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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-11-18; Historic Preservation Commission; MinutesMinutes transcribed from taped recording but never approved. Only 1 of the Commissioners present at this meeting were still serving when minutes were transcribed. MINUTES MEETING OF: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION DATE OF MEETING: November 18, 2002 TIME OF MEETING: 5:30 PM PLACE OF MEETING: City Council Conference Room CALL TO ORDER: Chair Ladouceur called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Christiansen, Ladouceur, and Trejo Absent: Commissioners Jones and Muth Also Present: Assistant Library Director Geoff Armour City Council Member Ramona Finnila APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the September 9, 2002 meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission were approved as submitted. STATUS OF CYPRESS TREE IN RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY: The Board discussed the process for removal of one of the trees which are listed in the Heritage Tree Survey. At the last meeting arborist Mark Wisniewski reported that one tree is dead and should be removed but suggested cross-sections of the trunk could be salvaged and displayed in the Magee House or used for furniture or souvenir-type items. The tree is on North County Transit District property and Assistant Library Director Armour shared with the Commission the letter he had received from NCTD with regard to removal of the tree and their stipulations should the City wish to undertake the project. There was a great deal of discussion about wherethe salvaged wood could be stored and who would transform the trunk into usable slabs or display items. MAGEE BARN AND HOUSE PROJECT UPDATES: Assistant Library Director Armour reported that renovations to the barn were moving forward to include replacing the hardware on the large door and replacing some of the exterior wood to restore it to the original look. Plans are to include the restored buggy, HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Page 2 Minutes of November 18, 2002 the safe, some old farm tools and the anvil in the barn and also discussed was perhaps the items from the old Pine school and the Twin Inns Chicken. He also reported that the Carlsbad Historical Society has expanded into the areas of the house previously occupied by City staff and are making plans for additional exhibits. They have discovered some leaks in the roof in the kitchen area and a work order has been dispatched to Public Works for the repairs. LIBRARY UPDATES: Assistant Library Director Geoff Armour reported that the staff in the Local History Room, located in the Georgina Cole Library, has been busily indexing the Carlsbad Journal newspapers as well as the letters from Florence Magee, and have created a vertical file for documents and maps. They have also received a donation of 40 photographs of the area from the San Diego Historical Society. In conjunction with the Carlsbad Historical Society, a number of oral histories have been collected from local residents, some in video format. CARLSBAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY UPDATES: Assistant Library Director Armour announced that the Society's annual holiday event is scheduled for December 8th at 2 p.m. He also reported that the current President of the Society met with Council Member Julie Nygaard to discuss the possibility of the City providing additional support for the Society by including it in the budget and providing staffing for the Magee House. The Society was also asking for a formal lease agreement, for a nominal annual fee, to insure that they would continue to have occupancy of the City-owned Magee House. Council Member Finnila expressed surprise that the Society would think the City would turn them out but agreed to speak to the other members of the Council about a formal agreement. ANOUNCEMENTS: Commissioner Ladouceur announced the open house scheduled at the Marron Adobe on December 13th from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Christiansen asked for an update on the Mission Bells project and Assistant Library Director Armour responded that he was discussing several possible locations within the City with relevant City staff. Commissioner Ladouceur asked for an update on the plaque installations for the Gaus House and the Carlsbad Theatre. Assistant Library Director Armour responded that HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Page 3 Minutes of November 18, 2002 neither had been installed to date and that the owner of the theater was still undecided about the mounting location for that property. PUBLIC COMMENTS: NONE ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA: • Mission Bell project • Cypress Tree removal • Plaques ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Cissie Sexton Administrative Secretary ITEM # 3 City of Carlsbad Carlsbad City Library October 1,2002 Jim Merritt Rail Maintenance of Way Manager North County Transit District 810 Mission Avenue Oceanside, CA 92054 Dear Mr. Merritt: Although my primary job is Assistant Library Director, I also staff the city's Historic Preservation Commission and serve as a Director of the Carlsbad Historical Society. One of the Commission's projects this past year has been to create an inventory of Heritage Trees in the city, trees that have historic significance or are of unusual species or size. Mark Wisniewski, an arborist who specializes in this subject, was hired by the city to conduct this inventory. In the course of his study, he found a row of Monterey Cyprus trees on the west side of the railroad tracks. Photographic documentation proves these trees to be over 100 years old. The arborist noted that one of these trees is clearly dead and recommended to the Commission that it be removed and possibly sectioned into rounds that could be used by the Historical Society or others, possibly for historic plaques or small tables. I was directed to follow-up on this possibility by first contacting North County Transit to see what process would be involved in moving ahead with this project. I spoke briefly with Wayne Penn and Tom Kelleher of the Transit District and was advised, as a preliminary step, to send you a letter giving you general background information on this matter. The dead tree in question is located approximately 45 feet west of the tracks, roughly mid- way between Walnut and Chestnut avenues. 