REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Rescind Previous Council Action and Provide a Recommendation on the Relocation of the Butcher House and Improvements at Orchard Heritage Park
Report
BACKGROUND
On April 5, 2016, staff presented Council with three alternatives for relocating the Butcher House to Orchard Heritage Park (RTC No. 16-0182). In general, the alternatives included locating the Butcher House within the orchard (Alternative 1), locating the Butcher House to the lawn area across from the museum (Alternative 2), or not relocating the Butcher House (Alternative 3). Council discussed the alternatives and members of the public spoke regarding the various options. Representatives of the museum also spoke and clarified that they would only support moving the Butcher House if it was relocated to their preferred location in the orchard. A motion for Alternative 1, to relocate the Butcher House within the orchard (the location preferred by the Historical Society), failed on a 3-3 vote. A second motion was proposed for Alternative 2, however that motion died due to lack of a second.
An alternative motion was then proposed to relocate the maintenance yard and trash enclosure from its current location to the proposed location in the report and that the vacated area be appropriately and minimally landscaped. Since the motion did not preclude relocating the Butcher house in the future, staff clarified and the Council agreed that minimizing work within the vacated area would assure that any new improvements that might require removal to accommodate the Butcher house would be minimal, temporary in nature, and low-cost.
This motion was approved 5-1 and staff was also requested to have additional discussions with the museum staff on alternatives that may exist that do not require any loss of orchard space (Attachment 1- Council meeting minutes).
On Tuesday May 3, 2016, City staff met with Ms. Laura Babcock and Ms. Leslie Lawton of the Sunnyvale Historical Society and Mus...
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