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Excerpts of the Draft Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes November 13, 2008 Agenda No. 08-21 Page 4 of 7 Chair Dlugosh asked whether there are any written guidelines that define historic properties in San Leandro, or if there is any context within which proposed changes should be considered. To be declared an historical site in the first place, there must be certain criteria. Planner Penaranda said that the Department of the Interior has guidelines, but San Leandro's Historic Preservation Ordinance is so few years old. He said that Fred Reicker, Vice Chair of the Library -Historical Commission, would explain when he addresses the Planning Commission during the Public Hearing portion of the meeting. Chair Dlugosh invited the Applicant to come forward. Bruce Bolinger, Bolinger Design Services 37253 Greenpoint Street, Newark, CA, introduced himself as project designer, and also introduced property owner, Dr. Danice Friend. He said that staff presented the project very well and prepared a well -researched and well-written Staff Report as well, and that he and Dr. Friend agree with the report as well as its summation. He offered to answer any questions the Commissioners have. Commissioner Ponder asked who would live in the units. Dr. Danice Friend, property owner, said each would be a single -person dwelling. Mr. Bolinger added that when Dr. Friend purchased the property, the Carriage House and Blacksmith's Shop had already been converted to residential use by the previous occupants. Now, he said, he and Dr. Friend have been going through planning, zoning and building requirements to make the areas officially and legally habitable. He also pointed out that Dr. Friend is continually shopping for doors, windows and other items to keep period elements in place as she improves the property, and would like the storage space proposed for the end of the Blacksmith's Shop for keeping these items until using them. Dr. Friend said it seems a shame to let those buildings stand idle. They are fully contained, have kitchens and everything they need — they just need to be legalized so they can be rented out. Chair Dlugosh opened the hearing to the public. Fred Reicker, 2018 Marineview Drive, is Vice Chair of the Library -Historical Commission and At -Large Member of the Commission. He acknowledged the presence of several fellow Commissioners because of their interest in this particular matter. He wanted to make it clear that what he has to say represent his individual thoughts. He said that the proposal to modify the Blacksmith's Shop is presented in terms that make the project seem reasonable and inconsequential, but in actuality it is a test of the fundamental purpose of the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance and the responsibilities of a Library -Historical Commissioner. The ordinance charges the Commission to protect San Leandro's historic resources. He said the proposal to raise the height of the Blacksmith's Shop runs counter to the Commission's responsibility to protect the building and its integrity. He quoted Webster's on integrity: completeness, wholeness, unimpaired condition. To retain integrity, the ordinance states in part: An historic resource must retain the aspect that closely relates to the resource's significance, including design. The proposal to modify the Blacksmith's Shop fails muster on the issue of design, he said, and thus integrity. First, the modification would alter the work of the Best's architect, who designed the property's buildings with a view to scale, relationships and function. Second, if modified, the Blacksmith's Shop will no longer have the completeness or wholeness — the integrity — of the original structure as intended by the architect. While the modification may seem minor, it is nevertheless a change in the design and structure of the building. Significantly, this modification came to the Library -Historical Commission after it had previously approved the conversion of the shop to residential use but before the need for the height increase had become evident. This illustrates how easily the Pandora's Box to modifications to historic properties can be opened. He said he has a deep concern about the precedent that approval of the proposed modification would have set. Approval would have made the Commission incapable of denying similar requests from others, and thus abrogating its responsibility for safeguarding the City's historic resources. After the Commission had decided against approving the height increase request, Mr. Penaranda prepared an alternative plan for the Blacksmith's Shop. It would have required removing a wall and stairs to the loft, and relocating kitchen