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R 4180 RESOLUTION NO. 4180 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE APPROVING HISTORIC RESOURCE DESIGNATION 08 -001 -A; DESIGNATING THE STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 139 WEST BRANCH STREET AS A LOCAL HISTORIC RESOURCE WHEREAS, the process to designate local historic resources is set forth in Arroyo Grande Municipal Code Section 16.16.135; and WHEREAS, the purpose and intent of the local designation process is to promote the general welfare by providing for the identification, protection, enhancement, perpetuation and use of improvements, buildings, structures, signs, features, sites, places and areas within the city that reflect special elements of the City's historical, architectural, archaeological, cultural or aesthetic heritage; and WHEREAS, the Historical Resources Committee recommended that the structure located at 139 West Branch' Street be designated as a local historic resource after review of a Historic Structure Assessment authored by CRMS and after examination and consideration of other relevant information related to the subject property from various sources, including historic resource consultants and members of the public; and WHEREAS, the recommendation to designate the structure located at 139 West Branch Street was reviewed in accordance with the Municipal Code by the Architectural Review Committee, the Community Development Director and the Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, the City Council has held a public hearing on this application in accordance with the Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, the City Council has found that this project is consistent with the General Plan and the environmental documents associated therewith; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed this project in compliance with the Califomia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the State CEQA Guidelines, and the Arroyo Grande Rules and Procedures for Implementation of CEQA and has determined that the project is Categorically Exempt per Section 15308 of the CEQA Guidelines; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds, after due study, deliberation and public hearing, the following circumstances exist: FINDINGS FOR APPROVAL Finding 1 The proposed project is consistent with the goals, objectives, policies and programs of the Arroyo Grande General Plan; Listing and protecting historic resources is consistent with the following General Plan statements: RESOLUTION NO. 4180 PAGE 2 Conservation /Open Space Objective 4 which states: "Preserve historic and cultural resources of public interest that reflect the legacy of earlier human settlement." Land Use Objective 12 which states: "Components of 'rural setting' and 'small town character' shall be protected." Land Use Policy 12 -5 "Preserve significant historic and cultural landmarks." Finding 2 Based upon consideration of information submitted in the record during the Historic Resource designation process, the property meets any of the criteria listed in 16.16.135.B. The City Council finds that the structure qualifies under criteria Z 7, and 8, based upon associations and events as well as the location and physical characteristics stated in the Historic Structure Assessment. Criteria #2 The resource is strongly identified with a person who, or an organization, which significantly contributed to the culture, history or development of the community of Arroyo Grande, the County of San Luis Obispo, the State of California or the United States. Based upon research completed by CRMS, the history of the subject property is well established and includes the following historic connections with people who significantly contributed to the history of Arroyo Grande: The house sits on land that was initially owned by Emest Ketchum, an early settler in Arroyo Grande. The properties (139 and 145 West Branch Street) were passed to a Swiss Italian dairy worker by the name of Laninis who had significant dealings in land, oil and ranching in the area. The properties (139 and 145 West Branch Street) were split from each other through the filing of the "Lowe's Addition" recorded by Judge Amos Lowe who served as Justice of the Peace in Arroyo Grande. The properties (139 and 145 West Branch Street) were transferred to Elizabeth Lowe, then Harriet Lowe Cook and then Katie S. Bosse. The properties (139 and 145 West Branch Street) were then sold to separate owners for the first time in 1920. The structure at 139 West Branch Street was first depicted on the Sanbom Fire Insurance Map of 1891 and these maps indicate changes to the building over time to allow uses important to the early community of Arroyo Grande. For instance the 1931 Sanbom Fire Insurance Map shows a change of use from a dwelling to mortuary with an attached garage. This building housed the funeral home of George B. Cleaver who was a noted mortician during the 1920's. Funeral services continued in the structure RESOLUTION NO. 4180 PAGE 3 during the tenure of Earl Wood, Sr. It should be noted that many prominent people of Arroyo Grande were delivered from the structure to the cemetery by a horse -drawn hearse, through the double doors of the Cleaver Mortuary and later the Earl W. Wood Arroyo Grande Funeral Home. A partial list includes: Edwin L. Paulding First resident doctor from 1883. E.C. Loomis Owner Loomis Feed Mill and San Luis Obispo County Supervisor. Dr. Clark Well -known early physician. Effie Luella Bennett Wife of F.E. Bennett who was the first mayor of Arroyo Grande. Patrick Moore San Luis Obispo County Supervisor. John F. Beckett President of Mohawk Crude Oil Landowner of the Tabemacle property and noted for owning the water works next to Crown Hill. William Newton Short Built the swinging bridge and started the first water works on the east side of town in 1882. John Dockery Noted for his association with the southem portion of Pismo Beach which was called Dockerytown. Associations by ownership or occupancy include: Bernard Felts, Felts Photography Studio; George Finucane, Attorney H.E. (Mickey) Ryan, Village Businessman. Criteria #7 The resource has a unique location or singular physical characteristic representing an established