REPORT TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 25, 2017 FROM: DANIEL ZACK, AICP, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Development and Resource Management Dept. SUBJECT: REVIEW AND MAKE FINDINGS ON PLANS AND CEQA ANALYSIS FOR A FENCE AT THE HH BRIX MANSION (HP# 89) LOCATED AT 2844 FRESNO STREET PURSUANT TO FMC 12-1617(h)(1). ..Title REVIEW AND MAKE FINDINGS ON PLANS AND CEQA ANALYSIS FOR A FENCE AT THE HH BRIX MANSION (HP# 89) LOCATED AT 2844 FRESNO STREET PURSUANT TO FMC 12-1617(h)(1). ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Commission review the attached conceptual plans for a fence at the HH Brix Mansion (HP# 89) located at 2844 Fresno Street. Staff recommends that the Commission find that the plans are in compliance with the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance requiring consistency with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Rehabilitation of a Historic Property (FMC 12-1617(h)(1). If the final architectural drawings when submitted are consistent with the plans and project description presented tonight, the project will qualify as a Categorical Exemption Class 31 and staff can approve without further review by the Commission. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Brix Mansion was constructed for Herman H. and Helena S. Brix in 1910-1911. Born in Germany in 1862, Brix immigrated to the United States in the early 1880s, eventually arriving in California. He and his wife were among the pioneering settlers of the Coalinga area, on the western edge of the San Joaquin Valley. After an unsuccessful attempt at grain farming and gold mining in Alaska, and some time in the oil business he relocated to Fresno in 1903. Brix invested heavily in properties in that city after 1909. Not only did he commission his magnificent mansion on Fresno Street, but he was an important stockholder in the Hotel Fresno development. He also was responsible for the construction of the attractive four-story Brix Apartments in 1912. Though Brix died in 1915, his dream of a multi-story office building was accomplished by the Brix Estate in 1922 with the construction of the imposing Brix Building on Fulton Street. In addition to its historical associations, the Brix Mansion possesses considerable architectural significance. Designed by architect Edward T. Foulkes, it represents a brilliant example of a period-inspired Italian Villa, the only residence in Fresno built in this lavishly-embellished style. The current property owner wishes to fence the perimeter of the property in order to discourage trespassing, camping, and property damage by some homeless individuals. This would include fencing in front of the structure along the Fresno Street and S Street frontages. The fence would consist of tubular steel pickets with cast iron arrow finials. As proposed, the fence would be 4 feet in height, which exceeds the maximum height for a front yard fence in the DTG-Downtown General zone district by 1 foot. If it is deemed architecturally appropriate and necessary to the preservation of an historic structure, the Director of Development and Resource Management may permit a 4-foot front yard fence on a designated historic property at her discretion, per Section 15-104-F of the Development Code. BACKGROUND Secretary of Interior's Standards: As a listed historic building any changes or modifications to the property must "be consistent with ... the Secretary of Interior's Standards" and not be detrimental "to the special historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or value of the Historic Resource." (FMC 12-1617 (h)(1), As a reminder, the Standards "are neither technical nor prescriptive, but are intended to promote responsible preservation practices that help protect our Nation's irreplaceable cultural resources. ...they cannot, in and of themselves, be used to make essential decisions about which features of the historic building should be saved and which can be changed" (Introduction to Standards and Guidelines.). A general rule of thumb, however, as applied to Fresno's historic resources is to take great care with the principle elevations of a building---particularly with regards to character defining features--- but to generally allow changes to the interior. The Standards include four treatment approaches: Preservation, Rehabilitation, Restoration and Reconstruction. Based on meetings with the applicant and the attached site plans and project description, the addition of a fence best fits within the Rehabilitation Protocol which is defined as "the act or process of making possible a compatible use for a property through repair, alterations, and additions while preserving those portions or features which convey its historical, cultural, or architectural values." "Of the four treatments, only Rehabilitation includes an opportunity to make possible an efficient contemporary use through alterations or additions." Thus the owners propose to preserve all of the character defining features of the building, and only add the perimeter fence. CEQA and Section 12-1617 of the Historic Preservation Ordinance: Section 12-1617 of the Fresno Municipal Code provides guidance and direction to both staff and Commissioners on permits and reviews for designated historic properties. On a regular basis staff invoke Section 12-1617(b) which authorizes the Historic Preservation Specialist to approve non-substantial alterations to a Historic Resource. Such alterations include roof repairs and replacement, interior upgrades, and non-intrusive work. Environmental review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is required "for applications or proposals to demolish, grade, remove or substantially alter the Historic Resource" (12-1617)(c). If the applicant and the Commission agree that the conceptual plans for HH Brix Mansion fence appear to be consistent with the Rehabilitation Treatment protocol of the Secretary of Interior's Standards then the project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption Class 31 under CEQA 15331: "Class 31 consists of projects limited to maintenance, repair, stabilization, rehabilitation, restoration, preservation, conservation or reconstruction of historical resources in a manner consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties...." (CEQA Guidelines, CELSOC 2006). In addition, a Class 1 exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines15301 applies to this project because it involves a negligible expansion. Finally, none of the exemptions in 15.3000.2 apply to this project. If the final architectural drawings when submitted are consistent with the plans and project description presented tonight, the project will qualify as a Categorical Exemption Class 31 and staff can approve without further review by the Commission. Attachment: Exhibit A - DPR Evaluation for HH Brix Mansion Exhibit B - Proposed Site Plan Exhibit C - Proposed Fence Details REPORT TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Staff Report HH Brix Mansion Fencing, September 25, 2017 Page