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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-11-2007 HPC Minutes City of Saratoga H ERITAGE P RESERVATION C OMMISSION MINUTES Date: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 8:30 a.m. Place: Planning Conference Room , 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Type: 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 the Planning Conference Room by 9:00 A.M. 1. Routine Organization A. Roll Call PRESENT: Commissioners Gomersall, Louden, McCarty, Marra, Chair Koepernik, and Vice Chair Kellond GUESTS: Mr. Mike Tinsley, Ms. Hong Tai STAFF: Senior Planner Chris Riordan, Associate Engineer Iveta Harvancik B. Approval of minutes from August 14, 2007 meeting – Approved C. Posting of Agenda – Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda was posted on September 6, 2007 D. Oral & Written Communication - Any member of the public may address the Commission about any matter not E. Oral Communications – Historic Preservation Commission direction to Staff – Instruction to staff regarding actions on current Oral Communications. 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 - None Senior Planner Chris Riordan discussed an opportunity, that had been presented in writing by Ms. April Halberstadt, for some students at San Jose State University to conduct a current photo inventory of buildings in the Village and that she would like the HPC to coordinate with the students. Commissioners Marra and Louden volunteered to be coordinators and to come up with a plan. Senior Planner Chris Riordan stated that he would provide the HPC contact information to Ms. April Halberstadt. 2. Old Business A. Discuss National Registry & Saratoga Landmark Plaques – Item discussed. Chair Koepernik stated that he still needs to meet with Senior Planner Chris Riordan to discuss plaque presentation, he would be contacting the Saratoga News, and that it would be a good idea if the plaques were presented one at a time at consecutive Council meetings to enhance the awareness of the HPC and historical preservation. Vice Chair Kellond stated that the presentation by the HPC should be a standing item on the Council agendas B. Discuss Heritage Orchard Signage – Item discussed. Chair Koepernik stated that the HPC has to push the City harder for money for an orchard sign and that the HPC should have a joint meeting with the Council to discuss the orchard sign. Vice Chair Kellond stated that the HPC should present to the council the idea of the orchard sign as an important first step of things we want to accomplish for it as a historical resource. Commissioner Marra stated that we need a long term plan for the use of the orchard. Vice Chair Kellond stated that the HPC will let the council know that we have considered alternative ideas, but feel that the one we will present is the best. Commissioner Marra stated that he would like to designate the orchard as a historical site. C. Discuss Historic Incentives – Item discussed. Chair Koepernik suggested that possible incentives could be reduced or waived permit fees or fast-tracking of the application. He also said that a list of contractors and architects could be provided to an applicant and that there is an opportunity to obtain landmark status which could result in a plaque being awarded and pride of ownership. Vice Chair agreed that an incentive could be an expedited review process, relief from strict zoning standards, recognition, and community pride. He also said that he has information form other cities that he would bring to a future meeting. Chair Koepernik stated that he did not want to discuss incentives at the future city council study session and would like to limit that discussion to the orchard D. Discuss Mustard Walk – Item discussed. Chair Koepernik stated that he had been discussing the mustard walk with Beaverton. Commissioner Louden stated that a chairperson for the mustard walk had to be selected by October. E. Discuss Sign for McWilliams House – Not discussed F. Discuss Orchard Pathway – Iveta described the location and presented a overhead photo of the orchard and proposed pathway to the HPC. Iveta said that the surface of the pathway will be compacted dirt and that construction of the path would require brush clearing and branch trimming. Chair Koepernik suggested that at certain places along the path where it curves into the orchard that might be an opportunity to build bridges parallel to the creek that would straighten out the path and make it easier on the farmer. Iveta responded that they were not considering bridging portions of the path but that it was possible to reduce the width of the path in some areas. Vice Chair Kellond stated that he had been under the assumption that the path was to travel west through the orchard. Chiar Koepernik replied that a path through the orchard would get damaged when the orchard is plowed and that he had heard from Matt that the current path compacts the soil and people walking on the path have damaged sprinklers. Commissioner Marra stated that people should get a feel of the orchard without damaging it and that he would like to see an educational building on the site to teach people about orchards and prior farming techniques. Vice Chair Kellond stated that he would be interested in a historical looking barn constructed on the site that would include farming implements and photographs. Chair Koepernik stated that he would like to see identification placards placed on the path. Vice Chair Kellond asked Iveta if the budget included signage and Iveta responded that the budget did not include signage. Chair Koepernik said that the signs could have historic tree references and that he likes the ideas of having signs along the path and that signs should be placed at the beginning of the path and along it. Iveta responded that there may be money left in the budget to install a few signs and tree identifiers. Chair Koepernik stated that the identification sign could be like the signs that are found in plant nurseries. Vice Chair Kellond stated that he felt that the path should go though the orchard along the maintenance road and not along the edge by the parking lot. Chair Koepernik asked Iveta what the time frame for construction was and she responded that it was to be done before winter. Chair Koepernik stated that he found the path acceptable but that he would like to see the money spent on the orchard sign. Commissioner Gommersall stated that she would like to see the path go down the maintenance road and that she preferred that the money be spent on the orchard sign instead of the path. Commissioner McCarty stated that she worried about the safety along the creek and is aware that a path through the orchard could damage the roots of the trees and that she would prefer that the money be spent on the orchard sign. Commissioner Louden stated that he too would prefer the sign and that he would like the path to go down the maintenance road. Commissioner Marra stated that the path could just travel down the creek and than stop without having to go along the parking lot. Senior Planner Chris Riordan reminded the board that the path was to be part of the cities trail network. G. Discuss Orchard Maintenance – Not discussed 3. New Business A. 8:35 A.M. Site Visit – 15235 Belle court Avenue – Determination of the historical significance of the residence. Site visit completed with architect (Mike Tinsley) present. Item discussed. Mike Tinsley stated that the future project would have a great room that faces the backyard, that the home would probably be two stories, and that there were at the present time no concrete ideas with respect to the design of the project. Commissioner Marra stated that he thought that the historical report had been well done and that the house had undergone many modifications was in a developed neighborhood, there was no reason to keep the structure, and not recommend that it be on the historical list. Commissioner Louden agreed with Commissioner Marra that the house should not be on the historic inventory. Commissioner McCarty stated that the applicant could move forward with their project but stated that all of the home demolitions were sacrificing the original Saratoga feeling of these neighborhoods. Vice Chair Kellond stated that he was in agreement that the home had undergone some bad additions but that the front of the home still had its original charm. Chair Koepernik disagreed and stated that the original home underneath the additions has good symmetry, that the design of he house is the original craftsman bungalow, and that the bad additions are correctable since there are no existing plans for the structure, does not want to knock down all old houses, the lot is big enough for a good addition to the home, the house is significant to it architecture style of the period when it was constructed. Commissioner Louden stated that it is possible to preserve and enhance the original design though an addition. Chair Koepernik stated that the criteria of historical significance was that the house embodies the style of the homes of the period when it was constructed (Criteria C), it is representative of the notable design (Criteria D), and could also be Criteria E. Commissioner Marra stated that a finding of historical significance would probably be appealed and the decision would not stand. Motion to approve by Commissioner Marra and seconded by Vice Chair Kellond and carried by a 4-2 vote. 4. Pending Items A. Historic Resources Inventory B. McWilliams House Renovation C. National Register Applications D. Adopt a Tree Program for the Heritage Orchard E. Update Heritage Ordinance F. Review Oak Street as a Heritage Lane G. Review additional content for Heritage Resources webpage H. Historic Preservation Data Base I. Review list of properties with structures 50 years and over in age 5. Adjournment Adjourn to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 9, 2007, Planning Conference Room, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue.