HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD AGENDA ITEM Consideration of the recirculated final environmental impact report for the sale of Flanders Mansion Project and advise the Planning Commission on its adequacy regarding historical, cultural and aesthetic resources, 10 December 2012

ABSTRACT: On Monday, 10 December 2012, the Historic Resources Board held a Special Meeting concerning APPLICATIONS Consideration of the recirculated final environmental impact report for the sale of Flanders Mansion Project and advise the Planning Commission on its adequacy regarding historical, cultural and aesthetic resources.
STAFF COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The proposed project, or any alternative that transfers control of the Flanders Mansion to another party, could result in changes that diminish the integrity of the historical resource and limit the public's enjoyment of the building. These effects would not be consistent with the City's policies of preserving historical resources and encouraging public enjoyment of them. The EIR correctly identifies these as potentially significant impacts. The EIR also identifies mitigation measures that would reduce these potential impacts. All of this was accepted by the Court.
The discussion in the EIR is comprehensive and thorough enough to disclose the project's impacts related to historical, cultural and aesthetic resources. The mitigation measures identified in the document would reduce the significance of these impacts to a less-than-significant level. Taken as a whole, the EIR appears adequate to supply the Council with enough, appropriate information about impacts, alternatives and mitigations to make informed decisions about the project. The Historic Resources Board reviewed the 2009 EIR on 20 April 2009 and forwarded a recommendation to the Planning Commission that the EIR was adequate. The 2012 EIR contains additional analysis and a more thorough response to public comments.
For all of these reasons, staff recommends that the Historic Resources Board forward a recommendation to the Planning Commission that the 2012 EIR is adequate for reviewing impacts, alternatives and mitigations regarding historic preservation, cultural resources and aesthetic resources related to public enjoyment of the Flanders Mansion as a historical resource. Staff also recommends forwarding the attached advice from the Board's 2009 review of the EIR. It remains valid and would strengthen the mitigation measures. If the Board has other comments or recommendations to make, these will also be forwarded to the Planning Commission and to the City Council. 
The Agenda, Staff Report, Staff Report Attachment and supporting materials are embedded.

Hrb Special Meeting Agenda Packet 12-10-12

AGENDA PACKET, SPECIAL MEETING

HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD

December 10, 2012