A long-planned rehabilitation project at The Square, also known as Pioneer Village, is moving forward after the Folsom City Council approved a key design review and environmental exemption Tuesday night.
On a consent calendar vote, the council adopted a resolution formally confirming the Historic District Commission’s recommendation to approve design review for The Square (Pioneer Village) Rehabilitation Project at 115 Wool Street and determining the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.
The action clears the way for construction of a new 420-square-foot Blacksmith Forge Annex and exterior rehabilitation work to Ashland Station, an early railroad-era structure considered eligible as a historic resource. The approval is outlined in the Feb. 10 staff report prepared by the Community Development Department.
The project was first reviewed in a public meeting by the Historic District Commission on Feb. 4. Under a recent court decision in Robert Delp v. City of Folsom et al., the commission no longer holds final approval authority, and all entitlements within the Historic District require City Council action, making Tuesday’s vote the final step in the local approval process.
Ashland Station, located within the northeast portion of the 4.41-acre Pioneer Village site, is a wood-frame structure that dates back to the 1860s and reflects vernacular railroad architecture of the era. Though not formally listed on the state or national historic registers, it has been identified as potentially eligible for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources.
The approved work focuses on restoring the building closer to its original exterior appearance while addressing current life-safety and access requirements. Plans include removing a non-original door and roof cover installed in 2021, reopening the historic central cargo door, repairing and reusing original wood materials whenever feasible, and constructing a new freestanding deck to provide compliant access.
City staff determined the rehabilitation work is consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, which guide historic preservation projects nationwide. Conditions of approval require that deteriorated materials be repaired rather than replaced whenever possible and that any replacement materials match the historic fabric in composition, design, color and texture.
Prior to issuance of building permits for Ashland Station work, the applicant must submit a professional report detailing existing conditions and the specific treatment methods to ensure full compliance with those federal standards. The city also retains the option to require a historic preservation construction monitor, at the applicant’s expense, if deemed necessary.
In addition to the rehabilitation, the project includes construction of a 420-square-foot Blacksmith Forge Annex. The structure is intended to provide additional storage and expanded outdoor space for blacksmith demonstrations and educational classes hosted by Folsom History, which operates Pioneer Village on city-owned property.
Under the Sutter Street Subarea development standards, no minimum setbacks are required, and the proposed annex will maintain a six-foot setback from the nearest property line and a height of approximately 16.4 feet, well under the 35-foot maximum allowed.
Design elements for the annex were crafted to reflect pre-1900 architectural themes consistent with the Historic District Design and Development Guidelines. Materials will include board-and-batten wood siding and a wood shingle roof.
During its Feb. 4 meeting, the Historic District Commission modified one condition to allow a standing seam metal roof for the annex, provided the color matches that of the Roundhouse Building at 824 Sutter Street. The commission also clarified language related to the Memorandum of Understanding between the city and the applicant regarding operation and maintenance of the site.
A key condition of approval requires the Folsom Historical Society to enter into a new agreement with the city — or amend its existing Memorandum of Understanding — prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy. The agreement must address operation and maintenance of The Square.
The revised language adopted by the commission and confirmed by the council specifies that any such agreement will be operational in nature, will not obligate the city to proceed with the project, and will not affect the city’s discretion on environmental review determinations.
The applicant is responsible for all construction and rehabilitation costs associated with the project. Construction expenses will not impact the city’s General Fund, though long-term maintenance responsibilities will be governed by the new or modified agreement between the city and the historical society.
Council also confirmed staff’s determination that the project qualifies for categorical exemptions under CEQA Section 15303, covering new construction or conversion of small structures, and Section 15331, covering historical resource restoration or rehabilitation. Staff analysis concluded that none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions apply and that the rehabilitation work will not result in a substantial adverse change to the significance of a historical resource.
In its findings, the council determined the project is consistent with the city’s General Plan and zoning code, complies with Historic District design guidelines, and uses building materials, textures and colors compatible with surrounding development.
The design review approval remains valid for two years from the final approval date and will expire Feb. 10, 2028, if building permits are not secured. Standard noise and construction-hour limits apply, restricting work to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, with no construction allowed on Sundays or holidays absent special permission.
With council approval secured, the Folsom History can now proceed with final plans and permitting as well as fundraising, advancing efforts to both preserve Ashland Station and enhance blacksmith programming within Pioneer Village.
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