Cultural Heritage Board Meeting - June 19, 2024: Landmark Alteration Approval for 410 Santa Rosa Avenue
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Cultural Heritage Board Regular Meeting – June 19, 2024
The Santa Rosa Cultural Heritage Board met on June 19, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. The meeting included public comments on Roseland preservation and a public hearing for a Landmark Alteration Permit to renovate the exterior of 410 Santa Rosa Avenue and convert ground-floor commercial space to residential. After deliberation, the board approved the permit with conditions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Duane DeWitt (Roseland resident) spoke during non-agenda public comment, urging the board to consider preserving areas in Roseland, particularly the Burbank Avenue Fire Station, and recommending designation of preservation districts.
- Duane DeWitt also spoke during the public hearing on item 9.1, expressing support for the project, noting a surplus of vacant commercial properties and a need for housing, and encouraging approval without further delays.
Discussion Items
- Public Hearing – Landmark Alteration for 410 Santa Rosa Avenue (File LMA24-008): The project proposes exterior modifications including new windows/doors, Boral Channel bevel siding, a plastered stairway, and second-level balconies. The lower-level commercial space would convert to a residential unit. Staff (Suzanne Hartman) presented findings that the changes are consistent with zoning, compatible with the Burbank Gardens Preservation District (non-contributing property), and exempt from CEQA. Board members expressed concerns: Board Member Fennell questioned the loss of commercial use and the building's decline; Board Member Garrett worried about the balconies being out of character; Board Members Klyn and Marzlin shared concerns. The applicant (Shane Kelly) explained the stucco covering original wood siding, and the planned use. After board discussion, a motion was made and amended to add conditions: remove the front balconies, ensure second-floor windows match the historic photo dimensions and design, and finish the entire exterior in stucco. The amendments were accepted.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to approve Resolution CHB-2024-002 for a Landmark Alteration Permit at 410 Santa Rosa Avenue, as amended with three conditions: (1) eliminate balconies on the front facade, (2) second-level windows to match historic resource evaluation photo (size, dimensions, design), (3) entire building exterior to be stucco.
- Vote: 6-0 in favor (Chair Meuser absent). The decision is final unless appealed within 10 calendar days.
- The meeting adjourned at 5:41 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Vice Chair Carney, it's 4 30 if you'd like to start the meeting. It's 4 30 p.m. and I'm calling this meeting of the Cultural Heritage Board to order. Uh recording secretary, can we please have a roll call? Thank you. Uh board member Borin. Present. Thank you, board member Fennel. President. Uh board member Garrett. Here. Board Member Klein present. Board Member Marslin. Here. And Vice Chair Carney. Here. And let the record reflect that all board members are present with the exception of Chair Muser. Item two, remote participation. We have none. Um item three, approval of minutes. Uh does anyone have any changes to the minutes? Uh seeing none of the minutes for the April 17th are approved as submitted. Uh recording secretary, do we have any public comment on item three approval of minutes? If you're in council chambers and would like to make a comment for item three, non-agenda matters, please make your way to the podium. Thank you, Mr. DeWitt. I meant item four, non-agenda manners for public comment. Hello, my name is Dwayne DeWitt. I'm from Roseland. Many of us over in Roseland feel we're in a special spot and that we should have some recognition for our history over there. One of the reasons why I'm here today is because this body has the opportunity to recommend designation of not just landmarks, but preservation districts. Along Sebastopool Road and along Burbank Avenue, named after Luther Burbank, who owned property there a hundred and fifteen years ago. Well, it was first the Southwest Area plan, then came a Southwest Santa Rosa redevelopment project area idea. At the time when those studies were done, it was pointed out that there were nice houses along Sebastopol Road, Dutton Avenue, Burbank Avenue, and others that should have some perhaps consideration to be preserved. And new employees that came along in Santa Rosa really had no concerns about Roseland and about saving anything over there. Most of their concerns lie to the east of the railroad tracks. Throwing down the drain. Twenty-four years ago, we were able to have Rosie the trolley used for a tour to show the officials that were a part of the Southwest Santa Rosa redevelopment project area plan what Roseland was about. If we could get you folks to start looking over there and see it more than just when one project arrives, you could be able to help us recommend designation for a preservation area, such as the Burbank Avenue Fire Station, which was put together by World War II veterans who came home and taxed themselves for a fire district, and then staffed the volunteer fire department and kept it alive all these years. When the city got a hold of it seven years ago in annexation, they got three and a half million dollars. And we'd like to see that be used to preserve that fire station building and do something special. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your comments. Do we have any other public comment? I see no other public comment. All right, the public comment is closed. Moving on to item five board business, a statement of purpose. The 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 awareness of preservation issues. 5.2 board member reports. Do we have any reports from the board members?
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