and familiar visual feature of a district, community, county, state or nation. Due to their original form as residential structures and their small scale, the building at 139 West Branch Street serves to visually represent what at one time was the end of the business district and the beginning of the residential district in Arroyo Grande. The documented adaptive reuse of 139 West Branch Street over time indicates the extension of business uses outside of the original business core. Demolition of the building would create a false record of the original downtown core and its transition into residential and mixed uses. Criteria #8 The structure is located in a geographically definable area possessing a concentration of historic resources that visually contribute to each other and are unified aesthetically. RESOLUTION NO. 4180 PAGE 4 Currently, the Historic Resources Committee is focusing its resources on the commercial core of the Village. A review of the properties within this commercial core reveals a large number of prominent and preserved buildings from the period of 1880s to the 1940s. These resources, including the structure located at 139 West Branch Street when viewed together contribute a sense of the history by presenting a visual record of the settlement of the City of Arroyo Grande. Further study of individual properties will be used to establish recommendations of a potential historic district in which a majority of the structures would be eligible for local historic resource status. Finding #3 The resource retains the integrity of the design, has not been inappropriately altered, relocated, added to or remodeled. The City Council believes that the structure retains its historic integrity based upon the following statements in the Historic Structure Assessment: The residence at 139 West Branch Street has undergone significant modification over the years. There are still elements of the original house dating from the 1890's. These earliest parts are most evident in the east and west facades. Unfortunately, there is little behind the fagade that retains historical or architectural integrity from the period prior to the 1970's. The addition to the south fagade is a fairly unsympathetic addition to the structure and further is not in poor shape. The front fagade while it dates from the 1920's has undergone considerable modification in its outward appearance and does not readily evoke the sense of its use as a place of business for the period of 1920 through 1940. (The HRC disagrees with the last sentence and stated "the fagade changes are over 50 years old, Mr. Wood would still recognize the building today, and the recent minor changes to the fagade could easily be reversed.'] In spite of this however there remains a substantial amount of the original construction. It has been largely obscured by changes to the surface, both interior and exterior, but the intemal structure of this building appears to have been repeatedly reused over the years with only modest changes. The changes in overall footprint and interior modification reflect the history of this building. The eclectic style and reuse of various architectural elements are common themes in the built environment of Califomia communities, particularly in the histories of the more modest enterprises and dwellings. In addition to the statements in the Historic Structure Assessment, the City Council believes that additional relevant tests of integrity for 139 West Branch include: Does the building at 139 West Branch reflect the adaptation at a later period than when it was constructed and does it illustrate changing tastes, attitudes, and uses over a period of time? RESOLUTION NO. 4180 PAGE 5 The Historic Structure Assessment indicates that 139 West Branch Street has received modifications overtime but these changes directly indicate the history of Arroyo Grande through changing needs of the community, specifically an expanding downtown business district which utilized the adaptation of existing residential structures. Would Earl Wood recognize that building today as the place he did business in? When a photograph of 139 West Branch Street showing the structure as used by Earl Wood (1927 to 1938) is compared with a photograph from today, it shows that the fagade looks substantially similar and recognizable. In addition to the statements in the Historic Structure Assessment, the City Council believes that additional relevant tests of integrity for this property include: Does the building represent the early development of the Village? As stated in the finding for Criteria #7, the building, due to its age, placement, modifications and uses over time, conveys the early development history of the City of Arroyo Grande. Does the building represent the productive lives of individuals who made a contribution to the development of Arroyo Grande over several different historical time periods? As stated in the finding for Criteria #7, the building is associated with the day to day lives of numerous individuals who were key participants in the early development of the City of Arroyo Grande. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande hereby designates 139 West Branch Street as a local historic resource. On motion of Council Member Fellows, seconded by Mayor Ferrara, and on the following roll call vote, to wit: AYES: Council Member Fellows, Mayor Ferrara, and Council Member Costello NOES: Council Members Arnold and Guthrie ABSENT: None The foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this 28 day of April 2009. RESOLUTION NO. 4180 PAGE 6 A TONY FER i, MAYOR ATTEST: A A KELLY TM E, CITY CLERK 1 9R APPROVED AS TO CONTENT: S EVMS, CITY MANAGER APPROVED AS TO FORM: TIM HY J. L, CITY ATTORNEY OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION I, KELLY WETMORE, City Clerk of the City of Arroyo Grande, County of San Luis Obispo, State of California, do hereby certify under penalty of perjury, that the attached Resolution No. 4180 is a true, full, and correct copy of said Resolution passed and adopted at a Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande on the 28m day of April 2009. WITNESS my hand and the Seal of the City of Arroyo Grande affixed this 29 day of April 2009. KELLY ET, RE, CITY CLERK