How to resolve AdBlock issue? The commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
On Wednesday, the commission will consider Jonathan Bridges’ new architectural and design review to allow a redesign of the Bel Aire Apartments at 1125 N. Main St.
The 14-unit, 10,720-square-foot apartment complex, built in 1927, was damaged in a November fire, as Lake County News has reported.
The commission held an initial discussion on a previous version of Jonathan Bridges’ proposal on Aug. 14.
At that point, the project included replacing the two-story building’s flat roof with a pitched roof and removing or covering its art deco features – including its medallions and rosettes – and replacing them with modern trim.
Jonathan Bridges was not able to attend the Aug. 14 meeting but his father, Doug, was present for the discussion, explaining that they were offered the purchase of the building’s owners, who are underinsured and cannot afford to restore the building.
The commission members had questions about the lack of a landscaping plan for the project, the need to determine the building’s historical value and concerns about the loss of the art deco architecture, which city staff “does not reflect the time period or the historical appearance the City is working to preserve.”
Staff indicated they had worked to fast-track the project to both deal with a blighted structure and to restore the lost housing units.
Commissioner Michael Green said he considered the application incomplete and that there was a potential for historical status for the building, adding he loves art deco.
Commissioner Ken Wicks pointed out that a program in the general plan that refers to heritage sites requires that, prior to altering any structure with historical significant, the general plan is to be consulted. For structures that are more than 45 years old, they’re supposed to be reviewed with their historical value determined.
Wicks said art deco was an attempt to modernize Lakeport and bring in visitors from Cobb. As a result, various places around Lakeport became “art deco-ish.”
He said he did an informal survey of 26 people and found that 18 wanted to keep the building as art deco, three wanted to modernize it and three others had no opinion.
Later in the discussion, Wicks noted, “This is a good project and it’s got a lot of value.”
The Aug. 14 meeting ended with city staff planning to put the matter over for discussion in September, with requests for Bridges to have the building reviewed by a historical architect who would conduct archival and/or field research to determine the building’s structural value; to prepare a landscape plan for the site; and to review the structural integrity of the covered parking structures in the rear of the building.
Since then, Jonathan Bridges has submitted an updated version of his project that responds to the commission’s concerns. He also asked to be on the special meeting agenda because he cannot attend the regular commission meeting set for Sept. 11.
Bridges’ latest proposal for the building offers to raise the roofline of the new pitched roof so the art deco roofline can still be seen.
He also is planning to retain the art deco medallions – he suggests removing some of the medallions and rosettes from the side and rear of the building to replace those on the front of the building damaged or destroyed in the fire – and has submitted a landscaping plan.
In addition, staff said the city building official visited the site on Aug. 21 and determined that the covered parking areas have been maintained in a stable condition, with Bridges indicating he is willing to make any necessary improvement and paint the parking area to match the building.
According to the staff report, Bridges said he is reluctant to hire an architectural historian. “The applicant has stated the cost associated with repairing this building is close to being infeasible, and any additional costs could have the applicant abandon the reconstruction of this building.”
Staff is suggesting the commission support the revised project.
Also on the agenda for Wednesday’s special commission meeting is review of the initial study that includes a mitigated negative declaration for the Hartley Street Project.
Commissioners also will consider an application from O’Meara Brothers Brewery and Restaurant and Fossa’s Backhoe Service for a minor architectural and design review. The application seeks a 648-square-foot outdoor dining area and pergola along the east side of the building, with the zoning permit to allow outdoor dining and another application to grant a minor exception to the parking regulations for the restaurant, located at 901 Bevins St.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
082819 Lakeport Planning Commission special meeting packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd
