PC Res 4720RESOLUTION NO. 4720
BEING A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF CAMPBELL RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVE THE REQUEST OF GLENN KINSEY TO REMOVE A
STRUCTURE OF MERIT FROM THE HISTORIC RESOURCE
INVENTORY (HRI) COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE EMILE AND MAY
FRITZ HOUSE, ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 67 SUNNYSIDE
AVENUE. FILE NO.: PLN-2023-170
After notification and public hearing, as specified by law and after presentation by the
Community Development Director, proponents and opponents, the hearing was closed.
The Planning Commission finds as follows with regard to the recommended approval to
rescind a Structure of Merit from the Historic Resource Inventory (PLN-2023-170):
1. The project site is an 8,400 square-foot project site is located along Sunnyside
Avene, between South Winchester Boulevard and South First Street
2. The Project Site is zoned P-D (Planned Development) as shown on the Campbell
Zoning Map.
3. The Project Site is designated Low-Medium Density Residential (8-16 units/gr. Acre)
as shown on the City of Campbell General Plan Land Use diagram.
4. The Subject Property is currently developed with a single-family residence in a Folk
Victorian style constructed around 1900, commonly known as the Emile and May
Fritz House. The building is one and a half stories tall, with the main floor situated
above a raised crawlspace. This crawlspace had been converted into two separate
basement apartments (69 and 71 Sunnyside Avenue), but the current homeowner
has since combined them to create a home office space. A detached garage was
constructed in 1995 via Building Permit BLD 95-309.
5. The property at 67 Sunnyside Avenue was flagged in a 1977 citywide historical
resource survey and subsequently included in the City's Historic Resource Inventory
(HRI) in 1984, following the City Council's approval of Resolution No. 6793, which
established a master list of 127 historic properties.
6. As detailed in the DPR Form and the 1977 Survey, the property was listed on the HRI
for its Queen Anne Cottage architectural style and the historical significance of the
builder's connection to the Kennedy family.
7. The applicant submitted a request to remove the subject building from the City’s
Historic Resource Inventory, supported by a Historic Resource Evaluation prepared
by Garavaglia Architecture, Inc. on October 4, 2023. While the Garavaglia evaluation
assessed the property's eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic
Places and the California Register of Historical Resources, it did not address the
City’s local criteria for rescinding a Structure of Merit as specified in CMC Section
Planning Commission No. 4720 Page 2 of 4
PLN-2023-170 – 67 Sunnyside Ave. ~ Historic Recission
21.33.060.B.1. To address this gap, staff enlisted the historic consultant Mark
Sandoval to conduct an independent peer review and analysis, which included
evaluating the City’s local criteria for rescinding a Structure of Merit.
8. The Sandoval evaluation identifies the property as featuring some of the typical
elements of the Folk Victorian style, a simpler derivative of the Queen Anne Cottage
style. These elements include simple wood siding, a low-pitched pyramid roof, and
plain window treatments. The Queen Anne Cottage style is particularly significant in
Campbell, as highlighted in the City’s Historic Design Guidelines for Residential
Buildings.
9. Both historic evaluations detail the property’s evolution over the years, noting that
many original architectural features have been altered or removed since the 1984
historic designation. These changes include removal of original doors and windows,
walling off the original screened front porch, addition of non-historic ornamental
details, such as a louvre and spindles.
10. As detailed in both evaluations, the Kennedy family significantly contributed to the
Campbell community from 1890 to 1935. This property, linked to Robert Kennedy's
sister-in-law May Giles Fritz, lacks documented contributions to Campbell's history,
as researched in the Garavaglia evaluation. Further research in the Sandoval
evaluation indicates that Emile and May Giles Fritz, only related to the Kennedys by
marriage, were not significant figures in Campbell's history. In contrast, other
properties in the Campbell Historic Resources Inventory have stronger connections
to the Kennedy family, further diminishing this property's historical importance.
Subsequent owners and tenants also lack notable contributions to the community.
11. Pursuant to CMC Section 21.33.060.D.1 (Initiation), rescinding of the property's
historic designation requires the City Council, upon independent recommendations of
the Historic Preservation Board and Planning Commission, to find that "based on
substantial evidence and findings of fact in the record that the resource no longer has
historic value with respect to the designation criteria.
12. The rescission of a structure's historic designation from the Historic Resource
Inventory exempts the property from the provisions of the Historic Preservation
Ordinance (CMC Chapter 21.33), including removing its eligibility for a future Mills Act
contract.
13. Maintaining a property that has lost its historical integrity on the Historic Resource
Inventory undermines the purpose of the list and dilutes the import of other listed
properties. proposed by the property owner.
14. The property does not meet the criteria for maintaining its historic Structure of Merit
status due to significant alterations that have compromised its architectural integrity,
lack of association with significant historical events or notable individuals, and
absence of unique historical information or representation of notable architectural
work. Consequently, its historical and architectural value has been significantly
diminished.
Planning Commission No. 4720 Page 3 of 4
PLN-2023-170 – 67 Sunnyside Ave. ~ Historic Recission
15. Removing the Subject Property from the Historic Resource Inventory is justified due
to significant alterations that have compromised its architectural integrity and its lack
of association with significant historical events or notable individuals. This is
consistent General Plan Goal COS-5, and its supporting policy and strategies and
with the intent and purpose of the Historic Preservation Ordinance, as specified in
CMC Section 21.33.010.B (Purpose of Chapter), by hindering the City's ability
preserve culturally and historically significant resources and fulfilling its responsibility,
as a certified local government, to enforce state and local legislation for the
designation and protection of historic resources.
16. No substantial evidence has been presented which shows that the project, as
currently presented and subject to the required conditions of approval, will have a
significant adverse impact on the environment.
Based upon the foregoing findings of fact, the Planning Commission further finds and
concludes that:
Historic Resource Recission Findings (CMC Sec. 21.33.060.D):
1. The proposed resource is not associated with events that have made an important
contribution to the broad patterns of our history or cultural heritage;
2. The proposed resource is not associated with the lives of persons important to our
history;
3. The proposed resource does yield, nor has the potential to yield, information
important to our prehistory or history;
4. The proposed resource does not embody the distinctive characteristics of a type,
architectural style, period, or method of construction;
5. The proposed resource does not represents the work of a notable architect, designer,
engineer, or builder; and
Environmental Findings (CMC Sec. 21.38.050):
6. This project is Categorically Exempt under Section 15061(b)(3) of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in that it can be seen with certainty that there is no
possibility for the action to have a significant effect on the environment, because the
structure does not constitute an "historic resource" under CEQA.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission recommends that the
City Council approve the request to rescind the historic designation of a Structure of
Merit from the Historic Resource Inventory (HRI) commonly known as the Emile and May
Fritz house, on property located at 67 Sunnyside Avenue.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of August 2024, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Members: Zisser, Kamkar, Buchbinder, Krey
Planning Commission No. 4720 Page 4 of 4
PLN-2023-170 – 67 Sunnyside Ave. ~ Historic Recission
NOES: Members:
ABSENT: Members: Ostrowski
ABSTAIN: Members: Majewski
APPROVED:
Alan Zisser, Chair
ATTEST:
Rob Eastwood, Secretary
Alan Zisser (Sep 6, 2024 15:56 PDT)
Resolution 4720 ~ 67 Sunnyside Ave
Final Audit Report 2024-09-09
Created:2024-09-06
By:Nina Comcai (ninac@campbellca.gov)
Status:Signed
Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAAl8OgZY4O-5Xs4HznP4eOC7aWPSOwhlFp
"Resolution 4720 ~ 67 Sunnyside Ave" History
Document created by Nina Comcai (ninac@campbellca.gov)
2024-09-06 - 6:23:51 PM GMT
Document emailed to Rob Eastwood (robe@campbellca.gov) for signature
2024-09-06 - 6:23:54 PM GMT
Document emailed to Alan Zisser (alanzisser@gmail.com) for signature
2024-09-06 - 6:23:54 PM GMT
Email viewed by Alan Zisser (alanzisser@gmail.com)
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Document e-signed by Alan Zisser (alanzisser@gmail.com)
Signature Date: 2024-09-06 - 10:56:58 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Email viewed by Rob Eastwood (robe@campbellca.gov)
2024-09-09 - 6:42:17 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Rob Eastwood (robe@campbellca.gov)
Signature Date: 2024-09-09 - 6:42:24 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Agreement completed.
2024-09-09 - 6:42:24 PM GMT