City of Santa Clara
Meeting Minutes
Historical & Landmarks Commission
Draft
6:00 PM Virtual Meeting09/02/2021
Pursuant to the provisions of California Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20, issued on March 17, 2020, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the City of Santa Clara has implemented the following method for the public to participate remotely:
• Via Zoom:
o https://santaclaraca.zoom.us/j/97233262035 or
o Phone: 1 (669) 900-6833
Webinar ID: 972 3326 2035
Public Comments prior to meeting may be submitted via email to [email protected] no later than noon on the day of the meeting. Clearly indicate the project address, meeting body, and meeting date in the email. Historical and Landmarks Commissioners and Staff Liaison will be participating remotely.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ZOOM WEBINAR:
Please follow the guidelines below when participating in a Zoom Webinar:
- The meeting will be recorded so you must choose 'continue' to accept and stay in the meeting. - If there is an option to change the phone number to your name when you enter the meeting, please do so as your name will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak.
- Mute all other audio before speaking. Using multiple devices can cause an audio feedback. - Use the raise your hand feature in Zoom when you would like to speak on an item and lower when finished speaking. Press *9 to raise your hand if you are calling in by phone only. - Identify yourself by name before speaking on an item. - Unmute when called on to speak and mute when done speaking. If there is background noise coming from a participant, they will be muted by the host. Press *6 if you are participating by phone to unmute.
- If you no longer wish to stay in the meeting once your item has been heard, you may leave the meeting.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Leung called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.
Commissioner Amy Kirby, Chair Patricia Leung, Vice Chair Ana Vargas-Smith , Commissioner Michael Celso , Commissioner Megan Swartzwelder , and Commissioner Kathleen Romano
Present 6 -
09/02/2021Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes
CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Commissioner Romano, seconded by
Commissioner Swartzwelder to approve the consent calendar with a modification to Item 1.A.
Aye: Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Vice Chair Vargas-Smith, Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Swartzwelder, and
Commissioner Romano
6 -
1.A 21-8081 Historical and Landmarks Commission Minutes of July 1, 2021 Recommendation: Approve the Historical and Landmarks Commission Minutes of July 1, 2021.
Chair Leung noted a minor change to be made on the July 1, 2021 Meeting Minutes.
1.B 21-8080 Historical and Landmarks Commission 2022 Calendar of Meetings Recommendation: Approve the Historical and Landmarks Commission 2022 Calendar of Meetings.
1.C 21-1092 Informational Report on the Role of the HLC in CEQA Review Recommendation: Note and file the informational report.
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None.
GENERAL BUSINESS
09/02/2021Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes
2. 21-865 Public Hearing: Significant Property Alteration (SPA) Permit to allow the replacement of all windows and interior reconfiguration of an existing single-family residence at 1511 Harrison Street (continued from the July 1, 2021 meeting)
Recommendation: Recommend that the Historical and Landmarks Commission finds that the proposed project located at 1511 Harrison Street retains the essential character defining elements that make it significant; that the proposed project does not destroy or have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of the designated property; that the alterations are compatible with the existing structure; and that the rehabilitation of the residence meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, and recommend approval to the Director of Community Development, subject to the conditions of approval of the SPA permit.
Historical and Landmarks Staff Liaison/Senior Planner Rebecca Bustos provided a staff presentation. Applicant Elias Cortez spoke briefly regarding the project. There were no public speakers.
A motion was made by Commissioner Vargas-Smith, seconded by Commissioner Celso to close public hearing.
Aye: Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Vice Chair Vargas-Smith, Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Swartzwelder, and
Commissioner Romano
6 -
The Commission voiced their support for the project and thanked the applicant for working with Staff and Advisors to revise the plans.
A motion was made by Commissioner Celso, seconded by
Commissioner Vargas-Smith to approve staff recommendation.
Aye: Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Vice Chair Vargas-Smith, Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Swartzwelder, and
Commissioner Romano
6 -
09/02/2021Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes
3. 21-1093 Public Hearing: Consideration of an Environmental Impact Report for the demolition of historically significant properties and the new construction of a data center at 1200-1310 Memorex Drive (continued from the July 1, 2021 meeting)
Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Historical and Landmarks Commission recommend that the City Council approve and certify the Environmental Impact Report for the proposed data center project at 1200-1310 Memorex Drive.
Commissioner Vargas-Smith recused herself from this item due to the proximity of her business to the project property.
Assistant Planner I Tiffany Vien and Staff Liaison Rebecca Bustos updated the Commission that public comments for this project were received from Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Rob Morris, Skybox Development, answered the Commission's questions regarding the project's timeline, alternatives, and plinths.
