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.
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