Can I have a roll call, please?

Davis.

Present.

Garcia Bergard.

Here.

Spiller Fullerton.

Here.

Pollock?

Here.

Vasquez?

Here.

And Sepulveda.

Here.

We have a quorum.

Thank you.

Translation Services, please.

Good morning.

Buenos días.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you so much.

The compliance and technical advisory board.

It's an advisory board appointed by the city council.

I'm Jason Vasquez, acting chair, and Juanita Sipoveda is the chair.

It is the function of the board to advise the city manager and all relevant city departments concerning applications for permits for properties in historic districts and landmarks.

In considering whether to recommend approval or disapproval of an application for a certificate of appropriateness, the board shall be guided by the city's Unified Development Code and design guidelines and standards that have been adopted by City Council.

An appeal of a decision by an administrative official can be filed in accordance with the city's Unified Development Code.

If anyone present wishes to speak in favor or in opposition to any items on today's agenda, please sign up on the public comment sheet.

It is not necessary to sign up if you are the owner of representative for a project on the agenda on the agenda.

Speakers for or opposed to a case will be limited to two minutes each.

Speakers may also yield up to their two minutes to another speaker who has signed up.

Speakers will be called upon in the order in which they are signed up.

Following public testimony, any commissioner may call upon any speaker to respond to further questions.

Approval by the board does not take the place of any type of permit.

Permits must be obtained for all work.

Certificates of appropriateness for work approved by the board will be emailed to you within 10 days.

No work of any type is to be started without obtaining the appropriate city permits after a certificate of appropriateness has been issued by the Office of Historic Preservation.

At this time, please silence your cell phones.

Actually, let's go a little bit out of order here.

The approval of the schedule of meeting for 2026.

Sure.

Is the the schedule the same?

Essentially.

So it's always going to be the Friday following the second HCRC hearing of the month.

Great.

Can I ask for a motion, please, to approve the schedule for the next year?

I move to uh accept the schedule, approve it.

Second.

Thank you.

Can I have a roll call, please?

Davis.

Aye.

Bergard?

Aye.

Fullerton?

Aye.

Paul?

Aye.

Vasquez?

Aye.

And Sepulveda.

Aye.

Motion carries.

So yeah, just to point out we'll see you all again on January 23rd.

And if you are needing to submit an application to make that hearing, um, the deadline will be January 2nd.

Um so after that, we can do approval of meeting minutes from uh November 21st.

Thank you.

Can I have an uh motion for approval of the meeting minutes from the November 21st, 2025 meeting?

I moved I second.

Can I have a roll call, please?

Davis, aye.

Brigard, aye.

Fullerton?

Aye.

Pollock?

Aye.

Vasquez?

Aye.

And Sepulveda.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um, if you want to draw our attention to the screens here, um, we have just one item on today's consent agenda 406 North Pine.

Uh, we do have a uh voicemail with public comments that we can play now.

Hello, this is Lulie Francois, Chairwoman of the Dignity Hill Historic Neighborhood Review Committee calling in for 406 North Pine HCRC case number 330.

We agree with staff's recommendation for approval of the 24-inch concrete retaining wall with the feature caras.

We are also asking staff and CTAP commissioners to stipulate that the concrete papers currently acting as the front walkway to the front porch be replaced with a continuous cement walkway.

We're not sure if this was ever approved, but they do not meet OHP guidelines.

If the continuous front walkway is added as a stipulation, we ask that staff be diligent in ensuring the applicant gets this completed and that staff is diligent and documented this added stipulation so as not to cause confusion in the future.

Thank you.

Um so that concludes public comments, and so we just need a motion for item number one.

Before we go for uh approval of that.

Is there any commissioners wishing to pull this item from consent agenda?

Juanita or Madam Chair.

Um on the stipulations that they were stating.

Can I hear from the staff uh what was identified in the in the message?

Yeah, um so yeah, just to clarify, this is new construction that was approved by the HCRC probably about six or seven years ago, and I would assume that the pavers uh were installed around then.

I I don't know off the top of my head if that was part of the approved site plan or not.

I I think that it was.

Um, but it's not on the agenda today, so you can't require them to retroactively do something to get approval for what's being requested.

I don't I don't think it's a violation.

Say that again, Adrian.

I don't believe it's a violation.

I think they're in compliance.

If if that's the case, then so moved as recommended by the staff on the consent agenda.

I don't have any other statement.

Thank you.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

Can have a roll call, please.

Davis, aye.

Brigard?

Aye.

Fullerton?

Aye.

Pollock?

Aye.

Basquez.

Aye.

Zapulvada.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Thank you.

If your address is 406 North Pine Street, uh your uh case has been approved and you do not need to stay for the remainder of the hearing.

Your case manager will be in touch uh with you uh within 10 days.

Thank you.

Okay, commissioners, this is item number two for CTAP case 2025-336 for 1009 Burnett Street.

The applicant is requesting a certificate of appropriateness for approval to first replace existing front porch decor decorative wood columns and pilasters with wood posts featuring a square profile, and to remove the front porch balustrade.

Staff does not recommend approval of the request based on findings A through E.

Staff recommends the porch columns be replaced in kind and feature a profile dimensions and detail that match the original porch columns.

Staff recommends the balustrade be replaced in kind with ballusters that match the original in terms of materials, spacing, profile, dimensions, finish, and height of the railing.

The applicant is here in person.

Uh if the applicant would like to come forward, um you'll have 15 minutes to speak.

Please introduce yourself first and then and then uh commissioners.

We do have a voicemail for this item that we'll listen to after the applicant's presentation.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Oh.

Okay.

My name is Jimmy Spinoza.

Um this is my first experience here.

Um so all I wanted to say was if I I was the one who initiated all the changes.

Um for the fact that my brother, he's already had two strokes, and he's on a fixed income.

So I was trying to help him.

The main reason why I did this is because the insurance wouldn't have wouldn't give them insurance on the house because of the situation that it was in.

That's the only reason why I did that.

Now if I was wrong, I'm sorry.

But that's the only reason why I did it because they wouldn't insure his house.

And I didn't want to I didn't want him to go without insurance.

And I have the paperwork here for the insurance company.

You know, and they gave me 30 days or gave us 30 days.

So that's why I did it.

Thank you.

Great, thank you.

You have a questions.

Thank you.

Just a minute, sir.

We'll be with you in a moment.

We agree with staff's recommendation to not approve this application until all porch columns are replaced in kind and feature the profile, dimensions, and detail that matches the original porch column, and that the balustrade be replaced in kind with balusters that match the original in terms of material, baking profile, dimension, finish, and height.

These decorative details are what separates houses in Sydney Woody Hill and historic neighborhoods in general from all other housing developments.

They should always be safe to keep the character of the historic neighborhoods.

Thank you.

Great, thank you.

Is that all the other comment?

That's that's correct, Commissioner.

Great, thank you.

I'll start with the questions from my online madam chair.

Uh yes, staff on this one, can we go back to the uh to the application?

Okay.

And I want to take a look at your recommendation.

Can zoom in on that a little bit.

Please, thank you.

So my question for this.

Um, thank you for being here and advocating for your brother.

Um we wish we had more family who would did that.

However, you do know that you weren't aware of their guidance, but uh, we have a wonderful staff that I know will will definitely work with you.

And staff, as far as this is concerned, does the porch meets all the requirements that were reconstructed?

Is that correct?

Correct.

Um yes, yes, madam chair.

The only thing that we're requesting again is just the columns and the balustrade.

Everything else we're viewing as an in-kind uh repair.

So you know we're we're leaving everything else as is.

Okay.

So, sir, just to clarify, uh, and this is I'm addressing the staff.

As long as they he gets the ballusters as close as to the original image, and he puts the the railing back with the same height and is closest to the original image that he's in compliance.

Is that correct?

That's correct, yes, ma'am.

Okay.

That's the only clarification I needed.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Is there any questions from uh commissioners?

Yeah, I have a question for the applicant.

First off, I want to echo Madam Chair's comments.

Thank you so much for being here.

And um your compassion for your brother and for the house is commendable, so thank you.

And and I appreciate that.

Um my question to you is um uh did you did you know about the stipulations and regulations of living in a historic district prior to starting these renovations?

No.

Are you willing to work with staff to uh uh chork with them to adhere to their recommendations that they put in their in their own?

Can I say something?

If the insurance would have approved it like that, I would have left it alone.

I wouldn't have done any changes.

No.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments.

Any additional questions?

Go ahead.

Am I correct in assuming that really the only thing we're really not agreeing on is the size and shape of uh of the additions or the changes he made?

That's correct, Commissioner.

So if we look at um again uh Google Street View, I think this one is better than the um the insurance pictures we have in the case file.

So here we can see that the columns as well as the balustrade are what we would consider character defining features of this home.

These porch columns are um a little bit atypical.

And so because of that, you know, we we see them as again character defining.

Great, thank you.

Is there any other questions?

Go ahead.

So I I I do have a question.

Can we look at the at uh at the side-by-side image of the of the ballusters?

Um Madam Chair, the the ballastrade, as you know, it it's right here so you can see it in Google Street View.

Um then and then the and then the posts.

So he added actually more support, didn't he?

It looks like he added more support, actually.

Is that correct?

Um it it looks like it.

Uh Jimmy, would would you like to address uh Madam Chair's question?

I'm not I'm not sure.

I mean, this was my friend who did it.

So I I just asked him to replace the the porch roof.

You know.

Yeah.

But I didn't ask him to take off the rail.

I guess he did it because he had to.

I I don't know.

No, it I'm just looking at from from the picture that we've got from the street view and the image that you're providing.

It looks like your friend actually added additional support, which is wonderful.

But I understand what the staff is saying.

So thank you so much.

That was it.

Thank you.

And Adrian, would you mind uh educating us on what a value straight is?

Sure.

So the balustrade is the railing.

Um, you know, and each individual one is the ballister.

And so, you know, what we're we're talking specifically about the porch railing.

You know, um, and then of course uh the um the columns and the pilasters.

Great, thank you.

I just want to be sure everyone is uh up to speed on what specifically we're talking about.

Sure.

Um go ahead, Chris.

Thank you.

Uh my my heart goes out to your brother.

Um thank you for all that you're doing and your friend and helping him.

Um it it's really a remarkable house.

Uh and uh everything from uh the the unusual, I'm not even sure what to call it, a a window or gate uh or uh or nook in the in the gable.

Um and then the columns themselves, the original ones, have this remarkable um very thin, attenuated style where it actually gets narrower as it goes down.

Um so I think that that gives the house uh in particular extra character that you don't even see on the two houses adjacent.

