HomeMy WebLinkAboutHCPC Resolution 2014-02 04/08/2014RESOLUTION NO. 2014-02
CITY OF PETALUMA
HISTORIC AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA HISTORIC AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
MAKING A FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANCE AND AUTHORIZING DEMOLITION OF THE BECK HOUSE
LOCATED AT 0 CEDAR GROVE PARK
ASSESSOR'S PARCEL NO. 006-051-065
File No. PLSR-13-0013
WHEREAS, John Barello, on behalf of River Bend at Petaluma LLA, has submitted a request for
Historic and Cultural Preservation Committee approval to demolish the existing Beck House located at
the west side of 0 Cedar Grove Park, Assessor's Parcel No. 006-051-065; and,
WHEREAS, the applicant submitted a historic evaluation of the Beck House and other structures
on the 7 -acre Cedar Grove Park site titled Historic Structures Evaluation of Cedar Grove Property
(prepared by Cassandra Chattan, Archaeological Resource Service, 2006). The historic evaluation is
incorporated herein by reference and is available for review at City Hall during normal business hours.
The historic evaluation confirmed that the existing Beck House located at 0 Cedar Grove Park was
constructed circa 1930 and enlarged several times in the 1950s; and,
WHEREAS, the Beck house is uninhabited and experiencing trespassing and destruction; and the
Cedar Grove property as a whole is currently considered a public nuisance by the City of Petaluma's
Police Department, homeless encampment has become an ongoing problem on-site and there has
been a significant increase in emergency response calls to the site the last few years; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed demolition is within scope of Section 15.060 of the Implementing Zoning
Ordinance and adopted City Council Resolution 2005-198 N.C.S. (Demolition Policy); and,
WHEREAS, the project was reviewed pursuant to CEQA guidelines and based on the entire
record, including the historic evaluation, determined to be categorically exempt pursuant to Sections
15301, subsection I (Existing Facilities: Demolition and removal of individual small structures); and,
WHEREAS, a staff report dated March 25, 2014 described and analyzed the request and historic
evaluation for the Historic and Cultural Preservation Committee; and,
WHEREAS, a Demolition Request for the Beck House was reviewed by the Historic and Cultural
Preservation Committee at a duly noticed public hearing on March 25 and April 8, 2014 in accordance
with the City of Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance, Section 24.010; and,
WHEREAS, verbal testimony provided at the April 8, 2014 Historic and Cultural Preservation
Committee outlined additional historic documentation that the Beck House may have been built closer
to 1909; however, the Architectural Historian (Kara Brunzell) concurred with the ultimate findings of the
original Evaluation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the above recitals are true and correct and incorporated
herein by reference.
HCPC Resolution No, 2014-02 Page 1
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that based on the staff report, the historic evaluation and all other
information in the record, the Historic and Cultural Preservation Committee hereby finds that the Beck
House is not historically or culturally significant and authorizes demolition of the building, based on the
findings made below and subject to conditions of approval attached as Exhibit I hereto and
incorporated herein by reference:
The Beck House is not listed on a local, state, or national register or survey;
2. The Cedar Grove property is not located in a designated historic district and is not a designated
historic site;
3. Based on the Historic Structures Evaluation (prepared by Cassandra Chattan of Archaeological
Resource Service) the Beck House does not appear eligible for listing on a local, state, or
national register or survey for the following reasons:
A. The original house was not a great example of architecture, and has been overwhelmed
by the large southern addition and smaller northern addition, estimated to date from the
1950's.
B. The Beck House is not associated with the amusement park era of the site (estimated as
1880 to post WWI). It is associated with Chris Beck who was a cattle buyer and President
of the Sonoma County Fair in 1956, however Mr. Beck does not appear to be a
particularly significant person in Petaluma or Sonoma County history or Californian or
National History. His name does not appear in the local histories or subject searches at
the Sonoma County library.
4. The demolition of the Beck House will not be detrimental to the aesthetic or economic vitality of
the community because the structure is not culturally or historically significant; is vacant and in a
state of disrepair; is subject to vandalism, graffiti, and trespassing; and is part of a site viewed as
a threat to emergency responders by the City Police and Fire Departments.
