04/15/2015 Historic Heritage Committee Regular Meeting Adopted 06/17/2015Historic Heritage Committee Meeting
April 15, 2015 at 4:30 P.M.
I. OPEN MEETING
Vice Chair Edith Edde called the meeting to order at 4:45 p.m.
II. REPORT ON POSTING THE AGENDA AND ROLL CALL
Planning Technician Kelsey Heyd reported that the agenda for the Regular Historic Heritage
Committee meeting of April 15, 2015 was posted on April 10, 2015 at 4:19 p.m.
Roll Call:
Present: Vice Chair Edith Edde, Committee Member Toby Echelberry, Committee Member
Steve Ashford
Absent: Committee Member Peter Leroe-Muñoz, Chair Nicole Robinson
Staff Present: Planning Division Manager Sue Martin, Planning Technician Kelsey Heyd,
Planner I Valerie Negrete, Economic Development Manager Lee Butler
Vice Chair Edith Edde stated the Committee did not have a quorum, but that they wanted to
open the meeting as members of the public were in attendance.
Planning Division Manager Sue Martin clarified for the record that they did have a quorum
to open the meeting, but not to vote on some of the items.
III. APPROVAL OF ACTION MINUTES: January 21, 2015
Approval of the January 21, 2015 action minutes were continued to the next regular Historic
Heritage Committee Meeting
IV. PRESENTATION BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: No presentations were made by
members of the public
V. OLD BUSINESS: None
VI. NEW BUSINESS:
Committee Member Steve Ashford recused himself due to owning property within 500 feet
of the subject property.
A. The applicant requests Architectural and Site Review approval to modify a two-story
4,689 square foot URM (unreinforced masonry) building and a one-story 3,289 square foot
URM building located within the Downtown Historic District at 7525 Monterey Street a nd
7517 Monterey Street. Both buildings are located on one lot (APN 799 -06-069). The
proposed project includes the re-establishment of approximately 5,300 square feet of retail
and commercial space on the first floors and two (2) apartment units on the second floor of
7525 Monterey Street, along with a series of architectural modifications to the Monterey
Street facades, such as new storefronts and new windows/doors. Proposed Gourmet Alley
improvements include installation of new windows and doors, a new trash enclosure, and
various at-grade improvements and landscaping details. (AS 14-26 architectural and site
review); Akshar LLC, Applicant
Planner I Valerie Negrete presented the project.
Vice Chair Edde opened the Public Comment period.
Connie Rogers spoke for the Gilroy Historical Society and stated they were thrilled to see
the project moving forward. She went on to say that she had spoken with the architects on
the project about the brick facade in the rear of the building and was happ y to hear that they
planned to retain that wall. Rogers encouraged Staff to encourage applicants to utilize the
Gilroy Museum as a resource for what the buildings used to look like and how they may
have been used. She noted that their photos and information sometimes date further back
than the historical resource survey. She concluded by noting they hoped for approval of the
project.
Carol DeSantis stated that she felt the project was a good way to proceed but that she
wanted to defer most of her comments until the next meeting when there was a quorum.
Steve Ashford stated that he would like to see the project move forward as fast as possible.
He spoke as a member of the URM task force that the two-story building in particular is very
dangerous. He encouraged the Committee to determine a special meeting date as soon as
possible so as to get it through the remaining hearing bodies required. He stated he was
pleased with the project as proposed and that it would be a great asset downtown and to
Gourmet Alley in particular.
Vice Chair Edde closed the public comment period. With no quorum to vote on the project,
the item was continued to the next meeting.
VII. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: None
VIII. ORAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF THE HISTORIC HERITAGE COMMITTEE: None
IX. PLANNING DIVISION MANAGER REPORT: None
Planning Division Manager Martin stated that the goal was to bring the project to the May 7 th
Planning Commission meeting and asked if the Committee members were available to meet
the following Wednesday, April 22nd, at their normal time of 4:30pm. She stated staff would
follow up with Chair Nicole Robinson and Committee Member Peter Leroe-Muñoz to confirm
their availability.
Vice Chair Edde asked if they were all in favor of meeting at this time.
Vice Chair Edde and Committee Members Toby Echelberry and Steve Ashford confirmed
they were in favor of meeting on April 22nd at 4:30pm.
ADJOURNMENT at 5:07 p.m. to the Next Special Meeting of April 22, 2015 at 4:30 p.m.
_____________________________
Kelsey Heyd, Planning Technician