CITY OF SUNNYVALE
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Approved Minutes
Wednesday, May 7, 2003 at 7:00PM
Council Chambers
Sunnyvale City Hall
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PUBLIC HEARING - 7:00 p.m. |
Present: Chair Shoemaker; Comm. Hopkins; Comm. Love; Comm. McQueen; and, Comm. Pang
Staff: Jo Ann Rouse, Interim Planner; Steve Lynch. Associate Planner; Gloria Barron, Staff Office Assistant; and Joey Mariano, Staff Office Assistant, Recording Secretary.
Excused Absence: Vice Chair Reid and Comm. Rau
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Comm. McQueen moved to approve the minutes of April 2, 2003. Comm. Hopkins seconded. |
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Motion carried unanimously 5-0 with Comms. Rau and Reed absent. |
Elizabeth Stuart, member of the public, introduced herself and noted her background and interest with the Heritage Preservation Commission.
Commissioners welcomed her to the meeting.
Steve Lynch, Project Planner, presented the staff report. He summarized the subject application and was able to make the required Findings and recommended approval of the Landmark Alteration Permit subject to the Conditions of Approval recommended by staff.
Chair Shoemaker asked staff if the awning would be made by the same vendor as the awning located in the adjacent building. Staff responded that the intent was to match the adjacent awning. Comm. McQueen clarified that the staff report stated that the proposed awning would be similar to the adjacent awning. He further noted that he went by the proposed site and he noted that the building would look better with an awning.
Chair Shoemaker agreed that the proposed site needed an awing and said that burgundy will blend in with the City's streetscape.
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Comm. McQueen made a motion to approve Item #2003-0222 with the Conditions of Approval recommended by staff. Comm. Pang seconded. |
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Motion carried 5-0 with Vice Chair Reid and Comm. Rau absent |
Staff noted that a memo regarding the Magnolia tree being removed was included in their packets and asked the Commission if there were any questions. Chair Shoemaker asked staff if there was anything the Commission can do. Staff replied no.
Chair Shoemaker asked the Commission if they had a chance to look over the Outreach Objectives. She referred to the Heritage Preservation sub element. Chair Shoemaker stated that there is plenty of ideas for outreach they can use from the Heritage Sub-element. Comm. Love asked about the Heritage Resource List and what they should do with it in terms of outreach. Comm. Pang stated that the Historical Society has a walking tour map of the Murphy district and that this Commission should make one similar to theirs of all the historic sites.
Chair Shoemaker noted that a central location for all of their handouts would be a good idea and to think of methods of distribution. She then asked Comm. Pang if the Historical Society has the locations of historical plaques around Sunnyvale. Comm. Pang replied that she would ask the Historical Society regarding the locations.
Comm. Mc Queen suggested that GPS (global positioning system) units would be a good tool for visiting various historic sites around Sunnyvale. He gave a brief explanation of how the unit could be used to locate historical plaques around the City. He also suggested that the coordinates for the locations of plaques or treasure chests could be posted on the Heritage Preservation Commission City web site.
Chair Shoemaker asked staff if there was a Heritage Preservation web page. Staff responded that there is a Heritage Preservation web page and gave a description of what information the web page contains. Chair Shoemaker asked staff if there are limitations of what can be linked on the webpage and asked staff if they could find out. Staff concurred.
Comm. Pang asked Comm. Mc Queen on how GPS units would appeal to people without these global positioning devices. Chair Shoemaker then noted that more than one form of outreach may be considered. Comm. Pang suggested to perhaps distributing physical maps of historical sites around Sunnyvale to the public.
Comm. McQueen suggested perhaps including a historical article about Sunnyvale in the Sun Newspaper. Comm. Hopkins volunteered to contact Silicon Valley Community Newspaper about writing an article for the Sun Newspaper. The Commission suggested rotation between Commissioners to write an article for the Sun Newspaper.
Chair Shoemaker asked the Commissioners about the walking tour map. She further asked if anyone had any updated information regarding this. She stated that it is always important to consider the distance that the map will direct people to walk. She suggested having walking tours in the Murphy District. Comm. Pang stated that the Historical Society provides walking tours of the Murphy District area. Chair Shoemaker asked if this Commission could use their map as an example to make a walking tour map for historical plaques around Sunnyvale.
Chair Shoemaker spoke about the bicycle map and stated that it needed to be available in the library and the City web site.
