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Historic board clears accessibility upgrades at Carmel Mission chapel
Summary
The Historic Preservation Board found the proposed accessible route, ramp and door reconfiguration at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel consistent with preservation standards and approved the design review for the ADA upgrades at the Carmel Mission.
The Carmel-by-the-Sea Historic Preservation Board voted to find the proposed accessibility upgrades at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at Mission San Carlos de Borromeo consistent with the applicable Secretary of the Interior standards and city preservation guidelines.
Planning staff presented Design Review DR25181 and described the mission site’s multiple overlays (archaeological, park, beach/riparian) and the mission’s listing as a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. Staff said the scope includes a new accessible parking stall, a new pass into the loggia, a concrete ramp with steel/wrought handrails set off the historic adobe wall, and reconfiguring an existing door within the current opening; staff noted the consultant found the project consistent with Standards 2, 9 and 10, with mitigation measures intended to minimize visual impact and to ensure reversibility.
Cindy Lloyd, a member of the public, thanked the board for the recognition of everyday contributors to Carmel history and said accessible access to the mission “is probably due time” so people with disabilities can use that part of the site without hindrance. The architect participating online confirmed the door is being moved to create required clearances and described a plan to infill and trim around an interior mural so the mural will be preserved while meeting hardware and accessibility requirements; the online architect also said the proposed handrails will match the existing wrought-iron appearance.
A board member moved to find DR25181 consistent with the Secretary of the Interior standards for the accessibility upgrades at the historic Carmel Mission; the motion was seconded. The roll-call vote was recorded as: Board member Dyer — yes; Board member Goodhue — yes; Board member Gualtieri — yes; Chair — yes. The board approved the determination of consistency.
Staff noted the work is intended to be the least visually impactful solution to achieve an accessible route and that, per the consultant, the ramp and railing would be visually minimized when viewed through the loggia columns and are reversible if removed in the future.
