HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 COMMENDATION & HISTORIC REGISTER PROGRAM FOR NON-HISTORIC PROPERTIES - 195 EL CAMINO REALAgenda Item 12
Reviewed:
AGENDA REPORT City Manager Ap
Finance Director N/A
MEETING DATE: APRIL 2, 2019
TO: MATTHEW WEST, ACTING CITY MANAGER
FROM: ELIZABETH A. BINSACK, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: COMMENDATION AND TUSTIN HISTORIC REGISTER PROGRAM /
PLAQUES FOR NON-HISTORIC PROPERTIES — 195 EL CAMINO REAL
SUMMARY:
The City Commendation Program recognizes an Old Town property of outstanding merit
as often as every calendar quarter. The Community Development Department (CDD)
nominated the property at 195 EI Camino Real for a commendation and the Planning
Commission as Historic and Cultural Resources Advisor, approved the commendation on
March 12, 2019. This is the first non-historic building that has received a commendation
in Old Town Tustin. Pursuant to the Commendation Program, following the Planning
Commission's approval, the City Council would recognize the property owner and present
the commendation at the next available City Council meeting.
When the Planning Commission approves a commendation, the CDD acknowledges the
commended property with a decorative "Outstanding Property" sign that can be displayed
on the property for the quarter in which the commendation is awarded and a bronze
plaque that can be permanently affixed to the building. For a historic property, the plaque
bears the construction date of the building, up to two (2) lines of text, and the words
"Tustin Historic Register". The question arose before the Planning Commission as to
whether a historic plaque is appropriate for a non -historic building in light of the historic
nature of previously awarded plaques. As a result, staff is recommending a plaque design
for non -historic structures that distinguishes the property from those on the Historic
Register.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council commend the building at 195 EI Camino Real (Del Rio Building) and
its owners as a property of outstanding merit in Old Town Tustin and direct staff to initiate
a plaque design for non -historic structures that distinguishes the property from those with
the Historic Register Plaques.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Minor fiscal impacts are associated with the commendation program. Purchase of
commendation plaques is approximately $300.00 each, or $1,200.00 per year if four (4)
City Council Report
April 2, 2019
Commendation and Tustin Historic Register Program
Page 2
CORRELATION TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN:
Cultural and historic resources correlate to Goal C of the City of Tustin's Strategic Plan
pertaining to financial strength and to Goal A to enhance the vibrancy and quality of life
in all neighborhoods and areas of the community.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Commendation Program
The Commendation Program recognizes an Old Town property of outstanding merit on a
quarterly basis. The program does not require the commended property to be historic.
The Planning Commission reviews the information presented and approves or denies the
nomination. If approved, the CDD provides a decorative sign to display at the property
for the applicable quarter, and the owner is provided with a City -paid plaque to affix to the
building and is recognized at a City Council meeting. The City Council established the
current Commendation Program in 2007. Nominations can be made by anyone, including
the Tustin Preservation Conservancy and Tustin Area Historical Society.
195 EI Camino Real Commendation Nomination
The CDD nominated the property at 195 EI Camino Real (Del Rio Building, Figure 1) for
a commendation as the architecture represents a modern approach to a neoclassical
style and is compatible with other buildings in the Old Town commercial area. As a
modern building, it seamlessly blends in and enhances the Old Town built environment.
The 2014 construction also contributes to the City's vision and design goals for Old Town
Tustin as described in the Downtown Commercial Core Specific Plan (DCCSP), which
was adopted four (4) years after the building was constructed. Some of the design goals
in the DCCSP are represented in the building, as follows:
• Buildings shall face the street and be 'sited adjacent to" the sidewalk to' promote
pedestrian orientation and an active street edge.
• On corner parcels, building shall be placed at the corner adjacent to the sidewalk
with building entry from the primary street, secondary street or the corner.
• Buildings should be designed to feature pedestrian scaled architectural details and
entries.
• Buildings should have prominent windows to provide view into the storefront and
the use of transom windows is encouraged. Upper floor windows should be taller
than wide (portrait orientation).
• Awnings are encouraged.
• The exterior seating area adds activity and vibrancy to Old Town Tustin.
City Council Report
April 2, 2019
Commendation and Tustin Historic Register Program
Page 3
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Figure 1:
195 EI Camino Real
Public Input
On March 12, 2019, following the staff commendation presentation, the Planning
Commission received public input related to the bronze plaque that is awarded to the
commended property. The concerns expressed were as follows:
• The historic plaque designation should be given to honor historic homes and
buildings, not newer buildings.
• That the action makes the award for historic homes a farce.
• No objection to the recognition, but there should be a differentiation in the plaque
for historic homes and new buildings.
The Planning Commission recommended the commendation move forward and
requested staff to look into alternative plaques that represent a visual distinction in the
design so that the public could readily distinguish between historic and newly constructed
buildings.
City Council Report
April 2, 2019
Commendation and Tustin Historic Register Program
Page 4
Commendation Plaques
The CDD plaque currently used for historic structures
has the following three lines of text (Figure 2):
• The building name
• The date of construction
• Tustin Historic Register
rigure z: rlistoric buiming maque
The CDD does not currently have a standard plaque for non -historic buildings. A prior
owner of the property at 215 EI Camino Real previously placed a plaque on the building
(Figure 3); however, this building was constructed in 2002 and is not historic. As a
potential example, the plaque resembles the City's historic plaque in concept, with the
following text:
• The building name
• The date of construction
• Old Town Tustin
Figure 3: 215 EI Camino Real (2016)
Based on the public input and Planning Commission comments, staff recommends that
anew plaque be designed for newer buildings of outstanding merit. In order to distinguish
a newer building from a historic building, staff is proposing a plaque of similar design,
color and font for consistency throughout the Old Town area; however, the plaque would
be rectangular in shape, thereby immediately distinguishing the plaque from those placed
on historic buildings. Naming criteria would remain the same and the third line of text
could be "Old Town Tustin", or other designation to be determined, similar to the example
below.
City Council Report
April 2, 2019
Commendation and Tustin Historic Register Program
Page 5
In the alternative, attached to this report are other plaque options for non -historic buildings
for the City Council's consideration.
Elaine Dove, AICP, RLA Elizabeth A. Binsack
Senior Planner Director of Community Development
Attachments: A. Sampling of Plaque Options for Non -Historic Buildings
PLAQUE OPTIONS FOR NON -HISTORIC BUILDINGS
• Alternate Shape w/matching color, border & font
• Alternate Shape w/different color (i.e., aluminum), matching border and
font
• Matching shape w/different color, matching border and font
• Possible Text:
"Building Name" (property owner), i.e., Smith Building (Top)
"Est. Year" (established date), i.e., Est. 2014 (Center)
"Property Address", i.e., 123 Main Street (Bottom) OR
other text deemed appropriate
Square Bronze
Square Aluminum
Rectangle Bronze
5285
ASHBURY STREET
current plaque Tor I ustin
Historic Register Properties
Alternative shapes