Heritage Preservation Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission Wednesday, June 1, 2016 7:00 PM West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 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 16-0483 PRESENTATION - Recognition of Service Recognition of Service Council Member Griffith presented recognition awards to Chair Squellati and Comm. Michitaka for their dedicated service to the City on the Heritage Preservation Commission. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. CONSENT CALENDAR City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes June 1, 2016 16-0484 Approve the Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes of May 4, 2016 Comm. Hopkins moved to approve the Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes of May 4, 2016, as submitted. Comm. Valenzuela seconded. Motion carried by the following vote. Yes: 6 - Chair Squellati Vice Chair Mouritsen Commissioner Hopkins Commissioner Larsen Commissioner Michitaka Commissioner Valenzuela No: 0 Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Dietrich PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes June 1, 2016 16-0567 Review Planning Program Budget and Fees for FY 2016-17 Planning Officer Andrew Miner introduced himself to the Commission and presented the report. Comm. Dietrich asked a few questions about the budget. Chair Squellati and Comm. Michitaka asked staff to clarify the hourly rates noted in the report. Mr. Miner briefly informed the Commission about Sunnyvale’s 20-year budget plan and the process for each budget cycle. Chair Squellati asked if it were possible for staff to present the budget in a way that shows the amount utilized for Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) items. Mrs. Blizinski discussed the budget reporting style and how it was very difficult to separate out only the HPC items and that staff provided a table to show what percentage of the projects processed by the Community Development Department went to the HPC. Chair Squellati opened the public hearing. No members of the public spoke on this item. Chair Squellati closed the public hearing. Commissioners voted on the Recommended FY 2015-2016 budget for the Planning Program, as submitted. 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 City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes June 1, 2016 16-0569 File #: 2013-7653 Location: Peery Park District Area Applicant: City of Sunnyvale Proposed Project: Public Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report and Draft Peery Park Specific Plan for the Peery Park Specific Plan. Project Planner: Amber Blizinski, (408) 730-2723, ablizinski@sunnyvale.ca.gov Amber Blizinski, Principal Planner, presented the report for the Peery Park Specific Plan. Chair Squellati opened the item for public comments. Donald Kirker, expressed his pleasure regarding the planned restoration of the structure on the Mellows Nursery site. Chair Squellati closed the public hearing. Chair Squellati made a motion that the cultural resources information within the Draft EIR for the Peery Park Specific Plan contains adequate review of the historic resources within the area and comes to adequate conclusions. Comm. Dietrich 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 City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes June 1, 2016 16-0570 Consideration to Initiate the Heritage Resource Nomination Process for Six (6) Trees on 871 E. Fremont Avenue (Butcher's Corner) Mrs. Blizinski presented the report. Comm. Dietrich confirmed that the property had been sold by the Butcher family. Comm. Michitaka asked if the property owner is responsible for the health of the trees on the site. Principal Planner Amber Blizinski responded yes, that the health and safety of the trees on private property are the property owner’s responsibility. Comm. Dietrich expressed that the tree’s health is important to her. Chair Squellati expressed some concern for tree #106 (per the Arborist report for the Butcher’s Corner Draft Environmental Impact Report). Planning Officer Andrew Miner discussed the difference between natural resources and heritage resources with the Commissioners. He also reminded the Commission that their purview is to determine if the trees meet certain historic criteria and are not just natural resource to the City. Comm. Larsen clarified with staff on the Commission’s purview. Chair Squellati opened the public hearing. Denise DeLang noted her support to save the trees and nominate them as heritage resources. Donald Kirker, spoke in support to save the trees on the Butcher's Corner property. He noted that the City was once called Encinal, which he believes is in reference to the Live Oak trees that were prominent to early Sunnyvale history. Mary Brunkhorst, requested the Heritage Preservation Commission designate the trees as heritage resources. Martin Landzaat, spoke in favor to save the Valley Oak Tree on the Butcher's Corner property. Deborah Marks, SUFA (Sunnyvale Urban Forest Advocates), noted her support to nominate the trees. City of Sunnyvale Page 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes June 1, 2016 John Vidovich, owner of the property, spoke about the development proposal for the Butcher’s Corner property site. He noted that the trees are valuable; however, does not believe the trees have heritage criteria. Vice Chair Mouritsen clarified with Mr. Vidovich of the health of the trees. Chair Squellati further discussed the significance of tree # 106 on the arborist report. Comm. Valenzuela noted that tree #106 of the arborist report is his main consideration. Chair Squellati noted that he feels that trees #119, #120, and #121 are also significant to the City and clarified the Commission’s purview of whether the trees are a heritage resource. MOTION: Comm. Dietrich moved to initiate the nomination process for seven trees (Grove and Center Oak) as Heritage Resources. Vice Chair Mouritsen seconded. Comm. Dietrich stated that the trees are large, indigenous, and are (in her opinion) of historic significance to the City. Vice Chair Mouritsen noted that he believes the trees are significant to the City's heritage. Comm. Larsen agreed with the Commissioners statements regarding the importance of the subject trees. Comm. Michitaka noted the importance to balance the City's heritage with new developments. Motion carried by the following vote. City of Sunnyvale Page 6 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes June 1, 2016 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 None. NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS Mrs. Blizinski thanked Chair Squellati and Comm. Michitaka for their service as Heritage Preservation Commissioners. -Commissioner Comments Comm. Mouritsen noted an event at the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum. INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS Mrs. Blizinski noted that there will be no meeting in July since there are no public hearing items scheduled. ADJOURNMENT Chair Squellati adjourned the meeting at 9:07 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 7