5. The Beck House does not represent or convey important architectural, visual, or cultural features
that are important in preserving the character of an existing neighborhood in that:
A. The original building has been overwhelmed by the large southern addition and smaller
northern addition, estimated to date from the 1950's;
The Beck House is not a great example of architecture;
C. The Beck House is not associated with the historic excursion park use of the site (Cedar
Grove Park, Bell's Park, or Starke Park); and
D. The Beck House is associated with Chris Beck who was Sonoma County Fair
Commissioner in 1956, however Mr. Beck does not appear to be a particularly significant
person in Petaluma or Sonoma County history or Californian or National History. His name
does not appear in the local histories or subject searches at the Sonoma County library.
ADOPTED this 8th day of April, 2014, by the following vote:
HCPC Resolution No. 2014-02 Page 2
Committee Member
Aye
No
Absent
Abstain
Benedetti-Petnic
X
Lin
X
Gomez
X
Kosewic
X
Marzo
X
Councilmember Miller
X
Vice Chair Pierre
X
Schlich
X
Chair Wolpert
X
ATTEST:
Bill Wolpert, Chair
APPROVED AS TO
Eric W. Donly, City
HCPC Resolution No. 2014-02
Page 3
Exhibit 1
Beck House
0 Cedar Grove Park
APN 006-051-065
City File Number: PLSR-13-0013
1. Approval is granted by the Historic and Cultural Preservation Committee to demolish the Beck
House, a cream -colored single-family residence located on the west side of 0 Cedar Grove Park
(south of the 1860's Bloom -Tunstall house) and constructed circa 1909 to 1930, consistent with the
requirements of the Building Code.
2. A demolition permit issued by the Building Division and including any required permits from the Bay
Area Air Quality Management District or other regulatory agencies shall be required prior to
demolition of the Beck House.
3. Prior to issuance of a demolition permit, the applicant shall submit, for staff review and approval, a
written statement describing how building materials, fixtures, doors, and other items of historic
nature shall be salvaged, to the extent possible, for reuse or to be made available (at the
applicant's expense) to interested parties (pursuant to IZO Section 15.060A).
4. The Beck House foundation as well as any pavement or surrounding tree/shrub/vegetation roots
shall not be removed. Demolition equipment or methods shall not disturb soils.
5. All demolition activities shall be monitored by a qualified archaeologist and consistent with the
recommendations made by the project archaeologist on September 27, 2013 based on the
sensitivity of the site.
6. The applicant shall submit a special inspector certification for the qualified archaeologist to the
Building Division for review and approval prior to commencement of any demolition activity on the
site.
7. Special inspections by the Building Division shall be required for all demolition activities on the site
due to the sensitive nature of the property. A progress inspection shall be required the morning of
the first day of work on the site and the qualified archaeologist shall be present. Additional
progress inspections may be required as deemed necessary by the inspector. A final inspection
shall be required.
8. If during any phase of project construction, any cultural materials are encountered, construction
activities shall be halted immediately and the project applicant shall notify the City. The qualified
prehistoric archaeologist shall be retained by the project applicant and shall be allowed to
conduct a more detailed inspection and examination of the exposed cultural materials. During this
time, no work shall be allowed on the site. If any find were determined to be significant by the
archaeologist, the City and the archaeologist would meet to determine the appropriate course of
action. All cultural materials recovered from the site would be subject to scientific analysis,
professional museum curation, and a report prepared according to current professional standards.
HCPC Resolution No. 2014-02 Page 4
If human remains are discovered at the project site at any time, work at the site shall be suspended
and the City of Petaluma and the County coroner shall be immediately notified. If the remains are
determined by the County coroner to be Native American, the Native American Heritage
Commission shall be notified within 24 hours and the treatment and disposition of the remains shall
adhere to the guidelines of the Native American Heritage Commission.
10. Demolition hours are limited to 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Construction is prohibited on Sundays and all holidays observed by the City
of Petaluma.
11. The applicant shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the City or any of its boards, commissions,
agents, officers, and employees from any claim, action or proceeding against the City, its boards,
commission, agents, officers, or employees to attack, set aside, void, or annul, the approval of the
project when such claim or action is brought within the time period provided for in applicable State
and/or local statutes. The City shall promptly notify the applicants of any such claim, action, or
proceeding. The City shall coordinate in the defense. Nothing contained in this condition shall
prohibit the City from participating in a defense of any claim, action, or proceeding if the City
bears its own attorney's fees and costs, and the City defends the action in good faith.
HCPC Resolution No. 2014-02 Page 5