HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-06-1984 HPC Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
DATE: Wednesday, June 6, 1984, 3:30 P.M.
PLACE: Saratoga Community Library, 13650 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga
TYPE: Regular Meeting
ROUTINE ORGANIZATION
Roll Call
Present: Commissioners Cameron, Held, Henderson, Mc Arthur, and Chairman
Landsness
Absent: Commissioners Kvamme and Voester
Minutes
The minutes for the meeting of May 23, 1984 were not available.
I. OLD BUSINESS
Commissioner McArthur spoke to representatives from the National Trust
for Historic Preservation (NTHP) and indicated that Jane Ellison from
that organization will be speaking at the upcoming town Meeting. Ms.
Ellison will be sending a written description of the items she will
speak on. The focus will be on the benefits of historic preservation.
Norman Koepernik will also do a slide show of the Henslee Historic District
in San Jose.
Chairman Landsness stated that the Commission should prepare a "Viewpoint"
article for the newspaper prior to the town meeting. The Commission then
discussed the issue of Saratoga being at the "crossroads" (between Los
Gatos and Cupertino). Chairman Landsness mentioned several articles
she had read which stated that people ignore the histoi~ aspects of
their own town and travel to find history.
Commissioner McArthur asked if there were any other ideas for the Town
Meeting. Commissioner Cameron thought Mardi Bennett would be a good
speaker. Commissioner Mc Arthur asked about inviting the planner from
Gilroy. Discussion then followed on how many speakers should be invited
to the meeting and it was decided that 3 speakers with questions would
be enough.
Commissioner Heid stated that it was important to get the meeting
announcement out as soon as possible. Commissioner Cameron indicated
that the invitation list should include property owners on the in-
ventory and members of the Historic Foundation as well as the Planning
Commission and City Council. The Commission then discussed the use of
a logo on the invitations. Commissioner Heid mentioned that one of the
purposes of the meeting was to generate enthusiastic support. He also
indicated he had given his inventory binder to Melitta Oden and that
she had some suggested changes.
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6/6/84
Commissioner Heid stated that the phrasing of the invitation could be
important. Discussion then followed on whether there should be different
invitation letters for different segments of the potential audience.
Commissioner Mc Arthur indicated that the focus should be on saving
Saratoga's heritage resources. She suggested preparing a brochure
explaining how these resources can be saved.
Discussion then turned to City adoption of the State Historical Building
Code. Commissioner Heid moved that the Commission recommend that the
City Council adopt the State Historical Building Code. Chairman Landsness
seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Staff indicated that this
matter would be placed on the City Council agenda as soon as possible.
Commissioner Heid offered to write a report to the Council explaining
the purposes and benefits of this code.
Commissioner Cameron stated he had talked with Nancy Shanahan of the
NTHP and that she would be relaying her critique of the City's Heritage
Preservation Ordinance over the phone. It appeared that the City's
ordinance may be too general. Discussion then followed on the Interior
Department's criteria for landmark designation and that structures must
meet N.R. of H.P. criteria to qualify for ta~ benefits.
Commissioner Heid then stated that Melitta Oden had given him further
information on the past ownership of the Central Park property and that
she offered to help the Commission research this further. She had con-
cerns with some of the information in the inventory and indicated that
neither the Welch home or the Paul Masson Lodge were lodges as
indicated in the inventory. She also expressed concern about the era's
used in the inventory and indicated that there were really no lumbering
or resort eras- Commissioner Henderson stated that better era titles
and time periods can be incorporated into the inventory. The Commission
indicated it welcomed Mrs. Oden's contribution.
The Commission then discussed firming up the Historic District boundary.
It was indicated that the representative from the State Office of Historic
Preservation would be in Saratoga in the beginning of August.
II. NEW BUSINESS
A. Report from Committees
Chairman Landsness indicated that the Education Committee was looking
for funding, particularly from the Rotary Club, for the historic
school program dicussed at the last meeting. The committee was also
looking for a fourth house for the April 14, 1985 Historic House Tour.
A tentative notice for this tour was examined by the Commission.
Chairman Landsness stated her desire that the Commission should read
the historic preservation materials she handed out. She mentioned
a Federal Court decision which supported heritage preservation over
the objections of property owners.
B. Heritage Commission Log~
Chairman Landsness presented a logo for the Commission. The Commission
discussed using it for their letterhead. Commissioner Mc Arthur
moved to adopt this design as the Commission's logo. The motion was
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seconded by Commissioner Cameron and approved unanimously.
III. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Flores
Secretary
SF/bjc