The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutRCC MIN 2002/09/30 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION September 30, 2002 Mercy Building Conference Room 430 "F" Street MEETING CALLED TO ORDER by Chair Teresa Thomas at 6:35 p.m. ROLL CALL/MOTION TO EXCUSE MSC (Chávez/Jasek) to excuse Vice-Chair Doug Reid. Vote: (4-0-0-1) with Bensoussan absent. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Teresa Thomas, Commissioners Juan Diaz, Stanley Jasek, John Chávez and Pamela Bensoussan (6:43) STAFF PRESENT: Marilyn Ponseggi, Environmental Review Coordinator Marisa Lundstedt, Environmental Projects Manager Linda Bond, Recording Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Walter & Marilyn Williams, 692 Second Avenue Ligia Brannen, 435 'E' Street Charles Bull, 850 Beech Street, #807, San Diego, CA 92101 Jill Galvez, 7 Cresta Way APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 19, 2002 MSC (Diaz/Jasek) to approve the minutes of August 19, 2002 after correcting two minor typos. Vote: (4-0-0-2) with Reid and Bensoussan absent. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. OLD BUSINESS 1. Reconsideration of Historic Designation, 435 'E' Street (Monroe House) Ms. Marilyn Ponseggi (Environmental Review Coordinator) reported that this house was considered for designation at the August 19, 2002 RCC meeting where the Commissioners determined that there was not sufficient information to make a recommendation to the City Council. The owner stated at that time that the house was built in 1886; however, there was no recorded documentation to support that. Since then, the owner has done additional research and provided staff with more information on the history of the house and those who lived in it. Property records show that the house did exist in 1926. This house is located on one of the first paved roads in Chula Vista. The land that the house sits upon was part of Rancho de la Nacion, which encompassed a large portion of western Chula Vista and all of what is now National City. Earliest records show that William Ada Monroe took title to the property in 1912. Mr. Monroe was one of the first City Council members and a member of RCC Minutes - 2- September 30, 2002 the Chula Vista Board of Trustees. He was instrumental in establishing and maintaining telephone lines in Chula Vista as well as being a prominent rancher in the South Bay. Staff Recommendation: Based on the additional information that has come forward, staff recommends that the RCC reconsider the property owner's request for inclusion on the Chula Vista List of Historic Sites under Criteria #4, unique type of Spanish Colonial architecture; Criteria #6, retains integrity of materials and design; and Criteria #2, relates to a historic personage. MSC (Jasek/Diaz) to approve staffs' recommendation for historic designation. Vote: (4-0-0-2) with Reid and Bensoussan absent. 2, Reconsideration of Historic Designation, 692 Second Avenue (Percy S. Eustis House) Ms. Ponseggi reported that, at the previous RCC meeting, there was extensive discussion about designating this house because of its context within a neighborhood that was once considered as a potential historic district and its close proximity to other homes that have been designated. Those were the primary reasons for the RCC designating the site. When staff went to write up the recommendation to City Council, staff realized they were having some difficulty in relating the house back to the criteria that are established. When the City Attorney's office reviewed the report, they sent it back to staff and said that it did not meet any of the adopted criteria. The City Attorney's office recommended that staff bring the house back to the RCC for reconsideration. Staff Recommendation: That the RCC hold off on this designation until such time as the ad hoc committee completes its work and the City Council acts on their recommendations. Mr. Walter Williams (Owner, 692 Second Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910) thought that his home had been misidentified as a modified Craftsman. He thought it is more properly a Cottage. No one has come to see the home or come inside it. Mr. Williams distributed photos of the exterior and interior of the house. These photos featured built in closets, built in China closets, built-in bookcases, a coat closet as YOU come in the front door that is built into the walls and very hiqh ceilinqs. Ms. ponseggi clarified that the reason no one had been inside the house is because the historic criteria specifically speaks to the exterior. Chair Thomas asked if there had been modifications made to the outside of the house. Mr. Williams responded in the ne9ative. Ms. Ponseggi believed that modifications were the stucco. The stucco was not in character with the time that the house was built. Commissioner Bensoussan stated that she walked all around the house and did not see anything Craftsman about it. The only modification she saw was a porch that had been enclosed and made into a room, but the stucco and clapboard are original. When combining all the architecture features of the house, it is more of an Eclectic English Cottage. Commissioner Bensoussan wanted to recommend designation for meeting the criteria of important personage and architecture. Chair Thomas stated for clarification that the RCC made a motion at the August 19, 2002 meeting (Bensoussan/Diaz), which passed unanimously for designation based on important RCC Minutes - 3- September 30. 2002 personage and architecture. The only thing, there was a mistake in describing the house as a Craftsman. Commissioner Bensoussan suggested that the Commissioners make an effort to look at the houses that are going to be talked about because so much is missed in the photographs. MSC (Diaz/Jasek) to accept the house for historic designation on the bases that it is an Eclectic English Cottage not a Craftsman, Criteria #4; also that it has a historic personage, Criteria #2. Vote: (5-0-0-1) with Reid absent. NEW BUSINESS 3. Follow-up on Issues Raised by Jon Rilling Regarding the RMP Ms. Ponseggi reminded the Commissioners that Jon Rilling with the Otay Land Company appeared before them under ORAL COMMUNICATIONS on July 1, 2002 citing a variety of issues that he saw with the City's implementation of the Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Otay Ranch. There have been articles in the newspapers over the last couple of months. Ms. Marisa Lundstedt (Environmental Projects Manager) gave a PowerPoint presentation giving the RCC a basic background of the RMP, what it is, how it relates to the Otay Ranch and how it is being implemented. · Otay Ranch General Development Plan/Subregional Plan (GDP/SRP) · Geographic Context · GDP/SRP Geographic Guidelines for Establishing Conveyance Priorities · RMP 2 Plan · The 1998 Conveyance Plan · Conveyed Lands by SPA One Developers · The University Agreement · Third Party Acquisitions of Preserve Land · Connectivity of the Preserve · Status · Key Points Ms. Lundstedt gave the RCC a brief summary of a report she prepared that goes through each one of the comments that Jon Rilling brought up. Ms. Ponseggi distributed a copy of a letter City Manager Dave Rowlands sent to the editor of the Reader in response to their article regarding the conveyance plan. INFORMATIONAL ITEM 4. Fourth Avenue (Friendship Park) Street Tree Issue Ms. Ponseggi stated that this item would be postponed as the presenter had the flu. RCC Minutes - 4" September 30. 2002 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COORDINATOR COMMENTS Ms. ponseggi presented outgoing member Charles Bull with a plaque in appreciation for his service on the Resource Conservation Commission. Ms. Ponseggi distributed a listing of recent environmental accomplishments related to planning and development review. Ms. Ponseggi encouraged the RCC members to go out and look at whatever is on the agenda. Please be aware that, if you go on private property, you must have the property owners' permission. As a requirement of the Brown Act, please try to avoid conversations with the property owners. If a RCC member has conversations with property owners or any of the applicants or they contact a member, it is important that, at the beginning of that item, the RCC member disclose to the rest of the Commission that they have had those conversations. CHAIR COMMENTS: Chair Thomas made several environmental-related announcements of conferences and events going on in the County. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Thomas adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.rn. to a regular meeting on Monday, October 14, 2002, at 6:30 p.rn. in the Mercy Building Conference Roorn, 430 "F" Street, Chula Vista, CA. Prepared by: L~~~4 ':::;1"", ,L> Recording Secretary (A:\llbIRCC#2IRCC093002Mins.doc)