COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

DATE:

October 18, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 6, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Sanchez Adobe Draft Master Plan

RECOMMENDATION:

Approve the Sanchez Adobe Draft Master Plan and direct staff to proceed with the environmental review process.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.

Goal 15: Residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities.

The preparation of a Master Plan for the Sanchez Adobe site contributes to this goal, as it will allow for better preservation, interpretation and promotion of this historic site as an educational recreation activity for school children, County residents and visitors to the area.

BACKGROUND:

The Parks and Recreation Commission, at their May 19, 2005 meeting, unanimously made the recommendation that the Board of Supervisors: 1) approve the Draft Sanchez Adobe Master Plan, and 2) direct staff to proceed with the environmental review process. The plan received very strong public support with no controversial issues. We are requesting Board concurrence on the Commission’s recommendation before proceeding to conduct the environmental review.

The Sanchez Adobe Historical Site is a 5.46-acre area at 1000 Linda Mar Boulevard within the City of Pacifica. The site represents some of California’s earliest history. The Ohlone village of Pruristac was located at the site, and the villagers were decimated from diseases (possibly measles) carried by white missionaries. The village was most likely on the site of the shell mound, which is now covered over by the caretaker's cottage to the west of the adobe house. After the creation of the mission at San Francisco, the site became an important Spanish outpost. Later it was part of the 9,000 acre Rancho San Pedro. A Mexican land grant recipient Francisco Sanchez built his adobe house here. Sanchez was an important individual of his day having been commander of the Presidio of San Francisco and alcalde of the nearby village of Yerba Buena. He led Californians in a revolt against U.S. troops at the Battle of Santa Clara in 1847. His house still stands and functions as a museum.

Just after World War II, a private landowner contributed the adobe house and site to the County of San Mateo. By the mid-1950s, the County was operating the site as a historic park. In 1979, the County created a partnership with the San Mateo County Historical Association to provide interpretive programs. Five archaeological investigations have been completed at the site over the years, the last of which was completed in 1990. Today the site is open to the public five days a week. About 6,500 people visit the site each year; this includes a popular outdoor education program for the schools and drop-in visitors.

Master planning for the site has not been accomplished since it was opened as a park in the mid-1950’s. This Master Plan, if adopted, will better preserve, interpret and promote the Sanchez Adobe historic site. In 1991, a year after the last archaeological investigation was completed, Parks Commissioners, County staff, Historical Association Board Members, and volunteers participated in a facilitated retreat to develop various interpretive strategies and site improvements. In 1994, Edna Kimbro completed a conservation assessment of the house’s adobe bricks.

The County and the Historical Association agree that the site offers much for the future audiences of school children, County residents and drop-in visitors from Highway 1. The Master Plan provides the educational design to better interpret the three major periods of California history at this site: the Native American (Ohlone) period pre-1769 to 1786, Spanish Mission period from 1786 to 1834 and Mexican Rancho period from 1839 to 1871.

DISCUSSION:

1.

Goals and Objectives of the Master Plan:

The Architectural Resources Group was hired to prepare this Master Plan. Three public meetings took place to prepare this Master Plan: a Focus Group on interpretive opportunities held December 7, 2004 and two public meetings held January 27, 2005 and April 7, 2005. The goals of the Master Plan were developed through the public review process, and are based on archaeological, historical, and site conditions. The following mission statement summarizes the Historical Association’s goals for the use of the Sanchez Adobe Historical Site:

The Sanchez Adobe Historical Site is a significant historic and cultural resource. Together, the building and the site illustrate three major periods in the history of California, including Native American, Spanish, and Mexican settlements. As such, the mission of the Sanchez Adobe Historical Site is to become a public facility that:

•

Identifies and interprets the multiple layers of habitation inherent in the site

•

Provides a place for education and recreation for the San Mateo community as well as the surrounding region

•

Provides stewardship of the historic property for future generations

These goals serve as the guiding principles in the development of this Master Plan. The overall goal of the site is a walk through time with different periods represented on the site.

The Master Plan has four major components:

•

Site Master Plan

•

Interpretive Plan

•

Landscape Plan

•

Restoration Plan for the Sanchez Adobe

In addition there are recommendations for future studies, two major phases of implementation, and cost estimates for implementation of the Master Plan.

2.

Environmental Review

The County Parks Foundation will provide funding for a Mitigated Negative Declaration for this project that will evaluate archaeological and traffic issues following the Board of Supervisors approval of the Draft Master Plan.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There are two recommended phases for implementation of this Master Plan. Phase 1, which is identified on page 110 of the report, would be $358,380.00. Phase 2, which is identified on page 117 of the report, would be 4,806,203.00. The total project cost would be $5,164,583. Following the Board of Supervisors approval of the Master Plan these projects will be identified on the Capital Improvement Project List for Park facilities. The San Mateo County Historical Association will take the lead role on fundraising for this project in coordination with the County Parks Foundation. Currently an application for a California Cultural and Historical Endowment Act grant, which requires 50 percent in matching funds, is in the process of being developed.