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Home My WebLink About06-13-2000 HPC Minutes City of Saratoga HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES Date: Tuesday, June 1 $, 2000, 9:15 a.m. Place: warner Hutton House, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Type: Regular Meeting I. Routine Organization A. Roll Call Present: Peck, Wyman, King, Hunter and Koepernik Absent: Anderson, Peepari, Staff: Erik Pearson, Assistant Planner Guests: Mary Ann McEwan B. Approval of minutes from 5/9/00 The minutes were approved 5-0 C. Posting of the Agenda Pursuant to Government Code Section 94954.2, the agenda was posted on Thursday June 8, 2000 D. Oral Communications None. E. Written Communications Commissioner Koepernik presented a letter dated June 10, 2000 from Matt Novakovich regarding the Heritage Orchard. Tree counts and a maintenance schedule are attached to the letter. II. Old Business A. Status of application for a state "Point of Interest" for the Heritage Orchard Council member Ann Waltonsmith joined the meeting. Commissioner Nancy Anderson joined the meeting. Commissioner Wyman handed out the historical description of the Heritage Orchard to be used in the application for the Point of Interest. Planner Pearson agreed to share the description with Community Development Director Walgren to check for accuracy. Commissioner Wyman moved that the Commission vote to forward the application to the City Council for their endorsement. Commissioner Koepernik seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously (6 - 0). B. 20251 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road (File No. SD-00~002)~ Arborist Report The Commission reviewed the report and Planner Pearson explained the Design Review process and how the Arborist's recommendations would be carried out and enforced. C. Release of railroad right-of-way to City: no date has been set Council member Waltonsmith mentioned that the City Council has talked to State Senator Byron Sher about acquiring the right-of-way and that discussions have been positive and encouraging. Cupertino apparently has plans to turn the portion of the right-of-way within Cupertino into a park and a trolley route. D. Historical narrative of the Old Grandview Ranch. Nancy Anderson agreed to give a copy to the Saratoga Museum. E. Approved minutes of the 5/I/00 meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Commissioner Peck introduced Mack and Jean Barrack as they joined the meeting. They expressed their support for the Heritage Orchard. The Commission recognized that parents are concerned as they look for new playfields for their children. Commissioner Hunter mentioned that she didn't know how much more of the orchard would be lost when the library expands. Mack Barrack noted that we need to educate the public about the Heritage Orchard. Jean Barrack mentioned that she found information on the City of Sunnyvale's orchard on the internet. Mack Barrack commented that we need to continue to show up at the City Council meetings to speak during open communications to keep the issue fresh in people's minds. Commissioner Anderson stated that she didn't think the postcard survey being conducted by the City was going to provide valid information. Council member Waltonsmith responded that the survey was intended to be informal and that it is an alternative to spending money on a professional survey. The professional survey could still be done in the future. Commissioner Wyman mentioned that the new library could include displays about the history of the orchard. Commissioner Hunter commented that the Commission should write a letter to the Saratoga News and continue speaking at City Council meetings. We need to be visible. Commissioner Wyman moved that the Commission vote to write a letter to the Saratoga News and read the letter at a City Council meeting. Commissioner King seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously (6 - 0). Commissioner Koepernik volunteered to write the letter. Commissioner Anderson, Mary Ann McEwan, and Jean and Mack Barrack left the meeting. III. A. 14413 Big Basin Way - Changes to the Kerr/Hogg building faqade. Commissioner Wyman moved and Commissioner King seconded that the Commission vote to approve the changes as proposed. Motion passed unanimously (5-0). The Commission noted that if building owner Michelle __., wanted to make similar changes to the adjacent space, the Commission could hold a special meeting when plans are submitted. B. 20251 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road (File No. SD-00-002) - Designate accessory house as a Heritage Resource? The Commission decided not to require designation of the accessory residence due to its age and lack of distinctive architecture. Commissioner Wyman moved and Commissioner Hunter seconded that the Commission vote