Um I was wondering about the the brackets at the top of the columns.

It it's hard to tell from the the newer photos.

Um were those able to be recycled, or is that a different kind?

And if if they're not the original, do you know whether your friend might still have them for an example?

I I know.

Uh there is someone?

Oh, I'm asking.

Oh.

Um I'm not sure.

I know that.

Whatever he he took out, uh I had him dump it in my dumpster.

Um so uh more than likely no.

If I would have known this, I would have you know make sure that you know I would have but I didn't know this.

Question for staff.

I'm trying to remember um uh and I'm I'm getting my CPS and my thaws and my OHP programs mixed up.

Um is there a program through some of the historic trades programs where some of the trade students as part of their training can help replicate brackets and that kind of and columns that have unusual shapes?

Potentially.

Um so we do have a living here at Trades Academy that is an apprenticeship program, and so there is some hands-on job training.

Uh the locations where those occur are a few places where we have some existing agreements with property owners.

Um I wouldn't rule it out, but I can't say like, yeah, this is something that we can do.

Um, but it's certainly something we can um as we look forward to compliance and looking for solutions work towards one final comment.

Um I'm hopeful maybe if something can uh be put together through this or a similar program.

Um when it comes to coming up with an idea of of what a a potential replacement bracket would look like at the top of the column.

Perhaps your brother has some family photos of them in the front yard that would have uh pretty decent resolution of what the brackets used to look like.

Um so that might be a potential template because it's it's such a a unique defining feature of of your brother's house.

It would be pretty cool.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there any additional questions online or here in the room?

If not, we'll move to discussion.

Any discussion?

If not, uh can ask for a motion, please.

I make a motion we accept a staff's recommendation.

Thank you.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

Can I have a roll call, please?

Davis, aye.

Aye.

Fullerton?

Aye.

Paula?

Aye.

Vasquez?

Aye.

And Sopova though.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Thank you, sir.

Please work with staff on the next steps.

So I need to replace them.

And I'll call it today or money.

Okay, we'll do.

I'll take care of it.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Next case.

So the next item on the agenda is uh CTAP case.

I apologize, excuse me.

Um before he takes off too far, is someone gonna catch up?

Because I think he I hope he doesn't doesn't misunderstand that he has to replace the entire thing, the entire post.

Um no, madam chair.

So we, you know, as as it's written, um I I'm pretty sure he understood that you know um the staff recommendation is is what was voted on.

And then um as soon, you know, this afternoon I'll give him a call and I'll make sure that he understood.

So I'll make sure that he's he's aware.

I appreciate that.

Thank you.

My apologies for interruption.

Not a problem.

Um so the next item on the agenda is CTAP case 2025-341 for 314 Sadie Street.

So the applicant is requesting to replace four historic wood windows.

And our recommendation is that staff does not recommend replacement of the four historic wood windows.

The existing uh windows should be repaired and retrofitted consistent with the guidelines.

The applicant may provide additional information during the repair process to demonstrate the phys the feasibility of retaining original materials in kind replacement may be considered for administrative approval on a case-by-case basis.

There is um an uh and a file in the late folder relating to this request.

And um I'm not sure if the applicant is here.

He had not confirmed.

No, I don't oh hold on.

Mr.

Rosendahl, if you can unmute, you should be able to speak.

Yes, hi, I'm I'm here.

Perfect.

Um so thank thank you for uh your attendance.

Um you'll have 15 minutes to present your request, and then uh after which um the commissioners um you know may ask questions.

So if you'd like to proceed, I can uh scroll through the um the slides.

Thank you.

Sure, yeah.

I mean, to be honest with you, it was more an issue of trying to get um something historically accurate, of course, but um to be able to have better insulation um and things like that was what we were thinking that there's not really much that I have to present other than that, honestly.

Okay, thank you.

Um any questions, Madam Chair.

Actually, I I I just this is for staff, and thank you, sir, for being online.

Um course.

I I love the fact that these windows are actually salvageable, and the fact that we have the resources to be able to guide the owners to be able to maintain them.

They're actually not as bad as some of the things that we've seen.

But the other question I kind of have, because um the applicant made a concern about you know temperatures and things of that nature.

Is there something that we can do to maybe refer him to another organization that helps with weatherization to address his concern?

Because I know with restoring these windows it'll help.

And I I always love how staff uh is able to find those resources for them.

But if if if uh temperatures and things of that nature, is there another organization that we can refer them to for weatherization?

Because I'm sure that's probably what he's referring to.

Yes.

Well, I think I think we can refer him to those resources.

So we've there's a number of studies and we there's some uh local vendors that we're aware of through our home repair fair uh that do weatherization and things like that, so we're happy to help.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

And then we had that lady that testified last month.

Oh, that's right.

That's right.

Well, I guess I was just thinking because the applicant brought up the concern with you know temperatures and things that nature, but his windows are really are are in fairly really good condition, much better than some of the things that this committee has seen.

And thank you for the great job on that staff.

That's all I have.

Thank you, madam chair.

In person, any questions?

If not, we'll move oh no.

Okay, if not, we'll move to discussion.

Um Madam Chair, anything further?

If or uh in person.

I just so moved with the recommendations with the staff and or the uh yes, recommendation with the staff.

Okay, we have a motion on the floor already.

Um is there a second?

Uh I have a I I will second, but I have a comment.

Uh go ahead.

Okay.

