|
ITEM 5 |
City Council Memorandum Development Services Memo No. 24-010
|
Date: |
April 4, 2024 |
To: |
Mayor and Council |
Thru: |
Joshua H. Wright, City Manager Andy Bass, Deputy City Manager & Acting Development Services Director |
From: |
Alisa Petterson, Senior Planner |
Subject: |
PLH23-0066 Silk Stocking Historic Preservation District Final Adoption of Ordinance No. 5086 |
Request: |
Establish a Historic Preservation District zoning overlay within a portion of Silk Stocking neighborhood |
Location: |
East of the Northeast corner of Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard |
Applicant: |
Silk Stocking neighborhood residents, led by Melisa Lalich and Cheryl Bell |
|
|
|
Proposed Motion: |
Move City Council adopt Ordinance No. 5086, PLH23-0066 Silk Stocking, establishing a Historic Preservation District zoning overlay subject to the conditions as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission. |
Background Data: |
- Built from 1912 to 1973, the Silk Stocking neighborhood exhibits a variety of well-preserved architectural styles and unique hardscape, and has been home to many people important to the history of Chandler.
- Over the past decade, the Silk Stocking Neighborhood has been actively involved in seeking local designation to recognize the architectural and historical value to the City of Chandler.
- The neighborhood was designated on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012, the report of which is attached as a supplement to this memo.
- The neighborhood involvement from the community leaders of Silk Stocking was, in many ways, a driving force behind the creation and adoption of the Historic Preservation Ordinance that created the Historic Preservation Commission and the various historic designations recognized by the City of Chandler.
- The Silk Stocking Neighborhood is perhaps the earliest and best preserved neighborhood in the city, and its historic and contemporary significance cannot be overstated.
Existing zoning within the defined district varies, but includes SF-8.5, MF-1, MF-2 and C-3. |
Surrounding Land Use Data: |
North |
Residential neighborhood |
South |
Chandler Boulevard, then a post office, town home development and vacant lot that has been approved for a future mixed-use development, including commercial, office and multi-family uses |
East |
Residential neighborhood |
West |
Commercial businesses, then Arizona Avenue, then Chandler High School and the Chandler Center for the Arts |
|
General Plan and Area Plan Designations: |
|
Existing |
Proposed |
General Plan |
Neighborhoods |
No change |
|
Proposed Development |
Total number of homes designated as ‘contributing properties’ (homes with sufficient historic integrity) within the proposed Silk Stocking Historic Preservation District |
39 |
Number of homes designated as contributing properties that have signed a declaration and waiver as required to be included in the Silk Stocking Historic Preservation District |
23 |
Additional historic improvements designated as contributing properties within the proposed Silk Stocking Historic Preservation District |
1 (Washington Street hardscape) |
Percentage of contributing properties within a proposed historic preservation district required to participate per Chandler’s Zoning Code |
60% |
Percentage of contributing properties within the proposed Silk Stocking Historic Preservation District |
60% |
|
Review and Recommendation |
The Silk Stocking Neighborhood contains a trove of historic resources. Of the many historic homes within the neighborhood, the majority exhibit the "Early Ranch" style with examples of Craftsman, Ranch, and Spanish Colonial Revival also being peppered throughout the community. The neighborhood is built along two main roads, Colorado and Washington streets and split into a 200 block and 300 block. This request includes the 200 and 300 block of Colorado and the 200 block of Washington, with the 300 block being exempted due to lack of support from property owners. The neighborhood's historic context goes beyond architecture. The very streets that the neighborhood was built on maintain a unique and well-preserved historic aesthetic. Washington Street is one of the few concrete-finished streets left in the Valley from the early mid-century period. The combination of the original hardscape and tree-lined nature of the street lends itself to the historic context of the neighborhood. In addition to the physical manifestations of the history of the neighborhood, Silk Stocking was also once home to figures important to Chandler's past. Perhaps most notably, Arthur Price, the first City Attorney and personal friend of Dr. Chandler, had a home on Washington Street at 201 N. Washington, which has since unfortunately been demolished. In addition to Price, other notable Chandler families got their start in Silk Stocking including the Basha and Bogle families. Being a more affluent and influential neighborhood, the community also had significant political pull in the early days of Chandler pre-war, with the post-war economic trend lending itself to more of a workforce community. Altogether, the people of Silk Stocking were and continue to be an important piece of Chandler. Of the contributing properties, 23 of 39 signed a waiver and with Washington Street's unique hardscape being considered a historic improvement, that puts the total to 24 of 40, meeting the 60% threshold required by City Code to establish a Historic Preservation District. It is notable that only those properties that signed a waiver are subject to the regulatory imposition of the Historic Preservation Ordinance and the design guidelines thereof. Though only 23 signed, there is still a representative cross-section of the various architectural styles of Silk Stocking. The attached report and inventory sheets are supplements that provide property-specific information and further details. The Design Guidelines, adopted by City Council in 2023, are also attached herein and will be the primary guiding document for property maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation, following closely the recommendations of the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Staff finds the Silk Stocking Neighborhood qualifies as a Historic Preservation District due to meeting the following criteria as prescribed in the Historic Preservation Ordinance:
- The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has maintained its integrity.
- The property includes examples of significant architectural styles or construction methods associated with the past.
- The property has yielded or is likely to yield information in the understanding of the history or pre-history of the city.
- The property is at least 50 years old.
|
Public / Neighborhood Notification |
- This request was noticed in accordance with the requirements of the Chandler Zoning Code.
- A neighborhood meeting sign was posted on the site and on social media via NextDoor.
- A neighborhood meeting was held on December 21, 2023. A group of residents attended to voice their support and had general questions regarding the new regulations that the Historic Preservation District would impose. The consensus was support for the project and the desire for more homeowners to sign waivers and increase community engagement.
- As of the writing of this memo, Planning staff is not aware of any opposition to this request.
Historic Preservation Commission Vote Report: Historic Preservation Commission meeting held January 24, 2024 Motion to Approve In Favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Recused: 2 (Wastchak and Bell) |
Planning and Zoning Commission Vote Report |
Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of February 21, 2024 Motion to Approve In Favor: 6 Opposed: 0 Absent: 2 (Lopez & Barichello) |
Recommended Conditions of Approval |
Ordinance No. 5086 was introduced and tentatively adopted on March 21, 2024. Planning staff finds the request is in compliance with the Historic Preservation ordinance and the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend the City Council approve the Historic Preservation Overlay subject to the following conditions.
- The property shall be subject to the General Design Guidelines for Historic Preservation Districts and landmarks.
- The underlying zoning on said parcels shall remain in full force and effect.
|
|
|