HPB Mins 05/12/2010 Special MeetingHISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD
SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
4:00 p.m. -Wednesday
City Council Chambers
MAY 12, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Blake called the Historic Preservation Board Special Meeting of Wednesday, May
12, 2010 to order at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, located at 70 North First
Street, Campbell, California, and the following proceedings were had to wit.
ROLL CALL
Board Members Present:
Susan Blake, Chair
JoElle Hernandez, Vice Chair
Masel Sheehan
Julie Heinzler
Joyce Mestrovich
Board Members Absent:
Staff Members Present:
Paul Kermoyan, Planning Manager
Steve Prosser, Associate Planner
Karen Lange, Senior Museum Specialist
Elected Officials Present:
Jane P. Kennedy, Council Member
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Board Member Sheehan made a motion to approve of the Regular Meeting Minutes of
April 28, 2010. Board Member Mestrovich seconded. Approved 5-0.
ORAL REQUESTS
None.
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NEW BUSINESS
1. Museum: Continued discussion of possible museum expansion project by
representatives of the Museum Foundation.
Associate Planner Prosser introduced Item 1 as a continuation of a previous
discussion regarding conceptual plans for the expansion of the Museum. Prosser
introduced Karen Lange, Museum Director, to speak on this item.
Director Lange introduced members of the Museum Foundation in attendance and
reminded the Board that the enhancement and expansion of the Museum was
included as part of the updated Museum Strategic Plan approved by City Council.
The enhancement project has museum staff support and will resolve many current
challenges faced by the museum due to lack of space and limited visual presence.
The conceptual plan would provide a clear and prominent entrance to the museum,
more exhibit space, and updated offices for the staff. Lange felt that this would be a
great project and ended by explaining to the Board that there is precedence for
allowing "thoughtful" additions to historic structures.
Lange then introduced the former Museum Curator Gloria Chun Hoo to speak. Hoo
thanked the Board for their time and consideration regarding this matter and
stressed that this project is still just in the conceptual stages and that there is a long
way to go. Hoo announced that the first fundraising event (Ferraris & Firefighters,
Red Hot Day in Campbell) for the Firehouse Enhancement Project will be held on
August 29, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in front of the Ainsley House Museum
and passed out flyers to the Board. Hoo explained that that the enhancement project
is a benefit to not only the museum but to the City as it will allow an expansion of
exhibit space. Hoo concluded by again thanking the Board for their consideration
and applauding the Museum Foundation for their efforts to date, but with the
understanding that more needs to be done.
Chair Blake opened the discussion to public comment and asked if there was
anyone who wanted to speak on this item. Ms. Sally Howe spoke regarding the
enhancement project. Ms. Howe expressed that she was quite pleased about what
she had heard about the project, especially about expanding the exhibit space, but
she did not think that a store is what the museum needs and previous attempts to
generate money for the museum through a store were unsuccessful.
Museum Foundation Member Michael Symons spoke that although the store
expansion was important, adding more exhibit space is a bigger priority. Symons
explained that a professional fundraiser is on board who is very sensitive to what is
going on in Campbell.
Mr. Bob Alderete then spoke and explained that as a former Planning Commissioner
he sat through the Museum Strategic Plan meetings. Alderete expressed concern
regarding the lack of public notice for this discussion and questioned why more
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public participation wasn't included. Alderete explained that although the drawings
are conceptual, the proposed expansion would significantly alter the appearance
and feeling of the structure. Alderete said he understood that the museum had to
balance the need for review against the changes to the structure but questioned
whether it was appropriate to cannibalize the existing structure in order to generate
revenue. Alderete again expressed concern that the public did not know about this
meeting and strongly recommended more public input.
Chair Blake explained that this meeting was informational only and no decision
would be made.
Mr. Stan Atkin then spoke. Atkin said that more information was needed and that the
drawings are misleading. Atkin explained that the drawings were provided to the
Board for reference only.
After determining that no other members of the public desired to speak regarding
this issue, Chair Blake requested that the Board provide comment.
Board Member Heinzler thanked the Foundation for bringing this item in front of the
Board. Heinzler agreed that the Museum needs to draw more attention to it, but the
proposed expansion was not the way to do it. Heinzler explained that the Secretary
of Interior Standards for additions to historic structures strongly discourage
modifications to character defining features and the Firehouse doors are the
character defining feature for the building. Heinzler recommended that Board look at
alternatives for the placement of an addition to the building, specifically looking at
the street side along Civic Center and the rear of the building. Heinzler stated she
would not support the conceptual plan as it is out of scale, will feel massive and will
not allow the public to see through to the doors as presented. Heinzler concluded
recommending the Foundation look at the other areas of the property to expand.