1775 Dove Lane • Carlsbad, CA 92009-4048 • (760) 602-2011 • Fax (760) 602-7942 • www.ci.carlsbad.ca.us October 23, 2002 Geoff Armour Asst. Library Director Carlsbad City Library City of Carlsbad 1775 Dove Lane Carlsbad, CA 92009-4048 Subject: Removal of Dead Cyprus Tree Dear Mr. Armour: The District would view the removal of the subject tree along the rail right-of-way at approximately mile post 229.7 as a mutual benefit. The tree is indeed within the rail right-of-way, which is 200 feet at that location. The District will grant permission for the tree's removal with the City of Carlsbad's assurance that all permitting requirement are satisfied. Additionally, we would ask, in the interest of safety, that you engage a licensed contractor to perform the removal service. A flagman must be on site during the removal and cleanup process. Flagging service will be provided by the District at a rate of approximately $70.00 per hour. Please make your request for right of entry and flagging service to the District, Manager of Real Estate, Jim Cunningham at (760) 966-6538. Please feel free to call if you have any questions. Sincerely, James R. Merritt Manager (MOW) JRM/kft NORTH COUNTY TKAM5IT liSS'fRiCT 8)0 M i s s I o n Avenue, Oceanside, C A 9205 4 760-967 2828 CARLSBAD HERITAGE TREE LIST - 2002 DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES AND TREES GENUS /SPECIES COMMON NAME LOCATION/ADDRESS ORIGIN CHORISIA SPECIOSA FLOSS SILK TREE #26-421 GRAND AVE. South America .Thick spines on the heavy trunk are just one unique characteristic of this deciduous tree. Hibiscus-like flowers, which appear after leaf drop in the fall, are 4" across and may be pink, burgundy or a purplish rose in color. The "silk" from the opening seed pods is the source of kapok which has been used for stuffing pillows and mattresses. CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA CAMPHORTREE #51-3091 JEFFERSON ST. China & Japan One of the best shaped trees in the study area. The full canopy of this evergreen tree covers most of the residence. This beautiful specimen appears to have required or received little pruning during its lifetime. The young leaves are a pinkish bronze color when they first open. They then turn a light green and in the winter have a yellowish-bronze cast. The leaves and twigs of this species are the source of commercial camphor. When crushed, the leaves give off a pleasant camphor odor. CITRUS SINENSIS ORANGETREE #43-2777 ROOSEVELT ST. China 'VALENCIA' This evergreen tree, located in the south end of the patio near the sidewalk, appears to be a remnant of a home orchard. The fragrant white blossoms appear in the spring while the orange colored fruit from the previous season is still ripening and hanging on the tree. The fruit is used primarily for its juice, especially in Florida. UPRESSUS MACROCARPA MONTEREY CYPRESS #5-357 CHESTNUT AVE. California Located in the Railroad Right-of-Way - One of nine live and one dead evergreen trees remaining from plantings that once lined the railroad tracks in town. Some of the earliest photos show numerous trees 3'-5' tall. As they grew this wall of green must have been quite attractive as well as serving as a wind break from prevailing ocean winds. Trees were also planted in stands and as street trees along roads. Many trees appear to have been pruned as hedges and topiaries in residential gardens. This species grows naturally only on the Monterey peninsula where it is found in picturesque wind shaped stands and as contorted individual trees at Cypress Point and in Point Lobos State Park often growing right at the edge of ocean cliffs. "Its distribution is the most restricted of any California iree and perhaps of any conifer in the world. ...Monterey cypress is listed in the California Native Plant Society's Inventory as endangered in part of its range." (McClintock pg. 75) DODONAEA VISCOSA HOP BUSH #28-2956 ROOSEVELT ST. #3 Arizona - Hawaii (aka HOPSEED BUSH) & New Zealand Usually seen in the landscape as a shrub, this small evergreen tree at the southwest corner of the building in this location has gray shaggy bark and dark green willow-like leaves. Widely distributed in the warmer parts of all continents except Europe and Antarctica. Early Australian settlers used the fruits as a substitute for hops. (McClintock pg. 82) Papery seed capsules, which may be red, pink, yellow, tan or green, form in late spring or summer following inconspicuous flowers. The seed capsules are used for leis in Hawaii. DOMBEYA WALLICHII DOMBEYA #50-3048 JEFFERSON ST. Madagascar (variety - 'BITTERNETIA HYDRANGEA LIGHT' note: spelling not verified) HESS HOUSE - This tree is located in front of the house along the south side of the property where the branches overhang both the house and the sidewalk. The tree is covered with large pendulous pink hydrangea-like flowers with dried flowers remaining on the tree. This amazing tree sports a maze of branches because of the relatively little pruning it has received over the years. Some pruning to provide an arbor-like passage for pedestrians on the sidewalk and more severe pruning from the adjoining commercial property have taken little away from this remarkable tree. Reported by Craig Turner, a resident on the property, to have been planted by Mrs. Hess over 75 years ago. He also reported that the variety was identified by Virginia Tacket, the niece of the original owner. This tree is in the same plant family as the Brachychiton discolor - Tree #46. 17 CARLSBAD CITY LIBRARY Oral History Projects Completed Kay Christiansen - early resident and local historian. Allen Kelly - member of pioneer family. Ede Westree - early school board member, macadamia nut grower, husband first park employee. Al & Afton Jandro - owned land where Plaza Camino Real is located. Joyce West Smith - longtime school secretary, raised in Carlsbad. Kentner children - descendants of pioneer family that owned Twin Inns. • Dede Kentner Lee • Jackie Kentner Miller • Eddie Kentner Mig Cheney - League of Women Voters. Gladys Vance - friend of Florence Shipley Magee. Jane Strauss - niece of Hugh Magee. Jim Knox - his mother painted murals in Twin Inns. Louse Curly Getze - father was first doctor in Carlsbad. Margaret Brownley - longtime resident, active in civic and library affairs. Antonia Trejo Segovia - sister-in-law of Connie Trejo. Vera Soto - member of original Barrio family. Dorothy Ede - wife of early commandant of Army & Navy Academy. Jan Slater - wife of early City Manager John Slater. Marge Howard-Jones - local historian. Norm Schultz - son-in-law of E.G. Hummel (cactus and bromeliad expert). John Henley - son of minister of original Wesleyan church in Barrio. Allen W. Kelly - descendant of pioneer Kelly family.