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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1989-09-06Mayor Roberta Cerri Teglia Council: Mark N. Addiego Jack Drago Richard A. Haffey Gus Nicolopulos AGENDA ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ORDER: (Cassette No. 1) ROLL CALL: Joint study session with the' 9°~ Historic Preservation Commission to discuss items of mutual concern. MINUTES City Council Municipal Services Building Community Room September 6, 1989 ACTION TAKEN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING 7:06 p.m. Mayor Teglia presiding. Council present: Council absent: Drago, Halley, Nicolopulos, and Teglia. Addiego Historic Preservation Commission present: Feudale, Harks, Mullin, Arndt, and Gookin. Historic Preservation Commission absent: None. Mayor Teglia stated the three selected topics to be discussed from the six draft items in the packet: 1) the appropriate- ness of criteria used in considering historic designation - the criteria used was very broad and should be looked at for future designations; 2) incentives currently available to the owners of the designated properties - memo from City Attorn'ey with suggested possible criteria items and revisions to the ordinance; 3) education efforts to acquaint the pro- perty owners with positive aspects of historic designations. She understood that the Council felt that the historic preservation was a worthy goal, but was concerned that what started out to be a very positive thing for the community was being viewed now as less than positive; and may become even more negatively viewed. She spoke of Commission efforts to educate the com- munity, and the need for a joint effort with the Council to make the public aware of the process, and what was available rather than having the public b~e adversaries . Historic Preservation Chairwoman Gookin stated that she had put a lot of time into Item 2 and 3 based on previous 9/6/89 Page 1 Joint study session - continued. discussions, and wanted to address the criteria. She proceeded as follows: that concern could be in whether the Commission was looking deeply enough into whether or not a specific building meets the historic criteria; the definition of historic in the ordinance itself; men- tions architectural, as well as having to do with individuals; architectural sig- nificance as opposed to the history of the site or the people, which could be one of the reasons it was defined as historic in the ordinance; the individual structure was looked at to see if it was necessarily historic and contributed to the area; a structure was looked at to see if it contributed to the integrity of the entire area or neighborhood, and was integral to the history of the area; that the ordinance did not say that a designa- tion had to meet one or more of the criteria. Vice Mayor Haffey expressed concern over discretion in designations, and where it came into play by the Commission. Chairwoman Gookin stated that the Commission reviewed properties, and if they met that criteria and were important to the City were designated. Vice Mayor Halley stated that the agenda packet had six items to discuss -- now there were only three items. He questioned who had set the new agenda after the meeting of the Mayor, Vice Mayor, Chairwoman, and Vice Chairman of both bodies had set the original agenda. Mayor Teglia stated that the City Manager had returned from vacation after the six item agenda had been printed, and they had consolidated the agenda into three items. Vice Mayor Halley stated that the six item agenda in his packet was stamped "draft", and it was fortunate that this meeting was a study session with no action to be taken, because the City was 9/6/89 Page 2 Joint study session - continued. accusing the County of violating the Brown Act. He stated that it was impor- tant to be consistent in agendizing the packet in final form before distribution. City Manager Armas stated that Vice Mayor Haffey was correct, the agenda did not list any action to be taken by the Council, but merely to give direction. Mayor Teglia stated that the ordinance was too broad and did not spell out the number of criteria needed for a designa- tion, which the Council had to address in the future. Councilman Drago agreed that it was too broad in the sense that if there were two buildings side by side that fell under different criteria - there could be resultant problems because it was not specific. He stated that application of any of the eleven guidelines was subjec- tive, and too broad and should not be thrown down the community's throat. He stated that perhaps now with all the problems, was the time to reevaluate and start again with more specific language. Commissioner Feudale stated that the Com- mission had utilized the Bamburg Historic Survey of 173 homes, which after it was streamlined to 100 homes had been sub- mitted to Council for review. He stated that the Commission had designated five homes and had held a meeting at Magnolia Center to inform people of the advantages and disadvantages of historic designations. Councilman Drago stated that at a study session Council had looked at the survey, but it had not come back to Council after it was amended to reflect Council input. He stated that the criteria and the conditions for designation had to be looked at to see what was creating problems. Vice Mayor Halley stated that the Council had made a mistake in sending the 9/6/89 Page 3 AGENDA -~ 1. Joint study session - continued. ACTION TAKEN Commission on a task without direction, and this study session was intended to give that direction. Discussion followed: to wean the list down; that the Council policy was the ordinance; that the National Trust guide- lines had been used because of the broad- ness of the ordinance; the criteria of setting time and place was open to question, interpretation, and criticism; definition of historic event; signifi- cance of historical architecture, and its ratings; to only consider voluntary historic designations; the loss of the Martin home before the ordinance was effected; that historic designations affected land uses; the concern of apart- ment buildings replacing historic buildings; that the General Plan or Zoning Ordinance should address preser- vation of an area rather than through designation; Commissioner Mullin had heard complaints that people felt the designation restricted the property rights; incentives needed; that the Commission should address property rights, and incentives for property owners for historic designations and bring it to Council; the Commission should have a joint meeting with the Planning Commission to address land uses and planning; modifying the ordinance, so it was not so ambiguous; Vice Mayor Haffey wanted CDBG Funds and Low and Moderate Income Housing Set Asides used for incentives rather than General Fund monies; Councilman Drago felt that this Commission should disburse funds for restoration of historic buildings; that the public should be encouraged to make suggestions at Commission meetings; the tax effect on properties designated; Vice Mayor Halley wanted the Commission to hold off on making any designations and concentrate on the directives given by Council this evening; that the Commission did not have a resource against demotion of potentially historic properties; drafting an emergency ordinance prohi- biting demolition of buildings on the 9/6/89 Page 4 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN -- 1. Joint study session - continued. Mayor Teglia Left the Meeting: RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Barbara A. Battaya, City Cl~k City of South San Francisco historic list; that Council direction was given to the Commission on the following: 1) tightening the criteria; 2) to look at incentives; 3) come back with recommen- dations and alternatives; Councilman Nicolopulos questioned what the Council really wanted in historic designations; Commissioner Mullin felt that a mora- torium would further alienate the com- munity through its restrictions, etc. Mayor Teglia excused herself from the meeting at 8:25 p.m. Mr. Bruce Couch questioned if all of the homes came under CEQA -- which could solve the problem of demolition. Vice Mayor Haffey did not believe that CEQA applied. Mr. Couch questioned why homes could not be removed from the historic designation list. Commission Chairwoman Gookin stated that the Commission would continue their meeting at the close of the Council meeting. M/S Drago/Nicolopulos - To adjourn the Council meeting. Carried by unanimous voice vote. Time of adjournment was 8:25 p.m. APPRI)VED . f~ ~oDer~a C~Pri Teg/i~,~l~ayor City of South San Francisco The entries of this Council meeting show the action taken by the City Council to dispose of an item. Oral communications, arguments, and comments are recorded on tape. The tape and documents related to the items are on file in the Office of the City Clerk and are available for inspection, review and copying. 9/6/89 Page 5