Uh I just want to reiterate that I think the windows are in really good salvageable condition.

So depending on how the vote goes, I hope that the applicant is willing to work with staff to um yeah, I because I think the windows look great.

But I second.

Great, thank you.

Can I have a roll club, please?

Davis, aye.

Regard.

Aye.

Bullerton?

Aye.

Pollock.

I Vasquez.

Aye.

And sub over the aye.

Motion carries.

Thank you.

Sir, please work with staff on your next steps.

Okay, will somebody be in touch then?

Yes.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next case.

Agenda item number four, CTAP case number 2025-333, 128 Hermione Boulevard.

The applicants requesting a certificate of appropriateness for approval to construct a 30-inch front yard wood picket fence featuring an attached 18-inch concrete retaining wall and a three-foot tall pedestrian gate.

Staff does not recommend approval of the request based on the findings.

Staff recommends that the applicant retain the existing open yard design.

If the CTAP approves the request is presented, the applicant must obtain a permit from development services department and adhere to UDC requirements regarding installation of fencing in a retaining wall within the right-of-way if applicable.

The applicant, Elena Martinez is here virtually.

And um Elena, we're gonna go ahead and pull up your presentation.

Just give us uh a f a few minutes.

All right, a few seconds.

Okay, so now it's pulled up.

Um you all have 15 minutes and just uh let us know when you want to advance to the next slide.

Okay, thank you for that.

And everyone, I appreciate you being here.

Uh, this is the the last meeting.

I will try to be brief.

Um so as you can see, um, my husband and I reside at 128 Hermione Boulevard, and we are asking uh for a front retaining wall and four and a three-foot cedar fence proposal.

And um we've had great communication with the staff on the review of of our application.

They provide us, you know, how to move forward with today's hearing, and I'm here to provide additional context to the committee, um, including district precedent, neighborhood support, and why this proposal meets both the letter and intent of the historical design guidelines.

And we can go to the next slide.

As you can see, this is a photograph of our existing home.

It's not your typical home in Omouth Park Terrace.

Before we purchased the home, there were um renovations in compliance with historic district uh that were performed.

Um but as you can see, this this does have a grading and sloping issue that has been approved with um maintenance of the grass.

Uh there is a somewhat of a steep grade, uh my elderly parents would attest to um around the the stairs, and there is erosion that we we've we've worked to eliminate.

Um we do see this as a tripping hazard with collapsing edges.

There can be pooling of stormwater around the area.

Um as you can see from the photograph, there's no defined boundary between the yard and the public street.

Um, however, this home as you know as presented does is visible, is open, and our proposal would preserve that openness.

And we can go to the next slide.

So the proposal design summary that we provided to the staff, and this is just myself.

I'm I'm an attorney, but I am not an architect or design, so I did this the best I could.

But what we're trying to showcase in this design is that we would be asking for a 18-inch smooth form concrete retaining wall, and that's to prevent the erosion and to address that sloping issue we have in the front, and that would only be for the front portion of it, and then a 30-inch vertical cedar fence mounted above.

So the total would be a four foot, which is what is allowed, you know, within the district.

The fence would be transparent, it would be low in scale, and it would maintain full visibility of the home.

This is to address both the sloping issues that we've experienced when we've lived there, but most importantly, it's the safety issues that we've experienced since we've been there, and I'll go into that in more detail later.

But this does create a modest landscape edge, it provides a clean compatible enhancement that blends, I believe, seamlessly within the historic character of almost park terrace.

And we can go to the next slide.

So why retaining wall back in the 1930s and 40s, and you probably know this better than I, but I've done a little bit of research and have found that they were not looking into grading issues.

Um now this slope does provide some concern structurally and safety-wise, and as a litigation attorney, um, we know you want to be very, very cautious of how your home is maintained for people in BITES, people coming up on your porch.

And so that has been a concern of ours that's that's been mounting since we've have visibly seen some issues with safety of people trying to go up the grass area, um, which is not the safest way to go up if you have any type of mobility issues.

Um, also it stabilizes the soil, it prevents runoff, and again, this would be a very low modest um purely functional uh retaining wall.

And we can go to the next slide.

Um, again, for the the fence itself, it would be um compliant for foot, it'd be transparent, we'd be using natural materials, and it would be most importantly subordinate to the home, and we believe this is fully consistent with the site elements and fence policy guide that we that we were following when designing this.

We can go to the next slide.

Uh the staff uh as shared does not um recommend this, and they they did provide that their siting element to be II.

Avoid installing a fence or wall where one did not historically exist, particularly within the front yard.

Oh OPT does not does not historically feature front yard fences, and I'll have some references that does support that historic that there is precedent for this position, but I just want to be clear, and you could see from my design that it's not a tall wall, the retaining wall, um, it's not opaque, it's not architecturally dominant, um, it's not an attempt to create any type of store condition that did not exist.

It is very simply a foot foot four foot open fence within the permitted height, support it to the home, and we believe it's compliance with the the guidelines.

We can go to the next slide.

Um policy interpretation versus policy intent on as an attorney.

You know, these things are very important to me, and I know it's important that to committee as well.

Um, so first I understand the intent of the policy, um, and and support it as well, living in historic community.

So we want to prevent in tall, intrusive, historically inaccurate features that disrupt the rhythm of the area, and and I agree with that.

