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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-10-2009 HPC Minutes City of Saratoga H ERITAGE P RESERVATION C OMMISSION MINUTES Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 8:30 a.m. Place: Regular Meeting – Please meet in the parking lot in front of the Warner Hutton House at 8:30 a.m. and Staff will provide transportation to the site visit under New Business and return to Warner Hutton House by 9:15 a.m. 1. Routine Organization A. Roll Call PRESENT - Commissioners Conrado, Koepernik, McCarty, Tai, Vice Chair Marra, and Chair Kellond STAFF – Senior Planner Christopher Riordan, Assistant Planner Michael Fossati GUESTS – Ms. Joan Gomersall, Mr. Salim Sagarchi, Mr. Lon Saavedra B. Approval of minutes from January 13, 2009 meeting. - Approved C. Posting of Agenda – Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda was posted on February 5, 2009. – Senior Planner Christopher Riordan announced this item. D. Oral & Written Communication - Any member of the public may address the Commission about any matter not on the agenda for this meeting for up to three minutes. Commissioners may not comment on the matter but may choose to place the topic on a future agenda. – Commissioner Koepernik asked about the State historic conference and Senior Planner Christopher Riordan stated he would forward the information. E. Oral Communications –Instruction to staff regarding actions on current Oral Co mmunications. 2. Old Business A. Discuss National Registry & Saratoga Landmark Plaques. 3. New Business A. 8:30 a.m. Site Visit – 13991 Saratoga Avenue (Meason House) – Review of a request by Salim Sagarchi for a new fence and entry gates, new roof, and new paint colors. The property is located on the Heritage Resources Inventory and is commonly known as the Meason House. The site is located on a designated Heritage Lane. – Site visit completed. Item discussed. Mr. Sagarchi said that his residence and the adjacent residence had one address as 13991 Saratoga Avenue since two houses were built on the same lot; he recently processed a certificate of compliance application to create two individual lots; he stated the recently had surgery which caused a processing delay of the application; he had worked on several other historic homes in the City; was not told that the property was located on a heritage lane when he had first come to the City to inquire about building a fence and that the wood fence is just depicting the height of the proposed wrought iron fence. Vice Chair Marra asked if the drawing would apply to both entrances and Mr. Sagarchi replied that it would. Commissioner Koepernik said that something had to be done with the existing fence and that the proposed design does not match the style of the existing residence and that wood picket fences are common on the street and that the proposed fence would not be appropriate and it should be removed and that a wood picket fence to blend with the surrounding fences should be installed. Commissioner Conrado asked what the applicant would do it the Commission was to deny the fence and Senior Planner Christopher Riordan said that the applicant could appeal the decision to City Council. Chair Kellond said that the proposed fence design was not consistent with either home and not consistent with the Heritage Lane or the architecture of the home and that there was no similar example of the fence on the street and cannot support design of fence but could support all of the proposed changes and color of the new house could be supported. Commissioner Conrado said that it was unfortunate that the fence was partially constructed; there were a lot of stone fences on the street; and he could not support the fence design since it is not consistent with other fences on the Heritage Lane. Mr. Sagarchi said that he can do the whole fence as stucco with no wrought iron. Commissioner Conrado said that rock fences are expensive. Commissioner Tai said that the fence does not match the design of the house and could not support it. Vice Chair Marra said the fence was inconsistent with the architecture of both homes and that he could not support the design. Commissioner McCarty said that she was concerned that the fence had already been partially erected and that it was so far along. Mr. Sagarchi said that he did not know that the property was on a Heritage Lane and would like to modify the fence without tearing it down. Chair Kellond said that to get fence ideas that it would be a good idea to the existing fences along the Heritage Lane. Motion by Commissioner Conrado and seconded by Commissioner Tai to approve the proposed new roof shingles and paint color. Motion carried on a 6-0 vote. Motion by Commissioner Conrado and seconded by Vice Chair Marra to deny without prejudice the proposed fence design for 13991 Saratoga Avenue. Motion carried on a 6-0 vote. B. 21000 Big Basin Way (Hakone Gardens) – Review application by Lon Saavedra of the Hakone Foundation to designate Hakone Gardens as a Saratoga Landmark. – Item discussed. Mr. Saavedra described Hakone Gardens and that it had received recognition from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2004, the site was used during the filming of Memoir’s of a Geisha which won an academy award and which had put Hakone on the map; landmark status was needed from the City to qualify for grant money from the County of Santa Clara, in the lease agreement with the City, Hakone received approval to mobilize funds to update six buildings and that $120,000 reimbursement grant is needed from County of Santa Clara to repay contractors. Motion by Vice Chair Marra and seconded by Commissioner Conrado to recommend that the City Council designate Hakone Gardens as a Historical Landmark. Motion carried on a 6-0 vote. C. Discuss appointment of new Chair and Vice Chair for 2009. Item discussed. Commissioner Koepernik suggested that Chair Kellond and Vice Chair Marra be reelected as Chair and Vice Chair. Commissioner Conrado said that the positions should be passed around the Commission so that everybody gets the opportunity to be Vice Chair and Chair. Chair Kellond said that he would like somebody else to do it. Commissioner Conrado said that the Peter should become the Chair and that a new Vice Chair should be chosen. Vice Chair Marra said that Joan Gomersall could be Vice Chair but was reminded that Joan Gomersall had not yet been appointed to the Commission. Motion by Commissioner Koepernik and seconded by Commissioner Conrado to elect Peter Marra as Chair and Rita McCarty as Vice Chair. Motion carried on a 6-0 vote. 4. Pending Items A. Update the Heritage Resources Inventory List – Not Discussed B. National Register Applications – Not Discussed 5. Adjournment Adjourn to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2009, Warner Hutton House, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue.