ZF #2022-0048: Consider a request for a Historic Alteration Permit to make additions to the French Residence located at 37858 Russell Boulevard, approximately 3/4-mile west of the City of Davis (APN: 037-140-016). A Categorical Exemption has been prepared for the project. Owner/Applicant: Peter and Aimee Crawford. (Planner: Jeff Anderson)

FILE # 2022-0048: French Residence Historic Alteration Permit
APPLICANT: Peter & Aimee Crawford 37858 Russell Boulevard Davis, CA 95616	OWNER: Same
LOCATION: 37858 Russell Boulevard, Davis, CA 95616 (APN: 037-140-016) GENERAL PLAN: Agriculture (AG) ZONING: Agricultural Intensive (A-N) SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT: 2 (Supervisor Saylor)	SOILS: Myers Clay (Class II) WILLIAMSON ACT: No FLOOD ZONE: A (area within 100-year floodplain) FIRE SEVERITY ZONE: Non-Wildland/Non-Urban
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: Categorical Exemption (Sections 15301 & 15331)

That the Planning Commission, sitting as the County's Historic Preservation Commission: 

1. Hold a public hearing and receive comments on the Historic Alteration Permit; 
2. Determine that a Class 1 exemption per Section 15301 and Class 31 exemption per Section 15331 is the appropriate level of environmental documentation pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and CEQA Guidelines (Attachment C); 
3. Adopt the proposed Findings (Attachment D); and
4. Approve the Historic Alteration Permit and file a letter of approval to allow exterior renovations and addition to the French Residence in accordance with the Conditions of Approval (Attachment E). 

SUMMARY
Staff recommends approval of the proposed alterations because they are respectful to the original architectural style of the residence built in 1904. The applicant will reproduce period specific architectural details to match the original style of the home and has confirmed that the alterations will be conducted in a manner consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s guidelines for restoration and reconstruction of historic properties. The proposal balances the need to preserve the historic appearance of the home with the desires of the property owner to improve the home’s functionality.  

BACKGROUND
The French Residence, built in 1904, is a local derivative of Queen Anne, Classical Revival and Colonial Revival modes. The home was originally built by B.C. French for his family at 421 D Street in the City of Davis. Later, the home was converted to a thrift shop operated by the Davis Community Church. The structure required costly safety improvements and was slated for demolition. In an attempt to save the residence from demolition, the Garrett family applied for, and received, approval from the Planning Commission to move the structure to its current location at 37858 Russell Boulevard in the early 1990s. The Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution 91-101 on August 20, 1991, designating the French Residence a Yolo County Historic Landmark upon its relocation to the unincorporated County.

In 1992, the Planning Commission approved a request by the Garretts for a Historical Alteration Permit to restore and alter the French Residence (ZF 4032). The Garretts received approval to add onto the north side of the house to accommodate a larger kitchen, new upstairs bathroom, and new porch, but never constructed the improvements. 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
According to the applicant, the Garretts converted the original kitchen to a bedroom and installed a temporary kitchen in the downstairs stair landing. The temporary kitchen is approximately 65 square feet and has a small stove (approximately 2/3 size of a standard unit), no dishwasher, and minimal counter and storage space. The applicants stated that they keep dishes and many other kitchen items on a rolling cart and wire shelving in an adjacent room because there is no room in the temporary kitchen. The proposed project would add approximately 850 square feet of indoor living space to the 1644 square foot home to accommodate a permanent kitchen, dining room, laundry room, pantry, and half-bath on the first floor, and a new full bathroom on the second floor. The project also includes a new covered porch on the north side of the home that wraps around to the east side of the home.The applicant has indicated that the original kitchen likely featured a prominent covered porch that was removed when the house was relocated—there is a scar on the siding that is consistent with the removal of an attached porch roof. The south side of the home will remain unchanged, preserving the historic profile visible from Russell Boulevard and the adjacent bicycle path. 

The north side of the home contains three different styles of shiplap siding—some original, but most not. The original siding has a wider/deeper recess profile, while the newer siding is two different widths, each of which features a shallower/narrower recess profile. The north side also contains a section of siding covered with sheet metal flashing that conceals of the scars from the house being cut in half when it was moved. The project would remove the sheet metal and unify the north side of the house with consistent shiplap siding, milled in the style to match the original.

The applicant proposes to reproduce defining period details wherever possible, such as layered moldings over the windows and doors, fish scale shingles at the gable ends, corbels under the roof returns and eaves, and turned posts and balusters on the covered porch. The applicant was not able to show all of the proposed period details on the architectural software used to prepare the renderings in Attachment B; however, the details will be provided at time of building permit submittal and will be reviewed and confirmed by staff.

ANALYSIS
The  project requires review under the County's Historic Landmarks and Historic Districts Ordinance codified in Chapter 11 of Title 8, Yolo County Code, which designates the Planning Commission as the County's Historic Preservation Commission. The Ordinance requires that no alterations which affect the exterior appearance of a designated historic landmark can be made without first obtaining written approval from the Historic Preservation Commission if the construction costs are estimated in excess of $500.00, including repairs to replace or replicate original architecture, surfacing or resurfacing exterior walls, additions, and/or alterations to porches. The criteria for evaluating an application to alter the exterior of an historic landmark are provided below for the Commission's consideration and are restated in the project's Findings contained in Attachment D. The Historic Preservation Commission shall consider:

• The recommendations of any local Historical Society or Committee
• The historical value and significance, or the architectural value and significance, or both, of the designated historic landmark or of the structure within a designated historic district and its relation to the historical value of the surrounding area
• The relationship of the exterior architectural features of the structure to the rest of the structure itself and to the surrounding area
• The general compatibility of the exterior design, arrangement, texture and material which is proposed by the applicant
• Plans for structures which have little or no historic value or plans for new construction for their compatibility with surrounding structures
• Conformance with the design review guidelines specified in Section 8-11.105 of the Historic Landmarks and Historic Districts Ordinance
• Conformance with the Yolo County General Plan or applicable area community plan

Staff has reviewed the applicant's request and recommends the Historic Preservation Commission file a letter of approval in support of the historic alteration permit finding that the proposed project will not materially impair the historical or architectural value of the structure. The project is in compliance with the Yolo County 2030 Countywide General Plan, County Zoning Regulations (including the Historic Landmarks and Historic Districts Ordinance), and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The proposed alterations are respectful to the original construction and are confined to the rear of the home. Staff recommends approval of the project, as this would improve the functionality of the residence, provide an appearance of uniformity, and will continue to contribute to the rural character of the County. 

The project was routed to the Yolo County Historical Society and a follow-up attempt was made; however, no comments were received. 

Any person who is dissatisfied with the decisions of this Historic Preservation Commission may appeal to the Board of Supervisors by filing with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within fifteen (15) days from the date of the action. A written notice of appeal specifying the grounds for appeal and an appeal fee immediately payable to the Clerk of the Board must be submitted at the time of filing. The Board of Supervisors may sustain, modify, or overrule this decision.