Heritage Preservation Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Heritage Preservation Commission Wednesday, June 6, 2018 7:00 PM West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER Chair Dietrich called the meeting to order. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Dietrich led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Present: 7 - Chair Hannalore Dietrich Chair Dawn Hopkins Commissioner Melanie Holthaus Vice Chair Dixie Larsen Commissioner Mike Michitaka Commissioner Dale Mouritsen Commissioner Kenneth Valenzuela PRESENTATION None. 18-0484 Heritage Preservation Commission Recognition Vice Mayor Larry Klein presented the Recognition Certificates to Chair Hannalore Dietrich and Vice Chair Dale Mouritsen. He also thanked the entire Commission for their service and expressed his appreciation for the time they have provide to help preserve the history of Sunnyvale. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. CONSENT CALENDAR 1.A. 18-0482 Approve the Draft Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes of May 2, 2018 City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final June 6, 2018 Comm. Michitaka moved and Vice Chair Hopkins seconded to approve the Draft Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes of May 2, 2018, as modified. PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2. 18-0481 Review Planning Program Budget and Fees for FY 2018-19 Noren Caliva-Lepe presented the recommended budget for the next fiscal year. She noted a rise of 16% from last year. She noted that the final budget will be submitted for approval at the City Council meeting this Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Chair Dietrich asked staff if the budget includes large development projects. She also noted that she is happy to see the Budget Program 235 – Housing and CDBG Program is in good standing as she understands the importance of housing to all residents of Sunnyvale who need assistance. Ms. Caliva Lepe noted that the Commission’s comments to the budget will be forwarded to the City Council. Chair Dietrich noted her approval of the budget. Comm. Larsen moved and Comm. Mouritsen seconded the approval of the Recommended FY 2018 2019 budget for the Planning Program. 3. 18-0423 Proposed Project: RESOURCE ALLOCATION PERMIT to consider the historic significance of a single-family home which is listed as part of the Sunnyvale Heritage Resources Inventory. Location: 435 East McKinley Street (APN: 209-11-051) File #: 2017-7961 Zoning: R-2 Applicant / Owner: Gary Holmes Architects (applicant) / Meena and William Tapsall (owner) Environmental Review: Environmental review will be conducted as required by California Environmental Quality Act provisions and City Guidelines upon determination of significance by the Heritage Preservation Commission. Project Planner: Aastha Vashist, (408) 730-7458, avashist@sunnyvale.ca.gov Assistant Planner Aastha Vashist presented the report. She noted that staff recommends Alternative 2 of the staff report, which the home does not have historical significance. City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final June 6, 2018 Chair Dietrich asked where the other heritage resources were on McKinley. Ms. Caliva-Lepe noted that there are three homes one block away on McKinley. She asked staff about the modifications to the garage and other areas that needed restoration. She also asked if the owners obtained any permits for these improvements. Ms. Vashist noted that there is limited information on the permit history. Ms. Caliva-Lepe noted that codes and permitting requirements may change over time. Comm. Larsen confirmed the reason for current listing on the Heritage Resource List. Ms. Caliva-Lepe note that the significance noted in the original 1988 survey was due to the use of the property, and not based on the architecture or persons affiliated with the property. Ms. Caliva-Lepe also clarified that prior to being listed on the Heritage Resource Inventory, preservation requirements and permits would not have been required. Comm. Larsen asked staff to clarify the windshield survey conducted in the late 1980s. She noted that there are several homes on the Inventory that should not have been on the list to begin with. Ms. Caliva-Lepe noted that staff is aware of this concern and that a study issue to re-evaluate the Inventory was ranked by the City Council; however, it was not funded for completion this year. She asked if an applicant is required to provide a historical analysis if they want to remove their home from the Inventory and Ms. Caliva-Lepe acknowledged that a historic analysis is required. Vice Chair Hopkins expressed the importance of conducting the study. Comm. Michitaka noted that he does not recall any homes that went through this process were ever denied and noted that being able to consider historic districts, instead of evaluating each property individually, would be more efficient. He also expressed concerns about losing potentially historic streetscapes or groupings of homes. Ms. Caliva-Lepe noted the Heritage Taaffe Frances District is an example of a historic district. Ms. Calva-Lepe noted that, through the Council Study Issue process, Commissioners or staff could nominate a study issue to address this concern. Comm. Larsen reiterated her concern of wasting home owners' time to remove their homes from the Heritage Resource Inventory that should have not been listed to City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final June 6, 2018 begin with. Chair opened the Public Hearing. Gary Holmes, architect, noted that the home has no historical significance as stated on the historical analysis. Luke Tapsell, owner, noted his agreement with the Commissioners’ concerns that the home never met the criteria to be on the Heritage Resource Inventory. He noted that he has found bags of potato chips in the basements, which he has displayed on a wall of the home. Comm. Larsen asked what he is intending to do with the property. Mr. Luke noted that he will be using the original home as his primary residence and that he was planning to build a second home in front of the existing. Ms. Caliva-Lepe clarified the zoning of the property. Chair closed the Public Hearing. Vice Chair Hopkins moved and Comm. Valenzuela seconded to agree with staff’s recommendation of Alternative 2: Determine that the single family home does not have historical significance. Motion carried as follows: Yes: 7 - Chair Dietrich Chair Hopkins Commissioner Holthaus Vice Chair Larsen Commissioner Michitaka Commissioner Mouritsen Commissioner Valenzuela No: 0 STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES Vice Chair Hopkins expressed her interest in the re-evaluation of the Heritage Resource Inventory. Commission discussed a potential study to propose specific areas of the City as Heritage Districts. City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final June 6, 2018 NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Comm. Larsen reiterated her concerns expressed at the previous meeting on May 2, 2018 regarding the Civic Center Modernization Plan. She noted that the redwood trees between City Hall and the Annex Building should be preserved and that she considers their removal as “criminal”. INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS None. ADJOURNMENT Chair Dietrich adjourned the meeting at 7:53 City of Sunnyvale Page 5