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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-14-1983 HPC Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES DATE: December 14, 1983, 3:30 p.m. PLACE: Community Center Meeting Room, 19655 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga, CA. TYPE: Regular Meeting w~ ROUTINE ORGANIZATION Roll Call Present: Commissioners Cameron, Heid, Henderson, Landsness, Voester and Chairman Mc Arthur. Absent: Commissioner Kvamme MINUTES The reading of the minutes for the meeting of November 16, 1983 was waived and the minutes approved unanimously. I. OLD BUSINESS A. Follow UP on Joint Meeting The Commission discussed their joint meeting with the Historical Foundation and generally felt that the meeting was a success in terms of communication. Chairman Mc Arthur mentioned that a Mr. A.H. Brolly volunteered to take the Commissioners around town to see historic structures he knows of and that he would be a good resource for the Commission. She also said she might be able to use one of the college vans for such a tour. The Commission de~ cided they wanted to follow up on Mr. Brolly's offer. Commissioner Heid felt that the board of the foundation was pleased with the joint meeting. He indicated that Melitta Oden had re- viewed the Commission's inventory and had indicated that several corrections needed to be made. Commissioner Voester mentioned that Mrs. Jorgenson had sent in information on her house to be added to the inventory. Mrs. Jorgenson also volunteered to provide before and after photographs for the home. Commissioner Voester was to give this information Commissioner Kvamme to put into the computer inventory. Commissioner Heid stated that he explained the nature of the inventory to some of the members of the Historical Foundation. Some of these members expressed concern about potential dis- appointment if someone came forward with a request and were not designated as a heritage resource. The Commission felt that the distinction between the inventory and designation as a heritage resource had been made clear. Commissioner Voester indicated Heritage Preser,-~tion Minutes Page 2 12/14/83 that the inventory list should be inclusive rather than exclusive. B. Discussion of Brozda Variance Application Staff briefly explained the Brozda variance application for the barn at the terminus of Third Street and modifications to the exterior of the structure. Potential code problems were also discussed. Chairman Mc Arthur asked if the State Historic Building Code applied in this case. Staff indicated that the City had not yet adopted that code as part of its Uniform Building Code. Discussion then followed on what position the Commission should take on the proposed application. Chairman Mc Arthur felt that a general statement encouraging pre- servation would be appropriate. Commissioner Cameron stated that the Commission should work on getting the State Historic Building Code adopted before trying to promote Heritage Resource designations. Commissioner Heid indicated that the Commission should review the State Historic Building Code then present their review to the City Council for action. ~he Commission agreed with this approach and decided to discuss this at their next meeting. C. Discussi°n °f Genera! Plan andmHe~ita~e Preservation Ordinance The Commission reviewed the relationship between the General Plan and the Heritage Preservation Ordinance, Commissioner Cameron indicated that the General Plan provided a good basis for the Heritage Preservation Ordinance. He looked into the possibility of creating a Historic District overlay zone in the zoning ordinance. This issue was discussed with Commissioner Heid and staff prior to this meeting and it was determined that the existing ordinance gives the Commission all the authority and responsibility it needs to create a Historic District. It also appeared that the City Council would not support a new ordinance without the existing ordinance being tried first. The Commisssion then discussed the need for the first attempt at creating a Historic District to be successful. Commissioner Heid then went through the list and photographs of historic structures on a 1949 landmark inventory when Saratoga became a State Historic Landmark. The Commission discussed starting out in a small area with a cluster of historic buildings. Chairman Mc Arthur briefly described the State's criteria for a historic district and its importance. Fifty-one percent of the structures in the district have to be historic for a distract to qualify for tax benefits. The Commission then discussed a possible list of small areas that might be suitable historic districts and how best to proceed. Chairman Mc Arthur asked if the Commission wanted to discuss potential historic districts at its next meeting. The Commission decided to form a Historic District study group to do research and make suggestions to the whole Commmission. Commissioners Cameron and Heid volunteered to be on this study group. Heritage Preservation ¥ utes Page 3 12/14/83 Discussion then followed on how to proceed to form a district. Chairman Mc Arthur indicated that when the State wishes to form a historic district, ~1 dissenters of that action must send a notorized