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Home My WebLink About08-07-1981 CITY COUNCIL AGENDAI CITY OF SARATOGA, AGENDA BILL NO DATE: August 7, 1981 DEPARTMENT. Planning Initial: Dept. Hd. C. Atty. C. Mgr. Cow C -------------------------------- Report to Council from Ad Hoc Committee for Review of Proposal SUBJECT: Heritage Conservation Ordinance Issue Sum The ad hoc committee appointed by the Council on 6/17/81, has carefully reviewed the draft ordinance, has met with planning staff and the Deputy City Attorney, and is submitting its comments an.d recommendations in accord with Council Resolution No. 1020. Recommendation Direct planning staff and Deputy City Attorney to prepare revisions to draft ordinance per committee recommendations, if Council concurs. Fiscal Impacts ,Committee is recommending that the historical preservation function be served by an advisory body rather than a fully empowered commission such as the draft ordinance specifies. The committee's recommendations-,! will reduce duplication of efforts, and the anticipated costs are therefore less. Exhibits /Attachments Report to Council from the Ad Hoc Committee Chairman, Gene Zambetti. Council Action 8/19: Callon /Mallory moved to accept report, thank committee, and direct committee to prepare ordinance modified so as to address procedure for Heritage Lanes and to allow commission members a maximum of two consecutive four -year terms. Passed 5 -0. F F. e$ p 5 ¢ •fl. Qq §&%ZUQ)0& 13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE SARATOGA CALIFORNIA 95070 (408) 887 -3438 August 11, 1981 Honorable Linda Callon Mayor of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 Dear Mayor Callon and Members of the Council: I am reporting to you on behalf of the Ad Hoc Committee which you named on June 17 for the purpose of reviewing the proposed heritage conservation ordinance. The eight members of the committee have held three meetings to study and discuss the provisions of the draft ordinance, have met with planning staff and the Deputy City Attorney, and have done considerable independent review of this draft as well as the procedures used in other jurisdictions. The committee totally concurs that the City should adopt an ordinance designed to protect our community's historical re- sources. It is our opinion, however, that revisions to the draft ordinance are.warranted in order to 1) clarify some ambiguities, 2) remove provisions which duplicate existing City procedures, 3) lessen the cost to the City of implementing the preservation functions, and 4) generally increase the brevity and clarity of the ordinance. In our evaluation of the draft ordinance, we sought to antici- pate its effects.upon the significant historical resources with which we are familiar in Saratoga, the owners of those resources, and the owners of properties within proximity of those historic sites as well. We also considered the impacts on the welfare of the total community, the City's budget and staffing, and the responsibilities of the existing decisionmaking bodies in the City. CITY of SAR,ATUGA 13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE - SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA 95070 (408) 887 -3438 August 11, 1981 Honorable Linda Callon Mayor of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratnoga, CA 95070 Dear Mayor Callon and Members of the Council: I am reporting to you on behalf of the Ad Hoc Committee which you named on June 17 for the purpose of reviewing the proposed heritage conservation ordinance. The eight members of the committee have held three meetings to study and discuss the provisions of the draft ordinance, have met with planning staff and the Deputy City Attorney, and have done considerable independent review of this draft as well as the procedures used in,other jurisdictions. The committee totally concurs that the City should adopt an ordinance designed to protect our community's historical re- sources. It is our opinion, however, that revisions to the draft ordinance are warranted id order to 1) clarify some ambiguities, 2) remove provisions which duplicate existing City procedures, 3) lessen the.cost to the City of implementing the preservation functions., and 4) generally increase the brevity and clarity of the ordinance. In our evaluation of the draft ordinance, we sought to antici- pate its effects upon the,significant historical resources with which we are familiar in Saratoga,.the owners of those resources, and the owners of properties within proximity.of those historic sites as well. We also considered the impacts on the welfare of the total community, the City's budget and staffing, and the responsibilit -ies of the existing decisionmaking bodies in the City. a... s 2 Our conclusions with respect to the content of the ordinance are as follows: The ordinance should provide a process for designating historic resources and assuring their protection once designated. The Commission named in the ordinance should be advisory (to the Council in the case of designating historic resources, to the Planning Commission and Building Department in their issuance of approvals and permits affecting designated historic resources.) .The procedure for protection of historic resources should mesh with current City procedures rather than adding a duplicate layer. The procedure should be of assistance to property owners. A fee should not be charged for seeking the historic designation, however, the normal fee structure would ap- ply for other permits and approvals. The ordinance should have a positive, not punitive, tone. It should not appear to impose a cumbersome or costly process which could discourage participation. The ordinance should focus on historic significance more - so than on aesthetic considerations. The members of the advisory commission should be selected based on the expertise which they can provide to the staff, Planning Commission, and Council. To set a limit to the number of terms they could serve would be counter- productive. ..The definition and designation of "Heritage Lanes" should be correlated with the General Plan Review process. "Heritage Trees" are adequately protected by the City's Tree Preservation Ordinance. The ordinance must meet the standards for certification by the State.Office of Historic Preservation and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. 3 Our committee has appreciated the opportunity you have given us to review and comment on this proposed ordinance. We would like to see the effort through to completion. Therefore, we are requesting that you allow us to continue working with staff and the Deputy City Attorney to produce a final ordi- nance to present to you an ordinance which consolidates our foregoing recommendations, the provisions of the model ordinance referenced by your consultant, and the draft ordi- nance which the consultant submitted to you. Respectfully, V. Eugene Zambetti" Chairman Ad Hoc Committee for Review of Prospect Heritage Conservation Ordinance j cc: Members of the Committee (Carol Connors, Mark Ebner, Vince Garrod;- Stephen Hall, John Kahle, Raisa Kocher, Willys Peck) CiTy 01-' AGENDA BILL NO. DA'L'E: 8/7/81 6111 L T: Public Works ----------------------------------------- SUBJECI': WESTMONT AVENUE EXTENSION ----------------------------------- - - - - -- Issue Su-rmary Initial: Dept. lid. The City of San Jose is planning to extend Westmont Ave. to Quito Rd. At the location of the new intersection, three (3) jurisdictions own part of Quito Rd. The City of San Jose wants Saratoga to participate in the project, which in- cludes the installation of a traffic signal at Quito Rd. and Westmont Ave. Reconmendation Participate'in the improvement of Quito Rd. from Westmont Ave. intersection north to Yorktown Way, per attached memo from Asst. Civil Engineer to Dir- ector of Public Works. Conduct traffic signal study once the improvements have been completed. Fiscal Impacts Improvement to Quito Rd. - $24,500 ($15,000 from TDA monies). Exhibits /Attachmnts 1. Memo to Director of Public Works from Asst. Civil Engineer Council Action r. G v • MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: SUBJECT • 09TT O0 O&M&ZOO& 13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE • SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA 95070 (408) 867 -3438 . Director of Public Works Assistant Civil Engineer Westmont Extension DATE: 8/7/81 There are two projects proposed on Quito Road between Yorktown Way and Aspesi Drive. They are, the extension of Westmont Avenue to Quito Road with the in- stallation of a traffic signal and the construction of a Park and Ride Facility at the southeast corner of Westmont Avenue and Quito Road which includes the improvement of Quito Road near the Southern Pacific Railroad crossing. The Westmont Avenue extension is ready to go out to bid immediately and the Park and Ride and the improvement to Quito Road is scheduled to be constructed in the Spring of 1982. The extension of Westmont Avenue to Quito Road is a solution to a problem situated in the City of San Jose. Some of the traffic currently using Yorktown Way will shift to Westmont Avenue. Quito.Road will be widened from Yorktown Way south to near the tracks to allow the installation of a left turn pocket for south bound Quito Road to east bound Westmont Avenue. A traffic signal study was conducted at the intersection of Quito Road and Yorktown Way. Warrants 1, 2, and 8 were met. Warrant 1 is the Minimum Vehicle Volume, Warrant 2 is the Interruption of Continuous Traffic, and Warrant 8 is the Combination of Warrants. Even though these warrants are met, it can not be assumed that enough traffic will use the proposed Westmont Avenue extension to satisfy warrants 1, 2, and 8. The plans shows an eight legged intersection. Three of the eight legs lie within City of Saratoga's city limits, therefore, the City of San Jose expects Saratoga to pay three eighths of the traffic sig- nal installation. Two of the three legs lie on private property. These two legs lie on the shopping center owned by Mr. Costa. If the traffic signal is installed as shown on the plans, Saratoga should pay one - eighth of the cost of installation. A conversation was held, and a letter to follow, with Mr. Arch Walters of the Santa Clara County Transit District. The District supports the installation of a traffic signal because it is a necessity for the busses entering and leaving the Park and Ride Facility. The improvement plans show an adequate cross - section of Quito Road for a through traffic land and bike lane in both directions, however, the striping plan does not show the installation of a bike lane. T Director of Public Works -2- 8/7/81 We received the attached letter from City of San Jose dated August 3, 1981, . regarding Westmont extension. San Jose is going to eliminate all improvement in Saratoga's jurisdiction, all improvement south of the new Westmont Avenue centerline and west of the Quito Road centerline, eliminate the installation of the traffic signal and install a stop sign on Westmont Avenue at Quito Road. These revisions were made because of "the lack of firm commitment for funds from the City of Saratoga." Recently we have had several meetings with citizens who live on Quito Road near Allendale Avenue. These citizens were upset with completion of traffic safety improvements to the intersection of Quito Road at Allendale Avenue. The improvement to the traffic signal enabled the 22,000 + ADT of Quito Road to travel more safe and with less frequent stops. Residents of the area did not like the improvement because the traffic flowed smoother giving the residents the appearance of faster speeds and made egress from their driveways more difficult. Additional improvements to Quito Road as proposed with a traffic signal installed, will likely result in an increase in residents feeling that we are taking good care of through traffic at the expense of our residents. My recommendations are: • To participate in the extension of Westmont Avenue to Quito Road. Our share will be approximately $24,500. ($15,000 will cane from TDA monies). • • To recommend Quito Road be widened north of Yorktown Way to allow the installation of a left turn pocket for south bound Quito Road. • To include the striping of bike lanes as part of the street improve- ment. • This traffic signal is low on our priority list because of the un- certainty of the Yorktown Way at Quito Road warrants being satisfied at Westmont Avenue and Quito Road and its importance relative to Saratoga's other traffic signal needs. • If a traffic signal is not installed at the same time Westmont Avenue is extended to Quito Road, the following changes to the improvement plans should be made: 1. Relocate Mr. Costs's entrance south of the new intersection and to install an A.C. burm along the remaining portion of his frontage. 2. Eliminate the left turn pocket for north bound Quito Road into Mr. Costa's shopping center. The proposed left turn pocket does not allow adequate transition for north bound traffic. Phn Bean, Assistant Civil Engineer JB /dra