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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-08-1987 HPC Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA HERITAGE PRESERUATIOH COMHISSIOH MINUTES DRTE: Uednesdav. JuZy B. 1987 PLACE: Saratoga Comunitv Library Heating Room. 13560 Saratoga Ruenue, Saratoga TYPE: Regular Meeting I. ROUTINE ORGANIZATION A. Roll Call Present: CoMmissioners Heid. Arisnos, Koepernik, Tyrre11, CaMeron, Uoester Absent: Landsness (excused) Staff: Planning Director Hsia, Associate Planner Young Other: Two members of the public Approval of Minutes of 6/3/87 M/S Ca~eron/Uoester to approve minutes as submitted. Passed unanimously. C. Posting of Agenda It was noted that the agenda had been posted at City Hall on Thursday, July g. 198?. O. Oral and Uritten Communications - None NEW BUSINESS A. Review planning application for 14599 Big Basin Uay. Marsh-Metzger House. U, Young reviewed the staff me~o and gave a brief sum~ar~ of the issue before the ComMission. R. Tyrrell stated he would like to go on record as never being in favor of a demolition. He wanted to know if anyone had considered mouing the structure a~ an alternative. U. Fanelli. representative for the owner, gave background on the project. She stated that there had been a structural analysis and that moving the building was not feasible financially. She stated that the current mixed use proposal was consistent with the Benoral Plan and that the owner would be Heritage Preservation Minutes Meeting of 7/8/87 Page 2 willing to give the house to anyone who wanted to take responsibility for nouing it. Chairman Hetd asked if it could be included as part of the project and expressed concern about the grading impact on adjacent structures. U. Fanelli responded that it was cost-prohibitlue to bring the structure up to current building codes, and stated that [he retaining walls would be located at the rear of the propert9 near the creek. R. Cameron questioned if the house could be incorporated into the project because the final map had alread~ been approved. B. Uoester expressed concern about losing another structure that has high visibilit9 on Big Basin Uav and contributes to the character of the Uillage. She would like to see the structure incorporated In the plan. H. Koepernlk stated he would llke an opportunity to view the property before ~king a recommendation. E. Rnsnes stated that the real issue is losing the structure and that the Heritage Comission's only recourse is to e~ke a constructive recommendation to the Planning ComMission. Planning Oirector Hsia suggested the possibility of a special ,eating next week to give the Commission time to view the propertv. He clarified that there was no legal recourse to prevent demolition and that the item was being brought to the Commission as a courtesg, to get practical recommendations for the Planning Commission. R. Tvrrell again expressed his concern about the need to thoroughI9 research and pursue the the option of moving the structure. Chair~n Held felt that his main concern was with the loss to the Uillage, and that moving the structure to save it was not the issue. E. Rnsnes suggested the Commission needed to make a stronger statement than the one drafted by staff. 8. Uoester offered that the first option would be to retain the structure on the site, the second option would be to ~oue it and the last would be demolition. She felt this needed to be expressed strongly to the Planning CoMmission. In response to questions from the Commission, U. Young 2 Heritage Preseruation ConMission Minutes - 7/8/87 Page 3 said that the application was scheduled for the Planning Co~ission meeting of Julo ZZ. and that it had been continued from the Julv B meeting to allow time for Heritage Coeu~ission input. R. Tgrrell expressed concern about hauing so little time to study the issue. U. Young stated that it was scheduled as soon as it was known that the project inuolved a historic structure, Oiscussion ensued on the wording of [he Commission's recommendation to the Planning CoMmission. M/S Rnsnea/Cameron that the Heritage CoMmission recommend the following to the Planning Co~ission: "The Marsh-Metzger house at 14599 Big Basin UaV was built in 1909 and is associated with both the J.E. Marsh familV who came to Saratoga in 1860 and the Metzget tamil9 who were earl9 merchants in the town, The structure is uer9 representsflue of the California Bungalow stvle and maintains its original size and shape with little modification. The structure is highly uisible on Big Basin Uay and contribute5 significantlo to the historic character of the Saratoga Utllage. For these reasons, the Heritage Preseruation ComMission recommends to the Planning CoMmission that any use and design of the propertO include retention of the existing historic structure." Motion passed unanimouslo. III. ~LO BUSINESS A. Rpplication fees for preservation per.its. Continued to next meeting. B. Letter from Cito Rttorney, The Commission reuiewed the letter from the CitO Rttornev regarding the letter from Betto Rowe. M/S Uoester/Tyrrell to have staff draft a response to Ms. Rowe for the Chairman's signature, to reflect the CitO Httorneo's comments. Passed unanimouslo. Heritage Resource Inuentoro, Planning Director Hsia briefed the Commission that completion of the Inventor9 was a high priorito on the Citv Council's FY 8?-88 to-do li~t. He also urged the Heritaoe Preseruation Conmission Minutes - 7/8/B? Page q CoMmission to do a conprehensiue suruev so that important structures were not overlooked. Chairnan Held felt that the current list represented about 85% of the historic structures in the City. and that the Commission felt a sense of urgency in getting something completed as soon as possible. He felt thev could always come back later to add other properties. IU. ~T[U,,~ IHITIBT£O 8¥ THE COtlUISSIOH Hone. U. ROJOURHUEH! The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p,m. The next meeting will be held Uednesday= July 22. at 3:00 p.M. R~spectfully submitted. Ualerie vopqg /t U¥/dsc