AgdaPkt 2016-09-12 Closed and Joint SA PFA

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The HRAC, in coordination with the California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP), established the boundaries of the proposed Main Street Historic District Expansion area to comply with State and Federal criteria for National Register eligibility. The HRAC presented a copy of the District Expansion proposal to the Planning Commission at a March 3, 2015 joint study session. Upon their review of the proposal, the Planning Commission determined that the HRAC’s application had merit and should be given further consideration. PUBLIC OUTREACH AND DISCUSSION Following the study session between the HRAC and Planning Commission, a letter was mailed to all property owners within the proposed expanded district, inviting them to an informational meeting/workshop held on March 24, 2015. The meeting included the participation of a historian from the State Office of Historic Preservation, and focused on the proposed District expansion and the HRAC’s role in its formulation. The meeting was well attended; however, not all of the property owners were present. Representatives of the Odd Fellows Hall Association of Redwood City (owners of the IOOF Hall building at 839 Main Street within the existing Main Street Historic District) expressed concern that an expanded District would provide little to no benefit to their property since, as a non-profit their organization is ineligible for historic property tax credit programs. The Odd Fellows Hall Association representatives also expressed concern that the district might result in restrictions on what they can do with their property in terms of physical improvements and uses. The HRAC Chair, Mr. Ken Rolandelli, spoke to those concerns both at the meeting and in a follow-up letter, which explained that the IOOF Hall building is already within the existing Main Street Historic District, and therefore the expansion of the District will impose no additional regulations and/or restrictions upon its use. The IOOF Hall building also is within the Downtown Precise Plan (DTPP) area, and therefore subject to the historic preservation regulations of the DTPP. HISTORIC RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS Under Section 40.7 of the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, the HRAC is to conduct a study of all proposed historic designations and make a written recommendation to the Planning Commission on the appropriateness of the request for designation. The Planning Commission is then required to hold a public hearing on the matter if it determines that the HRAC’s recommendation is appropriate for further consideration. At their regular meeting of April 10, 2014, the HRAC reviewed the Main Street Historic District Expansion document and passed a motion by a vote of 3-0 (Committee Members Eakin and Hagan absent) to proceed with the designation process. This recommendation from the HRAC was documented in a June 8, 2016 letter from the HRAC Chair to the Planning Commission Chair. 7.B. - Page 2