Cultural Heritage Board Regular Meeting - August 4, 2021
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Cultural Heritage Board Regular Meeting – August 4, 2021
The Santa Rosa Cultural Heritage Board met virtually on August 4, 2021 at 2:34 p.m. to receive updates on the Downtown Station Area Historic Resource Evaluation, a study session on the Downtown Station Area Specific Plan (DSASP), and to consider new procedures and regulations for the board. No votes were taken; the procedures item was continued to August 18, 2021. Staff announced that future meetings will shift to a 4:30 p.m. start time effective September 1, 2021.
Public Comments & Testimony
- During item 7.1 (Historic Resource Evaluation), Denise H. asked two questions: (1) where to find a bio of the consultant (Architectural Resources Group), and (2) whether the evaluation would allow developers to avoid CEQA review for potentially historic properties. Staff clarified that the consultant’s bio would be posted on the project website and that CEQA would not be avoided; the evaluation only streamlines review for non‑significant properties.
Discussion Items
7.1 – Downtown Station Area Historic Resource Evaluation Update
- Shari Meads, Project Planner, presented an overview of the evaluation project. The goal is to identify properties built before 1975 (approximately 627 properties) outside existing preservation districts within the DSASP area. The reconnaissance survey and field work are complete; a historic context statement is being drafted. An intensive survey and final report will follow. The public kickoff meeting is scheduled after the next Cultural Heritage Board meeting. Board members asked about their role in responding to evaluations, communication with property owners, and parameters of the area. Staff noted that these details are still being developed and will be brought back to the board.
7.2 – Study Session: Downtown Station Area Specific Plan Overview/Training
- Amy Nicholson, Project Planner, presented the DSASP and recent zoning code amendments affecting the Cultural Heritage Board. Key changes include: new floor area ratio (FAR) standards for most properties (except some contributory properties in preservation districts), updated design standards, transition areas to reduce visual impact on preservation districts, and revised design review processes (separate action by Cultural Heritage Board and Design Review Board; joint concept review now required). Compatibility criteria now reference “contributors” to preservation districts. A board member asked about the timeframe; staff reported that the changes have been in effect about nine months and several projects are coming before the board.
7.3 – Introducing the Cultural Heritage Board Procedures, Rules and Regulations
- Chair Meuser continued the item to August 18, 2021, giving board members time to review the proposed updates in light of the recent zoning code changes.
Key Outcomes
- The Historic Resource Evaluation project is ongoing; a public kickoff meeting will be held after the next board meeting. Staff will return with answers to board inquiries.
- The study session on the DSASP was informational; no action taken.
- Item 7.3 (Procedures, Rules and Regulations) was continued to the next meeting on August 18, 2021.
- Future meeting start time will change to 4:30 p.m. effective September 1, 2021.
- The board will transition to hybrid meetings in October 2021.
Meeting Transcript
Oh my god. Yeah. Welcome everybody. We now have a quorum, but we are going to wait another five minutes for a few board members to hop on and we will be start starting shortly. Yes, thank you. Member Garrett, if you could do a video on a mic check for us, please. Member Juan, if you could do a video on a mic check, please. Hello. Great, we can see and hear you. Thank you so much. Great. All right, Chair Muser. This is the host. I just want to let you know that staff is ready when you are. It appears we do have a quorum, and all members that are supposed to be here are here. And just so other board members are aware, we are doing a quasi-hybrid meeting where uh Chair Muser is in the chamber. So if you can be a little patient with us, we are learning some new tech tonight, but hopefully it'll run smooth. Thank you. We ready to begin? Yeah. Okay, welcome everybody. Umbers of the public and cultural heritage board. I'd like to call to order the August 4th Cultural Heritage Board meeting. And uh Mr. Maloney, if we could uh do a roll call. Thank you, Chair Muser. Let the record reflect that all commissioners are present except or board members are present except board member Gail. I am so used. Thank you, Mr. Maloney. And uh before we get started, I just want to make a statement. We are doing uh the meeting a little bit different once again with uh with COVID. Um our staff ways on uh Susie Murray and myself are at City Hall, and with that we are following uh protocol COVID protocols, so that's you will see us both uh wearing masks through the meeting. Um we are trying out some new systems, so there may be a few hiccups along the way, so hopefully everybody will just kind of bear with us and uh and uh we'll we'll get through this and eventually have a smooth run and chip. Um with that, I'd like to say that uh due to the provisions of the governor's executive order in twenty-five twenty and in twenty-nine twenty, which suspend certain requirements of the Brown Act and the order of the health officer of the county of Sonoma to shelter in place to minimize the spread of COVID nineteen. The Cultural Heritage Board is conducting today's meeting in a virtual setting using Zoom webinar. Board members and staff are presenting from remote locations and or practicing appropriate social distancing. Members of the public may view and listen to the meeting as noted on the city's website and as noted on the agenda. Members of the public wishing to speak during um any of the items, public comment or doing during public hearing items will be able to do so by raising their hand and will be given the ability to address the board. Moving on to item two of the agenda, approval of the minutes. Um do we have any um additions or changes from our fellow board members from the uh last uh meeting's minutes? Uh Chair Muser, we actually don't have any minutes to approve yet. I am still working on last meetings. They'll be coming soon. Okay, thank you, Ms. Pillow. At this time, I'd like to open a public comment. We now open public comment for any item not included in this meeting's agenda. If you wish to make a comment via Zoom, please select the raise hand button. If you are dialing in via telephone, please dial star nine to raise your hand.
openpublica.com