However, the policy does not prohibit modest low height open fences, safety-driven retaining structures due to modern grating issues and uh changes in driving and street street um conditions and new fences that are have compatible materials that are transparent and maintain the historic area of the neighborhood.

And I believe that our proposal does meet these guidelines, and we can go to the next photo, and again, it's just I just reiterated my design here.

Um, that it's not to obscure the facade or alter the street historic street streetscape.

As you can see from the design, it's not going to obstruct any of the windows or the porch or any architectural features.

Um, in fact, I I estimated this, but I believe the home will still remain visible from the street, and the cedar pickets will be more than 75% visible.

And then I did have a one of my neighbors on Madeline Drive 181.

This is a similar feature of what we're trying to do.

Now they they use lower iron, they use a low wrought iron fence with a stone retaining.

But we know that historically you can use a low open wood picket fence or garden loop metal fence.

And the reason we chose the picket fence was we felt that it would be more in line with our home, but we're more than willing to work with the staff that there are some other recommendations.

But this is exactly what we would be looking at.

And as you can see, this home remains completely visible.

I don't believe it takes away at all from the character of the home itself with having that fence, and that's at 181 Mendeley Drive.

And then in terms of the retaining walls, we can go.

Oh, I'm sorry.

If we go to the next slide, I apologize.

And that's the one I was referencing at 181 Madeline Drive.

As you can see, it's very similar to our design, except that we'd be using a smooth structure for the retaining and the picket fence and a cedar picket fence.

And again, we're willing to work with the staff.

I felt that this home illustrates that the visibility is retained, the storic flow of the neighborhood is retained.

And as we know, um, per the policy fence guidelines and consistent with the historic district, these types of fences have been have been allowed and were common in the 1930s and 40s.

And if we go to the next slide, um we also have, and it's also from our neighborhood.

Um, so this is actually on my street, just a couple houses down.

You can see we do have retaining walls and the variations of retaining walls because unfortunately we do have erosion and grading issues, and this has helped to keep you know, stabilize that soil in that area.

And if we go to the next slide, um regarding precedent, um, I I did a lot of research on this because that's my one of my forte as being an attorney.

We do research, we try to find precedent to establish you know how to move forward.

Um, so history is historic absence, it's not the same as historically prohibited, and the district has precedence for front yard fences across multiple years, CTAB, HDRC, and the Board of Adjustments have reviewed and in some cases approved or provide exceptions to front yard fences in almost park terrace.

Um look at the notes back uh for home at 293 Lavera Boulevard, a request including a front yard fence and gate was formally reviewed by HDRC at 2025-153.

You look at case 131 Lavera Boulevard, the city reviewed a front yard fence and HDRC case 2021-050.

If you look at case BOA case 24-103016, a request was considered for a special exception to exceed maximum front yard fence height within almost park terrace, and uh CTAB minutes from February 21st, 2025.

The committee discussed a front yard fence request in almost park terrace, accompanied by uh community correspondence.

I just wanted to illustrate that um front yard fences in this district are not unprecedented, they're not categorically banned, and they have been reviewed on a case-by-case basis consistent with the city's approach to preservation.

If we go to the next slide, and I'm almost finished.

Um, I did canvas in neighborhood.

I work um six days a week from 8 a.m.

to 8 p.m.

I only had about an hour to do this on a Saturday weather permitting.

Every single neighbor I spoke to on my street was in absolute support.

I showed them the design.

I explained the concept, I explained what I was doing.

Um they know the neighborhood.

Um they've some of them have been there for 40 years, and they thought there should be no reason that that we could improve the improve um my uh my home or the neighborhood with putting a picket fence up.

So if we're looking to um know what the people on the ground, people that live there, and then these people have lived there for almost 40 years.

Some of them, my neighbors have.

They were fully in support.

I also presented provided this to the uh Opatie Neighborhood Association president.

He expressed his support for me as well.

And so I just wanted to say that this is not some type of um builder that's coming in and trying to do something that's adverse.

It's it's within the the neighborhoods are supporting it.

If we go to the next slide and again the what is the benefit to the district?

First, you know the primary justification for this request is the safety and well being of the community you know should take precedence over strict interpretation of past aesthetic.

We're requesting a four-foot picket funds as a modern safety need surrounding traffic that's drastically changed since it's the original character of the neighborhood in the 1930s and 40s this safety barrier is essential for protecting vulnerable populations small children and pets um from modern driving hazards that were non-envisioned that could go it's a traditional four foot picket fence it's historically sympathetic design and maintain special transparency effectively balances uh essential safety requirements with the communities establish aesthetic character without becoming an imposing visual barrier um since I've lived on the property um my mother has almost fallen trying to go up and down the slope and this would allow her to have some area to actually navigate up and down the stairs with a little bit of a guidance through the gate um unfortunately as people come into your home you don't always have the best control of your pets because you may not quite be there when they come in we had one of our little 10 pound dog nuggets escape onto the street which was very scary because our streets now be used as the thoroughway and people go around 50 miles an hour.

So that was um very um scary and if we had a fence there wouldn't have been able to get onto the street um and also because the neighbors there are there are homes that have a very similar design so I am asking for the staff's reconsideration regarding our proposal and I will yield my time thank you great thank you is there any public comment for this or no letters of support?

No Commissioner then I'll start with questions.

