THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY
303 West Commonwealth Avenue, Fullerton, California 92832-1775 (714) 738-6598 · Fax (714) 738-3110 · Website: www.cityoffullerton.com
CITY OF FULLERTON
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Community and Economic Development Department
Item No. 2
March 15, 2023
6:30 p.m.
Public Hearing
TO: Chair Mansuri and
Members of the Planning Commission/Landmarks Commission
APPLICATION
PRJ2023-00001: ZON-2022-0113 and LRP-2023-0001
APPLICANT
Fullerton Heritage on behalf of John C. Estrada
LOCATION
125 West Elm Avenue
SUMMARY AND APPLICATIONS REQUESTED
This application is a request to designate the property at 125 West Elm Avenue as a Historical (Local) Landmark (HL-110) with a corresponding request to amend The Fullerton Plan to add the property to Table 6 and Exhibit 3 of The Fullerton Plan, City of Fullerton Local Register of Historical Resources and Map of Historical Resources, respectively.
CEQA DETERMINATION
This application is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15331 - Historical Resource Restoration/ Rehabilitation, which allows for the preservation and conservation of historical resources in a manner consistent with the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Reconstructing Historic Buildings.
AUTHORIZATION/GUIDELINES
Fullerton Municipal Code (FMC) Section 15.48.050 authorizes the Planning Commission, acting in their role as the Landmarks Commission, to designate a property as a Historical (Local) Landmark, after due consideration and public hearing. The Landmarks Commission review shall consider the criteria specified in FMC Section 15.48.060, Criteria for Designation.
California Government Code Section 65353 establishes a procedure wherein the Planning Commission is authorized to consider a revision to the General Plan at a noticed public hearing and forward their recommendation to the City Council for final action.
Landmarks/Planning Commission Staff Report
March 15, 2023
Item No. 2 Page 2 PRJ2023-00001
PUBLIC OUTREACH
On March 1, 2023, the City sent a Public Hearing Notice to owners and occupants of property within a 300-foot radius of the project site. Notification was posted on the project site on that same date. The notice was also posted on the City’s website and at the Maintenance Services Department, Main Library, Museum Center and City Hall on the Public Notice Boards. In addition, notice was published in the Fullerton News Tribune on March 2, 2023.
PROJECT BACKGROUND / HISTORY
Project Applicant: Fullerton Heritage
Property Owner: John C. Estrada
Property Location: 125 West Elm Avenue
General Location: North side of Elm Avenue, 300 feet west of Harbor Boulevard
Parcel Number: 032-273-18
Existing Community
Development Type (General
Plan Land Use Designation):
Low Density Residential
Existing Zoning
Classification:
R-1-6, Single-Family Residential (minimum lot size of
6,000 square feet)
Site Size: 4,725 sq. ft.
Circulation: Elm Avenue is a local street that connects with Harbor Boulevard, a primary arterial highway.
Parking: Detached garage accessed from Elm Avenue
Existing Conditions: The property is developed with a one-story English cottage-styled single-family residence and detached
garage, constructed in 1928.
Surrounding Land Uses
and Zoning:
North, east and west: Residential properties zoned R-1- 6 and south (across Elm Avenue), residential properties zoned R-2, Two-Family Residential.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The applicant, Fullerton Heritage on behalf of the property owner, is seeking designation of the property located at 125 West Elm Avenue as a Historical (Local) Landmark (HL-110) with a corresponding General Plan Revision to add the property to the Local Register of Historical Resources (Table 6 of the Fullerton Plan) and to the Historical Resources – National and Local Map (Exhibit 3 of The Fullerton Plan).
ANALYSIS
FMC Chapter 15.48 (Landmarks, Landmark Districts, Residential Preservation Zones and Significant Properties) establishes the process for determining whether a site is worthy of designation as a Local Landmark. Such designation confirms that the historic, cultural, architectural or aesthetic value of a property merits its preservation, restoration and/or protection.
Landmarks/Planning Commission Staff Report
March 15, 2023
Item No. 2 Page 3 PRJ2023-00001
FMC 15.48.060, Criteria for a “Historical Landmark” designation, identifies the following criteria for determining eligibility:
1. Character, interest or value as part of the heritage of the City.
2. Location as a site of a historic event.
3. Identification with a person or persons or groups who significantly contributed to the culture and development of the City.
4. Exemplification of a particular architectural style or way of life important to the City.
5. Exemplification of the best remaining architectural types in an area.
6. Identification as the work of a person or persons whose work has influenced the heritage of the City, the state of California or the United States.
7. Embodiment of elements of outstanding attention to architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship.
8. Relationship to other landmarks, where the preservation of one has a bearing on the preservation of another.
9. A unique location or singular physical characteristic representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood.
10. Integrity as a natural environment that strongly contributes to the well-being of the people of the City.
This property qualifies as a Local Landmark per criteria 3 and 7:
3. Identification with a person or persons or groups who significantly contributed to the culture and development of the City.
7. Embodiment of elements of outstanding attention to architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship.
Fullerton Heritage provided background and research concerning this property (Attachment 2).
Highlights regarding the notable residents and the architectural details are summarized below.
Notable Figure: Earl Greene Snyder
The subject property includes a house designed and built by notable local contractor, Earl G.
Snyder, an impressive and important builder in Fullerton’s history. From 1921 until his death in 1952, Snyder constructed hundreds of homes in Fullerton. His first homes were designed in a Minimal Traditional style, followed by Spanish Colonial Revival and English cottage homes. In the mid-1920s, he developed a signature English cottage style of architecture that was unique to Fullerton. Snyder took ornate English Cottage and Storybook architectural elements popular in the early 1920s – turrets, thatched roofs, massive fireplaces, small diamond-paned windows, etc. – and simplified the style, designing charming, almost modern, cottages around the City.
Architectural Design: English Cottage Style
The front façade of the subject property’s dwelling features two wings or sides, each with a steeply pitched gable roof, separated by a small arched landing or porch. The varied roofline also peaks above the recessed wooden front door providing protection from the rain. Air vents are positioned at the top of the gables. Fenestration includes a picture window flanked by two four-lite double hung windows on the west side; two matching sets of four-lite double hung Landmarks/Planning Commission Staff Report
March 15, 2023
Item No. 2 Page 4 PRJ2023-00001
windows in the center above the porch; and one six-lite double hung window on the east side that lights a breakfast nook. The stuccoed exterior is painted a historically appropriate pale yellow with white trim. The home retains a high degree of historic integrity, especially in terms of design, materials and workmanship. The dwelling is a pristine example of Snyder’s simplified 1920s English cottage style of architecture.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the recommended action is categorically exempt from environmental review per Section 15331 of the State CEQA Guidelines. This Class 31 exemption allows the preservation and conservation of historical resources in a manner consistent with the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Reconstructing Historic Buildings.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Pursuant to the findings and facts, including General Plan consistency, outlined therein, find that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA, and adopt Planning Commission Resolution No.
PC-2023-06 entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 125 WEST ELM AVENUE (HISTORIC LANDMARK NO. HL-110) A LOCAL
LANDMARK AND RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE A
GENERAL PLAN REVISION TO MAKE CORRESPONDING AMENDMENTS
TO THE FULLERTON PLAN HISTORIC PRESERVATION ELEMENT, TABLE 6 – CITY OF FULLERTON LOCAL REGISTER OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES AND EXHIBIT 3 – MAP OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES – NATIONAL AND LOCAL
DATED: March 15, 2023
Prepared by: Reviewed by:
Andrew Kusch
Associate Planner
Chris Schaefer, AICP
Planning Manager
Approved for Agenda by:
Sunayana Thomas
Director of Community and Economic Development
Landmarks/Planning Commission Staff Report
March 15, 2023
Item No. 2 Page 5 PRJ2023-00001
Attachments to Report:
1. Draft Planning Commission Resolution No. PC-2023-06
2. Documentation in Support of Landmark Designation for 125 West Elm Avenue