Community Development
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AGENDA ITEM L1 Community Development STAFF REPORT City Council Meeting Date: 4/17/2018 Staff Report Number: 18-073-CC Informational Item: Update on 241 El Camino Real (The Oasis) and 201- 211 El Camino Real/610 Cambridge Ave. Recommendation This is an informational item and does not require City Council action. Policy Issues Mayor Pro Tem Ray Mueller has asked for a status update on the subject property, where The Oasis restaurant and lounge ceased operations as of March 7, 2018. Specifically inquiring if the existing building is eligible for historic designation for the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources. Additional information has been requested for a proposed mixed-use development at an adjacent property located at 201-211 El Camino Real/610 Cambridge Ave. Background The subject building has been evaluated as being eligible for both the federal and California Historic Registers. A 1990 historic resources inventory and a 2013 Historic Resource Evaluation (HRE) confirmed the building’s historic eligibility. As a result, any exterior alterations/additions would need to be conducted in compliance with the secretary of the interior’s standards for rehabilitation, as evaluated by a qualified architectural historian. Demolition of the building would likely not be permitted without an environmental impact report (EIR) and associated statement of overriding considerations. In 2001, the Planning Commission granted a use permit and architectural control for new wireless equipment, specifically new cell antennas within an enclosure were added to the building’s roof. In 2012- 2013, Sprint applied for a use permit revision to replace the previously-installed antennas with new enclosed roof-mounted antennas. The proposed design of the antennas and their faux chimney enclosure were found to be not compatible with the secretary of the interior’s standards for rehabilitation and the project was never installed. On March 8, 2018, City staff held a preliminary development review meeting for a proposed three-story 17- residential unit/mixed-use (medical office) project immediately south of the Oasis site at 201-211 El Camino Real/610 Cambridge Ave. That project is discussed in more detail later in this staff report. Analysis As noted above, the subject building has been evaluated as being eligible for both the federal and California Historic Registers. As described in the 2013 HRE (Attachment A), conducted by an independent architectural historian, the existing building is historically significant for its rarity as a remnant of Camp Fremont, which was established in Menlo Park during World War I, and for its continued use as a long-term City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.org Staff Report #: 18-073-CC commercial use in Menlo Park. The building was constructed in 1917 and moved to its present location in approximately 1920. The Beltramo family purchased the building in 1920, after it was abandoned by the U.S. Army, and remains the building’s present owners. The building is also listed in the El Camino Real/Downtown Specific Plan (El Camino Real mixed-use district) as a landmark for its inclusion in the 1990 historic resources inventory and is subject to mitigation measure CUL-1, requiring project sponsors to complete site-specific historic evaluations for projects located at or adjacent to buildings that are at least 50 years old. However, the City has not conveyed local historic recognition and the site is not zoned as a Historic Site District (H). The Planning Commission could recommend to the City Council that the building be designated a landmark by resolution of the City Council or through an application by the property owner. The city’s General Plan land use element also contains policies (Policy LU-7.8) encouraging the preservation of cultural and historic resources. Further information on the building’s historic eligibility, its historical connection to the Menlo Park community and city General and Specific Plan requirements can be found in the 2013 HRE. Regarding a potential future use of the existing building, the below options discuss some possible scenarios: A new restaurant serving beer/wine and with no exterior changes to the building would be permitted by right. The applicant would need to obtain a business license, a building permit for any interior tenant improvements and a sign permit for any new/modified signage. A new restaurant that wants to add distilled spirits to the beer/wine service would need an administrative permit, in addition to the other permits noted above. An administrative permit is a non-discretionary approval issued by the community development director and further described in zoning ordinance section 16.82.140. Any land use that is not a restaurant would need to provide information on the exact proposed use, any additions or exterior modifications made to the building, parking requirements (including use of the rear parking spaces that are located at 615-617 Partridge Avenue) and other project information to determine if the use would be permitted or if it needs Planning Commission review of a use permit. Similar uses permitted by right (with no exterior modification) in the El Camino real mixed-use district include takeout only restaurants and food and beverage sales. All permitted, conditional, administrative and other use types are listed on E6-7 and parking rates on F-19 of the specific plan. 201-211 El Camino Real/610 Cambridge Ave. This 16,348 square-feet neighboring and separately owned site is proposed to be developed as a 25,000 square-feet three-story mixed-use building at a bonus density level of 1.49 FAR where 1.5 FAR is permitted at the bonus level. The new building would include 17 for-sale residential units (2 below market rate units), 5,095 square-feet of medical office and parking for 67 cars, mostly within a below grade garage. The building would be 38-feet in height with the upper floors stepping back at the two higher levels. The new building would replace an existing one-story commercial building and seven surface parking spaces at 201 El Camino Real, a 28-space surface parking lot to the west of the commercial building and a one-story residential building at 610 Cambridge Avenue preliminary project plans as discussed with staff at the afore-mentioned March 8, 2018, meeting and a site survey are available in attachment B. As to how this project could primarily affect the adjacent Oasis property, the applicant is proposing a publically accessible open space at the west corner of the site for the project’s primary public benefit. They are also proposing to purchase from the city a section of Alto Lane and relocate the access drive (off Cambridge Avenue) 65-feet west so that it is placed between the open space and the new building. The relocation of this access drive may affect customers accessing the parking associated with the former Oasis building and would need to be analyzed in conjunction with this proposal. Staff additionally raised concerns City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.org Staff Report #: 18-073-CC related to utilities under Alto Lane, flooding issues, traffic signal coordination and lift/shared parking. The project remains preliminary in nature and staff has not received an updated proposal from the applicant following the March 8, 2018, meeting. Attachments A. 2013 historic resource evaluation B. 201-211 El Camino Real/610 Cambridge Ave. preliminary plans Report prepared by: Mark Muenzer, Community Development Director City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.org THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ATTACHMENT A Beltramo Building (The Oasis) 241 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, San Mateo County, California (071-413-360) Prepared for: City of Menlo Park Attn: Thomas Rogers, Senior Planner Planning Division, Department of Community Development 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 Prepared by: ARCHIVES & ARCHITECTURE, LLC PO Box 1332 San Jose, CA 95109-1332 http://www.archivesandarchitecture.com May (revised August 14), 2013 | The Oasis, Menlo Park 2 | TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 3 Summary of Findings .................................................................................................................. 3 Qualifications ............................................................................................................................... 4 Methodology of this Review ...................................................................................................... 5 Survey Status................................................................................................................................ 6 Assessor’s Parcel Map-(Assessor’s parcel number 071-413-360) ....................................... 6 Area Map ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Aerial View ............................................................................................................................... 8 HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION ................................................... 9 Historical Background ............................................................................................................ 9 Property Technical