design Review).
- Item 3 – Sacramento Shops Historic District Plan and Ordinance Amendment (M22-006): Staff (Henry Fuse) presented an updated historic district plan and ordinance amendment incorporating changes from the March 2023 commission meeting, including renaming from “Central Shops” to “Sacramento Shops” and adjusting the period of significance to 1867–1947. The boundary revision removes non-contributing land west of the boiler shop near I-5. No public comments were received. The commission unanimously approved the plan and ordinance with a friendly amendment to add language regarding archaeological sensitivity (e.g., the historic privy site). (Motion by Vice Chair Root, seconded by Commissioner Montemayor; 5-0 vote.)
- Item 4 – Planning Regulation and Process Overview: Kevin Colin, Zoning Administrator, presented an overview of the zoning code, departmental structure, and development review processes. He highlighted the role of historic preservation within the larger regulatory system and encouraged use of the “Agency Counter” online tool. The commission received the information and discussed potential updates to the General Plan, CEQA legislation, and code enforcement pathways.
Key Outcomes
- Item 2 – The Grace Rezone & Mixed-Use: The commission voted 4-0 (Commissioner Burns initially opposed, but changed vote on second motion; Vice Chair Root recused) to recommend that the Planning and Design Commission approve the project (CEQA exemption, rezone, and site plan/design review with height deviations). The recommendation will be forwarded to the Planning and Design Commission for a public hearing.
- Item 3 – Sacramento Shops Historic District Plan: The commission voted unanimously (5-0) to recommend that the City Council adopt the historic district plan and ordinance amendment, including the boundary revision and archaeological considerations.
- Item 1 – Consent Calendar: Approved minutes of March 15, 2023.
- Director’s Report: Sean de Courcy noted upcoming events: Preservation Month Symposium (May 25, 4:30 PM at City Church, 3864 4th Ave.), release of the 2040 General Plan draft (to be presented in June), the African American Experience Historic Context Statement (final draft to be reviewed in June), and the Southland Park Hills Historic District proposal (to be presented in June). The commission also learned of two new historic preservation internships and the appointment of a student research assistant (Ella Cross) to document African American historic properties.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 4:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you, Chair. The meeting is now live. Thank you. Yes, thank you, Chair. Commissioner Burns. Here. Thank you. Commissioner Montmere. Here. Thank you. Commissioner Nyer. Here. Thank you. Vice Chair Root. Present. Thank you. And Chair McSlavkin. Present. Thank you. We have a quorum. On an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip when the item begins. For members of the public who wish to join virtually, please refer to the agenda for the Zoom link. Once you've joined the meeting and wish to speak, use the raise your hand function to provide public comment when the chair confirms the public comment speaking period for your desired item. If you are online, click on raise hand on the bottom of your screen. In the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping raise hand in the more tab. And if you're on the telephone to raise your hand, dial star nine and to unmute or mute yourself, dial star six. Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their phone number. You'll have two minutes to speak once you are called on, and after the first speaker, will we we will no longer accept speaker slips and the raise hand feature in Zoom will be disabled. We'll now proceed with today's agenda, starting with the land acknowledgement from Commissioner Montemayor. Please rise with opening acknowledgements in honor of Sacramento's Indigenous People and Tribal Lands. To the original people of this land, the Nissanon, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Miwok, Piwin Winton peoples, and the people of the Wilson Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History Contributions and Lives. Thank you. Thank you. And please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance from Commissioner Nayar. Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you, Chair. I do not have any hands raised in Zoom and I do not have any speaker slips in chambers. Thank you. Are there any commissioners who wish to speak on this on this item? Is there a motion? Motion to approve the minutes. Is there a second? Great. Commissioner Monte Montemeyor moves to approve the minutes. And Commissioner Nayar seconds. Yes, thank you, Chair. Commissioner Burns.
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