4.2. Public Hearing to consider an ordinance to establish Objective Design Standards for certain qualifying housing projects and finding of CEQA exemption.
We, Carol Fox, former DRC Chair, the boards of directors of the Old Towne Preservation Association and Orange Legacy Alliance, submit the following comments regarding the Historic Preservation Standards portion of the Objective Design Standards. A letter, in its entirety, without abbreviations or condensing of comments, which was needed in order to fulfill the character restrictions imposed by eComments, has been sent to Russell Bunim, Comm. Dev. Dir. Our comments include, but are not limited to the condensation of words & characters shown below:
It’s essential to incorporate typographic corrections and clarifications to better protect the Historic District. Approving the document with its current errors would be a mistake. We request a continuance to allow for a thorough revision before it proceeds to City Council.
Key items omitted or unclear, as per the Sec’y of Interior Standards, include:
• Avoiding a false sense of history through material use.
• Permitting alterations to historic building eaves.
Suggested Corrections:
1. Pg 2, Parag 3: Remove due to grammatical errors and potential misinterpretation regarding the document’s adoption.
2. Pg 2: Add a paragraph clarifying that this section supersedes all prior sections for projects in the Historic District.
3. Pg 2: Include a requirement for an evaluation report by a qualified historic preservation professional to ensure compliance with standards.
4. Pg 5, Roofs: Add a new bullet stating that modifications like cutting exposed rafters are prohibited unless required by the Building Department for fire resistance.
5. Pg 5, Windows & Doors: Remove the last part of the sentence about visibility from public right-of-way.
6. Pg 6, Mechanical Systems: Clarify that roof-mounted equipment on flat roofs must be screened from view and is prohibited on sloped roofs.
7. Pg 8, Landscape: Change “existing block pattern” to “historic block pattern,” fix punctuation, and add a requirement for planters between fences and property lines.
8. Pg 9, Garage & Accessory Bldgs: Add clarity regarding design compatibility and requirements for new garages to match historic residences in terms of height and width.
9. Pg 11, Setting & Building Features: Specify dimensions for historic sidewalks and correct a typo in LED lighting specifications.
10. Pg 12, Storefronts: Clarify that new awnings must not damage historic materials.
11. Pg 13, Signage: Prohibit plastic signs and faces, and add a point against digital signage in the Plaza or Downtown Core.
12. Pg 16, Additions to Historic Buildings: Ensure additions do not match historic materials exactly and clarify restrictions on vertical additions.
13. Pg 17 & 18, Infill Construction: Correct typos and clarify language to avoid ambiguity regarding building features and details.
Incorporating these corrections is vital for protecting the integrity of our Historic District. Thank you for considering these necessary adjustments.
I support OTPA’s position on these objective design standards and ask that you continue this agenda item to a future date in order to allow these revisions and comments to be included and presented in a clean and revised document.
I support OTPA's position on these Objective Design Standards and ask that you continue this agenda item to a future date in order to allow these revisions and comments to be included and presented in a clean and revised document.
I support OTPA's position on these Objective Design Standards and ask that you continue this agenda item to a future date in order to allow these revisions and comments to be included and presented in a clean and revised document.
We, Carol Fox, former DRC Chair, the boards of directors of the Old Towne Preservation Association and Orange Legacy Alliance, submit the following comments regarding the Historic Preservation Standards portion of the Objective Design Standards. A letter, in its entirety, without abbreviations or condensing of comments, which was needed in order to fulfill the character restrictions imposed by eComments, has been sent to Russell Bunim, Comm. Dev. Dir. Our comments include, but are not limited to the condensation of words & characters shown below:
It’s essential to incorporate typographic corrections and clarifications to better protect the Historic District. Approving the document with its current errors would be a mistake. We request a continuance to allow for a thorough revision before it proceeds to City Council.
Key items omitted or unclear, as per the Sec’y of Interior Standards, include:
• Avoiding a false sense of history through material use.
• Permitting alterations to historic building eaves.
Suggested Corrections:
1. Pg 2, Parag 3: Remove due to grammatical errors and potential misinterpretation regarding the document’s adoption.
2. Pg 2: Add a paragraph clarifying that this section supersedes all prior sections for projects in the Historic District.
3. Pg 2: Include a requirement for an evaluation report by a qualified historic preservation professional to ensure compliance with standards.
4. Pg 5, Roofs: Add a new bullet stating that modifications like cutting exposed rafters are prohibited unless required by the Building Department for fire resistance.
5. Pg 5, Windows & Doors: Remove the last part of the sentence about visibility from public right-of-way.
6. Pg 6, Mechanical Systems: Clarify that roof-mounted equipment on flat roofs must be screened from view and is prohibited on sloped roofs.
7. Pg 8, Landscape: Change “existing block pattern” to “historic block pattern,” fix punctuation, and add a requirement for planters between fences and property lines.
8. Pg 9, Garage & Accessory Bldgs: Add clarity regarding design compatibility and requirements for new garages to match historic residences in terms of height and width.
9. Pg 11, Setting & Building Features: Specify dimensions for historic sidewalks and correct a typo in LED lighting specifications.
10. Pg 12, Storefronts: Clarify that new awnings must not damage historic materials.
11. Pg 13, Signage: Prohibit plastic signs and faces, and add a point against digital signage in the Plaza or Downtown Core.
12. Pg 16, Additions to Historic Buildings: Ensure additions do not match historic materials exactly and clarify restrictions on vertical additions.
13. Pg 17 & 18, Infill Construction: Correct typos and clarify language to avoid ambiguity regarding building features and details.
Incorporating these corrections is vital for protecting the integrity of our Historic District. Thank you for considering these necessary adjustments.
I support OTPA’s position on these objective design standards and ask that you continue this agenda item to a future date in order to allow these revisions and comments to be included and presented in a clean and revised document.
I support OTPA's position on these Objective Design Standards and ask that you continue this agenda item to a future date in order to allow these revisions and comments to be included and presented in a clean and revised document.
I support OTPA's position on these Objective Design Standards and ask that you continue this agenda item to a future date in order to allow these revisions and comments to be included and presented in a clean and revised document.