HomeMy WebLinkAbout42-23RESOLUTION 42-23
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
MAKING CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION DETERMINATION UNDER CEQA AND
APPROVING A LANDMARK ALTERATION PERMIT TO ALLOW INTERIQR AND
EXTERIOR ALTERATIONS TO THE CARRIAGE HOUSE AT FOOTHILL COLLEGE
(LANDS OF FOOTHILL -DE ANZA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT)
WHEREAS, the Foothill -De Anza Community College District ("Owner") owns the property
commonly known as Foothill College located at 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills (APN 175-
41-015); and
WHEREAS, the property was once home to Willard Mugett Griffin and the horse carriage house
("Carriage House") designed by Frank Delos Wolfe, a prominent South Bay architect in the late
19th and early 20th century; and
WHEREAS, the Griffin House and Carriage House are California Points of Historical Interest
and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977; and
WHEREAS, on February 15, 2023, the Town received an application from the Owner to
rehabilitate the Carriage House only; and
WHEREAS, the Town has adopted a General Plan and Municipal Code and, pursuant thereto,
requires a Landmark Alteration Permit for alterations to a designated landmark that will materially
change the exterior appearance; and
WHEREAS, Secretary of the Interior establishes standards for the Treatment of Historic
Properties when altering historic properties; and
WHEREAS, the Town finds the application to be consistent with the Municipal Code and the
Secretary of the Interior's standards for the Treatment of. Historic Properties; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills does
hereby make the findings Attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A and approve the Landmark
Alteration Permit subject to the conditions. of approval attached to this Resolution as Exhibit B.
The City Council. will also issue a letter urging the Owner to consider changes to the proposal or
in future applications that will further restore. the Carriage House's historical appearance,
materials, and features.
The above and foregoing Resolution passed and adopted by the City Council of the Town of Los
Altos Hills at a regular meeting held on the 20th day of April, 2023, by the following vote:
AYES: Swan, Mok, Schmidt, Tyson
NOES: None
AB STAIN: None
Resolution 42-23 Page 1
ABSENT: Tankha
BY:
Linda G. Swan, Mayor
ATTEST:
eborah L. Padovan, City Clerk
Resolution 42-23 Page 2
EXHIBIT A
FINDINGS
12345 El Monte Road — File #SP23-0001
1. With regard to the Landmark Alteration Permit (SP23-0001) for rehabilitation alterations made
to a designated landmark, the City Council finds in accordance with Section 11-1.12 of the Los
Altos Hills Municipal Code as follows:
a. That the action proposed is consistent with the purposes of this chapter,-
The
hapter;
The proposal to rehabilitate the Carriage House is mostly to maintain and repair the
structure to prevent deterioration, decay, or damage consistent with Section 11=1.13 of the
Municipal Code. The proposal will not cause a material change in the exterior appearance
of the structure apart from the addition of gutters, downspouts, and a fire escape; the
structure will otherwise be unaltered apart from the replacement of siding and roofing,
removal of ahistorical windows and trim, and removal of a conjectured faux barn door.
b. That the action proposed will not be detrimental to a landmark of significant aesthetical,
cultural, historical, or architectural interest or value;
The proposed landmark alteration project conforms to the Secretary of the Interior
Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties to avoid detrimental damage to a
landmark of significant aesthetical, cultural, historical, or architectural interest or value.
The project does not propose removing distinctive materials or altering exterior features.
A fire escape will be added to the second story without the addition of an exterior doorway;
Thus -the structure's features will not be altered with the fire escape addition. Changes to
exterior windows and doorways will improve the historic character of the structure, while
interior modifications will not change the historic character of the structure. The addition
of a steel fence . may impose an alteration of the spatial relationship of the structure to the
greater campus. The new feature will match the old in design, color, texture, and, where
possible, materials. The replacement of missing features will be substantiated by
documentary and physical evidence. Therefore, the findings can be made.
c. That the applicant has demonstrated denial of the application will result in an immediate
or substantial hardship;
Denial of the application could result in further deterioration of the 'structure as future
rehabilitation could be financially more expensive and technically more difficult. Further
deterioration of the structure could result in an irreplaceable loss to the State and Country.
Both the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and
LAHMC require proper maintenance and repair by the property owners in order to preserve
it against decay and deterioration. Foothill College submitted the proposed project to the
Division of the State Architect (DSA) for building code review and the Town of Los Altos
Hills for a Landmark Alteration Permit, with a good faith effort. Per the correspondence
between the school and the Town staff, DSA approved the plans. The funds for this project
Resolution 42-23 Page 3
must be encumbered by June 30, 2023. Denial of the application will result in.an immediate
or substantial -hardship for the protection of this National Historic Place. Therefore, this
finding can be made.
Resolution 42-23 Page 4
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
12345 El Monte Road — File # SP23-0001
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
1. No modifications to the approved plans are allowed except as otherwise first reviewed and
approved. by the Planning Director or City Council, depending. on the scope of the changes,
and consistent with the requirements of applicable codes. Material changes to gutters, fencing,
or interior fixture or layout changes shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Director
while substantial exterior materials or massing changes shall be reviewed and approved by
the City Council.
2. As is required for other construction projects within the Town, the applicant shall defend,
indemnify, and hold harmless the Town of Los Altos Hills and its agents, officers,. and
employees from any claim, action, or proceeding against the Town of Los Altos Hills or its
agents, officers, or employees to attack, set aside, void, or annul an approval of the project to
the extent such actions are brought within the time period required by Government
Code Section 66499.37 or other applicable law; provided, however, that the Applicant's duty
to so defend; indemnify, and hold harmless shall be subject to the Town's promptly notifying
the Applicant of any said claim, action, or proceeding and the Town's full cooperation in the
defense of such actions or proceedings.
3. The applicant shall not place any structures or facilities that will deny access to, or otherwise
interfere with public enjoyment of the designated landmark. The applicant shall allow the
Town reasonable access to, and inspection of, the designated landmark upon request of the
Town or in response to possible violations of this approval, Building Code, or Zoning Code.
4. All conditions of approval shall be binding as to the applicant and all successors in interest to
applicant.
Please -refer to the Conditions of Project Approval set forth herein. If you believe that these
Conditions impose any fees, dedications, reservation or other exactions under the California
Government Code Section 66000, you are hereby notified that these Conditions constitute written
notice of a statement of the amount of such fees, 'and/or a description of the dedications,
reservations, and other exactions. You are hereby further notified that the 90 -day approval period
in which you may protest such fees, dedications, reservations, and other exactions, pursuant to
Government. Code Section 66020(a), has begun. ' If you fail to file a protest within this 90 -da
g y p y
period complying with all of the requirements of Section 66020, you will be legally barred. from
later challenging such exactions.
Resolution 42-23 Page 5