Heritage Preservation Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Heritage Preservation Commission Wednesday, February 3, 2016 7:00 PM West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Meeting to be held only if necessary CALL TO ORDER Chair Squellati called the meeting to order. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Squellati led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Present: 7 - Chair David Squellati Vice Chair Dale Mouritsen Commissioner Hannalore Dietrich Commissioner Dawn Hopkins Commissioner Dixie Larsen Commissioner Mike Michitaka Commissioner Kenneth Valenzuela PRESENTATION None. City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final February 3, 2016 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Mary Brunkhorst, asked the Commission for support preservation of some oak trees on the corner of Wolfe Road and El Camino real on the Butchers Corner property. She said that municipal code states that the Heritage Preservation Commission may request the designation of a Heritage Resource if it has a unique location or singular physical characteristic or is a view or vista representing an established and familiar visual feature to the neighborhood, community or the City. Chair Squellati asked staff for a response. Comm. Larsen asked about the tree locations, and if it is located in an easement. Amber Blizinski, Senior Planner, noted that there is an existing application pending for that site and that generally the City would want the property owner to be involved in the request as the City does not typically add heritage resources to the Heritage Resource Inventory list without the owner’s consent. She noted that the Heritage Commission, City Council or owner would need to submit the request and said that since the property is a current development application an interested party may want to voice their concerns about the trees during the future public hearings. Staff noted that the property owner is not required to be involved but that generally we would want their support. Chair Squellati asked about the specific trees that Ms. Brunkhorst is referring to. Ms. Blizinski recommended that the Ms. Brunkhorst contact the project planner for the Butcher’s Corner project to stay involved in the process and that staff would follow up with her with the contact information. CONSENT CALENDAR 1.A. 16-0148 Draft Minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting of December 2, 2015 Chair Squellati made a motion to approve the Draft Minutes of December 2, 2016. Comm. Hopkins seconded. Motin carried by the following vote: City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final February 3, 2016 Yes: 6 - Chair Squellati Vice Chair Mouritsen Commissioner Dietrich Commissioner Hopkins Commissioner Larsen Commissioner Michitaka No: 0 Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Valenzuela 1.B. Review of the Code of Ethics The Commission acknowledged that they have received the Code of Ethics for review. PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final February 3, 2016 2. 16-0130 File #: 2015-8046 Location: 175 North Sunnyvale Avenue (APN: 204-49-007) Applicant / Owner: Robert Devaney Proposed Project: RESOURCE ALTERATION PERMIT to allow a 275 square foot addition to a heritage resource. The total proposed floor area is 2,107 square feet (30 percent Floor Area Ratio). Reason for Permit: A Resource Alteration Permit is required to allow changes to the exterior appearance of a heritage resource through alteration, construction and demolition. Project Planner: Aastha Vashist, (408) 730-7458, avashist@sunnyvale.ca.gov Issues: Changes to Historic Resource Recommendation: Approve with conditions Aastha Vashist presented the staff report. Chair Squellati asked if the Conditions of Approval are standard and Ms. Vashist replied that they were. Comm. Larsen asked staff if there are changes to the garage proposed. Ms. Vashist confirmed that the applicant is proposing to paint the garage, but that there are no structural changes proposed to that structure. Comm. Michitaka asked to clarify the location of the addition and if it was visible to the public. Ms. Vashist responded that the addition is in the rear of the home, and clarified the location with the Commission on the site plan. Chair Squellati asked staff if part of the proposal including demolition of the existing rear porch. Ms. Vashist replied yes, and that the proposed plans include a new rear porch. Comm. Dietrich confirmed with staff that the proposal is an extension to the rear of the home and includes painting the garage. Ms. Vashist confirmed. Chair Squellati opened the public hearing. Robert Devaney, applicant, presented his proposal, noting their intention is to preserve the historical features of the home. Comm. Dietrich asked about the new windows design. The applicant responded that the windows will have the same design characteristics as the current ones that are proposed to be replaced. City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final February 3, 2016 Comm. Dietrich mentioned that she felt the proposal would be an improvement to the neighborhood, and asked about the proposed colors. Ms. Brunkhorst asked if it is clear in the report that the garage is not part of the proposal. Ms. Blizinski confirmed to the Commission that the garage was not part of the proposal. Chair Squellati closed the public hearing. Chair Squellati mentioned staff's recommendation and the alternatives in the report and then called for a motion. Motion: Comm. Hopkins made a motion for staff's recommendation of Alternative 1; Approve the Resource Alteration Permit with recommended Conditions in Attachment 4. Comm. Michitaka seconded. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 - Chair Squellati Vice Chair Mouritsen Commissioner Dietrich Commissioner Hopkins Commissioner Larsen Commissioner Michitaka Commissioner Valenzuela No: 0 STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS Comm. Mouritsen asked what Ms. Brunkhorst can do regarding the trees that were previously discussed. Ms. Blizinski said that the owner, City Council, or the Heritage Preservation Commission can formally request to nominate the trees to the Heritage Resource List and that she would report back to the Commission and Ms. Brunkhorst regarding the process. City of Sunnyvale Page 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final February 3, 2016 -Commissioner Comments Comm. Michitaka asked about the progress regarding the previous landmark Alteration Permit (Hoolala Chicken). Ms. Blizinski noted that the appeal period has passed and that staff worked with the applicant in choosing the gray color. INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS 3. Potential Recap of the 2016 City Council Study/Budget Issues Workshop Ms. Blizinski reported that the Heritage Commission’s proposed study issues were approved for study during the Study Issue/Budget Workshop. She noted that if the Planning Department was able to do both study issues that the Heritage Placards would be completed by staff and that the Murphy Avenue Design Guideline Study Issue would require hiring a consultant. ADJOURNMENT Chair Squellati adjourned the meeting at 7:41. City of Sunnyvale Page 6