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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 2002/02/18 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION February 18, 2002 Mercy Building Conference Room 430 "F" Street MEETING CALLED TO ORDER by Chair Charles Bull at 6:32 p.m. ROLL CALL/MOTION TO EXCUSE MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Charles Bull, Vice-Chair Doug Reid, Commissioners Teresa Thomas, Cindy Burrascano, Juan Diaz and Pamela Bensoussan (6:34) STAFF PRESENT: Marilyn Ponseggi, Environmental Review Coordinator Jim Sandoval, Assistant Planning Director Dave Hansen, Deputy City Attorney Lynnette Tessitore-Lopez, Associate Planner (TEP) Linda Bond, Recording Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Jose M. Torres, 58 San Miguel Drive Mari A. Torres, 58 San Miguel Drive Frank M. Roseman, Chula Vista Heritage Museum APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 1,2001 and February 4,2002 The approval of the minutes for October 1, 2001 was postponed until later in the meeting when the appropriate Commissioners would be present. MSc (Reid/Burrascano) to approve the February 4, 2002 minutes as submitted. Vote: (5-0-0-1) with Bensoussan absent ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. PRESENTATION 1. Establish an Advisory Committee to Review the City's Procedures and Policies on Historic Resources Mr. Jim Sandoval (Assistant Planning Director) reported that historic preservation went to City Council for review in December. The Council gave staff a staff referral to look into the entire program. Staff met with Chair Bull and Commissioner Bensoussan in January to discuss what direction to take and what would make sense. The consensus was go to the City Council and recommend that they pick one representative from each of the City committees that have a stack in historic RCC Minutes - 2 - Februarv 18, 2002 preservation (i.e., RCC, Design Review Committee, Town Center Project Area Committee) to meet, as needed, for the next few months. This ad hoc committee would do an overall evaluation of where the program is now, determine what would be an appropriate course of action to take the program in the future, identify what tasks would need to be done and what resources would be needed in terms of . staffing such a program and what funds. Mr. Sandoval did not think the ad hoc committee would want to do their business in private most of the time. They would probably want to get people involved and hear their opinions. When the RCC felt comfortable with the program, it would be appropriate then to make a formal recommendation to the Council that the program be pursued. Commissioner Bensoussan stated that the idea is to study issues like the code, the possibility of doing a certified local government and to look at updating the historic site survey and hearing from the community. A key part is to interact with the various departments that these issues relate to so that everyone would have a chance to interact together so that the RCC can make recommendations that might put the whole program on the right track. She suggested that a representative from the Planning Commission be part of the ad hoc committee. Commissioner Thomas felt that the ad hoc committee should have five people to function well. Therefore, she suggested that a representative from the Chula Vista Historic Museum be included. MSC (Thomas/Reid) to recommend that the City Council create an ad hoc committee consisting of, at a minimum, a representative from the Resource Conservation Commission, a representative from the Design Review Committee, a staff member or designee from the Town Center Project Area Committee, a representative from the Chula Vista Heritage Museum and a representative from the Planning Commission. That the ad hoc committee be served by a staff member from the City of Chula Vista for the purpose of reviewing and coming up with revisions and recommendations to the historic preservation program in the City of Chula Vista. That the ad hoc committee come back to the RCC for further input before making a final recommendation to the City Council. Vote: (6-0-0-0) OLD BUSINESS 2. Reconsideration of Historic Designation for 58 San Miguel Drive Chair Bull reported that the RCC withdrew its recommendation for a historic site permit on this house at the January 14, 2002 meeting and voted to continued the discussion regarding historic designation. The purpose of the continuation was to give the owners time to consider the issue. Mr. Jose M. Torres (Owner, 58 San Miguel Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91910) stated that it was very hard for him and his wife to come to a decision. He did not know how RCC Minutes - 3 - February 18. 2002 much the designation would restrict them or what exactly they would be agreeing to. Ms. Mari A. Torres asked if historic designation was voluntary? Chair Bull stated that the RCC currently has the authority to recommend to the City Council the listing of the residence regardless of whether the owner wants the RCC to do that or not. The City Council has the authority to list it. This house is clearly worthy of designation. Ms. Marilyn Ponseggi (Environmental Review Coordinator) stated that having just the historic designation without the historic site permit has little or no effect on the property owner. It does become questionable if anything is done to the property that would fall under a discretionary action that would then fall under the California Environmental Quality Act. It is very unlikely that would happen with a single-family dwelling. Mr. Dave Hansen (Deputy City