1 DRAFT MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
LANDMARKS COMMISSION
MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2024
MEETING BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1685 MAIN STREET, ROOM 250
CALL TO ORDER Chair Brand called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Roger Genser
Amy Green
Pam O’Connor
Dolores Sloan
Jodi Summers
Gloria Garvin, Vice-Chair
Richard Brand, Chair
Also present:
Stephanie Reich, AIA, LEED AP, Design & Historic Preservation Planner, Commission Liaison Michelle M. Hugard, Deputy City Attorney
Sheila Shahbazi, Staff Assistant III
1. SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS
1-A. 7:11 PM
Report from Staff:
Stephanie Reich, Design and Historic Preservation Planner provided the staff report. She reported to the Commission that the California Preservation Foundation held its annual conference at the Biltmore Hotel. She stated that she and Gina Szilak attended. She requested that Commissioners keep track of any and all training they attend or receive pertaining to preservation, that is important information for staff to record. 2 Ms. Reich announced that the City will be celebrating Juneteenth at Virginia Avenue Park on June 16 from 11am-4pm. She stated it’s a great celebration every year, and that there are other celebrations throughout the LA area.
She also noted that Staff is working with the owners of 1401 Palisades Beach Road, a designated Landmark, which is undergoing much-needed deferred maintenance.
Ms. Reich also let the Commission know that the applicant team for Item 6A has requested 15 minutes - 12 minutes for presentation and 3 minutes for rebuttal. The Commission will have to take a vote at the beginning of the item.
There was a question about the sign on the east side of the Sears building. Ms. Reich noted that is a temporary sign.
1-B. 7:14 PM
Landmarks Commissioner Announcements
Commissioner Sloan announced that 1413 Michigan has been completed and commented that the new housing behind complements the Landmark.
Commissioner O’Connor provided a report for the portion of the CPF conference she attended.
Commissioner Summers reported that she toured the Banning House and Soldier’s Barracks in Wilmington and was very impressed with the tour.
Chair Brand announced that he received the Proclamation of Preservation Month from the City Council in May. He requested the Proclamation be scanned and distributed to the Commission. Commissioner Summers will accept it once it’s scanned.
Commissioner Genser made the motion to move Public Input (Item 10) on the agenda prior to the consent calendar and Commissioner Summers seconded. A voice vote was held for the motion and was approved unanimously.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
2-A. 7:30 PM
Meeting Minutes:
May 13, 2024
3 Commissioner Summers made the motion to approve the consent calendar and Commissioner Green seconded. A roll call was held for the motion and was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Green, O’Connor, Sloan, Summers, Garvin
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: Genser, Brand
ABSENT: None
3. STUDY SESSION
None.
4. CONTINUED ITEMS
None.
5. STAFF ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
None.
6. PUBLIC HEARING
6-A. 7:31 PM
1132-1142 Princeton Street (24ENT-0031 and 24ENT-0032) Structure of Merit Nomination and Compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): Consideration of Structure of Merit Designation application 24ENT-0031 and 0032 for the properties located at 1132-1142 Princeton Street to determine whether the multi-family residential buildings, in whole or in part, should be designated as a Structure of Merit. The Landmarks Commission will consider the application based on whether the application, research, and public testimony presented demonstrates that the building meets one or more of the required criteria for Structure of Merit designation pursuant to SMMC Section 9.56.080.
Consideration of compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), including an exemption under CEQA Guideline 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption).
Continued from May 13, 2024
Commissioner Genser made the motion to allow 15 minutes for the applicant team’s presentation and rebuttal and Commissioner Summers seconded. A roll call was held for the motion and was unanimously approved by the following vote:
AYES: Genser, Green, O’Connor, Sloan, Summers, Garvin, Brand NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
4 Ex parte communications:
Commissioners Genser, Green, Sloan, Vice-Chair Garvin, and Chair Brand spoke with the applicant team and visited the site.
Commissioner Summers visited the site.
Commissioner O’Connor drove by the site multiple times.
Ms. Reich presented the staff report.
Robert Chattel, Chattel Inc., presented for the applicant team. In response to a question, he stated that a portion of the Beverly Hills Library, designed by Martin Stern Jr., the architect of this property, remains within the new library structure.
Public Comment:
Carol Lemlein, speaking on behalf of the Santa Monica Conservancy, spoke in support of designation.
Commissioner O’Connor spoke about the loss of integrity of the property as a garden apartment, stated that it was not associated with the important work of Martin Stern Jr., and designation may result in diluting the standards for the criteria. She also stated concern that diluting the criteria may lead to an expansive use of the Mills Act and to prevent additional housing in other cases.
Commissioner Green spoke in support of the designation, since the massing and footprint of the buildings has not been significantly altered and that it is a modest building that is also important to recognize.
Commissioner Genser stated that he visited the site and the ADUs make the configuration very different. He’s troubled by the current relationship of the ADUs and the loss of integrity. Later during his vote, he wanted the record to reflect that he felt the property’s concept was compromised too much.
Commissioner Sloan she believes that the property meets 4 of 5 criteria.
Commissioner Brand enjoyed visiting this project, applauded the ADU’s, appreciates this as a good example of Martin Stern Jr’s work, and believes that the criteria has been met.
Commissioner Garvin spoke in support of designation.
Vice-Chair Garvin moved to designate the two side by side properties as a Structure of Merit and included the CEQA exemption. Commissioner Green seconded the motion. A roll call was held for the motion and was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Green, Sloan, Garvin, Brand
NAYS: Genser, O’Connor
5 ABSTAIN: Summers
ABSENT: None
7. RESOLUTIONS
None.
8. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
None.
9. DISCUSSION ITEMS
9-A. 8:34 PM
Report from the Landmarks Subcommittee regarding the Landmarks nomination application process and discussion of next steps.
Nothing to report.
9-B. 8:35PM
Report from the Landmarks Commission Subcommittee on Social Justice/Equity in Preservation and discussion of Working Group report and next steps, including possible presentation to City Council with a formal request for funding.
Jing Yeo, Planning Manager, discussed the staff memo written in response to the report from the Working Group. She highlighted that the staff report has been modified since meeting with the Working Group, and that the memo intends to provide information regarding implementation. She identified that some of the recommendations can move forward right away with existing resources, and also highlighted those that will require additional resources. She identified information regarding the process change recommended by the Working Group for outreach would require effort for proper implementation including a change to the Landmarks Ordinance. She asked the Landmarks Commission to identify how the recommendations should be supported and consider the implementation implications.
Commissioner Genser suggested that the work is important and asked if it could be broadened to include a full update of the Landmarks Ordinance which had begun prior to the pandemic. Ms. Yeo identified that is a substantive work product that likely shouldn’t delay this work that was directed by City Council.
Commissioner O’Connor asked what is the role of the Landmarks Commission and can some of the items be started immediately. Ms. Yeo stated that the recommendation of the Landmarks Commission can be communicated to the City Council in a number of ways, including a letter and presentation to City Council or an information item. She 6 suggested the recommendation from the Landmarks Commission be included as a letter from the Commission.
Commissioner Sloan presented the Working Group report on behalf of the Landmarks Commission Subcommittee. She noted appreciation for the discussion of staff and the Working Group and the collaboration represented by the discussion and the revision to the memo. She introduced Joanne Berlin, coordinator of the Committee on Racial Justice, (CRJ) and Hajar Muqtasid St. Claire. She recognized that there is effort associated with these items and requested that the Commission receive the report and support the Working Group report. She also noted that the Working Group would continue to refine the recommendations.
Hajar Muqtasid St. Claire, is a member of the CRJ and has been a working member of the Working Group. She spoke eloquently about the responsibility for repair, the magnitude of the harm and how the repair needs to match the harm. She requested the Landmarks Commission support the Working Group report in an effort to engage in repair.
Carol Lemlein, speaking on behalf of the Santa Monica Conservancy, referred to public correspondence sent to the Commission in May in support of the Working Group report and to expand the recommendations to include a revision of the Landmarks Ordinance.
Joanne Berlin, volunteer coordinator of the CRJ, which had been active for 12 years, informed the Landmarks Commission of the work of the CRJ. Ms. Berlin requested that the Commission support the recommendations of the Working Group to the City Council.
She also talked about the Unmasking Whiteness Institute that will occur between July 25 through 28th, a 4-day commitment put on by the organization AWARE. She stated that the workshop will focus on how white people view their whiteness, and would recommend attendance by members of the Commission. She noted that Shelly Tochluk who leads the workshop, may be available to facilitate a session with the Commission.
Nina Fresco, member of the Working Group spoke in support of the report and recommended that the Commission engage in the work of repair for the past harms.
Commissioner Sloan moved that the Commission accept receipt of the report from the Working Group that included the Subcommittee on Social Justice Equity in preservation and forward it to the City Council and Commissioner Genser seconded and suggested a letter to the City Council with a presentation by a member of the Commission. Ms. Yeo stated the item would be agendized and Planning Staff does not have control of the Council agenda. Ms. Reich and Ms. Yeo outlined different options for transmitting the recommendation to City Council.
7 Commissioner O’Connor stated her position that it’s important for the Commission to identify pathways to repair the harm. She suggested that the Commission take some immediate action, noting that there be some information about implementation within the recommendation.
Commissioner Genser amended the motion that:
the Subcommittee write and send a letter to Council that endorses the report recommendations with the staff framework;
Including that there are steps we can do right away with existing resources (e.g. training);
Other recommendations require additional time and resources to develop and will return with future budget requests;
Request to be placed on upcoming Council agenda under reports from Boards & Commissions;
and there would be a 10 minute presentation and a request for Council to provide additional direction as the Working Group and staff continues to refine the recommendations including implementation.
Commissioner Garvin seconded the motion. A roll call was held for the motion and was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Genser, Green, O’Connor, Sloan, Summers, Garvin
NAYS: Brand
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
9-C. 9:58 PM
Report from the Sesquicentennial Subcommittee and discussion regarding a potential 150-Year celebration of the founding of the City of Santa Monica, including appointment of an additional Commissioner(s) to the Subcommittee. The discussion will also include appointment of a member or members to present to the City Council and possibly make a formal request for funding.
The Subcommittee has been meeting with Neighborhood Groups and will be meeting with the City Manager to inform him of their efforts and will put out a newsletter after that to publicize the event.
9-D. 9:59 PM
Report from Landmarks Commission Liaison to the Architectural Review Board (ARB) on recent ARB consideration and action taken on proposed projects involving additions to or modifications of potential historic resources.
8 Nothing to report.
9-E. 9:59 PM
Report from Landmarks Commission representative to the Santa Monica Pier Corporation (SMPC) on recent SMPC activities and action taken on proposed projects involving the Landmark Santa Monica Pier.
Nothing to report.
10. PUBLIC INPUT (moved to before Consent Calendar)
7:24 PM
Linda Clark, a member of the public, spoke about the importance of a tree in her backyard at 2434 Cloverfield.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Brand adjourned the meeting at 10:00 PM.