HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-06-1988 HPC Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
DATE: Wednesday, July 6, 1988 3:00 p.m.
PLACE: Warner Hutton House, 13495 Sousa Lane, Saratoga
TYPE: Regular Meeting
I. Routine Organization
A. Roll Call
Present: Commissioners Voester, Ansnes, Cameron,
Mitchell, Koepernik
Absent: Heid, Landsness
Staff: V. Young
Public: G. Zambetti
B. Approval of minutes of 6/15/88
M/S Voester/Cameron to approve the minutes of 6/15/88 as
submitted. Passed unanimously.
C. Posting of Agenda
Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda was posted
at City Hall on Friday, July 1, 1988.
D.Oral and Written Communications
None.
II. New Business
A. Discussion on adobe wall at Casa Tierra, 15231 Quito Road.
V. Young gave a brief staff report, stating that the
Planning Commission was asking the Heritage Commission for
input on the historic value of the adobe wall surrounding
the house. One of the conditions of the subdivision
approval was that no structures and fences be located in
the scenic easement; the wall is located partially in the
easement and in the surrounding newly-created lots. The
Planning Commission was concerned about removing the wall
without input from the Heritage Commission.
Gene Zambetti, representative for the applicant, gave a
brief presentation, showing a map and photos of the wall.
He stated the applicant wanted to preserve the wall and
that he was willing to move it so that it would be located
entirely within the easement. He stated he had hired an
adobe specialist to work on the house and the wall.
Heritage Preservation Minutes - 7/6/88
Commissioner Voester asked if the original adobe bricks
would be used in the reconstruction. Mr. Zambetti replied
in the affirmative, noting that it would be costly to move
the wall but that it was important to retain that feature
of the property.
Commissioner Mitchell favored preserving the wall and
placing it in the scenic easement. Commissioner Cameron
concurred, noting that it was important to preserve it
because it was part of the historic fabric of the
property. Mr. Zambetti noted that the wall had been built
at the same time as the house, by the same women and using
the same adobe contruction techniques.
M/S Cameron/Voester that the Heritage Commission
recommend to the Planning Commission that the adobe wall
at Casa Tierra be preserved because it is an integral part
of the historic value of the property; to aid in the
preservation, the Commission supports moving portions of
the wall to the scenic easement and amending the
subdivision condition to allow the wall to remain in the
easement. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Review and adoption of Heritage Commission bylaws
V. Young presented the staff report, noting the City
Attorney's assistance in preparation of the bylaws and
their similarity to the Planning Commission bylaws.
Commissioner Ansnes noted one typographical error on page
1, and asked for clarification on the "advisory only"
wording on page 2. Commissioner Koepernik expressed a
desire to see the Commission's authority expanded in the
future to more than just an advisory role. Other
Commissioners felt that the Heritage Commission had come a
long way in establishing a good relationship with the
Planning Commission and City Council during the past year,
and this could continue to be built on through good
communication and the annual joint meetings with these two
bodies.
M/S Cameron/Koepernik to adopt the Heritage Commission
bylaws, with the correction on page one. Passed
unanimously.
III. Old Business
A. Heritage Resource Inventory - follow up
V. Young distributed the corrected resolution adopting the
Inventory and noted the letters to property owners were
currently being signed by Chairman Held. She also
distributed a draft news article prepared by Chairman
Heritage Preservation Minutes, 7/6/88
Heid. Commissioner Ansnes suggested some re-writing to
give the article a more journalistic feeling.
Commissioner Mitchell felt the historical synopsis on the
Commission and the Inventory was important; he also asked
where the article would be published. Commissioners
Voester and Cameron felt there needed to be a greater
emphasis on the Inventory at the beginning of the article.
Commissioner Ansnes offered to work with Chairman Heid and
staff to edit the article and get it ready for
publication.
Commissioner Voester shared information about the house on
Argonne which she had received in an interview with Nick
Miljevich, and some information about the Maclay Cottage
on Big Basin Way. In relation to historical research,
Commissioner Mitchell asked if the services of a title
company or the assessor's office had been solicited. He
suggested starting with a small request then expanding
from there if the response was favorable. Secretary Young
will do follow-up on this.
Commissioner Ansnes suggested the "informal" list of
potential Inventory properties be more formalized and
distributed to the Commission. Secretary Young emphasized
that it was important for the Commission to continue
working on these properties and update the Inventory on an
annual basis.
IV. Items Initiated by the Commission
Commissioner Ansnes shared a brochure on the CEQA process.
Commissioner Voester asked about the status of the Warner
Hutton House move. V. Young stated that Caltrans was having
problems obtaining bids for the project and that the P.G.& E.
service line at the City parcel needs to be relocated; these
two items might delay the move. She also noted that the
Commission's request for a sign at the City site was on the
Council's agenda this evening. She would report back to the
Commission at the next meeting.
V. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m. The next regular
meeting will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20 at
the Warner Hutton House.
Respectfully submitted,
Valerie You~- ()
Secretary to CommisSion