CCMIN110315 - Laserfiche WebLink

One item that needs to be determined by the City Council is what changes will trigger the design review requirement. Staff has provided two options for consideration: 1) any changes made to the exterior of the historic home is subject to the administrative design review process; or 2) changes or items that are already addressed in the DSP or design guidelines and are also key elements in historic resources will be subject to a design review process, and he read the various items it covers and said this is the option staff is recommending, as well as what the Planning Commission recommended. Regarding how the process would change, if someone wanted to replace windows on an historic single family home, the proposed process would require administrative design review which entails an applicant submitting plans, a $250 application fee to the City, mailed notices, and staff review of plans for consistency with the DSP policies and design guidelines. If no neighbor objection is received within 7 days and staff determines the plans comply with the policies and guidelines, approval is granted. There is a 15-day appeal period and thereafter, the applicant can apply for their building permit. The code amendment only applies to historic homes. Some members of the public, including former task force members, have requested that the design review authority be expanded to also apply to non- historic homes built before 1942. They believe those homes need to be protected as well for the neighborhood to be maintained. The Planning Commission discussed this and felt there was merit in further exploring this topic and recommended the Council discuss whether to pursue a separate code amendment for the non-historic homes. The Commission did not specify using before 1942 and were open to looking at all homes in the Downtown. Some items for the Council to consider upon deliberation is that it would cost time and cost to owners wishing to make minor changes to non-historic homes. The City would need to develop some criteria to evaluate the appropriateness of changes to non-historic homes, and the review process could be discussed for a potential streamlined process for review. Staff's recommendation is that the Council find that the proposed amendment to the code is statutorily exempt from CEQA; adopt a resolution accepting the historic resources survey; introduce the draft ordinance approving the amendment to the Municipal Code as shown in Attachment 1 which is Option 2; and to provide direction to staff whether to pursue a separate Municipal Code Amendment to expand design review authority to include the exterior single family homes in residential zoning districts in the DSP area that were not determined to be historic resources. Vice-Mayor Brown said the survey focused on the DSP area and she understands there were homes outside of that DSP area that would qualify. She asked how many homes that would be. Mr. Otto said he did not know but stated there are homes older than 1942 outside of the DSP area. Vice-Mayor Brown referred to Option 2 and some of the items that could be changed but would be subject to review. One was a foundation and materials of the foundation. She walked by a downtown home which has a brick foundation. She asked how someone could make their house earthquake safe, given in some cases this is the only way they can qualify for a home loan while still meeting the requirement. Mr. Otto said there are ways to utilize real or faux brick that would be applied to the exterior of the home; however, staff would first try to explore options to save the brick if possible. Councilmember Narum asked how the new regulations would be communicated to homeowners and real estate representatives if the City adopted the survey and the ordinance. Mr. Otto said one component that has yet to be finished will be a handout on historic preservation, specifically regarding the process when people want to make changes to their home. They will also work closely with the PHA, real estate representatives and conduct a targeted outreach to the 88 individual homeowners to understand the process. It also becomes a disclosure item if homeowners happen to sell their historic homes. City Council Minutes Page 9 of 16 November 3,2015