Madam Chair online you have any questions you're you're muted uh madam chair we can't hear you try again no um not yet um keep talking there we go I think we hear you now I'm sorry go ahead Juanita shoot we can't hear you but we'll go we'll come back to you in just a second um in person commissioners questions I have a question can we approve the retaining wall and not the fence I I I would like to echo my uh fellow commissioner's question that's that's been the question I'm asking if if we can just approve the the concrete installation um of the retaining wall for the greeting and not the accompanying fence so I echo my commissioner's um question you can certainly make that recommendation and then the applicant could decide if they still want to proceed or if they want to appeal in order to add the fence but that would be an option for a recommendation.

I will say there's still a question around um you know the right of way I believe you can construct in the right of way um you know it would get a permit um there would just be a risk of if the city ever came in and put in sidewalks then they would potentially undo the work that you did uh but again that would be something the applicant would work with development services on to make sure they could permit sure my question was going to be about the right of way so it's whatever happens here today does not supersede any requirements for construction in the right of way thank you uh Commissioner Folish thank you um I want to commend the applicant um for uh taking the time and energy to work with your neighbors and to read up on this this is um an incredibly uh thoughtfully crafted and detailed and and annotated um uh presentation and and I certainly appreciate that um as an attorney I understand how um important it is to do all of this uh documentation to look at other cases and um the challenge for us of course is since we're here to um administer the policies and procedures as they're outlined um when we do take this on a case by case basis we have to be very cautious about um the specific uh circumstances of one property versus that particular uh historic district and for instance in your neighborhood um there are certainly some cases you have highlighted where there were the retaining walls and in some cases even low low walls or fences um

Um when we do take this on a case-by-case basis, we have to be very cautious about um the specific uh circumstances of one property versus that particular uh historic district.

And for instance, in your neighborhood, um there are certainly some cases you have highlighted where there were the retaining walls, and in some cases even low low walls or fences.

Um it appears that on your street in particular um there is a remarkable um uh remarkably few, if any, uh really retaining walls or fences.

And one of the challenges with historic landscapes is that it's very easy to disrupt that historic pattern as uh it's almost like a smile uh when when teeth get altered.

Um it it affects that continuity that is part of the reason the neighborhood was designated in the first place.

So um as a commission and um advisory board, we have to take these things very carefully.

Um and I understand the challenges with the landscaping.

Um at the same time, it appears that um many of your neighbors on your street also are challenged with that same uh slope, especially on your side of the street.

Um and they have made the curb cuts for the uh for the stairs going up.

Um, but it does reflect something of the important historic element of the time, given those development patterns in the 40s and I think your house was 1950, um, of how we uh were trying to figure out what suburban life was going to look like in the early post-war period and how these single family detached houses with driveways uh in neighborhoods that were near downtown in a in a way that increased the housing stock in a rapidly growing military city USA, you know, helped tell us some stories there.

And your house is an integral part of that.

And um I compliment you and your husband on uh seeking to be part of that continuing story as you as you tell that story of these uh post-war houses and how they continue to evolve over time.

Thank you.

Any additional questions?

Um I've ma'am, I've got a question, and it's not specifically related to your request, but um when was the house painted?

That was um I believe that we purchased it around 2021, I believe it was uh painted around prior to us purchasing it, but around 2020 by the by whoever renovated the home.

Oh, okay.

I was just concerned about the masonry being painted.

Um, but that's not related to your request.

Uh you mentioned at one time four feet in height, and then another time three feet in height.

Help me understand your request uh in total um because the picture we're seeing in the slide right now, it has installation of it looks like a concrete burn or concrete uh base, and then the picket fence on top would be three feet?

Is that correct?

That's correct.

So a total of four feet.

Correct.

With so in total with the concrete and the picket fence, it would be four total.

That's correct.

Okay.

Okay.

Um this is tough because uh staff is are you able to pull up I was trained here in the computer.

Are you able to pull up the two addresses she referenced on Lo Vera?

Sure.

Um Adrian's doing that right now.

So um I can definitely speak for 293 Livera Boulevard that was uh one of I was the case manager for a number of requests for this property.

Um the CTAB did indeed approve the installation of a front yard fence uh with the stipulation that the applicant submit to staff a site plan that's measured in scale.

Um the applicant has not done that.

Uh so um I've spoken to her somewhat recently.

I'm not sure if the plan is still to install a front yard fence, but she was approved at this commission.

One of the things that staff noted with this particular property, then also too recently a another property in Almost Park Terrace, 102 Terrain Boulevard last cycle was again neighborhood context, but um context to the properties.

So as Adrian is showing here, uh 293 Le Vera is very close to the San Pedro corridor.

Um and there's a number of commercial properties nearby.

Um so staff felt comfortable um recommending approval for that.

Um then the one last cycle, the 102 Thrain Boulevard, similarly is located on the outskirts of the almost park terrace historic district and is located next to a train uh train track.

So there's a number of considerations that in our recommendation we had the context, and as Commissioner uh Fullerton had noted and uh the other commissioners as well is is that this property is located within pretty much the middle of a very long block, and that area doesn't have uh many examples of retaining walls or front yard fences.

And I think I noted that in finding B or C if Adrian, if you could pull up the recommendation.

So would it be correct to say within Almost Park Terrace that it's only homes around the perimeter, such as along San Pedro, um McCullough, those busy corridors are the only homes that have uh front yard fencing.

Uh I can't speak to the entire neighborhood.

What I can say is is that um with right with Omus Park Terrace, Monticello Park and Mona Vista, front yard fencing generally comes to this commission for approval.

