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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-04-1998 HPC Minutes iii iii City of Saratoga HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION .... II I .... Minutes Date: Tuesday, July 4, I998, 9:30 a.m. Place: Warner Hutton House, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Type: Regular Meeting II I. Routine Organization A. Roll Call Present: Anderson, Fine, King, Peepaft, Peck, Wyman Absent: Koepen4ick Staff: Bradley Guests: Pisani, Tucker, Huchital, Kelley B. Approval of minutes from 5/12/98 Meeting The minutes were approved 5-0 C. Posting of the Agenda Pursuant to Government Code Section 94954.2, the agenda was posted on Wednesday July 8m, 1998 D. Written Communications - None E. Oral Communications - None II. Old Business None III. New Business A. Request from the property owners of 13741, 13755, 137(;5, and 13785 Saratoga Avenue to have their shared private drive named "Heritage Creek Court" The Commission discussed the item with clarification of which properties were involved and directed the applicants to work with staff to process the request with the City. Approved 6-0 (Fine/Anderson) B. Request from the City Recreation Department to convert the attic of the Warner HutCon house to usable space. The Commission reviewed the plans for renovation after a tour of the attic. Commissioner Anderson stated her concern that the outside staircase would not be visible and that the glass in the French doors could be broken without anyone seeing it happen. Staff Tucker responded that the glass would be double glazed, and the doors would match the ones used for the side entrance which have never been broken. ~ - Commissioner Fine also responded that the staircase was needed as an emergency exit and would be equipped with an alarm. He stated his concerns with how renovation of the attic would disturb walls on the main floor if they had to be upgraded to weight bearing walls to support the improved floor structure of the attic and asked if future ADA requirements would affect the plan. Staff Tucker responded that because of the Historic designation of the house ADA requirements could be met if equal facilities were provided on the main floor as were available on the upper floor. She also clarified that some walls would have to be upgraded to weight bearing capacity with the renovation. Commissioner Fine then asked if the foundation could support the renovation and stated that he would like to see a condition that the Commission be able to review the engineering plans. Commissioner Peck stated that he would also feel more secure if a good engineer prepared the plans. He also asked how much the project would cost and where the money for the project would come from. Staff Tucker responded that the project was estimated to cost between $70,000 to $100,000 and that there were various sources they were looking into. Commissioner Fine moved to approve the request with the condition that the Commission review the engineering plans when they became available and that the exit stairs be designed with the same turned balustrades as the front staircase. Approved G-0 (Fine/King) IV. Items Initiated by the Commission A. Update to the Heritage Preservation Ordinance The Commission briefly discussed the changes and asked staff to proceed with the update. Commissioner Peepari stated his reservations about the definitions and suggested that they be rewritten so that they were easier to understand. He felt that more time should be spent on the ulxtate and that staff should go through the entire Ordinance again and make more comprehensive changes. B. Heritage Preservation Commission Chairperson position Chair Wyman began the discussion by asking that another Commissioner needs to take over the Chair position as her term has expired and she is extremely busy with her new job. Commissioner King stated that she was also too busy with her responsibilities to other City Commissions, Commissioner Anderson stated that she would like to do it, but because this was her first formal meeting as a Commissioner it would not be appropriate, Commissioner Fine stated that he was also to busy with his soccer responsibilities, Commissioner Peepari stated that he should not do it as he was the Chair last year. Commissioner Peck volunteered "kicking and screaming", but asked staff to contact Commissioner Koepernick to see if he would like to have the job. Approved 5-0 (Fine/Anderson, Peck abstained) NOTE: Commissioner Koepernick did volunteer to be the Chair, therefore he will be approved at the next regular meeting. V. Items Initiated by the Secretary None vI. Adjournment 9:00 a.m. Tuesday August 11, 1998 - Warner Hutton House