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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-08-2008 HPC Minutes City of Saratoga H ERITAGE P RESERVATION C OMMISSION MINUTES Date: Tuesday, January 8, 2008 8:30 a.m. Place: Warner Hutton House, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Type: Regular Meeting – Please meet in the parking lot in front of the Warner Hutton House at 8:30 a.m. and Staff will provide transportation to the site visit under New Business and return to Warner Hutton House by 9:00 a.m. 1. Routine Organization A. Roll Call PRESENT: Commissioners Gomersall, Koepernik, McCarty, Louden, Tai, Chair Kellond, and Vice Chair Marra STAFF: Senior Planner Christopher Riordan, Associate Planner Shweta Bhatt GUESTS: Ms. Nancy Anderson, Mr. Chuck Shoppe, Mr. Mohammad Estahbanaty B. Approval of minutes from December 11, 2007 meeting - Approved C. Posting of Agenda – Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda was posted on January 3, 2008. D. Oral & Written Communication - Any member of the public may address the Commission about any matter not E. Oral Communications – Historic Preservation Commission direction to Staff – Instruction to staff regarding actions on current Oral Communications. - None on the agenda for this meeting for up to three minutes. Commissioners may not comment on the matter but may choose to place the topic on a future agenda. - Commissioner Koepernik informed the Commission that he had requested prior to Christmas for the City Council to review a request by the HPC for some additional funds to modify wording on the banner from “Walk” to “Faire”. Commissioner Koepernik also said that the Council would be reviewing this request at their meeting of January 16, 2008. 2. Old Business A. Discuss National Registry & Saratoga Landmark Plaques – Item not discussed. B. Discuss Heritage Orchard Signage – Item discussed. Chair Kellond said that the Orchard Sign must be reviewed again by the Library Commission and the HPC prior to it being reviewed for final approval by the City Council. Senior Planner Christopher Riordan told the Commission that the City Council review of the sign had been removed from the agenda and would be placed back on the agenda at the request of the Commission. C. Discuss Historic Incentives – Item not discussed. D. Discuss Mustard Faire – Item discussed. Ms. Anderson stated that she had already ordered the posters and that they would be posted at local shopping centers. The topic of the docents was raised and Mr. Shoppe suggested that the same individual as last year be placed in charge of the docents. Ms. Anderson stated that she was in the process of making vests for the docents as well as for all individuals working at the Faire. Commissioner Koepernik said that he had contacted Matt and that he had volunteered to do hayrides again this year and that he would be in contact with the ferrier to give horseshoe demonstrations and that he would give himself the responsibility for bringing the animals to the Faire. Vice Chair Marra mentioned the importance of trash cans and Ms. Anderson said that she had already arranged for them and that there would be plenty. Ms. Anderson said that she would order chairs form Thomas Scott. Commissioner Koepernik said that he would order the yellow balloons and that he would make the wooden fruits that will hang from the trees in the same manner as last year. Vice Chair Marra said that the flyer that he had received was fuzzy. Ms. Anderson said that she could get a better copy of the PDF and that she would send it to Vice Chair Marra. Ms. Anderson discussed the layout of the interior of the Warner Hutton House and that she was having a difficult time getting local vendors to participate and that she would walk the Village and personally speak to the business owners. The topic of charging vendors to participate in the festival was raised. Ms. Anderson said that she remembered that there had been direction in the past that the Commission should not be fund raising for themselves and did not believe that the vendors should be charged to participate and asked if the Commission believed it to be alright for the non profits to have a jar at their booth for possible donations. Commissioner Koepernik stated his personal belief that the vendors should pay a nominal fee to participate in the Faire and that the Commission should be in control of the money that is raised. Chair Kellond expressed his belief that the vendors should not be charged a fee. Vice Chair Marra stated that all the groups that participate in the Faire should not request donations from the public. Mr. Shoppe suggested that vendors could make a donation to the Historical Foundation. Chair Kellond told the Commission that himself and Vice Chair Marra had visited Pelican Signs for the purpose of obtaining reusable signs. Char Kellond described the three sign options to the Commission and that an “A Frame” sign would cost $65.00 each and that there was a need to order eight signs and that once the order was placed that the signs would only take three days to manufacture. Commissioner Koepernik gave his support for the decision to order the signs. Commissioner Marra stated that he had been in contact with Redwood School and that the school had agreed to allow Mustard Faire visitors park in their parking lots and that he had been in contact with West Valley College but they had not yet returned his calls. Mr. Shopppe said that the Engine and the Tractor clubs would need to arrive at 8:00 A.M. to set up. The Commission agreed to hold a special meeting on Tuesday, January 29th, from 9:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. to continue the planning of the Mustard Faire. E. Discuss Sign for McWilliams House – Item not discussed. F. Discuss Orchard Pathway – Item not discussed. G. Discuss Orchard Maintenance 3. New Business 8:30 a.m. Site Visit – 20731 Saint Charles Road – Review proposed demolition of the existing single-story single-family home. – Site visit completed with Mr. Mahammad Estahbanaty, property owner. Mr. Estahbanaty presented the history of the structure and the site. Commissioner Koepernik stated that the building was significant to the church that formerly occupied a nearby property and that he would like to see more written history of the building. Commissioner Koepernik also stated that he believed the proposed design for the replacement structure was not compatible with other existing structures on the street and it would impair the existing character of the neighborhood and requested that the Planning Department review the proposed residential design for neighborhood compatibility. Mr. Shoppe agreed with Commissioner Koepernik that a historic review or historic research of the property was needed. Vice Chair Marra commented that the existing building was not in a livable state and believed that if the HPC stated that the building was significant that the Planning Commission would still recommend that the building be demolished and that he would like to see a detailed historical report of the property. Commissioner Tai stated that any replacement structure would need to be more historically sympathetic to the existing neighborhood. Mr. Shoppe stated if the Commission was to recommend that the applicant create a report that he felt April Halberstadt should not be expected to review it. Commissioner Gomersall stated that she would recommend that a plaque be placed on the project discussing the significance of the site. Commissioner Koepernik replied that the marker could be installed at a later date. Motion to approve by Commissioner Koepernik, seconded by Vice Chair Marra, with the following recommendation: A historical report shall be prepared since the existing house has historical significance to the church that formerly occupied and adjacent parcel. A copy of this report shall be provided to the Museum as well as the HPC. In addition, staff and the Planning Commission are to review the design of the proposed replacement structure for compatibility with the neighborhood. Carried on a 7-0 vote 4. Pending Items A. Historic Resources Inventory B. McWilliams House Renovation C. National Register Applications D. Adopt a Tree Program for the Heritage Orchard E. Update Heritage Ordinance F. Review Oak Street as a Heritage Lane G. Review additional content for Heritage Resources webpage H. Historic Preservation Data Base I. Review list of properties with structures 50 years and over in age 5. Adjournment Adjourn to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 12, 2008, Warner Hutton House, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue.