The City of San Diego Report to the Historical Resources Board DATE ISSUED: April 11, 2019 REPORT NO. HRB 19-018 ATTENTION: Historical Resources Board Agenda of April 25, 2019 SUBJECT: ITEM #11 – Mission Valley Community Plan Update APPLICANT: City of San Diego LOCATION: Mission Valley Community, Council District 7 DESCRIPTION: Review and consider the Mission Valley Community Plan Area Historic Context Statement (HCS); the Cultural Resources Constraints Analysis (CRCA); the Historic Preservation section of the Mission Valley Community Plan update; and the Historical, Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources section of the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) related to Cultural/Historical Resources for the purposes of making a Recommendation on the adoption of the HCS, CRCA, Historic Preservation section, and the PEIR to the City Council. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Recommend to the City Council adoption of the Mission Valley Community Plan Area Historic Context Statement; the Cultural Resources Constraints Analysis; the Historic Preservation section of the Mission Valley Community Plan update; and the Historical, Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources section of the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). BACKGROUND In 2015 the City Council authorized a comprehensive update to the Mission Valley Community Plan, which was last updated in 1985. The City Planning Department contracted with Dyett & Bhatia Urban and Regional Planners and their sub-consultants to assist in the preparation of the Mission Valley Community Plan Update (MVCPU) and its associated technical studies, which include a Cultural Resources Constraints Analysis addressing archaeological and Tribal Cultural resources, and a Historic Context Statement that addresses built environment resources. These documents were used to provide background on the development of the community; shape the plan’s policies related to the identification and preservation of archaeological, tribal cultural and historic resources; and provide context for the development of the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). The Historic Context Statement, Cultural Resources Constraints Analysis, and the policies of the Historic Preservation section of the MVCPU were presented to the Historical Resources Board as an Information Item in January of 2019. Information presented included an overview of the MVCPU process to date, the 9485 Aero Drive, MS 413 San Diego, CA 92123 T (619) 235-5224 sandiego.gov/historicplanning sandiego.gov results of the Historic Context Statement and the Cultural Resources Constraints Analysis, and an overview of the goals and policies of the Historic Preservation section of the MVCPU. The staff memo and meeting audio from the January 2019 meeting are included as Attachments 1 and 2, respectively. At the meeting, the Board was supportive of the documents presented, with only minor comments related to formatting, clarifications, and minor changes to language. No significant issues were identified for any of the documents reviewed. During public testimony, SOHO commented that the area of high archaeological sensitivity near the Mission San Diego de Alcalá be extended to include areas believed to have served as gardens and agricultural fields for the Mission. Following the hearing, staff reviewed all comments received and completed edits to the Historic Context Statement and finished preparation of the Historic Preservation Section of the MVCPU. In regard to the Historic Context Statement, staff realized that Section 1 of the document, which provides an overview of the study area, was omitted. This has been corrected and addresses the comment that a map of the planning area would be useful. Staff also added a Study List at the end of the Residential Apartments property type discussion, and a paragraph at the end of Section 1.A. clarifying the purpose and use of the Study Lists. Lastly, staff completed minor text edits throughout the Historic Context Statement. In regard to the Cultural Resources Constraints Analysis and expanding the area of high sensitivity around the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, qualified staff re-evaluated source information from the archaeological record and did not identify data to support expanding the area of high sensitivity. In addition, during the City’s ongoing consultation with the tribes, the issue of expanding the area of high sensitivity around the Mission was raised, and the tribal representatives indicated that such an expansion was not needed because the moderate sensitivity rating provides review for potential impacts to resources, and would require tribal consultation where information can be shared and recommendations made regarding the level of evaluation warranted for the subsequent project. As such, the area of high sensitivity has not been expanded as suggested. Additionally, a request was made to update the Sacred Lands File Search for the CPU area. Staff considered this request and after careful review of SLF searches for other recent projects in the CPU and adjacent areas, it was determined that an updated search would not be warranted. This was also discussed with the tribal representatives consulting on the project under both AB 52 and SB 18 and no additional revisions were made to the Cultural Resources Constraints Analysis. Results of the tribal consultation process subsequent to the presentation of this item at HRB in January 2019 will be reflected in revisions to Section 4.6- Historical, Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources in the Final PEIR, as noted below. The Mission Valley Community Plan Update Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) was posted for public review on February 6, 2019 with public review ending on March 23, 2019. Limited comments were received in regard to the Historical, Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources Section. Staff is currently preparing a formal response to comments, which will be incorporated into the Final PEIR. Because the MVCPU schedule requires HRB review prior to the publishing of the final PEIR, the relevant comment letters received have been included as Attachment 8, and staff responses to those comments are summarized here. The comment letter from SOHO highlighted the importance of San Diego Stadium and the need for future environmental review for that site, and reiterated their comments regarding extending the area of high cultural resource sensitivity around the Mission San Diego de Alcalá. In regard to the stadium, it has been identified in the Historic Context Statement and included in the study list, and any future project at the site would evaluate the building for historic significance. In regard to expanding the area of high sensitivity around the Mission, research of the archaeological record and consultation with Kumeyaay tribes did not support this change, as described above. The comment letter from Westfield expressed concern for MVCPU Policy HSB-1 (renumbered since their letter), which encourages the adaptive reuse - 2 - and preservation of historical resources, and requested that the plan simply rely on the City’s Historical Resources Regulations. However, this policy is consistent with General Plan goals and the policies of other CPUs, and does not override the applicability of the Historical Resources Regulations. Therefore, no change to the policy is proposed. ANALYSIS Historic Context Statement The Draft Mission Valley Historic Context Statement (Attachment 3) presents an overview of the history of the Mission Valley community, with a specific emphasis on describing the historic themes and patterns that have contributed to the community’s physical development. It presents the history of the community’s built environment from the Spanish Period to the present in order to support and guide the identification and evaluation of historic properties throughout the community, as well as to inform future planning decisions. It is important to note that the Mission Valley Historic Context Statement is intended only to address extant built environment resources. Archaeological and Tribal Cultural resources are addressed in the Cultural Resources Constraints Analysis. The periods and themes identified cover a variety of related topics and associated property types. Consistent with the purpose and intent of a historic context statement, themes were only developed if extant properties directly associated with the theme and located within Mission Valley community limits were identified. The periods and themes identified in the context statement are outlined below: • Spanish and Mexican Period (1769-1848) o Theme: Establishment of the Mission • American Period (1848-1975) o Theme: Development of Natural Resources (1850-1968) o Theme: Modern Commercialization, Tourism, and Commercialization of the Valley (1940-1970) . Sub-Theme: Sports, Recreation and Leisure . Sub-Theme: Motels/Hotels . Sub-Theme: Commercial Regional Shopping Centers and Office Development . Sub-Theme: Residential Apartments Cultural Resources Constraints Analysis A Cultural Resources Constraints Analysis (Attachment 4) was prepared by Tierra Environmental Services in support of the community plan update for the community of Mission Valley. The document provides a discussion of the environmental and cultural setting; defines archaeological and tribal cultural resources; summarizes the results of archival research and outreach to the Native American Heritage Commission and local tribal representatives; analyzes the cultural sensitivity levels within the community; and provides recommendations