letter opposing the district. The Commission also discussed meeting with the residents of a potential Historic District to determine their support for such a district. Commissioner Heid felt the Commission needed to get something now in terms of a Heritage Resource designation and then try to set up a Historic District. He volunteered to work on the appli- cations for Montalvo and Saratoga School on Oak Street. Commissioner Landsness mentioned that the Foothill Club was applying to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. Chairman Mc Arthur suggested that a general letter be drafted to ask potential applicants to consider filling out a heritage designation application. A draft application partially filled out could also be sent to the applicant. Also, a Commissioner was needed as a contact person and coordinator of the designation process. Commissioner Henderson was appointed as Designation Coordinator. Staff suggested that the Commission do a trial run first with a City intiated application before asking private individuals to apply. Commissioner Cameron recommended that a timeline describing the application process should be created to aid potential applicants. IIi~ NEW BUSINESS A. Certification of Ordinance and Potential Tax Incentives Staff indicated that the City's Heritage Preservation Ordinance had been certified by the Department of the Interior. Commissioner Mc Arthur handed out some information on the tax incentives associated with historic districts once they have been identified by the designating body. Commissioner Landsness said thattherewasa difference between rehabilitation and restoration as defined in tax law. A 25% tax credit is available for work done on historic commercial structures. Commissioner Heid indicated that the tax credit didnot apply to structures owned and ~occupied as single family dwellings. Chairman Mc Arthur said she would find out if there were tax incentives for single-family dwellings. Commissioner Henderson stated that one of the problems the Commission has is that it does not have a simple answer for people who ask what incentives apply. The tax incentive materials should be read and distilled to find the core of these incentives. Chairman Mc Arthur then briefly explained the certification process for Historic Districts in response to a question from Commissioner Cameron. She also decided to ask Mardi Gualtieri Bennett if she has a s~nmary on tax incentives. B. Election of New 0ffiers Commissioner Heid nominated Commissioner Landsness as the new Chairman of the Saratoga Heritage Preservation Commission. Chairman Mc Arthur seconded the nomination. There being no further nominations Commissioner Heid moved that the nominations be closed. Commissioner Cameron seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Commissioner Landshess was then elected as the new chairman unanimously. Heritage Preserva~ on Minutes Page 4 12/14/83 Commissioner Hendersan nominated Commissioner Heid as the new Vice Chairman of the Commission. Commissioner Cameron seconded the motion. Commissioner Voester moved that the nominations be closed. Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Commissioner Heid was then elected unanimously as the new Vice Chairman. Staff noted that the new officers would take office on the first meeting in January. Also the next meeting would be held in the meeting room of the Saratoga CoF~unity Library. III. OTHER ITEMS Commissioner Voester asked when the Education Committee was going to meet. Chairman Mc Arthur answered that the meeting would be held at 3:00 p.m. on January 11th at her house. She also indicated she would be contacting interested people at West Valley College and other organizations. Commissioner Heid offered to have an open house for general discussion between Commissioners on January 8th or 15th. The Commission felt that January 15th would be the best date. Commissioner Landsness stressed that public relations is an important aspect of Commission activities. She wants to get as many people involved as possible through such means as a walking tour brochure and publication of the City inventory. She indicated that the Village merchants have funds for a brod~ure and interested people that have graphic skills. (She had talked to the Vice-President of the Village Merchants Associated re- garding this). She felt that the Commission might be able to intiate this process. Commissioner Landsness, said shehas many public relations ideas for the Commission to consider. She passed out several sections of a binder containing such ideas: for review by individual commissioners. There then follcwed questions on how such projects could be funded. It was suggested that funding could be provided by a service organization or perhaps in the next City budget. The next meeting is to be held on January 18, 1984 with the following items on the agenda: 1. Review copy of State Historic Building Code. 2. Commissioners Cameron and Heid to report back on potential historic districts. 3. Commissioner Henderson is to report back on any progress on Heritage Resource Designations. 4. Education Committee to report. 5. Summary of Tax Incentives. IV. ADJOURNmeNT The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michael Flores Secretary