Public Speaker(s): Joe Martinez
James Klimowski
A motion was made by Commissioner Romano, seconded by
Commissioner Swartzwelder to close public hearing.
Aye: Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Swartzwelder, and Commissioner Romano
5 -
Recused: Vice Chair Vargas-Smith1 -
09/02/2021Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes Environmental Consultant Michael Lisenbee, David J. Powers and Associates, answered the Commission's clarifying questions regarding the language in the EIR and other historically significant resources. Staff Liaison Rebecca Bustos answered questions regarding historical resource designation requirements. The Commission discussed possible recommendations.
A motion was made by Commissioner Celso, seconded by
Commissioner Kirby to approve staff recommendation with the added conditions that:
1) the Historical and Landmarks Commission Advisors review HABS documentation of recordation prior to the documentation of the demolition permit
2) the applicant bring the plinths back to the Historical and Landmarks Commission at a later meeting date for review prior to the Certificate of Occupancy issuance
3) The character-defining elements of the original structure are incorporated as much as possible into the new building
Aye: Commissioner Kirby, Commissioner Celso, and Commissioner Swartzwelder
3 -
Nay: Chair Leung, and Commissioner Romano2 -
Recused: Vice Chair Vargas-Smith1 -
A motion was made by Commissioner Romano, seconded by
Commissioner Celso to recommend that the City Council approve Preservation Alternative 1, Preservation Alternative - Retain Historic Resource. If another alternative is chosen, to recommend the following:
1) the Historical and Landmarks Commission Advisors review Historical Architectural Building Survey documentation of recordation prior to the documentation of the demolition permit 2) the applicant bring the plinths back to the Historical and Landmarks Commission at a later meeting date for review prior to the Certificate of Occupancy issuance
3) The character-defining elements of the original structure are incorporated as much as possible into the new building
Aye: Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Swartzwelder, and Commissioner Romano
5 -
09/02/2021Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes Recused: Vice Chair Vargas-Smith1 -
STAFF REPORT
1. Berryessa Adobe Maintenance
Staff Liaison Rebecca Bustos updated the Commission that Architectural Advisor Craig Mineweaser is continuing the research and condition assessment process.
2. Liaison Staffing Update
Staff Liaison Rebecca Bustos informed the Commission that she would be on leave until April 2022 and that Associate Planner Jeff Schwilk would be the Interim Staff Liaison during her absence.
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
1. Subcommittee Reporting - 20 minutes
There were no subcommittee reports.
2. Board and Committee Assignments - 15 minutes
Board/Committee Lead/Alternate Santa Clara Arts and Historic Consortium Leung / Romano Historic Preservation Society of Santa Clara Vargas-Smith / Leung Old Quad Residents Association Leung / Romano Development Review Hearing Romano / Vargas-Smith Agnews Historic Cemetery Museum Committee Kirby / Romano BART/ High Speed Rail/ VTA BRT Committee Vargas-Smith / Swartzwelder Zoning Ordinance Update Romano / Swartzwelder El Camino Real Specific Plan Community Advisory Committee Leung Downtown Revitalization Vargas-Smith / Romano Commissioners reported on assignments.
3. Announcements and Other Items - 10 minutes
Commissioner Vargas-Smith invited the Commission to attend the annual Parade of Champions occurring on October 9, 2021. Chair Leung informed the Commission that the deadline to accept applications for the Historical and Landmarks Commissioner vacancy was on September 10, 2021.
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4. Commissioner Travel and Training Requests - 10 minutes Chair Leung encouraged the Commission to attend the webinars offered by the California Preservation Foundation.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Vargas-Smith, seconded by Commissioner Romano to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:41 p.m.
The next regular scheduled meeting is on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 6 p.m.
Aye: Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Vice Chair Vargas-Smith, Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Swartzwelder, and
Commissioner Romano
6 -
09/02/2021Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes The time limit within which to commence any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City is governed by Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, unless a shorter limitation period is specified by any other provision. Under Section 1094.6, any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City must be filed no later than the 90th day following the date on which such decision becomes final. Any lawsuit or legal challenge, which is not filed within that 90-day period, will be barred. If a person wishes to challenge the nature of the above section in court, they may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the meeting described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Clara, at or prior to the meeting. In addition, judicial challenge may be limited or barred where the interested party has not sought and exhausted all available administrative remedies.
If a member of the public submits a speaker card for any agenda items, their name will appear in the Minutes. If no speaker card is submitted, the Minutes will reflect "Public Speaker."
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Contact the City Clerk’s Office at 1 408-615-2220 with your request for an alternative format copy of the agenda or other written materials.
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