Committee: Directly to Council AGENDA ITEMS 5 and 8 Committee Review: At a future date October 20, 2020 Staff: Pamela Dunn, Senior Legislative Analyst Montgomery Purpose: Briefing & public hearing – no vote expected Briefing & Public Hearing County Council Keywords: #Mesrobian House, Historic Preservation, HPC SUBJECT An amendment to the Master Plan for Historic Preservation for the Mesrobian House. The Council will hold a public hearing on the Planning Board draft amendment at 1:30 p.m. EXPECTED ATTENDEES Rebeccah Ballo, Supervisor for Historic Preservation, Planning Department John Liebertz, Historic Preservation Planner Coordinator, Planning Department COUNCIL DECISION POINTS & COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION None DESCRIPTION/ISSUE Historic Preservation staff will provide a briefing to the Council on the process for amending the Master Plan for Historic Preservation in preparation for the Council’s review of the Mesrobian House. The amendment for the Mesrobian House was prepared at the request of the heirs of Mihran Mesrobian (owners of the property until 2020) and with the support of the present property owners. On July 23, 2020, the Planning Board held a public hearing, worksession, and action on the subject plan. As a result, the Board listed the property in the Locational Atlas & Index of Historic Sites and recommends amending the Master Plan for Historic Preservation to list the subject property as a Master Plan Historic Site. SUMMARY OF KEY DISCUSSION POINTS N/A This report contains: Planning Board Letter of Transmittal © 1-2 Planning Board Draft Amendment for the Mesrobian House © 3-18 Alternative format requests for people with disabilities. If you need assistance accessing this report you may submit alternative format requests to the ADA Compliance Manager. The ADA Compliance Manager can also be reached at 240-777-6197 (TTY 240-777-6196) or at [email protected] MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING BOARD THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION August 24, 2020 The Honorable Sidney Katz President, Montgomery County Council Stella B. Werner Council Office Building 100 Maryland Avenue Rockville, Maryland 20850 SUBJECT: Planning Board Draft Amendment for the Mesrobian House: An Amendment to the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. Dear Mr. Katz: On behalf of the Montgomery County Planning Board, I am pleased to transmit the Planning Board Draft Amendment for the Mesrobian House: An Amendment to the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. This Plan will amend the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. The Planning Board Hearing Draft is available online at: https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/historic/research- and-designation/mihran_mesrobian_house/. The Mihran Mesrobian House at 7410 Connecticut Avenue is in the Town of Chevy Chase. The single- family dwelling stands on the southwest corner of Woodbine Street and Connecticut Avenue. Master architect Mihran Mesrobian designed the Art Moderne-styled house for himself and his wife, Zabelle, in 1941. The National Park Service listed the subject property in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C (architecture) in 2017. The house meets two Designation Criteria of the Historic Preservation Ordinance as listed in §24A-3 of the Montgomery County Code. Mesrobian is recognized as a master architect in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region. His projects include signature hotels, office buildings, apartments, and residences that are now designated national and local landmarks. His house at 7410 Connecticut Avenue is a premier example of an Art Moderne-styled dwelling with restrained traditional building elements that respond to the surrounding predominance of Colonial Revival architecture. Historic Preservation staff prepared this amendment at the request of the heirs of Mihran Mesrobian (owners of the property until 2020) and with the support of the present property owners. On July 23, 2020, the Planning Board held a public hearing, worksession, and action on the subject plan. The Board listed the property in the Locational Atlas & Index of Historic Sites and recommended amending the Master Plan for Historic Preservation to list the subject property as a Master Plan 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Phone: 301.495.4605 Fax: 301.495.1320 www.montgomeryplanningboard.org E-Mail: [email protected] (1) The Honorable Sidney Katz August 24, 2020 Page Two Historic Site. Resources designated in the Master Plan for Historic Preservation are subject to protections under the Historic Preservation Ordinance (§24A of the Montgomery County Code) and may qualify for certain benefits including historic preservation tax credits. If you have any questions concerning the Amendment, please do not hesitate to contact Rebeccah Ballo, Historic Preservation Supervisor, at [email protected] or 301-563- 3404. Sincerely, Casey Anderson Chair (2) for the (3) (4) The Mihran Mesrobian House: An Amendment to the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. contains the text and supporting documentation for the Planning Board Draft. If adopted by the Montgomery County Council and approved by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, this document amends the Master Plan for Historic Preservation in Montgomery County, Maryland (1979), as amended; Bethesda-Chevy Chase Master Plan (1990), as amended; and The General Plan (on Wedges and Corridors) for the Physical Development of the Maryland-Washington Regional District in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties (1964), as amended. The Planning Board Draft presents the Montgomery County Planning Board’s recommendation for the Mihran Mesrobian House located at 7410 Connecticut Avenue, Town of Chevy Chase. The heirs of Mihran Mesrobian, requested the evaluation of the subject property for potential listing and protection under Chapter 24A of the Montgomery County Code. In February 2020, the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) recommended that the subject property be listed in the Locational Atlas and Index of Historic Sites in Montgomery County and subsequently designated in the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. In July 2020, the Planning Board listed the subject property in the Locational Atlas and Index of Historic Sites in Montgomery County and recommends designation in the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Online at: https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/historic/research-and-designation/mihran_mesrobian_house/ (5) The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Designation of historic sites and districts serves to highlight Commission the values that are important in maintaining the individual character of the County and its communities. It is the intent The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning of the County’s preservation program to provide a rational Commission is a bi-county agency created by the General system for evaluating, protecting and enhancing the historic Assembly of Maryland in 1927. The Commission’s geographic and architectural heritage of the County for the benefit of authority extends to the great majority of Montgomery present and future generations. and Prince George’s Counties; the Maryland-Washington Regional District (M-NCPPC planning jurisdiction) comprises The following criteria apply, as stated in §24A-3 of the County 1,001 square miles, while the Metropolitan District (parks) Code when historic resources are evaluated for designation comprises 919 square miles, in the two counties. in the Master Plan for Historic Preservation: The Commission is charged with preparing, adopting and Evaluation Criterion (1): Historical and Cultural amending or extending The General Plan (On Wedges and The historic resource: Corridors) for the Physical Development of the Maryland- Washington Regional District in Montgomery and Prince a. has character, interest or value as part of the George’s counties. The Commission operates in each development, heritage or cultural characteristics county through Planning Boards appointed by those county of the County, State or Nation; governments. The Planning Boards are responsible for implementation of local plans, zoning ordinances, and b. is the site of a significant historic event; subdivision regulations and the administration of the bi- c. is identified with a person or a group of persons county park system. who influenced society; or The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning d. exemplifies the cultural, economic, social, political or Commission encourages the involvement and participation historic heritage of the County and its communities; or of individuals with disabilities through its accessible facilities. For assistance with special needs (e.g., large print materials, listening devices, sign language interpretation, Evaluation Criterion (2): Architectural and Design etc.), please contact the M-NCPPC Montgomery County The historic resource: Commissioners Office by telephone 301-495-4605 or by email at [email protected]. Maryland residents can a. embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, also use the free Maryland Relay Service for assistance with period or method of construction; calls to or from hearing- or speech-impaired persons; for b. represents the work of a master; information, go to www.mdrelay.org/ or call 866-269-9006. c. possesses high artistic values; Master Plan for Historic Preservation d. represents a significant and distinguishable entity The Master Plan for Historic Preservation is a functional