Cultural Heritage Board Special Meeting – December 20, 2023: Approval of New Home at 912 McDonald Avenue
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Santa Rosa Cultural Heritage Board Special Meeting – December 20, 2023
Note on Meeting Date: The agenda and minutes indicate the meeting was held on December 13, 2023, but the instruction specifies using the date December 20, 2023. The summary reflects the latter date as instructed.
The Cultural Heritage Board held a special meeting on December 20, 2023. The sole agenda item was a public hearing for a Landmark Alteration Permit (LMA22-016) to construct a new single-family dwelling at 912 McDonald Avenue within the McDonald Avenue Preservation District. After hearing staff presentation, public testimony, and board deliberation, the board voted 6-0 to approve the permit with conditions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Doug Bosco (neighbor at 1020 McDonald Avenue) spoke in full support of the project, noting the lot had been used as a community garden for over 20 years and expressing 100% support for applicant Susan Merrill.
- Steve Kawanis, landscape architect on the project, expressed full support for the project.
- Applicant Susan Merrill (via Zoom) expressed excitement and gratitude, sharing her family's long history in the neighborhood since 1917.
- Jeff Burrell, architect from Faral Faber, expressed support and enthusiasm for the project.
Discussion Items
Staff planner Christian Candelaria presented the project: a one-story, 1,873-square-foot, three-bedroom home with a detached two-car garage, well pump house, and covered outdoor area on an undeveloped lot. The project is exempt from CEQA. A historic standards report found the design compatible with the district character. The concept had been reviewed previously by the board, and changes were incorporated, including ginkgo trees (replacing crepe myrtles) and wood-clad windows.
Board members asked questions about the attic gable window treatment, the well house (confirmed as a working well), and landscaping. Vice Chair Garrett raised concerns about the proposed fiber cement (HardiePlank) siding, suggesting smooth wood lap siding instead; the window mullions (preferring exterior grids rather than sandwiched between panes); and the light fixture (preferring a more traditional craftsman style). Applicant Susan Merrill was amenable to changes for windows and light fixture but uncertain about siding. Other board members expressed that the siding material was acceptable for a new home, noting that fiber cement can mimic wood and is fire-resistant.
Board Member Fennell raised a concern about the chimney being clad in the same material as the house, suggesting stone or brick to break up the appearance. However, she did not make a motion.
Key Outcomes
- Motion: Vice Chair Garrett moved to approve Landmark Alteration Permit (PRJ22-027) with a friendly amendment requiring the windows to have exterior mullions (to simulate true divided lights) and a light fixture appropriate to the architectural style. The motion was seconded by Board Member Fennell.
- Amendment clarification: The siding requirement was dropped from the amendment; the board accepted the proposed fiber cement lap siding as designed.
- Vote: The motion carried 6-0 (Board Member Klyn absent).
- Resolution: Resolution No. CHB-2023-001 approving the Landmark Alteration Permit for the Merrill Residence at 912 McDonald Avenue was adopted as amended.
The meeting adjourned at 5:22 PM.
Meeting Transcript
No. Not the applicant. Yeah, they're on Zoom. They're on Zoom. I'm sorry. They're on virtual on Zoom. Oh, okay. Okay. So they're we'd start. And we have the member of the public here. We'll go ahead and we'll go ahead and start. Whenever you're ready. Call the meeting. Okay. Um board member Borin. Board member Carney is absent. Board member Fennel? Here. Board member Klein is absent. Board Member Marslin. Here. Vice Chair Garrett. Here. Chair Muser. Here. Let the record reflect that all board members are present with the exception of board member Carney and board member Klein. Okay. Tonight is a uh special uh business meeting. Uh cultural heritage board. And um so it'll be a little bit of an abbreviated agenda as we're just going to be dealing with um one item on the agenda tonight. So um item two board business. Um I'm just going to go ahead and open and close board business. We won't deal with any board business tonight. And I'll move on to item 2.1 statement of purpose. I will read that. Uh principal duties of the board include undertaking and updating historic inventories or surveys, recommending designation of landmarks and preservation districts, reviewing proposed alterations to historic buildings, and promoting public wellness of preservation issues. If you are in a historic district or would like more information regarding historic districts, please see the processing review procedures for owners of historic districts or historic properties. So item number three statement of abstention by board members. And basically, if you have a reason why you need to recuse yourself from this item uh that we're going to be looking at, this would be the time to speak up. Not seeing anyone, we'll close uh item three. Okay, move right into welcome Patrick. Going right into our scheduled item tonight. Um this will be public hearing for landmark alteration for a new single family dwelling at 912 McDonald Avenue file number LMA 22-016. Uh the background construction, construct new one-story 1873 square foot three-bedroom home with detached garage, a pump well house, or a well pump house, and covered outdoor area. The project is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act. And uh I I will add uh for the board members that this is a new building, so it's not a historic structure that's being remodeled. It's it's new building on on new ground. And um we have the presentation uh being made to us tonight by uh Christiana uh yes, right? Yes. Right?
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