Um staff's recommendation typically to the board is typically consistent.

However, the commission itself has a made those exceptions based on the location of the property.

Of course.

But the only exceptions have been typically along those busy corridors such as San Pedro or McCullough, specifically within Almost Park Terrace.

I I can't speak to the entirety.

Um I I know that since I've um worked with OHP, that's generally been the case.

Yes.

Corey, is there any context you can add to that?

I there's not a lot of fencing requests in this neighborhood, so there's really just a handful that I'm familiar with.

Yeah, and specifically within mid-block, there is not a lot of precedent for front yard fencing requests.

No generally no.

Um as Corey noted.

I mean, the uh we don't generally receive front yard fencing requests that often in these uh northern developments.

Uh most front yard requests are typically Dignity Hill, Lavaca, King William, um south of south of these three districts, yeah.

Okay.

Okay, great.

Um discussion, Madam Chair.

I'll start with you online.

Oh, sorry.

Can you get through to her?

You're muted now, Juanita.

So okay, try again.

No, I'm not sure what's happening.

We can't hear you.

I'm sorry.

Can you type your question, Juanita, and we can read it?

I'm sorry now, but she's got to be seen and heard.

Oh, okay.

Thank you, counsel.

Um any questions from or sorry, any discussion from my colleagues here.

Okay.

One question.

I I'm not sure if the applicant would be willing to uh table this conversation um for a future meeting um in order to have a further conversation with staff regarding retaining wall versus retaining wall and fence okay, sorry, Corey.

What would the conversation be?

Uh I guess my question is if if we vote and we voted down, then um the conversation regarding the retaining wall would be dead in the water and couldn't be revisited for 12 months.

Is that right?

Um they could always return with a amended request.

And so if it was wall only, that would be amended from what's requested requested today.

And I guess to follow up with that, it it is possible to do a motion that would that would say that just you could move for wall only.

Apologies.

Any further discussion?

I agree with uh my fellow commissioner here.

I'd be open to approving the retaining wall strictly and not with the fence.

Um Megan has raised a good point here, which is we need six votes, and um unless we can make sure we have Juita's audio, she is not voting.

So um Juanita, can you look at your calendar invite?

There's call-in information.

Can you try calling in for the audio?

Another trick is just to hang up and try to rejoin the meeting and see if see if it works.

Um May I recommend a five-minute recess so we can take care of technical issues.

Thank you, Council.

Can we have a five-minute recess, please?

Thank you.

The applicant has a question for that.

We're ready to resume.

Uh I don't know if they're honor what.

I think the applicant was wanting to be recognized, Mr.

Chair.

Uh well, we were still in uh questions, and I don't think Juanita or Madam Chair got to ask any.

So now that you're connected.

Go ahead.

The only questions I had was for staff, and and thank you so much for the presentation because very informative, and I really liked it.

So let's the detail.

Staff on that road, since we're addressing just the the retaining wall and the and the vent on on that particular area.

Do we have any others that are in in I heard part of it where there were no additional requests for there nowhere down that that path, but I do see that retaining wall.

And I did try searching up those addresses that uh Ms.

Martinez provided.

Sure.

Um so this historic district is relatively new.

I believe it was designated in 2007, 2008.

So there are a number of retaining walls and front yard fencing.

It's not um a large majority of the districts for certain, but that there's certainly in Adrian's showing here, there's certain examples of retaining walls throughout the neighborhood.

So that's neither here nor there.

The properties specifically that the applicant brought up, like two ninety-three Livera, um, I had discussed, and then there was another property that came uh last CTAB cycle 102 terrain um we had discussed.

The other address I'm gonna do.

Just a second, we've lost quorum.

Sorry, just one moment.

Applicant, please would you mind uh hanging on there?

Sorry about that.

Thank you.

Thank you, counsel.

Jason, did we lose quorum?

We did.

Uh somebody stepped out.

We hope not far.

We lost quorum without GIF, if you wouldn't mind.

Sorry, so let's resume.

Right.

So then as far as the other address that the um that the applicant had mentioned, uh that was it it appeared to have been approved in 2021.

Um so I I'm generally unfamiliar with that uh that address.

Okay.

Is that within the same historical district though?

Yes, it is.

Okay, and but on on that particular road, the only thing that we have is a retaining wall.

There haven't been any fences.

And according to the guidelines, even though it can be amended, um that is what the what the current status is, right?

Uh correct.

So that so well that so that the guidelines don't s say you have to match.

The guidelines say that fences are allowable where they've existed historically.

Um so as Brian kind of alluded to, like some of these more suburban historic districts were were developed in the 40s and 50s with larger lots.

They never historically had fences, whereas some of the older neighborhoods with smaller lots and kind of front yard gardens did.

And so we those requests are more typical to those older historic districts and less common in these areas.

But not, you know, to say like they do exist.

They have been approved some uh were installed kind of right before designation and aren't that historic necessarily.

Um so we just have to look at the context of that historic development pattern any time we review these.

Now can you refer back to the one that was close to the to the um railroad crossing?

Because that's the one I was kind of concerned with.

But that was made under certain conditions.

Is that correct?

Uh so staff did not approve that administratively, it received um it received approval from this uh commission last month.

Okay.

But that was based on the fact that it's so close to a high traffic area and to the close to the railroad tracks, is that correct?

Uh that was considered as a part of our recommendation, but it was ultimately approved because the CTAP approved it.

