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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07 NAT'L REGIS MCAS 09-16-96DA_ Inter-Com NO. 7 9-16-96 DATE: SEPTEMBER 16, 1996 TO' FROM' SUBJECT: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY STAFF DETERMINATION OF NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBILITY FOR PROPERTIES AT MCAS TUSTIN RECOMMENDATION Receive and File. FISCAL IMPACT OHP consultation is a requirement of the environmental process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) mandated by the preparation of a Reuse Plan for MCAS Tustin. Preparation of the environmental documents for the MCAS Tustin Reuse Plan are funded by grants received from the federal government. Consequently, there is no fiscal impact anticipated as a consequence of this report or these consultations. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION Since the 1991 announcement that MCAS Tustin would close, Marine Corps and City of Tustin staff have been working toward the development of a Reuse Plan for the installation. Because of a potential for significant cost savings to both entities, the City of Tustin and Marine Corps entered into a Memorandum of Understanding which facilitated the development of a joint Reuse Plan/Specific Plan'and supporting Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) which would meet the requirements of both the California Environmental Quality Act and NEPA, respectively. One of the requirements under NEPA isthe need to consult with the OHP regarding the potential existence of historic resources at the installation. It is already known that both of the lighter-than-ak blimp hangars located at MCAS Tustin have been previously placed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, the keeper of the National Register and the OHP has indicated that any 'unaltered building over 50 years of age may be eligible for listing to the Register, either alone or as a contributor to a district comprised of a number of other nearby buildings which, together contribute to a sense of time and place which sets it apart as a unique historic resource for the community or nation. Designation as a National Register listed.resource can result in the establishment of deed restrictions which would preserve the historic structure. Potentially,' any development proposal affecting a designated historic resource may need to be reviewed by the OHP. Commissioned in 1942, MCAS Tustin has many buildings over 50 years in age. A detailed analysis and documentation of all such buildings was completed in October 1993. The analysis showed that there were very few potentially historic resources remaining, unaltered, at the base and that. they were spread far apart from each other. Some of the buildings considered potentially eligible were the munitions bunkers, storage sheds, and other commonly found buildings. Initial consultation with the OHP resulted in the OHP's early conclusion that all such buildings were potentially eligible which could have resulted in roughly two-thirds of the base identified as eligible as a historic district. Staff was concerned that marketing of the base, economic development and job creation could'be negatively impacted by a requirement that the OHP would be in authority to restrict development on property which might be far removed from a historic resource. With the assistance of the state's Secretary of Resources, Marine Corps and City staff continued to consult with the OHP and, on May 7, 1996, forwarded to them our preference for the limited establishment of a historic district at MCAS Tustin. ~ On June 28, 1996, the Marine Corps received the OHP's approval of this limited designation. While there is a continuing need to work with the OHP in the development of a Memorandum of Agreement which will establish the mitigation requirements for those resources within the district, OHP agreement on the establishment of a limited historic district 'boundary represents significant success and progress in this matter. Staff has attached copies of correspondence on this matter for Council's information and will continue to keep the City Council apprised of our progress in this matter. Dana Ogdon Senior Planner DO:do\ccreport~shpo.do Christine A. Sh~ Assistant City Manager UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS MARINE CORPS AIR BASES WESTERN AREA EL TORO PO BOX 95001 SANTA ANA CA 92709-5001 IN REPLY REFER TO: 11000 1JP/shpo 7 May 96 Ms. Cherilyn Widell California State Historic Preservation Officer State Office of Historic Preservation Department of Parks and Recreation .P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, California 94296-0001 Dear Ms. Widell: I would like to thank you and Mr. Wheeler for meeting with representatives of the Marine Corps and the City of Tustin on. April 3, 1996, to discuss the number of structures at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Tustin which should be considered to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (National Register). Everyone felt that the meeting was extremely productive. As agreed at the meeting, this letter will formally describe the Marine Corps' position concerning the identification of MCAS Tustin buildings and areas which the Marine Corps recommends to be eligible for the National Register as contributing elements of a historic district. MCAS Tustin Buildings 28 and 29, the blimp hangars, have been on the National Register since April 2, 1975. As noted in previous discussions and correspondence with your office the Marine Corps has identified that Buildings 28A and 29 A (originally the blimp hangar heating plan.ts), and blimp mooring mats 1 through 5, to include the original roads that connect them to the blimp hangars, are eligible for inclusion in the National Register. The hangar heating plants, Buildings 28A and 29A, were directly.tied to operations connected with the blimp hangars, as were the blimp mooring mats and the connecting roads. The Marine Corps recommends that the hangars and the above listed elements are eligible for the National Register as a single historic district with two discontiguous elements. Hangar 28, Building 28A, Mats 1, 2, and 3 and the road that joins the mats to the hangar form one element of the district. The second district element comists of Hangar 29, Building 29A, Mats 4 and 5, and- the road that joins the mats to the hangar. The attached map displays our recommended boundaries for the two discontiguous elements of the proposed Tustin blimp hangar National Register district. All other buildings shown within the boundaries drawn for this district should be considered non-contributing elements to the district. Based upon our April 3 discussion, we understand that you concur that Buildings 41 and 49 are ineligible for the National Register. Building 41 has been moved fromits original location -and building 49 has been significantly modified. As stated at the April 3 meeting, we also believe that Buildings 21, 23A through 23F, and 40A and 40B are ineligible for the National Register. These nine buildings will hereafter in this letter be referred to as the contested buildings. 11000 1JP/shpo 7 May 96 We agree,'as noted in your May 16, 1995 correspondence to the Marine Corps, that the contested buildings individually lack architectural significance that would make them eligible for the National Register under National Register Criterion C. We also recommend that the contested buildings are not eligible under National Register Criterion A. Although these buildings were associated with World War II historical events, they represent only a small, scattered, remnant of the buildings originally constructed at the installation between 1942 and 1945. As a result, the contested buildings lack the cohesiveness generally required for a · historic district and they do not readily convey to an observer a sense of the installation's World War II aviation function. All the contested, buildings are standardized, utilitarian designs of extremely mundane appearance. The ammunition storage igloos, Buildings 23A, 23B, 23C and 23E, are particularly common designs found at nearly all World War II era military installations. The historic development and design of these igloos has been extensively documented at other facilities. The mere fact the nine contested buildings were constructed during World War II does not alone make them eligible for the National Register. We believe that a better understanding of MCAS Tustin's World War II era appearance and function can be gained by producing an installation history and by compiling period photographs and plan drawings of buildings constructed between 1942 and 1945, including the contested buildings noted above. Requirements to complete these studies can be included as a component of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which will be concluded between your office, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the Marine Corps as part of the MCAS Tustin property disposal process. Again, thank you for meeting with us and the City of Tustin concerning the National Register eligibility of MCAS Tustin properties. We look forward to receiving your response to our recommendations concerning those MCAS Tustin buildings and areas which should be considered eligible for the National Register as contributing elements of a historic district. This response should also address the mitigation measures indicated above. In order to expedite preparation of the MOA and inclusion of this data into the draft BRAC Environmental Impact Statement being prepared for MCAS Tustin, we request that your response be delivered to us within thirty days of the date of this letter. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Norma Brossa at (714) 726-6611. . Sincerely,. ~ ..~~. J. FOWLER Captain, CEC, U. S. Navy Assistant Chief of Staff, Installations By direction of the .Commander Copy to: State of California, Secretary for Resources City of Tustin Jambor'~c Road / / / I.I I'1 I'1 · Jamboree Rd H:,rv~f d A¥cnus -~AT£ OF CALIFORNIA -- THE RE~C)URDI~, AQE. NGY OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION P.O. E~OX 9428g~ SACRA~EN'rO ~4Zos-OO0~ FAX; (910) 053-982.4 June 20, 1996 ~ 29 '96 16'05 No.006 P.02 PETE W'II.~ON, (;levw~mr Reply To : USMC940408C B. J. Fowler Captain, CEC, U.S. Navy Assistant Chief of Staff, Installations Marine Corps Air Bases Western Area E1 Toro P. O. Box 95001 ' Santa Aha CA 92709-5001 Atten: Ms. Norma Brossa Re: Determination of National Register Eligibility for Properties at MCAS, Tustin Dear Captain Fowler: On May 13, 1996, I received the Marine Corps' determination that only the following properties at MCAS, Tustin c ' 'onstltute an historic district eligible for inclusion in the National Register of I{istoric Places under Criterion A and that this district consists of two discontiguous elements: Element A - Blimp Hangar 28; ~Ieating Plant 28A; Mooring Mats 1,2,3; Connecting roads between Hangar and Mooring Mats contained within mapped boundary. Element B - Blimp Hangar 29; Heating Plant 29A; Mooring Mats 4,5; Connecting roads between Hangar and Mooring Mats contained within mapped boundary. I have reviewed and do not object to the Corps, determination However, I recommend that the Corps augment this determinatio~ with the following information: A. Specify the district,s period of significance. B. Specify the district,s areas of significance. C. Specify the district,s level of significance. D. Address the significance of the Blimp'Hangars under Criterion C. If convenient, this additional information may be furnished in a follow-up letter frbm the Corps. B.J. Fowler June 28, 1996 Page 2 AU~ ~9'96 16:06 N0.006 P.03 USMC940408C The Corps has suggested that an installation history which includes photo documentation and drawings of buildings constructed between 1942 and 1945 should be prepared. I agree that such documentation could be one facet of an historic district preservation plan stipulated in a Memorandum of Agreement and suggest that the Corps promptly seek ths v~ews of the National Park Service as to the type and level of recordation that may be appropriate for the property. In addition, i recommend that the Corps consider the innovative possibtlitie~ inherent in video technology to capture the unusual history of this facility as was done by the Corps of Engineers for Hamilton Army Airfield.. I look forward to consulting further with the Marine Corps and other stakeholdsrs in this matter to develop an MOA that satisfactorily takes the sffects of the undertaking on historic properties into account. If you have any questions or wish to arrange a meeting, please do not hesitate to call me at (916) 653-6624. Sincerely, State Historic Preservation Officer cc: City of Tustin Secretary for Resources