PC 091411 - Laserfiche WebLink

c. P11-0716/P11-0714, Justin and Jalayne Ladd Applications for: (1) Downtown Specific Plan Amendment to allow the demolition of primary buildings in the Ray Street/Spring Street neighborhood Review approval and Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish the existing dwelling and detached storage building located at 225 Spring Street and to construct an approximately 2,877-square-foot single-family home and an approximately 3,283-square-foot detached workshop and three-car garage. Zoning for the property is C-C (Central Commercial), Downtown Revitalization, Core Area Overlay District. Rosalind Rondash presented the staff report and described the scope, layout, and key elements of the proposal. Mr. Dolan stated that it is a very unusual circumstance for staff to recommend a change to a plan simply to accommodate a single project going forward. He explained that there is a need to approve this project with a proposed change to the Downtown Specific Plan. He noted that this project was interesting in that it pointed out something that really needed to be addressed in that it had a very direct and specific prohibition of demolition, regardless of what was on the site. He indicated that he was hesitant to recommend the amendment on first glance and that it actually evolved in his thinking over time, although staff has always liked what was proposed. He noted that here is a situation where the historic evaluation report indicates that the house does not meet the thresholds of being historically significant and that it has gone through some evolution of use and design. He added that that it is not necessarily a house that staff has heard a lot of interest from the community in retaining. He noted that there is at least one additional structure in that designated neighborhood that pretty much had no architectural merit but is also subject to this strict prohibition. He indicated that staff thought that if it crafted something where the Commission is able to document the lack of historical significance and is able to meet the guidelines that exist in coming back with the proposal, then maybe that hard and fast rule of no demolitions ever was not really the best route to take. Commissioner Blank noted that the existing house has some existing landscaping and inquired if there is a landscape plan. Ms. Rondash replied that no landscaping plan attached to the proposed project is required to be submitted. Commissioner Blank inquired if the landscape plan will come back to the Commission or will be considered at the staff level. Ms. Rondash replied that it would be subject to the review and approval of the Director of Community Development. She clarified that the Guidelines require that the front and side yard landscaping be maintained, and any landscaping plan that came back in a PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 14, 2011 Page 15 of 28