HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-11-2000 HPC Minutes City of Saratoga
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
Date: Tuesday, July I 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, Koepernik, Peepari
Absent: Anderson
Staff.' Erik Pearson, Assistant Planner
Guests: Ann Waltonsmith, Council member, Jean and Mac Barrick
B. Approval of minutes from t3/13/00
The minutes were approved 5-0
C. Posting of the Agenda
Pursuant to Government Code Section 94954.2, the agenda was posted on Thursday July 13, 2000
D. Oral Communications
None.
E. Written Communications
Jean Barrick presented a complete report of the City's survey regarding future uses of the orchard and a
folder containing 100 letters from citizens in support of preserving the orchard. Jean noted that Nick
Seroff of the Parks and Recreation Commission still wants a more formal survey completed, but that the.
Commission recently voted down the idea.
Council member Waltonsmith explained that City Council has decided not to pursue recreation, fields for
now, but that they still need to vote on it.
Commissioner Koepernik suggested that the Heritage Preservation Commission take control of the
Heritage Orchard and be the official administrative body for the orchard.
Mac Barrick asked if the orchard is currently under control of Parks and Recreation Commission.
II. Old Business
A. Status of Application for a state "Point of Interest" for the Heritage Orchard
Council member Waltonsmith asked for definition of "Point of Interest"
Commissioner Wyman agreed to bring the information to tonight's joint meeting with the City Council.
Jean and Mac Barrick left meeting.
B. Discussion of Mills Act
Commissioner Koepernik talked to Eugene Itogawa of the State Office of Historic Preservation and
received a copy of a sample ordinance.
Commissioner Wyman suggested the City doesn't need an ordinance, but that contracts could be made
simple and that a standard form would save staff costs and time. She noted that the City of San Jose,
charges $200 to apply for a contract.
Commissioner Koepernik suggested the City should make it a free application to encourage
participation.
Planner Pearson noted that the City would keep an inventory of properties with contracts for the
purposes of monitoring and enforcement.
III. A. 14221 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road - SD-00-003 (four lot subdivision containing the B. Grant
Taylor House)
Commissioner Peck noted that Richard Nixon stayed at the house while on a school choir trip in 1933 and that
there is a letter written by Nixon thanking the owners for his stay.
Commissioner Koepernik recommended City staff should keep close a close watch on construction and inform
the applicant of the state Historical Building Code.
Commissioner Peepari moved that the Commission make a condition of approval that the house be designated
a landmark structure.
Commissioner Peck moved that the Commission approve the restoration and relocation of the house (using the
Historical Building Code) and make it a landmark structure.
Commissioner Hunter asked what if house turns out to be in worse shape than previously thought and it ends
up having to be rebuilt?
Commissioner Koepernik stated we need a copy of the photo documentation of entire house (inside and
outside) prior to construction.
Commissioner Peepari noted the Commission need to be more restrictive in what it allows for historic
structures in general.
Commissioner Koepernik added to Commissioner Peck's motion that for each step of the way (lifting house,
moving it, etc.)., two HPC members be present to monitor work. He noted a requirement should be that the
Commission be notified of the construction schedule and be called at key steps and that photographs of the
work be required. Commissioner Koepernik also suggested that any material needing replacing shall be done
with same material per the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. This requires the Building
Inspectors to be aware of the historical significance of the structure.
Bob seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously ¢ - O.
Commissioner Wyman suggested that the Commission make the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for
Rehabilitation a standard condition of approval on all future projects.
B. View 11 minute video about Historic Preservation in Tuolunme County
The Commission viewed the video tape.
IV. Items Initiated by the Commission
A. None.
V. Items Initiated by the Secretary
A. Joint meeting with City Council July I 1, 7:00p.m.
The Commission discussed tonight's meeting, education possibilities for the orchard and alternatives for
funding maintenance and enhancement of the orchard.
B. How to purchase plaques for Heritage Resources/Landmarks
Commissioner Koepernik will follow up on finding a company to make the plaques.
VI. Adjournment
9:00 a.m. Tuesday August 8, 2000 - Planning Conference Room
Respectfully Submitted by,
E ' ~ AICP~ HPC Secretary
19907 Bonnie Ridge Way
Saratoga, CA 95070
July 11, 2000
To: Chairman Koepernik and Heritage Preservation Commissioners (HPC)
We appreciate, your position on preservation of our Central Park
Orchard and your wish to submit letters from Saratogans to.the City Council.
We all look to FIPC as our voice at City Council.
We hope you Will con§i~ler sfbmifting to'the-CityTCouri/:il, at your
meeting with them tonight, some or all of the following recommendations--
preferably in writing, so that they will be entered into public record.
(1) Recommend that the Central.Park Orchard no longer be considered as a
site for alternative purposes, such as playing fields or a gym. (At the July 5,
2000 City Council meeting, Mayor Bogosian promised the Azule and Marshall
Lane residents that they will not have to fight again. The Saratoga Treasures
Orchard Preservation (STOP) residents would like the same promiSe.)
(2) Recommend, further, that Council not link the need for sports facilities to
the future of the orchard, but to consider them two distinct issues.
(3) Recommend that the Historical Landmark designation passed by the City
Council in 1984 be modified to cover perpetuity. The need for this action
may, of course, be voided by the success and impact of the Point of Interest
application which we understand you have submitted.'
(4) Recommend that Council be made aware that many of. the 80% who
responded "Yes" to question 3 of the Saratogan survey did so because they
considered it the only alternative available to preserve the orchard. Their
response, therefore, should not be construed as meaning an educational use
of the orchard is preferred or necessary.
We understand, frOm Councilman StreWs comment at the July 5 City
Council meeting, that HPC will be asked to comment on possible uses of the
orchard for educational purposes. We hope you will advise them that further
evaluation of this issue is needed, to include citizen letters now being
submitted. Few respondents supported educational uses of the orchard and
then only grudgingly. We feel it is important not to duplicate the educational
effort of the Orchard Heritage Park Interpretive Exhibit (OPIE) in Sunnyvale.
Thank you for allowing us to address you on this important issue.
Sincerely,
~'/~ ,,,~ Mac and JeanC/Barric k
for STOP