Vice Chair Hernandez said she understood the time and energy spent by the
Foundation and appreciates the objective of self-sufficiency expressed by the
Museum. Hernandez also stated that adding a structure to the front of the Firehouse
would adversely impact the design and character defining features of the structure,
as described by the Secretary of Interior Standards regarding additions to historic
structures, by covering the historic function of the building. Hernandez stressed that
any building in front of the Firehouse doors would be a problem. Hernandez
recommended that the Foundation think differently by looking at alternative locations
for the addition and the use of a more complimentary design and choice of materials.
This is the first building owned by the City of Campbell and more citizen input is
needed. Hernandez posed a question to the Foundation regarding whether or not
they considered buying the adjacent residential structure to facilitate expansion.
Hernandez concluded by stating that she does not support the expansion project as
proposed.
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Board Member Mestrovich sympathized with the Foundation. regarding the need for
more exhibit space but expressed her agreement with previous Board Member's
comments and explained that she had a problem with covering the Firehouse doors.
Board Member Sheehan spoke explaining her support of the museum in the past,
but more information is needed regarding the proposed expansion. Sheehan agreed
that more public participation is needed and expressed reluctance to comment and
she felt that the Foundation did not provide enough information.
Chair Blake presented the following comments,
My comments reflect my goal in seeing the best possible outcome for protecting
this building. I am pleased to see that you are proposing to protect and restore
the Firehouse east fagade with functional doors, lighting and signage. The
Firehouse doors are very significant character defining features. Along with the
Secretary of Interior's Standards and the State's Certified Local Government
Policies, The Historic Preservation Board follows our cities, Downtown
Development Plans and Goals including:
Goal LU-4: Historic Design: To promote and assist in the restoration and
protection of historic Character and elements that embodies the Downtown and
characterizes it as a unique place and-
StrategyiLU-4/1.a: Historic Design: The historic character of the Downtown shall
be preserved through the protection and restoration of its historic buildings and
landmarks.
The staff report presented to Council in a Study Session on Feb. 2, 2010,
indicated, and I quote: "Although the building is deemed historic due to its original
use as the City's first Fire House and City Hall, it does not retain any real
architectural significance." Just as a little bit of history here; the Santa Clara
County Historic Heritage Commission presented the Campbell Historic Museum
building with the County Award of Excellence in Historic Preservation in 1985.
Architectural style is one of many criteria used in determining significance. The
Firehouse Museum has considerable cultural significance. It is, to put it simply, a
"This is us" building. The Historic Preservation Board's purpose is to encourage
the preservation of existing culturally and historically significant structures as well
as landmark features on structures and sites and, to retain the established
building patterns and architectural and cultural heritage of the community.
Keeping this in mind, my difficulty with your proposal is that when I attempt to
follow it out to it's conclusion,-- there just isn't one, and I don't have anything but
questions and concerns to work with. While I commend you for wanting to restore
the Firehouse doors, I can't support this proposal-it has too many compromises
and----- it seems like you are willing to sacrifice the integrity of the Firehouse in
order to save the Museum. It may not achieve your goal of making the Museum
financially independent.
I would like to suggest that you take some small steps back. Reconsider your
initial proposal to just relocate and expand the store. You may end up with new
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perspectives. You might want to consider placing a green house type addition on
the north facing fapade that would focus on your retail needs. You could use part
of your current proposed plan (the removal of the existing addition on the north)
and using the `penetration' on the original wall for the new entry from the store to
the main museum. You may also want to consider completely redesigning the
south side where toilets, archive storage and collection office/work room are
currently located. You might consider rethinking the entire interior space, without
the current conditions.
Chair Blake thanked those in attendance for the information and moved onto Item
#2.
2. 43 N. Harrison Avenue: Public Hearing to consider the application of Mr. Steve
Nelson for a Use Permit and Site and Architectural Review Permit fora 824 square
foot second story addition creating a residential apartment attached to an existing
1,279 square foot single-story commercial building (J.C. Ainsley Corporation
Headquarters Building) currently listed as a Historic Resource on the Historic
Resource Inventory list on property owned by the Ainsley Plaza, LLC located at 43
N. Harrison Avenue in the C-3-S (Central Business District) Zoning District.
After presentations by both city staff and the project designer, Chair Blake opened
the Hearing to public comment. The project applicant thanked the Board for their
time and consideration regarding this applicant and was very interested in obtaining
their comments and recommendations. Public Comment was received by one citizen
who recommended against visible changes to such a prominent historic building in
the Downtown. Chair Blake Closed the Public Hearing. After discussing the
importance of the visual appeal of the historic structure as one of the first historic
buildings viewed as one enters the downtown from the east, Chair Blake requested
a Motion. Vice-Chair Hernandez made a motion to recommend to the Planning
Commission approval of the Change of Use with a requirement to modify the
addition of the proposed living unit to a single-story addition to the rear of existing
structure. Board Member Mestrovich seconded. Approved 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT
The Historic Preservation Board was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. to the next Regular
Meeting scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26, 2010.
PREPARED BY: / `--
Steve Prosser, Associate Planner
APPROVED BY: - ~~U,,Q.~~~a c 1-~.~=
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Susan Blake, Chair