So the the reasoning behind the votes for the board, I would have to leave to y'all.

Madam Chair, I think I think that's what it was when we discussed it before.

I believe that was correct.

It was the high traffic.

Yeah.

Okay.

That was all my question.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um and applicant, I'm sorry, uh if did you have a something?

Yes, I was just gonna I was just going to um if I may, just briefly.

Um if you go back to um Mr.

Gallios, if you would be able to show my home in relation to McCullough again.

And I am and I can very much appreciate um the amount of work everyone does here to both preserve and to fairly um put forth uh you know your decisions.

So uh and of course I'll I'll work with you guys as we go forward.

I we we do need both the retaining wall and the fence.

So I appreciate uh the the compromise that was being looked at, but we would we would want both or need both.

And we we are only about five houses down from I am a runner and I'm out at around 6 a.m.

in the morning.

And it is unfortunate that our street, after it was being used as a detour, has now become a thoroughway for traffic to go down from McCullough to San Pedro.

So the proximity to McCullough and San Pedro is no longer a safety barrier because that's our street has now been utilized by the city or was utilized by the city as a detour, it is now a being used by traffic for that purpose, and they go around 50 miles, 55 miles an hour.

I've already reported this to the police.

They've already put up um a safety corridor to alert people of appropriate speeds.

Um but the proximity to McCullough is no longer, you know, one house down, two home two homes down is no longer uh provides that barrier that it used to.

Um again, the fence is compatible with the historic guidelines.

Um I understand there's not one specifically on my street that I can reference, but there was one at 181 Madeline Drive that's within um right next to the park that had a similar design.

And um and again, this is a significant safety issue that why we're looking to put it up and not to not impact the historic nature of the of the home.

But at the end of the day, as a recent text in I should say it because I've been here back and forth as a military individual, um, I know Texans very much understand their property and want to be able to use and enjoy their property, and we want to also be cautious that we we don't uh still limit people's ability to utilize their property, will save that property that you know we can't have some functionality.

So this would really be this is very important to my husband and I, and um and we hope that uh the committee will consider that in the vote today.

But we'll respect the process and and move forward with with what we need to if um if we need to uh after this.

So thank you.

That's why.

Thank you very much.

Um what was the address that you mentioned or the area?

Did you say Madeline Drive or Yes, um 180, I think it was 181.

Is that within almost park terrace?

Yes it is on mandalay.

Mandalay.

Um we'll need to check.

I know that the Almus Park Terrace neighborhood is larger than the almost park terrace neighborhood uh historic district.

But if you give me just a couple minutes that I can check.

Thank you.

Just a minute.

We'll go next with you, Madam Chair.

Mr.

Chair, may I mention um while we're looking that up?

Um I believe that the city has changed uh its rules in the last couple of years regarding traffic calming devices to make them easier to install in terms of the um the distance uh between devices or stop signs.

Um and the applicant may find it helpful to to look online on the application process or speak with someone in your council member office about uh uh speed bombs or speed tables or other devices that the um city might be able to help in terms of uh addressing that traffic issue.

You're right.

You're right, thank you.

That's within D1's Ms.

Mr.

Chair.

Um I just confirmed uh using the explorer map.

This uh 181 West Mandalay is just outside of the historic district.

So it's within the larger neighborhood, but not in the district itself.

Okay, so we can't use that as an example.

Thank you.

Um move to discussion now.

Is there any further discussion in person here?

If not.

Oh, go ahead.

I'm sorry.

Uh one more comment.

Um I feel like I would be remiss in um not taking this opportunity um since especially since you're a runner and you get to see your neighborhood every day on a regular basis and take this in on your runs.

Um I uh appreciate that your spare time is scarce and very precious.

But if you do have opportunities uh off and on to speak with your neighbors and people in your neighborhood association in your historic district, um I wanted to invite you to be part of this evolving conversation on what it looks um to have a uh pre-war and post-war subdivision uh such as the one that you live in, because you have houses that straddle the war, and you have this connection um geographically to uh communities like uh Fort Sam and this challenge within the preservation community writ large of what it means to to have landscape preservation and conservation and and and historic structures.

Um you know the history of preservation oftentimes initially in the US was about bricks and mortar, and then we said, well, what about landscapes?

What about cultural practices and under underrepresented groups?

Um and these conversations really get um exploded in the post-war period because we're really finally starting to appreciate the rich tapestry of of American society in your neighborhood.

I think captures so much of that and and landscape is an important part of that.

So uh again, I appreciate uh your your attorney's hours are uh ri uh are in very intense.

Um but if you so choose uh do it.

At this point, I we need to go back to point of order.

Okay, all right.

I'm done.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Um Madam Chair, go ahead.

I you know uh I don't have any more.

Uh let me know when we're going to discussion.

We are right now.

Go ahead.

We don't have a motion yet, right?

Oh.

Correct.

There's current no motion on the floor.

Okay.

Then I'll ask for a motion.

I move to accept staff's recommendations as written.

Is there a second?

I'll second.

Can I have a roll call, please?

Davis, aye.

Bergard?

Aye.

Fullerton?

Aye.

Pollock?

Nay.

Vasquez?

Aye.

And Suppulva.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Thank you.

Please work with staff on next steps.

Thank you all.

Appreciate it.

Happy holidays.

Thank you.

Same to you.

That concludes our meeting.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, everyone.

Happy holidays.