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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-09-2000 HPC Minutes City of Saratoga HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES Date: Tuesday, May 9, 2000, 9:15 a.m. Place: Warner Hutton House, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Type: Regular Meeting I. Routine Organization A. Roll Call Present: Peck, Peepari, Wyman, King, Anderson, Hunter and Koepernik Absent: Staff: Erik Pearson, Assistant Planner Guests: Judy Alberts, Parks and Recreation Commission Chair; Ann Waltonsmith, Council member; Herman Wyrsch, Tom Keeble B. Approval of minutes from 4/11/00 The minutes were approved 7-0 C. Posting of the Agenda Pursuant to Government Code Section 94954.2, the agenda was posted on Thursday May 4, 2000 D. Oral Communications Commissioner Wyman noted that she attended the new orchard dedication in Sunnyvale. Commissioner Koepernik noted that he talked to Matt Novakovich about trees being replaced in the Heritage Orchard. New trees are being planted to replace trees killed by gophers. E. Written Communications None. II. Old Business A. Open space in Saratoga Council member Ann Waltonsmith critiqued the memo written by Erik Pearson, Assistant Planner noting that the amount of open space in Saratoga is debatable. She handed out a letter dated May 6, 2000 responding to Pearson's memo dated May 9, 2000. Waltonsmith stated that the three acres or five acres per 1,000 people is actually based on land that the City owns. Regardless of the actual number of acres, the point we should all realize is that the acreage of open spaces per capita is going down as the population is increasing. B. Heritage Orchard The Commission discussed the idea of the City using a portion of the Heritage Orchard for recreational facilities. Commissioner Hunter commented that the public needs to be educated about the orchard before any polls are taken. Commissioner Koepernik noted that we need to hold demonstration activities to help educate the public. Council member Waltonsmith added that the City Council has the power to make changes to the orchard and will do so if the public wills it. Regarding the current amount of open space, Commissioner Wyman asked how much land is within railroad right-of-ways and PG&E easements and why is this total not counted as open space. Planner Pearson responded that the City does not have that information and that Southern Pacific and PG&E would have to be contacted. Commissioner Koepernik asked why we have not considered the old County quarry at the end of Big Basin Way for relocation of the corporation yard. Planner Pearson stated he would check with Community Development Director James Walgren or the Bicycle Committee about when the railroad right-of-way will be turned over to the City. Tom Keeble and Judy Alberts joined the meeting. C. Plaque policy (Plaque of the Hyde House - 11995 Walbrook Drive) This topic is addressed in item III. C. D. Bellicitti house (see brochure) A copy of the brochure was included in the Commissioners' packets. III. C. Appeal of plaque requirement for St. John's Episcopal Church (14 700 Sixth Stree0 Planner Pearson gave a brief description of the appeal and explained that the HPC was being asked to reconsider the requirement to place a plaque at the site of the church after it is demolished. Appellant Herman Wyrsch explained that a potential buyer of the property backed out of the sale because the plaque would have been against their religious beliefs. Mr. Wyrsch stated that he was personally in favor of the plaque, but would like for it to be optional for a future owner. Commissioner Hunter noted that she was sad to hear that the structure would be demolished and that she does not see the point in having a plaque. (Hunter was not yet a member of the Commission when the vote was taken in April.) Commissioner Peck noted that the only plaque the HPC required was for the old Blossom Festival site. He commented that this is a difficult decision and that he just wants the HPC's requirements to be consistent. Commissioner Koepernik said that the plaque should be required. Commissioner Wyman said that she wants the plaque to be somewhere on the property. Commissioner Anderson moved to require the plaque and deny the appeal. Commissioner Wyman seconded the motion. Motion passed 5 - 1. Hunter opposed and Pepari abstained. We jumped to Item IV. B. so that Commissioner Wyman could leave on time. IV. B. Application for a state "Point of Interest" for the Heritage Orchard Commissioner Wyman presented the application form and agreed to complete and submit the application. Planner Pearson agreed to help complete the application. Commissioner Peck noted that the Heritage Orchard site was originally acquired by the City as a site for the library. Commissioner Peck mentioned that he wrote a letter about the orchard for the City's newsletter and that his letter could be used in the application for the California Point of Interest designation. III. A. 20251 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road (File No. SD-00-002) - demolition of residence Commissioner Koepernik stated that he would like to make it an option to keep the house on proposed Lot 5 and would recommend that it be saved. Commissioner Hunter noted that she thought the house looked older than the applicant had indicated. She also noted that the remodeling that had been done is of poor quality. (During the site visit, the applicant stated that the home was built in 1953.) Commissioner Koepernik acknowledged the house needs a lot of work including a new foundation. He said that it is not that difficult to replace the foundation. Commissioner Peck noted that visibility of the site is limited from Carnelian Glen and that he favors keeping the main house and demolishing the house on proposed Lot 5. Commissioner Koepernik noted that the site has some very fine trees. Discussion ensued about whether to save the house on proposed Lot 5. Planner Pearson noted that a Variance would be necessary in order to keep the house and that staff would recommend approval of the Variance to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Peck moved that the HPC recommend to the Planning Commission that the house on proposed Lot 5 be preserved if possible and to preserve as many mature trees on the site as possible and that the main house should definitely be preserved. Commissioner Hunter seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0. Planner Pearson agreed to bring a copy of the Arborist report, if available, to the next meeting. Commissioner Wyman left the meeting. Commissioner Hunter stated that she would like to know how other cities preserve historic structures. She will do some research and report back to the Commission. D. Austin Way - possible designation as a Heritage Lane Tom Keeble of Austin Way addressed the Commission explaining he would like to see the street surface of Austin Way preserved. The current surface is made of brick but repairs have been made using asphalt. Commissioner Peck commented the last visible street car tracks were paved over on the section of Austin Way in Monte Sereno. Mr. Keeble said that he would collect signatures from the neighbors and the Commission agreed to pursue designation of the road as a Heritage Lane. Commissioner Peck stated that he might be able to put together a history on the road. B. Street name proposal for the Azule Crossing subdivision Commissioner Hunter moved to approve the name Harvest Lane. Approved 6-0. IV. Items Initiated by the Commission A. Discussion of Mills Act was continued to the regular meeting in June. C. Commissioner Hunter noted that she needs a copy of the Heritage Preservation Ordinance. Planner Pearson agreed to put together some materials for Commissioner Hunter. The Commission decided to talk about new Commissioner orientation at the next meeting V. Items Initiated by the Secretary B. Meeting location in July and August. Meetings will be held in the Planning Conference room in July and August. VI. Adjournment 11 :$0 a.m. Tuesday June 15, 2000 ~ Warner Hutton House Respectfully Submitted by, Erik~. Pearson, HPC Secretary -- ~',,,.~