Resolution 1997-04
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RESOLUTION NO. 97-4
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GILROY APPROVING A/S 96-32, AN APPLICATION
FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE APPROVAL OF A
RECONSTRUCTED CHIME TOWER WITHIN AN HISTORIC
SITE COMBINING DISTRICT, APN 841-04-024
WHEREAS,
LO.O.F.
Children's
Home
("Applicant" )
submitted A/S 96-32, an application for architectural and site
approval to allow the reconstruction of a chime tower on
approximately 3.88 acres located at 290 I.O.O.F. Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the property is located within an Historic Site
Combining District which requires Historic Heritage Committee
review and Planning Commission approval; and
WHEREAS, the Historic Heritage Committee recommended
approval of this project at its duly noticed meeting on September
17, 1992; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed application
A/S 96-32 at its duly noticed meeting on December 5, 1996, and
recommended that the City Council approve the project, subject to
three conditions; and
WHEREAS,
the California Environmental
Quali ty Act
("CEQA") provides a categorical exemption which applies to the new
construction or conversion of small structures; and
WHEREAS, the City Council reviewed application A/S 96-32
and all documents relating thereto and took oral and written
testimony at its duly noticed meeting on December 16, 1996.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
Section I
The City Council hereby finds that A/S 96-32 is
consistent with the Statement of Intent for the applicable Historic
Site and Neighborhood combining district because it will permit the
reconstruction of a building which is important to the history of
the I.O.O.F. Children's Home and the history of Gilroy.
IRPJ\328141.01
61-122404706002
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RESOLUTION NO. 97-4
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Section II
This project is exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guideline section
15303, "new Construction or Conversion of Small Structure."
Section III
A/S 96-32 should be and hereby is approved, subj ect to the
three (3) conditions set forth in the staff report attached hereto
as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by this reference.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6TH day of January, 1997 by the
following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: GILROY, MORALES, ROGERS, ROWLISON,
SPRINGER, VALDEZ, GAGE
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
\RPJ\328141.01
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Community Development Department
Planning Division
Staff Report
EXHIBIT "A"
November 26, 1996
File Number: A1S 96-32 (Historic Site)
Applicant: LO.O.F. Children's Home
Location: 290 lO.O.F. Avenue, southwest comer at Forest Street
Staff Planner: Melissa Durkin
REOUESTED ACTION:
Architectural & Site Review approval to allow the reconstruction of a chime tower. {Note: The
property is located within an Historic Site Combining District which requires Historic Heritage
Committee review and Planning Commission approval}
DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY:
Parcel Number:
Parcel Size:
Flood Zone:
841-04-024
approximately 3.88 acres
"B" , Panel # 060 340 0002C
Panel Date: 10/06/81, Revised to reflect LOMR 8/31/95
STATUS OF PROPERTY:
Existing Land Use
Residential Care Home
General Plan Desiillation
Med. Density Residential
Zoning
RJ-HS
STATUS OF SURROUNDING PROPERTY:
Existing Land Use
N: Junior High School
S: Cannery
E: Single Family Homes
W: Commercial OfficelRetail
General Plan Desiillation
PPF/ Secondary School
Med. Dens. Res./Cent. Bus. Dist.
Low Density Residential
Central Business District
Zoning
PF
RJ/C2
RI
C2
A1S 96-32 (Historicte)
Page 2
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11/26/96
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CONFORMANCE OF REOUEST WITH GENERAL PLAN:
The proposed project confonns to the land use designation for the property on the General Plan map,
and is consistent with the intent of the text of the general Plan DocUment.
This project confonns with the policies of Gilroy's General Plan. The following example demonstrates
this compliance:
Urban Development and Community Desisn (Section II):
Policy 3: "Urban Development will only occur within the incorporated portion of the Planning
Area. Land will therefore be annexed to the City before final development approval is
given. "
The proposed project is in conformance with this policy, because this land was part of the
City when it was incorporated.
Policy 4: "The City will phase development in an orderly, contiguous manner in order to maintain
a compact development pattern to avoid premature investment for the extension of public
facilities and services. New urban development will occur in areas where municipal
services are available and capacity exists prior to the approval of development in areas
which would require major new facility expansion. "
The proposed project is in conformance with this policy, because this property is
developed, and is surrounded by development on all sides.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:
EXEMPTION:
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provides a categorical exemption which applies to
this request: CLASS 3, Section 15303, "New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures".
RELATED APPLICA nONS:
V 96-10:
Variance to allow a chime tower to be constructed at a height of 55 feet.
BACKGROUND:
This facility is located on a 3.88:1:: acre site at the southwest comer ofI.O.O.F. Avenue and Forest
Street, on property zoned RJ-HS (Medium Density Residential, Historic Site Combining District), and
was established in 1897. A chime tower was constructed on this site in 1922, with chimes donated by
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NS 96-32 (Historic SIte)
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Page 3
11/26/96
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Caroline Hoxett (note: Caroline Hoxett donated the property on which the Children's home resides).
In 1986, the chime tower had deteriorated to a point that it created a safety hazard, and was
subsequently demolished.
In 1992, the applicant applied for an Architectural and Site review and a Variance to reconstruct the
chime tower. Both of these applications were approved by the Historic Heritage Committee, and were
subsequently approved by the Planning Commission. The tower was never constructed, however, and
the approvals lapsed.
ANALYSIS OF REOUEST:
At this time, the applicant is asking to reconstruct the chime tower which was demolished in 1986. The
new tower will be essentially identical to the original structure, with regard to architectural style,
dimensions and exterior materials. [Note: a variance application is concurrently being processed to
allow this structure to be reconstructed at its original height of 55 feet.] The first floor of the building
is proposed to take on a utilitarian purpose by being used as a museum to display Children's Home
artifacts. The only significant difference between the proposed tower and the original tower will be
the location The original tower was located immediately south of the Children's Home; the new tower
will be positioned further west in a more centralized location.
The applicant is further preserving the heritage of the tower by utilizing the bronze chimes from the
original structure. These chimes were saved for the express purpose of being installed in the new
tower. As with the original tower, the chimes will not be amplified.
The Zoning Ordinance does not require specific findings to be made to approve a proposed structure
within a Historic Site combining district. However, staff uses the Zoning Ordinance section 27.10, the
Historic Site and Neighborhood combining districts' Statement of Intent to evaluate project proposals.
The intent of these districts are as follows: .
(a) To preserve historic sites and neighborhoods that represent important elements of Gilroy's past
or contribute to the community's identity or educational resources;
(b) To enhance the visual character of Gilroy by encouraging and regulating the compatibility of
architectural styles within historic sites and neighborhoods;
(c) To identifY and designate areas which have a significant concentration or continuity of sites,
buildings or objects unified by past events or physical deVelopment; and
(d) To encourage restoration of historic buildings and neighborhoods throughout the City.
The proposed project is consistent with this Statement of Intent, because it will permit the
reconstruction ofa building which is important to the history of the I.O.O.F. Children's Home, as well
as to the City of Gilroy. Reconstructing this tower will also help preserve Gilroy's heritage by
displaying historical artifacts from the Children's Home in the proposed museum.
A/S: 96-32 (Historic tl
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11/26/96
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mSTORIC ImRIT AGE COMl\'lITl'EE
The Historic Heritage Committee recommended approval of this project by a vote of 5-0 on September
17, 1992. The application which is being presented to the Planning Commission has been unchanged
since the original presentation to the Historic Heritage Committee. In addition, the membership of that
committee has not changed since the original approval, with the exception of the Planning Commission
and City Council representatives. Due to this, it was not deemed necessary to reconvene the
committee for the presentation of this project.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends APPROVAL of this request. In addition, Staff recommends the following
conditions be applied to the approval of the project:
1. Prior to building pennit issuance for the construction of the proposed chime tower, at a height of
fifty-five feet, the applicant shall receive Planning Commission approval of V 92-07.
2. Exterior Lighting: No unobstructed beam of exterior lighting shall be directed outward from the
tower toward any residential use or public right-of-way. In addition, all proposed lighting shall
be subject to the review and approval by the Planning Department.
3. Building colors shall be earth tones subject to Planning Department review and approval.
Respectfully, ~
/HM~
William Faus
Planner ill
12-5-96
At their meeting of December 5, 1996, the Planning Commission, by a vote of
6-0-0 voted to forward recommendations of NS 96-32 with 3 conditions as set
,
forth in the staff report.
A YES: ARELLANO, BLANKLEY, COLLIER, LA!, PINHEIRO, PUENTE
NAYES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
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~LOCA710N MAP F'OR.
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A/S 96-32 AND V 96-10
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I, SUSANNE E. STEINMETZ, city Clerk of the City of Gilroy, do
hereby certify that the attached Resolution No. 97-4
is an original
resolution, duly adopted by the Council of the City of Gilroy at a regular
meeting of said Council held on the
6th
day of January
, 19...2.1.- ,
at which meeting a quorum was present.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
Official Seal of the City of Gilroy this
7th
day of January
19 97.
(Seal)