Comm. McQueen suggested to have an article on "Geo Casting" in the Sun Newspaper where coordinates could be available on the Heritage Preservation Commission web page. He then stated that these coordinates could be locations of hidden treasure chests around the City where residents and/or visitors could participate in some kind of scavenger hunt for these treasure chests. Comm. Hopkins noted that she would contact the Sun newspaper.
Comm. Love suggested perhaps including a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) on the Heritage Preservation web page of historical plaques and sites around Sunnyvale. He stated that he lives next to two major historical sites and did not even know of it until recently. Chair Shoemaker suggested including a flyer or an insert of the historical sites in the City's utility bill as a form of outreach.
Comm. Hopkins suggested to possibly writing letters to Historical Landmark homeowners to ask if they would be interested in giving house tours to the general public.
Comm. Hopkins then asked the Commission to possibly designate Fremont High School as a Historical Landmark. Comm. Pang then stated that she has a contact with the school and that she is willing to look into the idea. Comm. Love asked staff if they should accompany Comm. Pang if or when she contacts Fremont High School. Staff responded that staff time could be available to accompany Comm. Pang in contacting Fremont High School. Ms. Rouse noted the history of Fremont High School and their position in being a Historical Landmark. Ms. Rouse noted that the City have been trying for 15 years to get them to consider being a Historic Landmark. Ms. Rouse further noted that the high school felt that being a historic landmark may impede future plans and that they are not open to persuasion for being in Landmark status.
Comm. Hopkins then asked the Commission if they ever went through the CLG grant process. Staff responded yes, and further clarified the CLG grant process.
Chair Shoemaker asked if homeowners of Historical Landmarks receive a plaque, and if so, if the owners purchase them. Ms. Rouse responded yes, they do purchase these plaques.
Comm. Hopkins announced a demolition sale, which will include antiques and crafts on on May 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on 533 S. Tenth Street in San Jose.
Stave Lynch thanked Jo Ann Rouse for all the hard work she put into the Heritage Commission and stated that tonight is her last formal meeting with the Commission. He noted that he brought cookies to share for her farewell. Jo Ann stated that she enjoyed being a part of the Commission again and that she is impressed of this Commission's effort regarding their commitment to developing outreach objectives. Chair Shoemaker thanked her in behalf of the whole Commission for all her efforts towards heritage preservation.
Chair Shoemaker announced the "Dinner at the Dump" event at the Solid Waste maintenance facility on Saturday, June 21. She stated that she has tickets to sell and that they are $40.00 each. She further stated that only 300 people will be admitted and the tickets are going fast. She stated that the event is sponsored by two non-profit organizations - Sunnyvale Community Services and Leadership Sunnyvale.
Comm. Pang announced that the Bianchi Barn Dedication and Barn Dance is on Saturday, May 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Heritage Park Community Center Complex. She noted that the Historical Society is accepting donations for the new heritage museum. She noted that the event is open to the public.
Comm. Hopkins wished everyone a Happy Preservation week to all.
Comm. Love asked staff regarding the size of the awning on 133 South Murphy (discussed earlier on the agenda). Chair Shoemaker noted that the awning size is stated on page 5 of the staff report.
Comm. Love asked if "Grand Opening" signs have rules. Staff stated that they are required to get a temporary sign permit which allow the sign to be displayed for 90 days, and can be re-applied for an additional 90 days. Staff further noted that the applicant on 133 South Murphy Avenue probably did not get a Temporary Sign Permit for their grand opening sign. Staff suggested adding a Condition to not have any temporary signs on the site. Staff further added that Neighborhood Preservation Division can be notified and that they could look into permits for 133 South Murphy Avenue. The Commission asked Staff to contact the owner to follow up on the temporary sign.
Gloria Barron, Staff Office Assistant, noted that the June 4 meeting has been scheduled to start at 6:30pm, half hour earlier than the regularly scheduled meeting because there will be a Special Planning Commission Meeting starting at 7:30pm on the Downtown Plan, General Plan Amendments and Environmental Impact Report.
Joey Mariano, Staff Office Assistant, noted that the Murphy building is reserved for the August 6 meeting as requested by the Commission. The Commission made note of the location.
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Comm. Mc Queen made a motion to adjourn the meeting of May 7, 2003. Comm. Hopkins seconded. Motion carried unanimously 4-0 with Comms. Rau and Reed absent. |
The meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
Submitted by,
Steve Lynch, Associate Planner