HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-15-1989 HPC Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
DATE: Wednesday, March 15, 1989 - 3:00 p.m.
PLACE: Warner Hutton House, 13495 Sousa Lane, Saratoga
TYPE: Regular Meeting
I. Routine Organization
A. Roll Call
Present: Cameron, Voester, Landshess, Kopernik,
Mitchell, Held
Absent: Ansnes
Staff: V. Young
Others: Anne Fitzsimmons
B. Approval of minutes of 3/1/89
M/S Voester/Cameron to approve the minutes of 3/1/89 as
submitted. Passed unanimously.
C. Posting of Agenda
Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda was posted
at City Hall on 3/10/89.
D. Oral and Written Communications
Secretary Young reported that the Merrick Street
subdivision application had been denied by the Planning
Commission at its March 8th meeting. Chairman Heid
reported that he had received an informational phone call
from Mr. Rivoir regarding the possible historic value of
his residence and stone walls lining the driveway of his
property.
Commissioner Landsness noted that Villa Montalvo would
like to have the griffin stone posts along Montalvo Road
included as part of the heritage designation of the
property. She will submit a request for the Heritage
Commission to act on.
II. Old Business
A. Heritage Ordinance Revisions - update
Secretary Young reported that the City Attorney had
revised the draft ordinance per the Commission's
directions, and that the item was on the Council's consent
agenda for this evening. She noted that the two-term
Heritage Preservation Commission minutes - 3/15/89
limit would be deleted from the regulations, and
encouraged Commissioners Voester and Held to let the City
Clerk know if they wanted to be interviewed for their
positions.
B. Saratoga Historic District
Chairman Held thanked staff for obtaining the good copy of
the original 1949 Saratoga State Landmark material. He
noted that the issue of preserving historic special areas
came about from the joint Council/Commission meeting in
January, and that the original landmark area was being
used as a starting point for discussion on this issue.
Planning Director Emslie conveyed to the Commission recent
Council policy on this issue that resulted from the
Council's policy development retreat. The Commission
should focus on the benefits and incentives for
preservation and historic districts first, then decide
where and to what properties these benefits should apply.
Land use and preservation issues should not be mixed;
preservation should not be used as the tool for
controlling residential density and overcrowding.
Commissioner Mitchell expressed concern at preserving
neighborhoods without adversely affecting property values;
he was concerned that disincentives for preservation may
be created by limiting a structure to its current
configuration when other properties surrounding it may be
allowed to develop. He felt that heritage districts
should be approached on a small neighborhood by
neighborhood basis.
There was extended discussion on neighborhood preservation
and how best to proceed with this issue. There was
consensus among the Commission to focus on benefits and
incentives, and on providing the Planning Commission with
special findings relative to preservation to assist them
in their decision-making.
III. New Business
A. Review of draft C-H district regulations
Secretary Young gave a brief staff report, noting that the
Planning Commission was beginning its review of the C-H
Village zoning and wanted Heritage Commission input.
Commissioner Cameron gave a brief synopsis of the history
of the Village historic district; he noted that a
representative from the National Trust had visited
Saratoga for this purpose and the suggestion was made that
there were not enough historic properties in the core area
Heritage Preservation Commission minutes - 3/15/89
to warrant a district. However, many properties warranted
protection, so that's why the Commercial-Historic zoning
districts were proposed as part of the Village Plan.
Commissioner Koepernik read a list of possible incentives
he had prepared back in 1987: 1) reduction of fees; 2)
reduction in taxes; 3) use of State Historic Building
Code; 4) special review board for historic properties; 5)
permit fast-tracking. There was consensus that it may be
beyond the City's ability to change the tax structure.
Anne Fitzsimmons, as an owner of historic property in the
Village, noted that parking requirements may be a problem,
especially for properties not in parking districts.
There was consensus to recommend the inclusion of a
separate section in the C-H regulations titled: "Special
regulations for Designated Heritage Resources within the
C-H districts." This section should be worded so as to
give the Planning Commission the authority to relax or
waive the development standards when a designated resource
was involved. This section should also reference reduced
fees, use of the State Historic Building Code, and
Heritage Commission review of applications. Secretary
Young will prepare a draft for the HPC to review before
forwarding to the Planning Commission.
IV. ITEMS INITIATED BY THE COMMISSION
Commissioner Cameron relayed that Mr. Christiano had called
to thank the Commission for their assistance on his house
addition on Wardell Road; Mr. Christiano offered to volunteer
his photographic assistance on the Inventory.
Secretary Young asked the Commission submit their inventory
forms for preview properties as soon as possible, so she could
distribute them for review for the next meeting.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
l
Valerie You~
Secretary to the Commission