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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