April 27, 2020 FROM: MIKE SANCHEZ, AICP, MCRP Assistant Director Planning and Development Department BY: LAURA GROVES van ONNA Historic Preservation Specialist Planning and Development Department SUBJECT: ..Title CONSIDER AND MAKE FINDINGS ON THE APPLICATION TO INSTALL FRONT YARD FENCING AT THE HENRY GUNDLEFINGER HOME (CONTRIBUTOR TO WILSON ISLAND HISTORIC DISTRICT) LOCATED AT 743 E FLORADORA AVENUE PURSUANT TO FMC 12-1606(a)(2) AND 12-1618(h)(1). ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Commission approve the Application to install front yard fencing at the Henry Gundlefinger Home (contributor to Wilson Island Historic District) located at 743 E Floradora Avenue pursuant to FMC 12-1606(a)(2) and 12-1618(h)(1) with the following conditions: 1) Staff will be allowed to photograph before, during and upon completion of the project; and, 2) Any changes to the approved project will be submitted to the Historic Preservation Specialist prior to the commencement of any related work. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The applicants, Andrew and Denise Feil, have requested to install front yard fencing for their home which is a contributor to the Wilson Island Historic District. The applicants' proposal is for an exterior alteration visible from the public right-of-way which could affect the significance of a Local Historic District and requires review by the Historic Preservation Commission. Primary concerns for Staff are the main elevation and its relationship to neighboring contributors in the Wilson Island Historic District as they are the most prominent character-defining features of the historic resource. Pursuant to FMC 12-1606(a)(2) and 12-1618(h)(1), Staff requests that the Commission consider and make findings on this Application. BACKGROUND The Henry Gundlefinger Home (Pre-1919) located at 743 E Floradora Avenue consists of a two-story residence and detached garage, constructed of wood frame with stucco cladding as a variation of the Prairie Box architectural style. It is associated with the banker, Henry Gundlefinger, who developed the Bank of Central California with his brothers Louis and Leopold. Mr. Gundlefinger was the owner of this residence by the time a garage was constructed on the property in 1934. The Henry Gundlefinger Home is a contributor to the Wilson Island Historic District. The Wilson Island Historic District The Resolution designating the Wilson Island Historic District as a Local Historic District was adopted by City Council on October 29, 2009 pursuant to FMC 12-1607(b) under Criteria i, ii, iii and iv. The "Wilson Island" is located within Fresno's Tower District and encompasses 80 properties which are within the larger Wilson's North Fresno Tract, a subdivision first developed in 1908 by Rosanna C. Wilson and her son A. Polette Wilson. It is one of the most architecturally distinct neighborhoods in Fresno, with a mix representing the major styles, including Period Revival and Prairie, prevalent during the period of 1910-1954. Several of the homes in this 6-block neighborhood were designed by prominent local and regional architects (and/or building firms). From an earlier era when people lived in more socially mixed neighborhoods, the Wilson Island represents a move to a new "suburbia," based to some extent on social standing and education. The Wilson Island Historic District consists of 80 properties, 78 of which are contributors. Currently, eight of these Historic District properties have front yard fencing - five that consist of wrought iron, sometimes with plantings, and three of which consist of wood picket or wood post. All sets of fencing enclose the front yard except one. Current Application The owners of the Henry Gundlefinger Home have requested that their Application to install front yard fencing be considered for review by the Historic Preservation Commission. The fencing plans entail the partial enclosure of the front yard, constructed of a horizontally wood-paneled fence 34 inches, or approximately 4 panels, in height. The fencing segments that span the lawn portions along the south property line, and primary elevation of the residence, would be set back 5 feet from the sidewalk and fronted by plantings. Fencing would continue along the east property line, ending about 20 feet from the sidewalk and abutting the existing wood-paneled fencing covered by plantings; three small trees would be planted along the interior of this fencing segment. Standards Upon initial review of the Application for the Henry Gundlefinger Home, Staff finds that the fence as proposed does conform to fencing standards for Single-Family Homes as put forth in the Development Code (FMC 15-2006(C)(1)). The Conservation Plan for the Wilson Island Historic District does not make specific reference to front yard fencing. The Conservation Plan for the Wilson Island Historic District provides that: The objective for designating Wilson Island as a Historic District is to protect, preserve and promote the architectural and historical significance of the neighborhood. This objective