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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7227_CCv0001.pdf RESOLUTION NO. 7227 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDL UPHOLDING THE HISTORIC AND SCENIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION'S DETERMINATION APPROVING DEMOLITION PERMIT NO. 222 WHEREAS,an application for a demolition permit for a single family residence constructed in 1949 and located at 1222 Monte Vista Drive has been submitted to the City(the "Demolition Permit");and WHEREAS,pursuant to Chapter 15.44 of the Redland Municipal Code,a report was prepared by the City's Historic Preservation Officer to determine-whether the residence has historical significance;and WHEREAS,also pursuant to Chapter 15.44 of the Redlands Municipal Code,an Initial Study was prepared to determine whether the residence has historical significance under the provision of the California Environmental Quality Act; and WHEREAS,based upon the Historic Preservation Officer's report and the Initial Study, the City's Environmental Review Committee recommended to the City's Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission that the Demolition Permit be issued and that no further environmental review was warranted by CEQA and the City's Municipal Code because the residence has no historical significance and issuance of the Demolition Permit is therefore ministerial in nature; and WHEREAS,on August 9,2012,the City's Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission reviewed the application for the Demolition Permit,the Historic Preservation Officer's report, and the Initial Study,and received verbal and written testimony from City staff and members of the public regarding the application for the Demolition Permit; and WHEREAS,based upon the reports and testimony presented to it,the Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission determined that the residence has no historical significance,that no further environmental review should be undertaken, and that the application for the demolition permit be approved;and WHEREAS,in accordance with section 15.44 of the Redlands Municipal Code,a timely appeal of the Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission's determination was filed with the City Clerk and scheduled for a public hearing before the City Council of the City of Redlands; and WHEREAS,the City Council has held public hearings on the appeal at which times the City Council received verbal and written testimony from the applicant for the Demolition Permit, City staff,and the public concerning the historical, architectural and cultural significance of the residence proposed for demolition; and WHEREAS,after reviewing such testimony,the City Council has determined that the -I- lAcclerkRmItitim&4tes 7201-7299\7227 Demo Permit 222-doe residence proposed for demolition has no historical significance,that no ftnther environmental review is warranted,and that the demolition permit should be issued; NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Redlands as ,follows: Section 1. The City Council of the City of Redlands hereby upholds the determination of the City's Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission that the residence located at 1222 Monte Vista Drive,which is the subject of an application for a demolition permit,has no historical significance as this phrase is defined in section 15.44.040 of the Redlands Municipal Code,based upon the following determinations: A. The residence is not historically significant as defined in Section 15.44.040 of the Redlands Municipal Code. That section provides that a building or structure shall be determined to be of"historical significance"if it satisfies any of the following criteria: (i) The building or structure is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad p atterns of California's history and cultural heritage. Determination: The residence is not a resource included in a local or state register of Historic Resources, nor is it associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of California's history and cultural heritage. (ii) The building or structure is associated with the lives orad persons important to our past Determination: The residence is not associated with the lives and persons important to the City's past. The residence was designed by architect Ben be who has been identified as a popular local architect. Ben Rabe was a Redlands based architect and painter. At the age of four, Mr. Rabe moved with his family to the City of Redlands in 1916. He graduated from Redlands High School in 1928, and moved to New York where he received his bachelor's and master's degree in Architecture from Cornell University. After serving in the Army during World War Two,he moved back to Redlands and pursued an architectural career from 1946 to 1964. He worked in the Inland Empire designing residential and commercial buildings. His two most recognized works include the Redlands Daily Facts building, located at 700 Brookside Avenue in Redlands,and the Edward-Dean Museum and Gardens, located in Cherry Valley.After 1964,Mr. be pursued a career in painting, and which included over 800 different paintings in a span of thirty years. Ben Rabe's popularity derived from his volunteer work with local organizations. He was the founder and president of two different organizations: the Friends of the Edward-Dean Museum and the Redlands Art Association. He also served as president of the Lions Gallery as well as the Redlands Rotary, and was vice president of the Kimberly-Shirk Association. He also worked in local government,and served on the Redlands Planning Commission during the late 1960's. -2- 1Acc1erk\Reso1ufionsWm 7201-729917227 Demo Pennit 222.doe Although Mr. Rabe was a popular local architect in the community,his association with the residence is not strong enough to make the assertion that the residence is associated with the lives and persons important to the City's past. His work with the residence is limited to its design;at no point did Mr. be reside in the residence. Additionally, the residence is one of several on the street designed by the architect and does not exhibit any unique architectural attributes or embody a significant work of Mr.Rabe's. (iii) The building or structure embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, perioz4 region or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic value. Determination: The residence is a California Ranch style home constructed in 1949. The facade contains elements indicative to this style such as a side gabled roof and wood siding.The architecture of the residence is typical of the period in which it was built,and does not contain any features that are unique or significant to a style. As previously noted,the residence was designed by a popular local architect- However,the residence does not represent a significant work of his nor does it embody the distinctive characteristics of a type,prior,region or method of construction. (N) The building or structure has yielded, or maybe likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Determination: The residence is a typical California Ranch style home construction in 1949,and the residence is not associated with people