HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-05-1990 HPC Minutes CITY OF SARATOGA
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
DATE: Wednesday, December 5, 1990, 8:30 a.m.
PLACE: Saratoga City Hall
TYPE: Regular Meeting
ROUTINE ORGANIZATION
A. Roll Call
Present: Ansnes, Davis, Koepernik, Mitchell, Peck, Sabin,
Cameron
Absent: None
Staff: Adar
B. Approval of Minutes of 11/7/90
M/S Davis/Cameron to approve the minutes of 11/7/90 with an
addition at the end of Section B of the New Business to
indicate ..." or elsewhere in Saratoga".
Motion passed unanimously.
C. Posting the Agenda
Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda was posted at
City Hall on 11/30/90.
D. Oral and Written Communications
Davis informed the Commission regarding the Open Space Task
Force work. Proposals from three consultant firms were
submitted for the Task Force review. Davis has copies of the
proposals. The Commissioners are welcomed to review the
proposals and comment.
II. OLD BUSINESS
B. Warner Hutton House
Chair Ansnes reported about the City Council meeting regarding
the restoration and use of the Warner Hutton House.
The Commission confirmed previous recommendations made by the
Commission to the City Council regarding the level and stages
of the restoration and the use of the house. The Commission
requested to schedule a meeting with the City Council to
discuss the restoration and the use of the house in details.
Chair Ansnes said that community support may be developed
through a historic foundation.
The Commission also agreed that representatives of the
Commission meet with the City Engineer and the Chief Inspector
to discuss the details of the necessary restoration work and
the budget.
B. Heritage Resource - Preview List
The Commission assigned the homes on the Heritage Resource
Preview List to each of the Commissioners for historical
research. Staff will provide the Commissioners with
additional State Inventory Forms. Copies from a letter
notifying property owners regarding the survey will also be
prepared and provided.
C. Saratoga Heritage Book
Chair Ansnes has almost completed the text for the book.
Staff will work on layout alternatives for the Commission's
review.
III. NEW BUSINESS
A. Respond to Mr. Ebner's Letter Regarding 13755 and 13741
Saratoga Avenue.
Mr. Ebner requested the Commission's support for his
application to subdivide his substandard lot into two lots.
According to Mr. Ebner, the subdivision is necessary in order
to be economically able to preserve the historic home
existing on the lot.
The Commission recognizes that it is the Planning Commission's
and the City Council's authority to decide if the subdivision
can be allowed in accordance with the City's Subdivision and
zoning regulations. The roll of the Heritage Preservation
Commission is to determine whether a property has a historic
value which meets the criteria set forth in the City's
Heritage Preservation Ordinance and provide recommendations
regarding the preservation of the property.
The Commission reviewed the home on Mr. Ebner's property and
found it qualified to be included on the Heritage Resource
Inventory.
Commissioner Mitchell made a motion that the Heritage
Preservation Commission determined that the main structure on
the subject property is qualified as a historic resource. The
Commission urges the City Council to take any step which will
encourage the owner to preserve the house provided that the
owner agrees to submit an application for designation.
B. Inclusion in the Heritage Resource Inventory - Public
initiation.
Staff reported that the City Attorney reviewed the existing
procedure in the Heritage Preservation Ordinance. The
ordinance as written does not specifically dictate the details
of the procedure for inclusion of a resource on the inventory
and can be initiated by any one. However it is the
Commission's responsibility to determine whether a resource
meets the criteria for heritage resources.
C. Review of Procedure for Naming Streets
The Commission reviewed and approved the proposed procedure
for naming streets. The proposed procedure will be scheduled
for the City Council review and approval. The Commission also
recommended that a list of street names be prepared and ready
for selection of street names.
The Commission reviewed the names proposed to replace an
existing street name-Ten Acre Court. The Commission Found
both names, Testatossa and Beverly Hill, inappropriate to the
City's history. The Commission recommended that the
applicants will review old City maps to find ideas which may
be more appropriate for the neighborhood history and
character. The Commission suggested three names for the
applicants' consideration: Fruithill, Prunehill or Wakefield.
D. Fences and Walls along Saratoga Avenue
The Commission agreed that the ordinance for Saratoga Avenue
regarding fences should consider the historic character of the
street. The design of fences and walls should be compatible
with the scale and character of the building on the site and
the neighboring structures.
Staff will prepare a draft ordinance for the Commission's
review at the next meeting.
Commissioner Davis suggested other changes to the City Fence
Ordinance. Fruitvale Avenue and Allendale Avenue should be
considered as major arterial streets. Davis also felt that
agriculture properties should be addressed in the City's fence
ordinance. She suggested that chainlink fences with
vegetation should be considered for large agriculture
properties. This changes should be considered as an amendment
to the existing City Fence Ordinance separately from the
ordinance for Saratoga Avenue.
ITEMlB XNXTXATED BY THE CO~ISSlON
None
IV. AD~OU~NT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 a.m. The next meeting will
be on January 9th at 8:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Tsvia Adar
Secretary