HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Resolution 2014-04 04/08/2014RESOLUTION NO. 2014-04
CITY OF PETALUMA PLANNING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE RESCINDING THE
LOCAL HISTORICAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION OF THE FRENCH LAUNDRY
LOCATED AT 570 BODEGA AVENUE
APN 006-441-006,
FILE NO. PLSR-13-0020
WHEREAS, on April 8, 2014, the Historic and Cultural Preservation Committee
recommended to the Planning Commission rescission of the local landmark designation of the
French Laundry located at 570 Bodega Avenue based on findings that the building no longer
appears locally significant based on California Register criteria related to integrity of design,
materials, and workmanship as several of the character defining features of the building are
missing or in an irreversible state of disrepair, and other buildings on site that contributed to the
integrity of setting are no longer extant; and,
WHEREAS, the French Laundry and rear carriage house were constructed in 1914. The
French Laundry was designated a local historic landmark in 1990 (Ord. No. 1815 N.C.S); and,
WHEREAS, in 2004, the French Laundry was damaged by a storm which caused a large
portion of the west facade to collapse; and,
WHEREAS, in 2005, the roof and floor of French Laundry collapsed and the character -
defining false front parapet and sign were removed; and,
WHEREAS, other buildings and structures that once stood on the subject lot, including
overhead cranes, floor gutters, wooden water tank and a one room cottage no longer exist and
remaining structures on site are deteriorated and uninhabited; and,
WHEREAS, although the building has not moved since its original construction, the setting
of the designated landmark has been compromised due to the development of the surrounding
neighborhood with modern structures; and,
WHEREAS, on December 4, 2013, Sergei Oleshko, submitted an application to demolish
the French Laundry and rear carriage house; and,
WHEREAS, on March 3, 2014, Sergei Oleshko submitted a request to remove the local
historic landmark designation of the property; and,
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2014, Christina Dikas, Senior Architectural Historian at Page and
Turnbull prepared a Historic Resources Memorandum (incorporated herein by reference)
assessing the integrity of the property, and evaluated whether the property continued to
represent its historic significance and should remain a local landmark; and,
WHEREAS, the Page and Turnbull Report found that due to a loss of several important
character -defining features and loss of overall historic integrity, the French Laundry is no longer
adequately able to convey its historic significance and should not remain a local landmark or
be considered a historic resources pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);
and,
Planning Commission Resolution No. 2014-04 Page 1
WHEREAS, pursuant to Implementing Zoning Ordinance (IZO) Section 15.040.D, the City
Council may rescind designation only by ordinance and the procedure for rescinding a
designation shall be the some as that for the original designation; and,
WHEREAS, the project includes removal of the local landmark status for the French
Laundry rescission of the designation by ordinance, and demolition of the French Laundry and
rear carriage house. As documented in the Page and Turnbull report and elsewhere in the
record, there would be no significant adverse effect from the landmark removal, rescission or
demolition of the French Laundry, because the characteristics that led to the designation of the
French Laundry have been compromised or no longer exist. The Planning Commission
recommends that the project be determined categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15301 (1)
as a demolition of individual small structures. The exception for Historical Resources in Section
15300.2(f) would not apply based on the loss of integrity and associated lack of historical
significance documented in the Page and Turnbull report and the rest of the record; and,
WHEREAS, the Page and Turnbull report specifically reviews the project in accordance
with the guidelines of the California Register and by reference Chapter 15 of the IZO and
concludes that the building should not remain a local landmark or be considered a historic
resource pursuant to the CEQA; and,
WHEREAS, on April 8, 2014 the Planning Commission and Historic and Cultural Preservation
Committee held a duly noticed joint public hearing, considered a April 8, 2014 staff report,
received public comment, and considered the proposed rescission of local landmark
designation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the above recitals are true and correct and
incorporated herein by reference.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council
adopt a rescission ordinance removing the local historic landmark designation of the French
Laundry based on the following findings:
Rescinding the designation of the French Laundry as a local landmark does not conflict
with the Petaluma General Plan 2025. The site no longer retains integrity due to a loss of
several character -defining features and the property lacks overall historic context. The
French Laundry no longer represents a historic resource that is part of Petaluma's unique
and irreplaceable cultural heritage (3-P-1). Therefore, the site should not continue to be
designated a local landmark subject to the development review process (3-P-1 D).
2. Rescinding the designation of the French Laundry as a local landmark does not conflict
with the objectives outlined in Chapter 15 of the Implementing Zoning Ordinance (IZO).
The site does not serve to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the public
through the protection and enhancement of a building that is a reminder of past eras,
events, and persons important to local history. The site is no longer able to convey its
historical significance. The French Laundry should not be subject to the historic
preservation controls and standards in said Chapter.
Pursuant to IZO § 15.040.8 the Planning Commission recommends, consistent with the
Historic and Cultural Preservation Committee recommendation, that a rescission
ordinance removing the local historic landmark designation include a description of the
characteristics that merited the original designation as a local historic landmark as well
as supporting evidence regarding the loss of historical significance justifying the rescission
of the landmark designation.
A. The following list of character -defining features of the French Laundry is excerpted
Planning Commission Resolution No. 2014-04 Page 2
from Jane Lauder's May of 1990 California Department of Parks and Recreation
(DPR) Inventory form (incorporated herein by reference) and Page and Turnbull's
Historic Resource Memorandum for 570 Bodega Avenue:
1. False Front commercial building type with plain parapet.
2. Italionate style symmetry and facade shape.
3. Simple shed roof display window bays on notched brackets.
4. Doors and operable windows with proportions typical of twentieth century
construction.
5. Oversize sign lettering in a range of antique typestyles (on the parapet; sign read
"The Bodega Avenue French Laundry, Cleaning and Pressing").
6. Overhead cranes, gutters, outdoor crane drive and wood water tank on the
property that demonstrate original laundry use.
7. Horizontal shiplap wood cladding.
8. Gable roof behind false front parapet.
9. Central entry with partially glazed and paneled wood door.
10. One-story wood frame building.
B. The following character -defining elements of the French Laundry are missing or have
been removed from the site:
1. The false front parapet.
2. The painted sign.
3. The overhead cranes.
4. Gable roof.
5. Floor gutters.
6. Wooden water tank.
7. Associated one room cottage.
C. The deteriorating condition of all remaining building components prevents the
rehabilitation of the French Laundry.
4. As further described in the April 8, 2014 staff report and the Page and Turnbull report,
based on the loss of character -defining features, the French Laundry is not significant for
architecture (equivalent to Criterion 3 - California Register of Historic Places) nor local
significance as an early French laundry in Petaluma (equivalent to Criterion 1 - California
Register of Historic Places) and should no longer remain a local historic resource.
ADOPTED this 8th day of April, 2014, by the following vote:
Commission Member
Aye
No
Absent f
Abstain -
Benedetti-Petnic
X
Lin
X
Gomez
X
Marzo
X
Councilmember Miller
X
Vice Chair Pierre
X
Chair Wolpert
X
Planning Commission Resolution No. 2014-04 Page 3
ATTEST:
Bil Wolpert, Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Heat 'er Hines, Com7iIssion Secretary Eric Danly, City
Planning Commission Resolution No. 2014-04 Page 4