Historic commission recommends approval for exterior changes at 130 Mill Street

The Grass Valley Historic Commission on a voice vote recommended approval of proposed exterior modifications to 130 Mill Street, a downtown structure originally built about 1859, following a presentation by city staff and comments from the applicant and the Chamber of Commerce.

Senior planner Lucy Rollins told commissioners the building is listed as a “priority 3” structure in the city’s historic inventory and that the applicant proposes to set the new front facade back “approximately 9 feet” to create a patio, relocate the door, install four panels of folding doors and install cedar lap siding above a tile skirt. Rollins also said the rear canopy will be replaced and that, if approved, the applicant would apply for a minor use permit to allow the proposed encroachment into the existing setback.

Architect Gary Burke, representing the applicant, said the business intends to operate as an all-day barbecue restaurant with a bar on site. “My name is Gary Burke. I’m the architect on the project, and, the app our client is their goal is to have a barbecue, more lunch style place, but it would be open all day long, and they do we’ll be having a bar there, so we’ll have beer and liquor served on premise,” Burke said during the meeting. Burke described the front opening as eight-foot folding doors raised about three feet above grade and said the rear enclosure options under consideration were either painted concrete masonry units (CMU) with cedar doors or corrugated metal siding over CMU.

Robin Galvin Davies, executive director of the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Grass Valley Downtown Association, spoke in support of the project, praising the design and telling the commission the downtown merchants welcome another dining venue. “I was absolutely delighted to see the, the architectural renderings of this of the space planning for this, and I actually very much like the simplicity of this storefront,” she said.

Commission discussion focused on compatibility with the historic streetscape, material choices and durability behind the building. Commissioners suggested adjusting the rear roof pitch to better match neighboring buildings, softening the cedar gate design from a “western” cross-brace look to a flatter/shaker style, and submitting a color sample for staff review. The applicant said he preferred painted CMU at the rear “for durability reasons” but was open to commission input.

The development review committee’s recommendation, read into the record by staff, asked the commission to: A) determine the project categorically exempt pursuant to section 15301, Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and guidelines; B) adopt the findings of fact for approval for the minor development review as presented in the staff report; and C) approve the minor development review in accordance with the conditions of approval. Commissioner Diane moved to adopt the committee recommendation; a second was voiced. A voice vote followed and the motion carried. The minutes and staff report note that any decision to allow setback encroachment would require a subsequent minor use permit.

The commission recorded several conditions and follow-up items for the Design Review Committee (DRC) and staff: submission of a color sample (to be reviewed by DRC, not returned to the historic commission), refinement of the rear roof pitch to better match adjacent buildings, revised cedar door details (flatter/shaker-style option), and confirmation of finish materials for the patio and skirt (slate tile was referenced). Staff also noted that the proposal does not alter any elements above the canopy on the front facade.

The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the DRC for final action; the applicant may then pursue the minor use permit to authorize the setback encroachment and any necessary permits for outdoor alcohol service on the patio.