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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-08-2008 HPC Minutes City of Saratoga H ERITAGE P RESERVATION C OMMISSION MINUTES Date: Tuesday, April 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 approximately 9:15 a.m. 1. Routine Organization A. Roll Call PRESENT: Commissioners Gomersall, Koepernik, McCarty, Sorden, Chair Kellond, and Vice Chair Marra ABSENT: Commissioner Tai STAFF: Senior Planner Christopher Riordan GUESTS: Mr. Mike Chen, Mr. Chun (Jessie) Ma B. Approval of minutes from March 11, 2008 meeting- Approved C. Posting of Agenda – Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda was posted on April 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. – Vice Chair Marra stated that he was disappointed in the paint color that was used for the exterior of the Warner Hutton House as it is too lavender looking. Commissioner Sorden said that it was important that the minutes of this meeting state that the actual paint color used for the exterior of the Warner Hutton House do not match the colors that were approved by the HPC and the paint does not look like the paint chips approved by HPC. 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 Vice Chair Marra asked about the status of the historical report for the project on Saint Charles. 2. Old Business A. Discuss National Registry & Saratoga Landmark Plaques – Not Discussed B. Discuss Heritage Orchard Signage – Item Discussed. Commissioner Koepernik said that the HPC needs to push for the orchard signage and that the initial estimates to construct the wall would be approximately between 30- 35 thousand dollars and there is a chance that the library could give some of the money. The goal is to identify the historic orchard. Chair Kellond said that there is a need to codify the budget for the sign and that he needs to make some minor changes to the drawing of the orchard sign and then he will take the design back to the library commission and the budget show reflect the library financial input. C. Discuss Historic Incentives – Not Discussed D. Discuss Mustard Faire – Item Discussed. Chair Kellond said that he sent Michael Taylor notes from the HPC meeting and that these notes were to be attached to the report. Chair Kellond also said that he had reviewed the report prepared by Michael Taylor and that the report was good and the budget needed a dollar value since the goal of the HPC was not to ask for a huge sum of money. Commissioner Koepernik stated that the staff report should include dollar amounts and how much Parks and Recreation would expend and that City Council would reduce the budget; there is a need to know what the assets would cost. Chair Kellond said that West Valley provided parking at no cost but could not guarantee that West Valley College would not charge a fee next year. Chair Kellond said that he would forward last year’s Mustard Faire budget to Michael Taylor. Commissioner Gomersall said that she was under the impression that the Mustard Faire could not grow any bigger. Chair Kellond responded by saying that the Mustard Faire would not grow bigger but just would get better and that he would like the event to seem more established. Commissioner Koepernik said that there should not be an assumption that people who provided free or no cost services to the Faire would not always be available to do so and given this the budget figures are too low. Chair Kellond said that he would follow up with Michael Taylor with the comments received at this meeting, HPC presence should be present at the meeting and that members who can go should go since the HPC should be there to answer questions from the Council. Vice Chair Marra expressed his concern that he did not know how the City Council would respond and that there would be a need for the HPC to follow up with the Council at a later time. Chair Kellond said that volunteers were needed to attend the meeting to present HPC‘s case. Commissioner Koepernik said that there would be a need for a City Council/HPC study session after the meeting and that he would attend the City Council meeting. Commissioner Gomersall said that the HPC needs to have a meeting with Michael Taylor first to discuss increasing the dollar amount. Commissioner Sorden said that the Historical Foundation would not monitor the money next year, the Foundation lost money, and this management should be added as a cost item to the budget. Commissioner McCarty said that the Historical Foundation should be reimbursed. Chair Kellond said that there was a consensus to have the meeting in April 16, 2008 and that the HPC would request a study session at the meeting. Commissioner Koepernik said that the figure should get out than have a study session to discuss since there needs to be a more detailed discussion of the budget. Chair Kellond said that the HPC needs to follow up with the Council as soon as we can. Senior Planner Chris Riordan said that he would provide the dates for budget input to the HPC and discuss a possible study session with the City Manager. Commissioner Sorden said that the cost of financial bookkeeping should be added to the budget amount. E. Discuss Sign for McWilliams House – Not Discussed F. Discuss Orchard Pathway – Item Discussed. Chair Kellond noted that nothing had yet come back to the HPC for review. He also reiterated a previous point that the HPC felt the proposed orchard sign was a priority over the pathway. The HPC requested that the pathway plan come back to a later meeting and that there was a need to review the construction details and if there was a chance that the money for the pathway be used for the sign since the sign is the primary priority. Commissioner Sorden mentioned his concern on how the existence of the pathway would affect the maintenance costs of the orchard. Commissioner Koepernik said that he would like to review the cost of the orchard pathway. G. Discuss Orchard Maintenance – Item Discussed. Senior Planner Christopher Riordan brought up the issue of an Oak tree in the Heritage Orchard that was affecting the orchard trees and that the City wanted to remove it and place it on a site at West Valley College. It was a consensus of the HPC that the relocation of the oak tree from the Heritage Orchard should come back to the HPC for further discussion 3. New Business A. 8:30 a.m. Site Visit – 13216 Pierce Road – Review proposed demolition of the existing two story single-family home. – Item Discussed. Vice Chair began the discussion by stating that the project site was an attractive piece of property and that he was pleased that the applicants would be preserving the Oak trees. Commissioner McCarty stated that the existing house on the site was in bad shape and she agreed with Commissioner Marra that it was a nice piece of property. Commissioner Gomersall said that she would support tearing down the existing house and building a new residence in its place. Commissioner Koepernik said that he would support the demolition of the house but not for the reason of its existing poor condition, there is nothing significant about the architectural style of the house or past owners and not because it is deteriorating, and he suggested that the proposed house design be modified. Chair Kellond said that he agreed with Commissioner Koepernik that the existing condition of the house was not a valid reason to support the demolition, the house does have some historical element but the house has been significantly modified, the proposed design should be more sensitive to the site and relate to the existing trees. Motion by Commissioner Koepernik and seconded by Commissioner Gomersall to support the demolition with the condition that the new design is cognizant of the existing trees on the site. Carried on a 6-0 vote. B. Discuss Hakone Gardens - Item Discussed. Commissioner Koepernik said Hakone Gardens needs to have landmark status and that the HPC should support it and that it needs to be made official. Senior Planner Christopher Riordan said that he would provide information to Commissioner Koepernik on the landmark status process. 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, May 13, 2008, Warner Hutton House, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue.