HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-11-2008 HPC Minutes
City of Saratoga
H ERITAGE P RESERVATION C OMMISSION
MINUTES
Date: Tuesday, March 11, 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, Mr. Michael Taylor
GUESTS: Mr. Chuck Shoppe, Mr. James Sorden
B. Approval of minutes from February 12, 2008 meeting - Approved
C. Posting of Agenda – Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the
agenda was posted on March 6, 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. –
Commissioner Koepernik directed staff to placed Hakone Gardens on the
next agenda for discussion.
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. - None
2. Old Business
A. Discuss National Registry & Saratoga Landmark Plaques – Not Discussed
B. Discuss Heritage Orchard Signage – Not Discussed
C. Discuss Historic Incentives – Not Discussed
D. Discuss Mustard Faire – Item Discussed. Mr. Taylor stated that he had come
to the HPC meeting to get a general outline of what the City can provide to
the HPC to assist with the Mustard Faire. Mr. Taylor said that the City is well
equipped to provide maintenance, some planning, permits, noticing, traffic
control, safety barricades, safety, trash, restrooms, pubic address system,
etc, and the HPC can concentrate on planning the event and finding
volunteers. Vice Chair Marra said that is would be helpful if the City could
plan the parking and negotiate with West Valley College early to avoid fees.
Chair Kellond asked Mr. Taylor how the City has worked in the past with other
Commissions. Mr. Taylor said that the City typically helps to plan events by
working with the Chamber and that he was scheduled to go before the City
Council on April 16th with a staff report on how the City could provide support
to the HPC and the Mustard Faire. Chair Kellond said that the HPC needs to
organize how to plan next years Mustard Faire and that the HPC will go back
to City Council with a plan for next year and that it would be better to have a
joint meeting with HPC and the Recreation Department. Mr. Taylor said that
he would anticipate that a representative from the HPC would attend the April
16th City Council meeting. Commissioner Koepernik said that the HPC would
need to outline what is needed. Vice Chair Marra said that the HPC agreed
to have the Mustard Faire on first Sunday in March and that the West Valley
Light Opera would be using the theatre that day and so we want to choose a
different date for 2009 so there is no conflict with the other groups.
Commissioner Koepernik said that he would not support pushing the Mustard
Faire past the first Sunday in March since he observed that there was a
shortage of mustard plants in the orchard when he recently looked at it. Chair
Kellond asked Mr. Taylor how he visualized the HPC working with the
Recreation Department. Mr. Taylor said that there was support from the
Council for help but the level of help would be limited since Saratoga was not
a full service City. Chair Kellond said that the HPC should prioritize what we
want from the City and that we should formulate a group recommendation
and that the first step to do this is at the April 16 Council meeting.
Commissioner Koepernik said that we need another meeting since this was a
surprise to the HPC, we need to get together to plan an idea and from these
ideas we will get an idea of how much budget we need. Mr. Shoppe said the
Historical Foundation handled the finances last time and that he would like
the City to handle the finances. Mr. Shoppe introduced Jim Sorden and that
he was going to be the newest member of the HPC and the liaison to the
Saratoga Historical Foundation. Mr. Shoppe said that he would like to
recover the monetary loss that the Foundation incurred since they wrote the
checks and got stuck with it. The HPC discussed what day and time to have
a special meeting to discuss the Mustard Faire and selected 3:00 P.M. on
March 23.
E. Discuss Sign for McWilliams House – Not Discussed
F. Discuss Orchard Pathway – Not Discussed
G. Discuss Orchard Maintenance – Not Discussed
3. New Business
A. 8:30 a.m. Site Visit –14493-14495 Big Basin Way (Saratoga Cleaners)
Project is under construction. HPC had previously recommended that the
stucco from the façade facing Turkey Track Lane be removed to expose the
original limestone stone walls. Removal of stucco is damaging the stone wall.
The applicant is proposing applying new stucco to the wall to match the rest
of the building. Site visit completed. Item discussed. Chair Kellond said he
and Commissioner Koepernik had met the owner at the project site and that
the owner was having problems removing the stucco to expose the stone
underneath. Commissioner Koepernik said that the owner had agreed to chip
away the stucco that was loose and leave potions of the wall stuccoed so that
only portions of the wall would have exposed stone and that the plaster at the
top of the wall should be irregular at the transition between stucco and stone.
Commissioner Tai said that she was concerned about how this would look but
that landscaping and art work would improve the look. Commissioner
Gomersall said that she did not see the point of it and thought that the final
result would be unattractive. Chair Kellond said that it is a priority to restore
what historical piece is left of the original building and that there was a
precedence set by former members of the HPC and that their original intent
was to maintain some history of the building. Commissioner Marra said that
as much stone as possible should be exposed – it is important to retain the
historical elements of the village and that ugly was a matter of perception
since the wall is part of the history of the village. Commissioner Gomersall
said that we need a plaque on the building and that we should expose as
much stone as possible and that this should be explained with a plaque.
Commissioner Koepernik said that there was something natural and beautiful
about the wall and that it was important since we have limited historical
resources in the Village and that is why we should save it and expose it.
Commissioner Tai agreed that exposing the wall would be beautiful. Mr.
Sorden said that the stone on the wall is sandstone and that sandblasting with
sand will destroy the stone and that they used the wrong technique and that
the idea of a plaque was a wonderful idea and that it should be at eye level.
Motion by Commissioner Koepernik and seconded by Vice Chair Marra to
1) chip away as much loose stucco on the stone wall as possible to expose
the underlying stone and leaving the rest of the stucco in place; 2) transition
of new stucco should be stuccoed irregularly to give look of inconsistency;
3) grind paint off of iron wall supports; 4) construct an arbor that is detached
from the stone wall to support the growing of vines; 5) applicant is to install a
plaque identifying and describing the wall which is to conform to SVDC
standards; 5) applicant is to come back to the HPC for review; 6) applicant is
to contact Commissioners Kellond or Koepernik during the job to review the
work and to discuss techniques. Carried on a 7-0 vote.
B. 13777 Fruitvale Avenue (Warner Hutton House). Review proposed paint
colors for the building - Item discussed. Commissioner Koepernik suggested
that the colors used for the body and skirt of the building be low-sheen and
semi-gloss on the trim. Motion by Vice Chair Marra and seconded by
Commissioner Louden to agree with Commisioner Koepernik’s suggestions.
Carried on a 7-0 vote.
4. Pending Items
A. Historic Resources Inventory
B. National Register Applications
C. Adopt a Tree Program for the Heritage Orchard
D. Update Heritage Ordinance
E. Review Oak Street as a Heritage Lane
F. Review additional content for Heritage Resources webpage
G. Historic Preservation Data Base
H. Review list of properties with structures 50 years and over in age
5. Adjournment
Adjourn to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, 2008, Warner Hutton House, 13777
Fruitvale Avenue.