to require the applicant apply to have the main house listed on the Heritage Resource Inventory. Motion passed unanimously. (5 - 0) Planning staff will require the applicant to provide historical information about the house. Council member Waltonsmith left the meeting. C. Austin Way - designation as a Heritage Lane Planner Pearson explained that Mr. Keeble still needs to gather four more signatures in order to complete the application. Commissioner Wyman moved and Commissioner King seconded that the Commission vote to recommend to the Planning Commission that the application be approved (assuming the remaining signatures are obtained). Motion passed unanimously (5 - 0). IV. Items Initiated by the Commission A. Discussion of Mils Act Dave Turner at the County Assessor's office is responsible for handling Mills Act contracts. Planner Pearson agreed to contact other cities to get examples of ordinances that have been adopted to implement the Mills Act. New Commissioner orientation The Commission approved of the memo dated June 1 $, 2000 outlining the materials that should be given to new members. Commissioner Hunter mentioned that she wants the Commission to have a mission statement. She will look through the Heritage Preservation ordinance and Commissioner handbook. V. Items Initiated by the Secretary A. Meeting in July will be held in the Planning Conference room. B. Joint meeting with City Council on July 11, 2000 The Commission decided to discuss funding for individual memberships to historic preservation organizations, subscriptions to newsletters and training workshops. VI. Adjournment 9:00 a.m. Tuesday July 11, 2000 - Planning Conference Room Respectfully Submitted by, Erik J. Person, Hpc S~creta~ lune 10, 2000 The follow~ng ks a count of trees at The Heritage Orchard. It goes by thc tree canopy. A full canopy is a rrmtur~ full producing tree. Young tr~¢s are counted as seven (?) years or younger and are not considered a producer until they are eight (8) years or older. There are currentlY 382, producing apricot u'ees. 168 are seven (7) years or under and will be producing i~ the next few years. There are 200 dead or m~ssing that if replaced will bring the total number of apricot trees to 750. The cherries are new. There are 314 under the age of 7 years old and 61 that need to be replaced to give the total number of cherries to 375. There are currently 160 prune trees under production and 105 young trees (under seven years old) and will be producing in the next few years. There is also 3,~ dead or missing trees, if.replaced will brhag the total number of prune trees to 299. There arc 25 apricot and 4~ prune trees that are a quarter of a tree and only produce a quarter of what a full canopy of a tree would produce and therefore, could be replaced down the mad. Overall, ~s is a young orchard and has not come under full production, yet. Thc total 1 129 trees If replacements of the number of trees that occupy this orchard cun'ently is t~es to 1 '~24 at this orchard. The dead trees are made it will bring the total number of following is a list of the tree counts Listed as one quarter (1/4), one half (I/I,), three quarter (3/4), full canopy, young trees, and dead trees. The following is a list of the work ~hat is done from month to month: · Pruning Dormant spray, if neces.mry · Gopher abatement , Fungicide spray · Pruning · Gopher abatement · Fungicide spray, if necessary · Pruning Picking brush · Mowing · Buck Brush , Discing Gopher abatement . Spray run,cid,, if necessary Spray deer repellent , Pruning Pick brusl~ · Buck brush Burn brush e Di~ing · Gopher ~l:~temcnt · Leaf sprays Irrigation · Thinning, if necessary · Irrigation · Gopher abatement o Deea're~llent Gopher abatement Irrigation Discing Rolling · Propping, if necessary Harvest Gopher abatement · Deer repellent · irrigation, if necessary · Deer repellent · Gopher abatement · Irrigation · Fer6_'li?~r Pick-up props · Pra~ng · Disciag · Buck limbs out · Deer repellent Geph~c a 'bat,meat · Pruning Lrdgation, if necessary · Disc · Deer repellent · Goph~r abat~ncnt Priming · Pruning · Gopher abatement · Do~__n~ spray · Discing Pruaing · Gopher a 'batement Dormant spray F~ECEIVED JUN 0 6 ZOO0 Paul and Dorothy Bowlin 20136 Pierce Road ~PLANNING DEPT. Saratoga, CA 95070 June 4, 2000 Saratoga Planning Commission 13777 Fruitvale Ave. Saratoga, CA 95070 Dear Commission Members: We wish to express our very strong feelings of support FOR PRESERVING THE HERITAGE ORCHARD, adjacent to our Saratoga Library! We feel that children and adults benefit from the environment of trees -- emotionally, historically, and healthfully. We hope that space can be found for organized sports, perhaps on a school field, or in an existing park, or on donated or purchased land. All of us would be losers if the Orchard is confiscated from the people! Sincerely,