HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-13-18 HPC Final Minutes
City of Saratoga
H ERITAGE P RESERVATION C OMMISSION
FINAL MINUTES
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Date: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 / 8:30 A.M.
Type: Regular Meeting
Place: City Hall /Administrative Conference Room - 13777 Fruitvale Avenue
1. Site Visit:
a. 14005 Saratoga Avenue – Addition to an existing residence on Heritage Lane
2. Roll Call:
Present: Stransky, Marchetti, Rodgers, Nugent,
Absent: Cappello (excused), Shah (excused)
Staff: Johnson, Baily
3. Oral Communications:
None
4. Approval of minutes from February 13, 2018 meeting.
Continued to the next meeting as it was questioned if they had a quorum to approve the
minutes.
5. New Business:
a. 14500 Saratoga Ave (addition)
The Commission considered a request for an addition and elevation modifications of a
single family residence located on a heritage lane. Marchetti\Stransky moved to
determine that the proposed addition will not have a significant impact on the historic
character of the Heritage Lane and is consistent with the purposes and objectives of
Chapter 13 of Saratoga’s Municipal Code. Motion passed. Ayes: Marchetti, Stransky,
Nugent, and Rodgers. Noes: None. Absent: Cappello and Shah. Abstain: None.
b. Volunteer commission member to act as secretary to assist with more detailed
notes/minutes
The Commission discussed the possibility of having a commission member take detailed
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notes of the meetings as the summary minutes provided no details of their discussions or
actions. The Commission also questioned if they could receive the draft minutes earlier
for their review. Staff raised concerns about ensuring the accuracy of the notes since they
would not be reviewed and acted upon. Staff will provide more details in future minutes
and will discuss further with the Commission. Marchetti suggested that the Commission
should call attention to the minute taker if there was something specific during an item
discussion which should be included in the minutes.
c. Guidelines for projects along Heritage Lanes (create sub-committee for discussion in
April)
Stransky discussed creating a subcommittee to make recommendations regarding what is
the purview of the HPC for reviewing non-historic projects on a Heritage Lane. Rodgers
and Nugent volunteered to be on the subcommittee. Item continued to the next meeting to
get input from the Commissioners prior to the subcommittee meeting.
d. Saratoga Creek Bridge (Long Bridge)
Stransky reported to the Commission that the Long Bridge, which is located in the
County, is in danger of being taken down. Caltrans has prepared a DEIR regarding the
bridge and comments for the DEIR are due March 29, 2018. It was anticipated that the
County Historical Heritage Commission is opposed to losing the bridge. Direction from
staff was that since the bridge is in the County, comments could not come from HPC but
the commissioners could provide comments as individual members of the public. The
Commission requested staff to obtain additional directions regarding this matter as the
Commission felt that they should be taking an active role in supporting the County on
this matter.
e. Work plan format discussion
The Commission commented that the work plan excel sheet hasn’t been updated correctly
and is not organized well. Staff will review and modify the format and update the
document. Items discussed to be added to the work plan included the outcome from the
joint meeting with the City Council which included input on the history of the utility box
painting and adding the trees along Quito Rd/Marshall Lane to the heritage tree
inventory. The Commission determined that the item regarding mapping the existing tree
plaques was not the role of the HPC as the trees are not heritage trees and those plaques
are handled through the Public Works Dept. Suggested that the trees on Saratoga-
Sunnyvale Road, near the Saratoga High School Theater, may be candidates for the
Heritage Tree Inventory.
4. Staff Comments:
a. Johnson requested the Commission to look at a barn on Marion Lane and to report
back to her by March 16, 2018 if they felt the barn had any historic merit.
5. Old Business:
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a. Planting Trees and Tree Map (Shah)
Continued to next meeting.
b. Webpage
Johnson informed the Commission that any comments regarding the Webpage should
now go through her.
c. DPR research status by Commission and other tasks (Workplan).
Commissioners provided an update regarding the status of their work items which will be
noted in the updated workplan.
d. Events/Calendar: Blossom Festival (March 24), State of the City (April 28), Arbor Day
(April 27), Preservation Month (May), Funding. (Stransky)
The events were discussed and the Commissioners will present at the next meeting what
they are working on for these events.
6. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned.