AgdaPkt 2006-05-08 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

88 Page 1 I REPORT I To The Honorable Mayor and City Council From the PI'apping Co~mission EXECUTIVE SUMMARY May 8, 2006 Subject: The Mezesville Historic Residential District designation proposal originated in September 2005 as a recommendation from the Redwood City Historic Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC) to the Planning Commission. Concerned about the potential loss of neighborhood character caused by the anticipated demolition of multiple historic houses, staff and HRAC worked with an outside consultant to prepare a report that would evaluate the historic characteristics of the Centennial neighborhood, more specifically its older southernmost portion (see "Mezesville Historic District" proposal by consultants: Circa-Historic Property Development, under separate cover). On December 2005 and February 2006, the HRAC held two public neighborhood informational meetings in the Centennial neighborhood on the proposed historic district. The numerous neighbors who participated expressed general support for the proposed historic district designation. As confirmed by the consultant's report, the subject "Mezesville" area contains a unique concentration and composition of historic resources and meets the designation criteria for historic districts listed in the City's historic preservation ordinance. Furthermore, Redwood City's earliest "Pioneer Neighborhood" is clearly identified in the Historic Element of the General Plan which also recommends land marking a portion of this neighborhood in order to preserve its unique historic resources. Recommendation and Findings: On March 21,2006, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended to the City Council that the proposed Mezesville Historic District be approved with the finding that the proposed area met the historic designation criteria required by the Redwood City Historic Preservation Ordinance. The general reasons are summarized below: . This area is the first residential subdivision in the City dating back to 1856 when Simon Mezes surveyed and recorded the original city plan. The fact that the area's parcel, block and street layout have survived relatively unaltered contributes to the authentic scale and feel of this 150 year old neighborhood. . This area retains a significant concentration of "workingman's" houses. The construction periods of these simple yet well scaled dwellings range from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century, which accurately reflect the historic growth periods of the City and region as a whole Le. after the 1906 earthquake, the Depression, after WWII.