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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-07-1984 HPC Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MI NUTES DATE: Wednesday, November 7, 1984, 3:30 p.m. PLACE: Saratoga Community Library, 13650 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga TYPE: Regular Meeting ROUTINE ORGANIZATION Roll Call Present: Commissioners Cameron, Heid, McArthur and Chairman Landshess Absent: Commissioners Henderson, Kvamme, and Voester Minutes The Commission waived the reading of the minutes for the meeting of October 24, 1984 and approved these minutes with Commissioner Heid abstaining since he was not at the meeting. I. OLD BUSINESS No old business was considered by the Commission. II. NEW BUSINESS A. Library Parking Plan The Commission reviewed the parking plan for the Saratoga Community Library and unanimously approved the plan as consistent with the Heritage Resource Designation of the site. B. Historical Overlay Zone Chairman Landsness indicated she would be speaking to the City Council at its next meeting regarding an Historic Overlay Zone as part of the Village Master Plan the Council was initiating. One of the members of the committee that will work on this plan would be from the Heritage Preservation Commission. General discussion then followed on this committee. Ccmmissionar Cameron stated that the Commission's ability to draft guidelines for the overlay district is limited. He suggested that the Commission should engage a professional to develop these guide- lines. Commissioner Heid expressed concern that people will not tolerate forced preservation or the inability to change their properties. Heritage Preservation Co-mission Minutes Page 2 Nov. 7, 1984 Staff indicated that it would be difficult and would require a good deal of research to develop Historic District guidelines. Commissioner Heid stated it was difficult to put a finger on the character of the Village. Chairman Landsness indicated that there are design themes in the Village such as building mass, roof, etc. Commissioner Heid expressed concern about hearing that buildings could not be torn down if the owner so desired. He felt that owners of historic buildings should have the same rights as other property owners. Chairman Landsness indicated that historic buildings have been lost because of high land costs. Commissioner Heid stated that the Commission should stick with the approach of creating incentives. Commissioner Mc Arthur stated that the Commission was not proceeding with concrete proposals because of the concerns of a few people who may want to remodel. She mentioned other communities that stand out and have preserved their character. There is some value to architectural control. There was general discussion regarding the purposes of the guidelines. Commissioner Heid commented that, in his opinion, the Comnissiondoes not have the right to make demands of people at this time and the guidelines need to benefit the property owners. Discussion then followed on potential incentives. Chairman Landsness stated that all she was doing tonight is to encourage a Historic Overlay Zone as part of the Village Plan. Commissioner Heid commented that he wanted to make sure that the direction the Commission was headed in was not too restrictive. He indicated that preservation came from the property owners that wish to preserve something. Commissioner Cameron asked why do anything if that were the case. What incentives could be used? Chairman Landsness mentioned comments from people favoring controls in the Village. Commissioner Held commented that he did not want complete restrictions in the overlay zone. Staff gave the example of the Design Review Ordinance and how it worked. It was staff's opinion that the Historic Overlay District would not be any more restrictive than the Design Review Ordinance. Chairman Landsness indicated that the Planning Commission needed help in performing it's design review function. She also stated that the Commission needed Commissioner Heid's help to set up design review standards. Commissioner Heid did not want to demand that a property owner save something. Chairman Landsness asked what can the Commission do considering that they have been trying for about 3 years. She stated that everything did not have to look "old" but they need to be compatible. There was then a discussion of general guidelines. Commissioner Heid commented that good design was a matter of opinion. Commissioner Mc Arthur stated that the Commission was dealing only with general design guidelines. Commissioner Heid stated that if you go through Saratoga you will not find a theme. Chairman Landsness commented that they could determine what the theme is not as a start. Commissioner Heid said he did not want to see a Historic District in name only without historic quality. He indicated there were only about a dozen historic buildings in the Village. The owners of these building should be given an incentive and not overly restricted. Commissioner Mc Arthur said the Commission needed to spend time to develop the guidelines. Commissioner Heid suggested the Commission should develop the guidelines before the overlay district is created. Heritage Preservation C¢ ission Minutes Page 3 Nov. 7, 1984 Chairman Landsness reiterated that the Village Plan was being developed at the City Council's initiative. Commissioner Heid said the City tried to do the same thing 15 years ago but it did not work. Chairman Landshess defined the theme as Twentieth Century eclectic architecture and that the Commission wanted to help and not be an adversary. The advantages and disadvantages of being associated with the City government, what might revitalize the Village, and public input were all discussed. Commissioner Heid stated he was not opposed to the Commission and Chairman Landsness stated the Commission wanted to work with the people affected. III. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Michael Flores Secretary MF/bjc