HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-12-14 HPC minutes
City of Saratoga
H ERITAGE P RESERVATION C OMMISSION
MINUTES
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 / 8:30 A.M.
Type: Regular Meeting
Place: City Hall /Administrative Conference Room - 13777 Fruitvale Avenue
1. Routine Organization
a. Roll Call
i) Present: Conrado, Marchetti, Nugent, Stansky, Shah
ii) Absent: Cappello (excused), Schuck (excused
iii) Staff: McCormick
b. Review of minutes. – Shah/Conrado moved to approve minutes from the October 14,
2014 meeting. Motion Passed (4-0-2-1). Ayes: Conrado, Nugent, Shah, Stransky. Noes:
None. Absent: Cappello, Schuck. Abstain: Marchetti
c. Posting of Agenda – Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda was
properly posted on November 6, 2014.
d. Oral Communications –
i. Chair Nugent announced that the owner of the John Graham House was happy the
home is now on the Inventory. She participated in the Saratoga historic home tour.
ii. Per Chair Nugent, the foothill club would like to refurbish their front doors.
e. HPC direction to staff regarding non-agendized communications - None
2. New Business –
a. Village Gardeners liaison. Tabled until December
3. Old Business
a. 2014 HPC Workplan Goals Status. In addition to specifics being discussed under old
business, the HPC Chair would like to review the progress to date, on the following:
i. Landmark / Mills Act – Goal to add three Mills Act properties
15095 Fruitvale Avenue (“Fair Oaks”) was added to the Mills Act Inventory
ii. Heritage Inventory
14474 Oak Place was added to the Heritage Inventory with owner approval
iii. Heritage Trees - Goal to double the number of trees on the inventory
Additional trees will be considered on November 19, 2014. Staff will report back
in December.
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iv. Community Outreach
(1) Arbor Day
(2) Web updates with educational information for public
(3) Chair Nugent would like to see what the process would be to add Saratoga to
the National Trust’s list of “distinctive destinations” on their website.
(4) Chair Nugent and Commissioner Stransky will meet with Brian Babcock to
talk about outreach
v. DPR updates – none to date
vi. Budget
(1) $384.83 has been spent on badges and business cards
(2) Chair Nugent would like the HPC to consider a membership in the National
Trust which could have benefits to the HPC
b. Training Topics
i. Commissioner Shah provided a copy of San Jose’s Historic Evaluation Criteria for
determining if a structure should be added to the Heritage Inventory. The HPC will
tailor the form to Saratoga and include a rating system.
ii. Commissioner Shah will contact San Jose State to see if someone is available to
present relevant topics to the HPC.
iii. Commissioner Conrado will contact Archives and Architecture about setting up a
historic architecture tour of the Village.
iv. Commissioner Stransky will contact the Preservation Action Council and West
Valley College to see if someone is available to present relevant topics to the HPC.
v. Chair Nugent would like the HPC to review the National Trust website for
preservation tools.
c. Heritage Tree Inventory workplan – The Commissioners and staff will provide an
update on following trees being considered for inclusion on the Heritage Tree Inventory.
Each Commissioner must ensure the application is complete (including description) with
owner signature. Once the completed application is submitted to the City, the Arborist
will conduct a site visit and provide a report of the qualifying criteria. Following HPC
recommendation, staff can then schedule the trees for consideration by the City Council.
i. Aloha Oak. Commissioner Marchetti is working on the application.
ii. Hakone trees. These trees have been reviewed by Kate and may be part of the Nov 19th
update.
iii. West Valley College. Chair Nugent will contact WVC about adding trees to the list.
iv. Casa Tierra. Stransky – possible trees could include:
1) Bitter Orange tree (from the Vatican garden in Rome)
2) Kiwi tree (first in North America according to a local nurseryman)
3) Gingko tree (gift seedling from China by Yehudi Menuhin)
4) Olive trees (from original Rancho Quito Olive Farm owned by Edward Goodrich)
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d. Landmark List workplan –
The owner of the “Sam Cloud Hay & Feed Warehouse” at 20640 Third Street has
requested the HPC hold off on the Landmark recommendation. As required by City
Code, a notice has been sent giving him 45 days to object to the HPC’s recommendation.
Due to the Christmas break, he has until January 2, 2015 to object.
The Commissioners will provide an update on the following properties being considered
for Landmark status. The DPR should be updated as needed to reflect current conditions,
including eligibility criteria. Each Commissioner will send the respective homeowner a
letter regarding the nomination. Once the application is complete and accepted by the
homeowner, staff can schedule the application for City Council consideration.
i. 20021 Bella Vista (“Rancho Bella Vista”). The owner has not responded to the
letter from Commissioner Conrado.
ii. 14501-14503 Big Basin Way (“Cloud-Smith Building”) The owner has not
responded to the letter from Chair Nugent
iii. 14251 Fruitvale Avenue (“Novakovich Ranch”) A second letter was sent to the
owner by Chair Nugent.
iv. 14519 Big Basin Way (“Green Store Building”). No update
v. 14413-14415 Big Basin Way Kerr Building/Hogg Building. Commissioner Shah
will meet the owner on Saturday.
vi. 14495 Big Basin Way (“Hutchinson Building”). Commissioner Shah contacted the
owner in person. The owner has not yet accepted the nomination.
vii. 14754 Pierce Road (“Paul Masson Lodge”) – Commissioner Stansky and staff has
provided the owner with more information. She is still considering the nomination.
viii. Other properties to be nominated for Landmark status – to be assigned and brought
back to the HPC for consideration at a future agendized meeting.
e. Big Basin Way workplan. Commissioner Conrado will contact Archives and
Architecture about setting up a historic architecture tour of the Village.
4. Action Items for Discussion / Update (No staff memo):
a. Old Grandview Ranch - Chair Nugent has copies of memoirs from Pike’s daughter.
Commissioner Stansky has contact information for the owner in order to set up a site
visit.
b. John Henry House update – Staff to provide an update, as applicable.
5. Commissioner Comments
a. The Trust lists “distinctive destinations” on their website.
6. Adjournment
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