APPROVED MINUTES
SUNNYVALE heritage preservation commission

The Heritage Preservation Commission met in regular session on July 7, 2004 in the Lobby Conference Room, 456 West Olive Avenue at 6:30 P.M. with Chair Shoemaker presiding.

ROLL CALL

Chair Jane Shoemaker, Vice Chair Brian McQueen, Comm. Neil Love; Comm. Elizabeth Steward, Comm. Dawn Hopkins, Comm. Lisa Davis, Comm.  Rose Kausek.

Steve Lynch, Associate Planner; Joey Mariano, Staff Office Assistant

Dick Oliver, Citizen

SCHEDULED PRESENTATION

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dick Oliver announced that he was at the meeting to observe as he is interested in applying for the Heritage Preservation Commission.

CONSENT CALENDAR

1. A) Approval of May 5, 2004 Minutes

Comm. Hopkins made a motion to approve the Minutes of May 5, 2004.  Comm. Davis seconded.  Motion carried  6-1 with Comm. Kausek abstaining.

CITIZENS TO BE HEARD

Dick Oliver, Citizen, inquired about the Commision. He stated that he is a history lover and commented that different cultures world-wide should have some type of preservation.

PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS

2.   A) Introduce and Welcome Commissioner Rose Kausek

Chair Shoemaker welcomed Comm. Kausek to the Commission.  Comm. Kausek introduced her heritage insights of Sunnyvale.

     B) Voting for Chair and Vice Chair

Chair Shoemaker thanked the Commission for letting her serve as Chair for the past two years.  She noted that she would be honored to continue to sit with the Commission until the position is filled.

Comm. Hopkins nominated Comm. McQueen to serve as Chair.

Comm. McQueen nominated Comm. Love to serve as Chair.

Comm. McQueen noted that he would be honored to serve as Chair for the Commission. 

Comm. Love stated his busy work schedule outside of the Commission would restrict him from serving as Chair or Vice Chair.

Nomination for Comm. McQueen to serve as Chair carried unanimously 7-0.

Comm. Steward nominated Comm. Davis for Vice Chair.  Comm. Shoemaker nominated Comm. Hopkins for Vice Chair as well.  Comm. Davis noted that she would have no other commitments that would restrict her from serving the Commission as the Vice Chair.  Comm. Hopkins noted that her busy schedule may conflict with the demands as being  Vice Chair.

C) Update on the Study Issue on Clarification of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Steve Lynch, Associate Planner, provided the Commission an update on this Study Issue noting that it would likely be completed in January of 2005.

Vice Chair Davis asked staff if this change to the Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) would make the Commissioners responsible for any changes to Heritage Resources during the decision making process for items subject to CEQA.

Mr. Lynch further explained the Study Issue and what obligations this change to SMC would bring to the Commission.

D) Update on Outreach Objective Progress

Comm. Shoemaker asked Chair McQueen to give an update on the geocaching idea as one of the outreach projects that has been in the works. Chair McQueen stated that he now has more time to work on outreaching and the geocaching. He noted that he received some feedback more work needed to be completed prior to the completion stages of the outreach project.  He stated that the work should be shared amongst the Commission through a shared document.

Comm. Steward asked for specific addresses of Heritage Resources, such as the Spalding House.  Comm. Shoemaker and Vice Chair Davis noted that the addresses are located on the Heritage Resource Inventory list. 

Comm. Steward asked if there is a centralized document that they could work on for the geocaching project.  Comm. Shoemaker stated that she did not know of any such document that was being shared.

Comm. Love concurred with Comm. Shoemaker that he did not know that there is a centralized place where their ideas have been gathered.

Chair McQueen asked for more feedback from everyone to further document the idea and to take this project to the next step.

Mr. Lynch noted his enthusiasm to see the “Heritage Quest” evolving into a solid project.

NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS

·         BOARDMEMBERS OR COMMISSIONERS ORAL COMMENTS

Vice Chair Davis noted that she was visiting her home in the City of Prescott, which is a City full of historic sites.  She noted how serious history is viewed and treated in Prescott, Arizona.  She noted that all the Historic Societies and Organizations work together to be more efficient.

Comm. Shoemaker noted the quarterly report.  She noted that she was asked to go to City Hall early one morning to take a picture for the Quarterly Report but did not see the picture.

Comm. Shoemaker noted that names for the new downtown plaza are being considered by Council.  Vice Chair Davis suggested Beneer Plaza, for the First Mayor of Sunnyvale who happened to be the first female Mayor in California.

·         STAFF ORAL COMMENTS: 

1) 160 N. Sunnyvale House (Dick Smith) Update

Steve Lynch described the subject site and gave an update on the home on 160 N. Sunnyvale Ave. to what is now determined to have no historic significance.  Also, he noted that the house was approved to be moved across the street on California Avenue.

Comm. Steward asked if the owner is planning on living in the home.  Staff said yes.

2)    Downtown Update

Staff updated the Commission on the current events of the Forum Group Project.  He noted the City Council dates and what is taking place during the upcoming meetings.  Comm. Hopkins noted that one of her concerns for downtown is tying in historic Murphy Ave with the new development.

Comm. Love asked if the development comes into the Historic District.  Staff noted that the HPC will not have review authority for this project, since it is not a designated Historic Resource or in a Landmark Heritage District.

Comm. Hopkins asked if the Commission can consult with The Forum Group as a liaison to citizens concerns.

The Commission expressed concerns about the design of the development and stated that it would be nice to have some say about the architectural design of Downtown.

Comm. Hopkins asked staff if they can have discretion about the surroundings of the Historic Redwood trees.

3)             454 Frances St.

Mr. Lynch noted that this site is the last home in Sunnyvale with a regional vernacular architecture unique to Sunnyvale.  Chair McQueen noted that the home is located on his street and that the home does need major renovations for it to be livable.  Comm. Hopkins asked if the Mills Act can protect the value.  Staff noted that the home is on the market for sale and the Commission may be reviewing a permit for this structure sometime soon.

Comm. Shoemaker asked if the home was in the Heritage Housing District.  Chair McQueen noted the exact location. Staff clarified the location was not at the Heritage Housing District.

Comm. Love asked staff if the house is on the Historic Inventory List.  Staff stated that it was identified on this list.  Comm. Hopkins asked if the owner is at all interested in restoring it.  Comm. Shoemaker asked if the selling agent is informed of the historic value of the home.  Staff acknowledged that the selling agent was informed of its Heritage designation by staff.

Comm. Hopkins asked if it is now considered livable.  Staff noted yes, but it is close to being condemned as a non-livable structure. 

Commissioners asked staff more questions about the subject site. Staff responded and clarified.

Comm. Kausek asked staff about the Mills Act.  Staff clarified.

 ADJOURNMENT

The meeting ended at 8:12 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Steve Lynch, Associate Planner