HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 2001/07/02
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MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
July 2, 2001
Mercy Building Conference Room
430 "F" Street
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER by Chair Cindy Burrascano aì6:35 p.m.
ROLL CALL/MOTION TO EXCUSE:
Ms. Marilyn ponseggi (Environmental Review Coordinator) announced that
Commissioner Steve Thomas has moved out of the City and, therefore, must resign
from the Resource Conservation Commission.
MSC (T. Thomas/Burrascano) to excuse Vice-Chair Charles Bull. Vote: (5-
0)
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Cindy Burrascano, Commissioners Teresa Thomas,
Juan Diaz, Pamela Bensoussan and Doug Reid
STAFF PRESENT: Marilyn Ponseggi, Environmental Review Coordinator
Maria Muett, Associate Planner
John Schmitz, Acting Principal Planner
Linda Bond, Recording Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT: Lew Dominy, Dominy & Associates
Glenda de Vaney, Resident
Corinne McCall, Resident
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None.
OLD BUSINESS
1. The Mills Act Update
Mr. John Schmitz (Acting Principal Planner) distributed the Mills Act Agreement that
the City Attorney has approved. Staff will be using it with property owners that wish
to enter into a contract.
Ms. Ponseggi indicated that the Mills Act Agreement was before the RCC on an
information basis only. The contracts will be going to the City Council. If the
Commission is interested in discussing the Mills Act Agreement, they might want to
continue it to the next meeting so they have a chance to read it.
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RCC Minutes - 2 - July 2, 2001
Commissioner T. Thomas suggested that a flowchart go along with the Agreement
so a person would know what to do if they wanted designation. Mr. Schmitz stated
that staff could certainly do that and hand it out with the Agreement.
Commissioner T. Thomas suggested putting a paragraph or two in Spanish on a
brochure referring to the Mills Act Agreement. Ms. Ponseggi stated that translating
technical terms is very difficult and sometimes impossible.
Mr. Schmitz stated that the Mills Act process is in the process of shifting from
Current Planning to the Environmental Section.
MSc (Reid/T. Thomas) to review the Mills Act Agreement at the next
meeting.
Motion amended and agreed to by the maker and second to continue this
item to the next meeting that is appropriate and available. Vote: (5-0-0-1)
with Bull absent.
NEW BUSINESS
2. IS-01-47 - First United Methodist Church
Ms. Maria Muett (Associate Planner) stated that the project proposal (Phase II) is for
an addition of approximately 6,133 square feet to the existing church/school
campus. The proposal includes a second story addition to the children's ministries
building with a bridge connection and a one-story addition to the existing multi-
purpose room plus the addition of 34 parking spaces. The Design Review
Committee originally approved the church campus project on December 14, 1992.
The original project consisted of two phases. The first phase involved the
construction of a sanctuary, fellowship hall and children's facility while the second
phase was to include the addition of classroom areas and the expansion of the
children's ministries and fellowship hall. The original Negative Declaration (IS-93-01)
addressed both phases; however, the Phase II building structures were not included.
Ms. Ponseggi wanted the RCC to keep in mind that Phase I is already existing, and
it is not the subject of what the RCC is looking at. What is before the RCC is just the
addition; the rest of it was approved many years ago.
MSC (Reid/Diaz) to recommend adoption of the Negative Declaration.
Vote: (5-0-0-1) with Bull absent.
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RCC Minutes - 3 - July 2, 2001
3. Designation of the Edmund Russ House (200 'K' Street) on the City of Chula
Vista List of Historic Sites
Ms. Muett (Associate Planner) reminded the Commission as to what their authority is
in accordance with Section 2.32.070 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code. The
decision as to whether a site should be included on the Historic Site List is made by
the City Council, if the RCC recommends in favor of the listing. Ms. Muett reviewed
the six criteria for listing. She then discussed the minimal past history that was
known regarding the Edmund Russ House and described the architectural features
and features of the site. It is staffs' opinion that there is not sufficient evidence that
Criteria Nos. 1, 2 or 3 related to local heritage, historic personage, site or event have
been met. But there may be sufficient evidence that Criteria Nos. 4 and 6 dealing
with architectural characteristics and site integrity have been met.
Ms. Glenda de Vaney (Owner, 200 'K'Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911) stated that
she was not able to come up with any further information on the house. She might
be able to get more information from the County of San Diego. Ms. Ponseggi stated
that, if the Commission does recommend designation, that is information that might
be good for Ms. de Vaney to get to be included in the staff report to City Council.