Attorney) cautioned the Commissioners and staff not to get too far in to giving the property owner advice. Ms. Torres stated that they have doubts. She knew that the RCC was the right people to ask, but this was not fair. Mr. Torres stated that this was not helping them to make a decision. Commissioner Bensoussan stated that the City code needs to be rewritten. That is why the RCC is talking about having a special ad hoc committee to make recommendations to the City Council about the code because the historic permit is too strong and the historic designation is just honorary. Mr. Torres commented that the RCC was talking about reviewing all the rules and regulations. Is it a good time to make a decision right now or should they wait until it was all put together so they could read it? Ms. Ponseggi stated that the RCC and staff could not make a recommendation to them. Commissioner Bensoussan stated that, since it is the historic designation, the impact would probably be minimal. Ms. Torres stated that they want to wait until all the regulations are set so they can read them. Right now they were not clear about what they would be signing. Commissioner Bensoussan wanted to bring up two points before a motion was made: 1) If the RCC decided not to designate the house on the simple level, would that vote be used in a counterproductive way against the RCC down the road. She did not want it to come back to haunt the RCC saying the Commission said the house was not worthy. Ms. Ponseggi stated that the RCC would not be making a decision to not designate. What the RCC would be doing would be rescinding its previous action and taking no action/no recommendation to the City Council. It will be reflected in the minutes that the reason that was done was in order to give the property owners the opportunity to come back after the code has been re-Iooked at and clarified. Staff can certainly make sure that goes into the record so if it is a year RCC Minutes -4- February 18. 2002 or so down the road with another RCC and City Council looking at these minutes, it is very clear that it was not because it was not worthy of designation but because of the ambiguity of the code. Commissioner Bensoussan wanted to make that clear in the motion. 2) That this not be a precedent of whenever the homeowner does not want it, the RCC does not do it. Commissioner Burrascano had a problem because the homeowner, at this point, should clearly understand what 'permit' means and what 'designation' means. The City is not doing something right if the homeowner still have questions. She did not want to push anything down their throat even though she felt strongly that the house does qualify for designation. There are so few consequences to a designation that the homeowner would probably never experience. MSc (Bensoussan/Diaz) to rescind the RCC recommendation for historic designation not because the house is not worthy of designation but because the homeowners want to wait because of the ambiguity of the code. Vote: (4- 2-0-0) with Burrascano and Reid opposed. NEW BUSINESS 3. Environmentalist of the Year Selection Ms. Ponseggi stated that she would be forwarding a memo to Jeri Gulbransen (Public Information Coordinator) tomorrow asking her if she could put a press release out to get some publicity on the Environmentalist and Historic Preservationist of the year selection. Commissioner Thomas stated that the publicity should at have happened three months ago. MSC (Thomas/Bull) to nominate Cindy Burrascano as the Environmentalist of the Year for 2002. Vote: (5-0-1-0) with Burrascano abstaining. 4. Historic Preservationist of the Year Selection Commissioner Bensoussan will make a recommendation at the March 4, 2002 meeting. Ms. Ponseggi asked if she should still send the memo to Ms. Gulbransen. The Commission responded in the affirmative with the following revisions: Delete the reference to the Environmentalist of the year and add the 2002 Governor's Historic Preservation Award. Commissioner Thomas asked if the 2002 Governor's Historic Preservation Award could be put on the next RCC agenda because she would like to nominate the Chula RCC Minutes - 5 - February 18, 2002 Vista Historic Heritaqe Museum. Chair Bull stated that this historic issue would be brought back at the March 4, 2002 meeting. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COORDINATOR COMMENTS: None. CHAIR COMMENTS: None. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Commissioner Thomas stated that the mold and pollen count is no longer being listed in the San Diego Union-Tribune. She has made calls and will follow through to see if it can be listed again. Commissioner Bensoussan announced that the second historic home tour is scheduled to take place on May 11 & 12, 2002. San Diego Home and Garden Magazine is a major sponsor and will feature the six homes in a 15-page article in the May issue. All the members of the RCC and the Planning Division would be invited at no charge. Commissioner Bensoussan also announced that a Mills Act workshop would be held on May 16, 2002 at 6:00 p.m. in the Civic Center Library. Commissioner Diaz stated that he would not be at the March 4, 2002 meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Cont'd) MSC (Thomas/Reid) to approve the minutes of October 1, 2001 as submitted. Vote: (4-0-2-0) with Bull and Burrascano abstaining. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Bull adjourned the meeting at 7:49 p.m. to a regular meeting on Monday, March 4, 2002, at 6:30 p.m. in the Mercy Building Conference Room, 430 'F' Street, Chula Vista, CA. 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