or events important to the City's past nor is the residence distinctive or unique. The residence has not yielded,and is not likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. (v) The building or structure is significant in the "cultural annals of California"as demonstrated by substantial evidence in light of the whole record presented to the city regarding an application for a demolition it. Determination: "Cultural annals of California"refers to a site having a historic record significant to the history of California.As previously noted,the residence was constructed in 1949. The neighborhood in which the residence is located contains a number of single family dwellings constructed primarily in the 1950's.No record was located by City staff indicating the residence has significance to the history of California.However,City staff received a letter which asserts that the structure is a "historic residence located in a scenic neighborhood." The letter claims that by submitting the demolition permit application to the Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission, City staff has acknowledged that the residence and neighborhood are subject to the provisions of the Redlands Scenic Preservation Ordinance. While the Commission is the reviewing body,the ordinance establishing the process for demolition permit applications is not contained in the Chapter 2.62 (Historic and Scenic Preservation Ordinance). The process by which structures greater -3- 1:\cclerkitmsAes 7201-72W7227 Demo Permit 222.doc then 50 years of age are considered for demolition is found in Chapter 15.44 (Demolition of Buildings and Structures). Pursuant to this Chapter,a structure is determined as historically significant only when it meets the definition contained in Section 15.44.040. It has been determined that the structure does not meet the criteria contained in this Chapter and therefore the provisions of the Redlands Municipal Code pertaining to historic resources do not apply. A binder was provided as a supplement to the above referenced letter.The binder argues that the Monte Vista neighborhood and its views are historic and scenic resources of the City of Redlands. Page I of the text states that the neighborhood is a historic resource because historic resources are those structures that are more than 50 years of age. It further states that properties are defined as historic and/or scenic if they contribute aesthetically to the historical or scenic heritage of the City and they are located within a geographically definable area possessing a concentration of historical or scenic properties that contribute to each other and areunified aesthetically by plan or by physical development.The assumption is incorrect; a building or structure is only considered to be historically significant when it meets the criteria contained within 15.44.040. In summary,the aforementioned materials suggest that demolition of the structure be conditioned to prevent a future structure from impeding on existing views of Monte Vista neighborhood residents because these views are historic and scenic resources of the City. However, Section 15.44.040 of the Redlands Municipal Code addresses only "buildings"and"structures."'The City does not have a process for designating scenic views as"historic resources."Further,the requirements contained in 15.44.070 that structures 50 years of age and greater be reviewed by the Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission does not confer historic building or structure status. It only establishes eligibility for consideration as a structure of historic significance. Based on staff's research and review of whole record presented to the City Council regarding the application for the demolition permit,the residence structure is not significant in the cultural annals of California. (vi) The building or structure qualifies as a historical resource. Determination: Section 15.44.040 of the Redlands Municipal Code defines a Historical Resource as all buildings or structures listed in,or determined to be eligible for listing in.the California Register of Historical Resources. Buildings or structures actually designated as historically significant in any to register of historic resources, or identified as significant in a historical resource survey meeting the requirements of the state historical resources law, are presumed to be historically or culturally significant. The residence is not listed in, nor has it been determined to be eligible for listing in,the California Register of Historic Resources. The residence has not been designated as historically significant in the City's local register of historic resources. Additionally,the residence has not been identified in a historical resource survey as meeting the -4- 1Acc1erk\Rm1utionsxRes 7201-729%7227 Deme Permit 222,doc- requirements of the state historic resources law. Therefore,the residence does not qualify as a Historical Resource. Section 15064.5(a)(3)of the CEQA Guidelines contain criteria for determining what should be considered a historical resource. These criteria mirror Section 15.44.040 of the Redlands Municipal Code,which is the criteria for listing on the California Register of Historic Resources. In summary,the residence is not considered to be a Historic Resource as defined in Section 15064.5 of the CEQA guidelines or Section 15.44.040 of the Redlands Municipal Code. Section 2. The City Council hereby incorporates by reference into this Resolution the determinations and findings of the City's Historic Preservation Officer's report regarding the residence and the Initial Study for the application for the demolition permit. Section 3. used upon its determinations that the residence is not historically significant, the City Council hereby upholds the decision of the Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission and approves the issuance of Demolition Permit No. 222 for the residence located at 1222 Monte Vista Drive. Section 4. The City Council finds and determines that the adoption of this Resolution and the issuance of Demolition Permit No. 222 are exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act because the residence proposed for demolition has no historical significance and therefore issuance of the Demolition Permit is a ministerial action pursuant to the City's Municipal Code. Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(1),the California Environmental Quality Act is not applicable to ministerial projects proposed to be carried out or approved by public agencies. Section 5. The City Council hereby directs City staff to file a Notice of Exemption with the Clerk for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. ADOPTED,SIGNED AND APPROVED this 0 day of Dec-ember,2012. Mayor, Ci of Redlands ATTEST: Sam Irwin, City Clerk -5- 1Acc1crkkReso1utiow\Re.-7201-7299\7227 Deffto Pen nit 222,4oe I, Sam Irwin,of the City of Redlands,hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the 4 'day of December,2012 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Harrison, Foster, Gardner, Gilbreath; Mayor Aguilar NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None k Cler City Sam Irwin, City Cler -6- L',cc1erk\Reso1ufions\Res 7201-7299k7227 Demo Permit 222.doe