Commissioner T. Thomas agreed with the staff report about the house correlating
with Criteria Nos. 4 and 6. She was also inclined to think that NO.2 applied with
some local historical value.
Commissioner Bensoussan would recommend designation for the architectural
features and its integrity. Chula Vista is dotted with a number of these wonderful little
Spanish revival houses, and it is important to encourage as many of them as
possible to remain evident of that date in Chula Vista's architectural heritage. She
definitely thought it qualified for the reasons sited by staff.
MSC (Bensoussan/Reid) to recommend designation of the house under
Criteria Nos. 4 and 6 and Criteria NO.2 on a local level for the house and
the original garage. Vote: (5-0-0-1) with Bull absent.
Ms. Corinne McCall (642 Second Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910) stated that this
particular house was on the recent home tour. She wanted to comment on what a
fantastic response there had been from the tour goers to this home. It does reflect
Chula Vista's history.
4. Election of Officers
MSC (Reid/Diaz) to nominate Charles Bull as Chair. Vote: (5-0-0-1) with
Bull absent.
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RCC Minutes -4- July 2, 2001
Commissioner T. Thomas nominated Commissioner Diaz as Vice-Chair
who declined.
MSC (T. Thomas/Burrascano) to nominate Doug Reid as Vice-Chair.
Vote: (5-0-0-1) with Bull absent.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COORDINATOR COMMENTS: None.
CHAIR COMMENTS: Chair Burrascano requested a prompt re-appointment to replace
Commissioner Steve Thomas as she may also be moving from the area.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Reid requested an updated roster of the Commission members.
Commissioner T. Thomas asked to be excused from the August 13, 2001 meeting, as
she would be on vacation. She stated that there was no mention in the Chula Vista Star-
News of the historic and environmental awards. Maybe that should be mentioned to
JeffJ' Jeri Gulbransen.
Commissioner Diaz requested that the RCC follow the agenda and move on it.
Consideration of a request by Commissioner Bensoussan to invite Marie Nelson
of the State Office of Historic Preservation to present a workshop on the Mills Act
at a future RCC meeting.
Commissioner Bensoussan indicated that Marie Nelson has made an offer to make a
presentation to the Commission. It is a Historic Preservation 101 presentation that she
gives to Commissions and City Councils to acquaint them with the State Office of
Historic Preservation programs. Another member of the State Office of Historic
Preservation has offered to participate in the Mills Act workshop that is being organized
by the Heritage Museum and the Historic Homeowners for August 13th. Ideally, it would
be great if Ms. Nelson could come around that time period so she could present to the
RCC and do the Mills Act workshop.
Ms. ponseggi suggested that the RCC also extend an invitation to the Planning
Commission and City Council. What you might want to do, if the Commission votes to
do this, is coordinate with State offices and get several dates that would work. If the
Planning Commission and the City Council are involved, it has to be a noticed meeting.
That way anyone from any of the bodies can come. Staff needs to have sufficient time
to plan it and to notice it and to get it on all the agendas.
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RCC Minutes - 5 - July 2, 2001
MSC (Bensoussan/T. Thomas) that the RCC invite Marie Nelson to come
present to the RCC and whatever other entities wish to attend for a
presentation on Historic Preservation 101. Vote: (5-0-0-1) with Bull absent.
Commissioner Bensoussan announced that the Mills Act workshop would be in the
library auditorium on August 13, 2001 at 6:00. There is usually someone from a historic
site board, which should be someone from this Commission. Unless anyone else would
like to do it, she would volunteer.
Ms. Ponseggi pointed out that that is not noticed on the agenda. If the Commission
wants to designate a member to go, they should put that on their next agenda and make
the designation at that time. They should make sure that not more than three show up
at the workshop on the 13th because that is essentially a quorum and that would be a
violation under the Brown Act. If more Commissioners want to attend, you could adjourn
to the workshop. In the meantime she could ask the City Attorney about this to be sure.
Commissioner Burrascano asked for staff to get clarification because she thought there
was a high probability of four Commissioners wanting to be there.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Burrascano adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m. to a regular
meeting on Monday, July 16, 2001, at 6:30 p.m. in the Mercy Building Conference
Room, 430 'F' Street, Chula Vista, CA.
Prepared by:
Ltn~;:j ~-~
Recording Secretary
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