will be accomplished through the application of design review standards that are based on the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (as required under the City of Fresno's Historic Preservation Ordinance). These Standards will generally apply to principle and street elevations of the homes and to major landscape features. The Conservation Plan for the Huntington Boulevard Historic District provides guidance for this application and includes a reference to front yard fencing as follows: (iv)(L) Fences above three feet in height, other than wrought iron which may be four feet, are prohibited in front yards in Fresno unless an exemption is granted by the Development and Resource Management Department. Chain link fences in the front yard shall be prohibited under this Conservation Plan. The Huntington Boulevard Historic District consists of 84 properties, 80 of which are contributors. Currently, five properties within this corridor have front yard fencing. The Porter Tract Historic District consists of 45 properties, all of which are contributors. Currently, two of these properties have front yard fencing. The Porter Tract Historic District does not have a Conservation Plan. The project, as proposed, appears to be in accordance with standards 9 and 10 of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation: 9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment. 10. New additions and adjacent or related new construction will be undertaken in such a manner that, if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired. Therefore, Staff recommends approval with conditions based upon the findings that the proposed fencing will meet the current Development Code requirements and also meets standards 9 and 10 of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. Staff finds that the main elevation and its relationship to neighboring contributors in the Wilson Island Historic District are the primary concerns as they are the most prominent character-defining features of this Local Historic District. This two-story residence is elevated on top of a raised foundation; therefore, installation of fencing 34 inches in height would not impede the view of the residence. Furthermore, this residence is located on a corner boundary of the Wilson Island Historic District; installation of fencing along this corner could assist in the demarcation of this boundary. The proposed front yard fencing at the Henry Gundlefinger Home will be detached from and compatible in design and materials with the main residence and existing fencing, will maintain the overall spatial relationship that characterizes the home and the neighborhood, and can be removed in future without damage to the property. Duties and Powers of the Commission: The City's Historic Preservation Ordinance is located at Chapter 12, Article 16 of the Fresno Municipal Code. Section 1606 outlines the duties and powers of the Commission. Section 1606(a)(2) specifically refers to the Commission's duties with respect to review of exterior alterations to historic resources or historic districts: (a)(2) The regulation of exterior alterations visible from a public right-of-way including demolition, relocation and new construction, and interior alterations which would affect the significance of Historic Resources or Historic Districts. Section 1618 outlines the Historic District Permit Review Process. Section 1618(h)(1) specifically refers to the review of a contributor to a Historic District: (h) No application shall be approved or approved with modifications unless the Commission makes the following findings: (1) For a Contributor to any Historic District, the proposed work is found to be consistent with the general purposes of this article and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, not detrimental to the special historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or value of the Contributor or the respective Historic District in general and consistent with the District's adopted design standards. Historic Review Application Submittal Check List The Submittal Check List for the Historic Review Application includes the following: * Current photographs o At least one overall view of the property o A detailed view of each historic feature that involves the proposed work * Construction Documents o An existing site plan (and a proposed site plan if different from existing), drawn to scale, which clearly indicates all structures located on the parcel; and, the parcel's North, South, East, and West property lines o Detailed drawings, visuals, and descriptions for the proposed work Attachments Exhibit A: Conservation Plan: Wilson Island Historic District (November 2009). Exhibit B: State of California Survey Forms for the Henry Gundlefinger Home 743 E Floradora Avenue Prepared July 31, 2009 by Karana Hattersley-Drayton for the City of Fresno. Exhibit C: Historic Review Application Submittal from the owners of the Henry Gundlefinger Home (contributor to Wilson Island Historic District) located at 743 E Floradora Avenue, February 2020.