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Planning denies resident's plan for new house at Komina, Oak

By Jason Sweeney

After arsonists burned Bob Baratta-Lorton's house down, he is trying to build a new house on the now empty lot. But nearly everyone in the neighborhood is opposed to his design plans.

At its May 10 meeting, the Saratoga Planning Commission rejected Baratta-Lorton's plans and sent him back to the drawing board, asking him to return to the commission at a later date with a new design.

Twelve people from the Oak Street neighborhood spoke in opposition to the design at the May 10 hearing. His plans conformed to all city ordinances and were given the OK by the planning department. But neighbors said a 2,700-square-foot stucco house exhibiting an eclectic mix of styles was not compatible with the historic character of their neighborhood. Neighbors also had issues with the bulk of the design on what is a relatively narrow lot on a prominent corner.

Neighbor Jenni Taylor told the commission the Saratoga Heritage Preservation Commission had erroneously determined the burned house had no historic value. She said before it was razed, it had been a pioneer house that dated back 100 years and had been owned by notable Saratoga families. She said the preservation committee had "abused its discretion," that there was "outrage" at the new design, which was an "embarrassment" and "outrageous and ostentatious folly."

Jeff Barco, who lives on Komina Avenue, said he circulated a petition through the neighborhood and 52 neighbors had signed it in opposition to Baratta-Lorton's design plans.

Commissioner Jill Hunter said in her six years on the planning commission, she had never seen this much opposition from neighbors against a design. "Oak Street is very historic," she said. "This commission needs to reflect those neighbors. That means they care very much."

Before the two-story wooden house was razed, it stood for about a century on the corner of Komina Avenue and Oak Street. The prominent corner is in one of the oldest areas of Saratoga where residents take pride in the historic Victorian ambience of their neighborhood. The old house on the corner had fallen into a state of disrepair and had been unoccupied when a two-alarm fire destroyed it last Sept. 18.

A smaller, less destructive fire had occurred at the house in 2004. Santa Clara County fire investigators determined arson was the cause of both fires.

For the next six months, the burned-out house stood on the corner while fire investigators examined it and the preservation commission reviewed its historical significance.

Before the fire, some neighbors considered the house an eyesore. Afterward, building inspector Brad Lind said it had become a safety hazard.

Fire investigators finished investigating the site late last year. Last January, the preservation commission determined the house had no historic value. Baratta-Lorton was then issued a permit to demolish the old wreck. The demolition was completed April 6.

"The eyesore bothered me, too," Baratta-Lorton said before the commission. "I wanted to put a really nice house there." He said much of Oak Street is lined with wooden homes, but 80 percent of the homes on Komina Avenue are stucco. "This house is a Komina home. It's also my home. I hope the commission sees fit to let me and my godsons live in this home."

But, of the seven planning commissioners, only Commissioner Joyce Hlava was willing to approve the design. The other commissioners had issues with bulk and with the compatibility of the design with neighboring homes.

"We have followed every guideline we can," Baratta-Lorton said. "Now what? I want guidelines. I don't want it built by a committee of neighbors. What I want are guidelines."