City of San Juan Bautista

Planning Commission Meeting
Minutes

August 8, 2006

 

  1. Call to Order at 7:10 p.m. by Chairman Rick Edge.

A.     Pledge of Allegiance

    1. Roll Call

Members Present:  Rick Edge, Erika Spencer, Reuben Garza, and Javier Mendez.

Members Absent: Michael Ostrowski

Staff Present:  Jan McClintock, City Manager and Matthew Sundt, City Planner.

Staff Absent: Trish Paetz, Deputy City Clerk.

 

  1. Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda

Georgeanne Gularte presented the Commission with Valerie Egland’s sign for the library, a replica of a sign made by Alex Zeller.

 

  1. Consent Items

A.     Affidavit of Posting August 8, 2006 Agenda

B.     Approval of Minutes of July 11, 2006 Planning Commission Meeting

A motion was made by Commissioner Garza and seconded by Commissioner Mendez to approve the affidavit of posting of the agenda and the minutes for the July 11, 2006 meeting.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Public Hearing Items

A.     409 Sixth Street Demolition Request and Design Permit

City Planner Sundt presented a staff report stating the applicant, Derek Del Curto, is proposing to demolish an existing 912 square foot, 1908 home and construct a new 1,838 square foot two story single-family residence with an attached 418 square foot garage and a 68 square foot porch area.  The home proposed for demolition does not appear on the City’s Historic Inventory and does not meet any of the criteria identified in the Historic Preservation Ordinance.  Additionally, the building is in poor physical condition and is lacking in architectural integrity.  Based on the results of an historical evaluation by a qualified consultant, staff recommends adoption of a resolution approving the demolition of the existing home. 

 

Sundt’s staff report went on to say that the new construction is consistent with the City’s zoning ordinance (building height, setbacks, lot coverage, and floor area limitations), design guidelines and policies and will not result in a significant impact to historic character of the community, and the proposed project is sensitive to the surrounding neighborhood in terms of its scale, dimension, physical location, and color.

 

During public comment HRB Chairperson Cara Vonk commented it is up to the Planning Commission to determine whether this property is historic, and the City should be hiring their own consultant.  She then provided the Commission with an historical accounting of the families that lived in the house, and critiqued the historian’s report.

 

Rebecca McGovern commented that she thought all demolitions had to go to the Historic Resources Board first for historical determination.

 

A neighbor on Sixth Street, Linda McIntire commented that she appreciates the home’s historical significance but if the historian is qualified, the City should use his report.  Also, she commented, since this home is not a charming Victorian, or the like, it is probably not worth saving as it is in very poor condition.  Finally, she commented, the City should let the developer go forward with building a new home.

 

Another neighbor, Jerry Lewis, commented that it was time for something nice to be built in place of this badly kept home.

 

San Juan Historical Society Chairperson Georgeanne Gularte commented that they are not taking a position on the demolition issue, and their purpose is only to provide information. 

 

Owner and builder Derek Del Curto, asked for the Commissions support in granting the demolition permit.

 

Mike McIntire re-iterated his wife’s sentiments.

 

A motion was made by Commissioner Garza and seconded by Commissioner Mendez to approve a demolition and design review for a new residence located at 409 Sixth Street.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

B.     1112-A Third Street Minor Subdivision

Commissioner Reuben Garza recused himself from this public hearing item, stating he is a family member.

 

Planner Matthew Sundt presented a staff report stating the applicant, Mary Esther Lopez, proposes to subdivide the existing 21,265 square foot property at 1112-A Third Street whereby one new 7,000 square foot lot is created and a parcel of 14,265 square feet remains.  No new structure is proposed at this time for the proposed 7,000 square foot lot.  However, a detached single-family residence does exist on the remaining lot.

 

A motion was made by Chairman Edge and seconded by Commissioner Spencer to approve a tentative parcel map for the subdivision of a 21,265 square foot lot located at 1112-A Third Street.  The motion passed unanimously 3-0-1-1 with Commissioner Garza abstaining.

 

C.     Historic Resources Preservation Ordinance Amendments

This item was continued to September.

 

5.      Comments

A.     Planning Commissioners

Commissioner Garza commented on a sign San Juan Elementary School is erecting.  City Manager McClintock stated the City has no jurisdiction over schools or school property.  Commission Garza was concerned with potential tagging of said sign and the speed in which the school would take to clean it up.

 

Chairman Edge asked why the City didn’t use Historical Consultant Kent Seavy on the demolition issue, and City Planner Sundt replied, he was not available.

 

B.     City Manager

There were no comments from the City Manager.

 

C.     City Planner

There were no comments from the City Planner.

 

6.      Adjournment

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m. passed unanimously.