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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-13-2007 HPC Minutes City of Saratoga H ERITAGE P RESERVATION C OMMISSION MINUTES Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 8:30 a.m. Place: Warner Hutton House, 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 visits under New Business and return to Warner Hutton House by 9:20 a.m. 1. Routine Organization A. Roll Call PRESENT: Commissioners Gomersall, Louden, McCarty, Marra, Tai, Chair Koepernik, and Vice Chair Kellond ABSENT: None STAFF: Senior Planner Chris Riordan, Assistant Planner Suzanne Thomas, Associate Engineer Iveta Harvancik GUEST: Pamela Parker, Jitka Cymbal B. Approval of minutes from October 9, 2007 meeting - Approved C. Posting of Agenda – Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda was posted on November 8, 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. - None 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 2. Old Business A. Discuss National Registry & Saratoga Landmark Plaques - Item discussed. Chair Koepernik reported to the Commission that the plaques had started to be presented and reminded Commissioner Louden to get a picture of the plaques with recipients while they are being presented. B. Discuss Heritage Orchard Signage – Chair Koepernik stated that the City Council was receptive to the design of the Orchard Sign and that the next step was that it was to be reviewed by the Library Commission. Chair Koepernik stated the importance of getting samples of the stone and the letters for the upcoming meetings with the Library Commission as well as the City Council. Vice Chair Kellond stated that he would contact the Montalvo- Monte Sereno Foundation for possible available funds to help offset the cost of installing the sign. C. Discuss Historic Incentives – Not discussed. D. Discuss Mustard Walk – Vice Chair Kellond stated that it was important to establish a name for the event. Commissioner McCarty stated that the word “walk” suggested that the event featured an organized group walk. Commissioner Louden suggested that the best name for the event should be Mustard Festival. Chair Koepernik said that one of his goals was to some day have the event associated with an organized walk or run and that he was agreeable to calling it the Mustard Festival for the time being. Vice Chair Kellond suggested that the event could be called the Heritage Orchard Festival. Chair Koepernik suggested that the Commission should think of new names for the event and that he was agreeable to using the word Festival for now. Vice Chair Kellond reported that he had spoken to a representative at Pelican Signs for the construction of Parking Signs and that a two color sign of both yellow and black would cost between $35-45 each and that it was important for both himself and Commissioner Marra to pay a visit to the sign shop. Chair Koepernik stated the importance of meeting with Nancy Anderson (Festival Organizer). Commissioner Tai said that it was too late to organize an art competition for this year and that she would try again for next year but that she would like to have a booth that provided a link to the Chinese New Year that would feature Chinese crafts and art. Chair Koepernik reminded the Commission that there has to be a back up plan in case it rains the day of the event. E. Discuss Sign for McWilliams House – Not discussed. F. Discuss Orchard Pathway – Item discussed. Associate Engineers Harvancik reported to the Commission that Public Works had received three proposals for the construction of the Orchard Pathways and that the path would include the use of “bender board” that would help define the path and which would not be in impact to Matt Ivancovich. Commissioner Gommersall asked if the paths would become muddy when it rains and Associate Engineer Harvancik said that they would. Vice Chair suggested that Matt Ivancovich should be asked whether he would like to construct the paths since he is the contractor for the orchard. Motion by Vice Chair Kellond and Seconded by Commissioner Gommersall that Matt Ivancovich should be contacted to determine if he is interested in constructing the paths G. Discuss Orchard Maintenance – Item discussed. 3. New Business A. 8:30 a.m. Site Visit – 15400 Fruitvale Avenue (Saratoga Retirement Community) – Review proposed extension of the existing covered walkway. Site visit completed with representative from Saratoga Retirement Community present. Motion to approve by Commissioner Louden and seconded by Commissioner McCarty and carried by a 7-0 vote. B. 8:50 a.m. Site Visit – 19161 Cox Avenue – Review proposed subdivision of the property which contains a structure with a Craftsman architectural style that is on the Historic Resources Inventory – Site visit completed with applicant (Ms. Pamela Parker) and Civil Engineer (Jitka Cymbal) present. Item discussed. Commissioner McCarty inquired of the status of the existing house on the property. Ms. Parker replied that it would be difficult to tear down the existing house and that their desire would be to renovate the structure. Ms. Parker also stated that the property with the house on it would eventually be sold and that it would be up to the future new owner to renovate the house. Commissioner Marra stated that the adjoining property was not historically significant but that the house was historic. Motion to approve by Commissioner Marra with the comments that the existing house is historic and a value to the City, it is associated with an original pioneering family and residents of Saratoga and that the adjacent property with the orchard should not be deemed historic. Vice Chair added that the property exemplifies Historic Criteria #’s A, B, C, & G, the house will remain on the list of historic properties and that splitting the lot is not significant. Chair Koepernik asked if the house had a landmark status and if it did it would be eligible for the Mills Act. Commissioner Gommersall responded that the house was just on the Inventory. Chair Koepernik stated that the house should have a landmark status and obtaining such a designation should be pursued and directed Senior Planner Chris Riordan to research the issue and report back to the Commission with his findings. Motion Seconded by Commissioner Gommersall and carried on a 7-0 vote. 4. Pending Items A. Historic Resources Inventory – Not Discussed B. McWilliams House Renovation – Not Discussed C. National Register Applications – Not Discussed D. Adopt a Tree Program for the Heritage Orchard E. Update Heritage Ordinance – Not Discussed F. Review Oak Street as a Heritage Lane – Commissioner Kellond discussed an email received from Kathleen Casey that concerned designating Oak Street as a Heritage Lane. The Commission discussed the potential designation and said that there was an issue with getting the school involved and with the collection of signatures. Commissioner Marra stated that somebody has to talk to the school and he volunteered to do so. Chair Koepernik said that the information has to be better organized and that there needs to be a packet from property owners before the item can be brought to the City Council. Vice Chair Kellond stated that the property owners are the ones that drive the process. Chair Koepernik concluded the discussion by saying that signatures from property owners will be needed to move the project forward and reiterated that a member of the HPC would talk to the school. G. Review additional content for Heritage Resources webpage – Not Discussed H. Historic Preservation Data Base – Not Discussed I. Review list of properties with structures 50 years and over in age – Not Discussed 5. Adjournment Adjourn to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 11, 2007, Warner Hutton House, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue.