Cultural Heritage Board Regular Meeting - December 7, 2022

The Santa Rosa Cultural Heritage Board held a virtual regular meeting on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Chair Meuser called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m. and briefly recessed to resolve a technical issue with a board member's camera, reconvening at 4:38 p.m. All board members participated via Zoom. The meeting included a code enforcement presentation, a vote to place a future discussion about unpermitted work in preservation districts, and a concept review for a new single-family dwelling at 912 McDonald Avenue in the McDonald Preservation District. No minutes were approved. The meeting adjourned at 5:58 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• None.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the public comment periods at the start of the meeting, for the code enforcement presentation, or for the 912 McDonald Avenue item.

Discussion Items

• Code Enforcement Presentation (Item 8.1): Senior Code Enforcement Officer Cassidy Anderson and Staff Liaison Susie Murray presented an overview of the code enforcement process. The presentation covered the division's responsibilities, common violations, exclusions (e.g., civil disputes, mobile home parks, creeks), and examples of minor versus major landmark alteration permits. Staff explained exemptions from Landmark Alteration Permits, such as repairs with the same materials, repainting, rain gutters, skylights not visible from the public right-of-way, air conditioning units, demolition of non-historic buildings, similar re-roofing, and window/door replacements meeting established criteria. They also detailed enforcement tools, including courtesy/notice of violation letters, failure to abate letters, notices of noncompliance, administrative citations ($100–$500), administrative hearings, assessment liens, abatement, and judicial remedies. Board members asked about the frequency of preservation-related complaints and discussed the need for better public education. Board Member Fennell proposed creating a brochure or acknowledgment for property owners and realtors in historic districts; staff acknowledged the idea without making a commitment.
• Motion to Add Future Agenda Discussion (Item 8.2): The board considered adding a discussion about changes to properties and structures within Santa Rosa’s preservation districts without benefit of permits to a future agenda. This followed a June 1, 2022 motion that initiated a three-step process. Board Member Fennell moved to add the discussion, and Board Member Garrett seconded the motion. Board members expressed strong support for continuing the conversation, citing examples of unpermitted alterations and the need for education. The motion passed unanimously 6–0.
• Concept Landmark Alteration Permit – 912 McDonald Avenue (Item 8.3): Project Planner Christian Candelaria and applicant representatives presented a concept review for a proposed new 1,873-square-foot, three-bedroom, 2.5-bath single-family dwelling with a detached 648-square-foot two-car garage, a 98-square-foot well pump house, and a 500-square-foot covered outdoor area on a 0.26-acre lot in the McDonald Preservation District. The applicant explained that the parcel was a vacant former community garden and that the home was designed to complement the neighborhood, with alley access for the garage, a covered front porch, and Craftsman-style architecture using a painted Hardie product, composition shingle roof, and fiberglass-clad windows. The neighborhood meeting the prior week generated two comments about front street trees and the use of the existing well for irrigation only. Board members provided design feedback: Board Member Garrett preferred wood windows, had concerns about the proposed crepe myrtle street trees, the curved rock walls, the covered patio material, and the building setback, and requested clarification on the front triple window group. Board Member Huang also preferred wood windows, wanted more rectilinear hardscaping, and suggested white picket fencing. Board Member Praetzellis appreciated the alley access and encouraged a more historic shingle pattern. Board Member Boren said filling the vacant lot would be an asset to the neighborhood. The applicant thanked the board and said the comments would be incorporated into the design. No formal action was taken on the concept review.

Key Outcomes

• The board voted unanimously (6–0) to add a discussion regarding work in preservation districts without permits to a future Cultural Heritage Board agenda.
• The board provided design direction for the 912 McDonald Avenue project; the applicant will revise the proposal and return for further review.
• Staff Liaison Murray reported on Fremont Park: due to contracting delays, a draft historic report is expected by the end of January or early February 2023, at which point it will be brought back to the board.
• The meeting adjourned at 5:58 p.m.