To members of the city's Historic Preservation Commission, it seemed like a simple plan for some seemingly sensible changes to the city's heritage preservation ordinance.
But when the issue came up at the Feb. 3 City Council meeting, questions from the audience revealed a concern about bureaucratic meddling in the rights of private land and homeowners. The council responded by sending the proposal back to the HPC, and asking the commission to make entirely different changes to the ordinance.
With the council's decision, the HPC is being asked to increase notifications to people whose properties are on the city's Heritage Resources Inventory list. If the changes are approved, the city will likely send out mailings every two or three years to the 100-plus property owners, keeping them informed of what it means to be included on the list.
Also, language may be added to the ordinance informing residents of an appeals process, should they not want to be included on the listing of the city's historic places, or should they want to make changes to their properties.
From what happened at the meeting, it became obvious to the city that some homeowners don't even know they're on the list, and those who do seem confused over what the regulations are if they ever want to renovate.
The change proposed by the HPC would have added to city code that properties now on the city's Heritage Resources Inventory list should be subject to the same restrictions as properties on the Designated Historic Resources list.
It also would have waived the application fee and simplified the process, in hopes of persuading more residents to file their properties for designation.
The change would have made all properties on the inventory list subject to the same scrutiny by the Heritage Preservation Commission if the property owner wanted to change the property in any way.
As it stands now the Heritage Preservation Commission decides, with or without consent, which properties make it on the inventory list, but property owners must apply for listing as a designated resource. The additions would have strengthened the ordinance, calling for the HPC to review changes to properties both on the inventory or designated lists.
The inventory list now contains about 108 properties throughout Saratoga.
The council sent the proposal back to the HPC, which will likely add the concerns to the ordinance.
Saratoga, California Since 1975
