HomeMy WebLinkAbout601ORDINANCE 601
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF
LOS ALTOS HILLS DESIGNATING THE WESTWIND COMMUNITY BARN
AT 27210 ALTAMONT ROAD AS A HISTORICAL LANDMARK
WHEREAS, Section 11-1.03 (Designation by ordinance) of Chapter 1 (Landmark Designation
and Preservation) of Title 11 (Landmark Designation and Preservation) authorizes the City
Council to designate by Ordinance one or more individual structures or other natural features,
sites, or areas having a special character or special historical, architectural, cultural or aesthetic
interest or value or significance as landmarks.
WHEREAS, On April 19, 2022, the History Committee voted unanimously to recommend to the
City Council that the Westwind Community Barn be designated as a historic landmark, and
WHEREAS, the City Council has held a noticed public hearing on May 25, 2022, in accordance
with the provisions of 11-1.04 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code and accepted public
comments regarding this matter; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills does ORDAIN as
follows:
1. That the Westwind Community Barn at 27210 Altamont Road, Los Altos Hills,
California, is designated as a Historical Landmark, malting the Findings outlined in Exhibit A.
2. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Ordinance or the application thereof to
any person or circumstance is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Ordinance,
including the application of such part or provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be
affected thereby and shall continue in full force and effect. To this end, provisions of this
Ordinance are severable. The City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills hereby declares that it
would have passed each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase
hereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions,
paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or phrases be held unconstitutional, invalid, or unenforceable.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND PUBLICATION. This ordinance shall become
effective thirty (30) days from the date of its adoption. Within 15 days after the passage of this
ordinance, the Town Clerk shall cause the Ordinance or a summary thereof to be published once
with the names of those Town Councilmembers voting for or against it in a newspaper of general
circulation in the Town of Los Altos Hills, as required by the law.
Ordinance 601 Page 1
INTRODUCED: May 25, 2022
PASSED: June 16, 2022
AYES: Mayor Tyson, Vice Mayor Swan, Councilmember Mok, Councilmember
Schmidt, Councilmember Tankha
NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney
BY:
or George T n
Ordinance 601 Page 2
EXHIBIT A
FINDINGS FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATION
WESTWIND COMMUNITY BARN — 27210 ALTOMONT ROAD
FILE #SP22-0001
1. That the proposed landmark has significant historical, architectural, cultural or
aesthetics interest or value.
The History Committee voted unanimously to recommend to the City Council that the
Westwind Community Barn be designated as a historic landmark. The Barn dates back to
1947-48, when Frank Ellithorpe built a six -stall barn for Arabian and Morgan horses. In
1965 Lila Lee Ellithorpe sold the Barn and 23 acres to Robert D. Clement. Robert Clement
then added a back wing to the Barn with 17 additional stalls, a tack room, and a riding
arena. Subsequent to this, in 1971, the Countess Margit Bessenyey purchased the property
to serve as a breeding facility and training center for her Hungarian horses. Finally, in 1975
the Town of Los Altos Hills acquired a portion of the property for $25,000 and Countess
Bessenyey made a gift to the Town of the remaining 13 and one-half acres and the 24,000
square foot "U" shaped barn. The Town of Los Altos Hills has been operating the Barn for
a long time.
The original six -stall barn resembled the gambrel -roofed barns found in New England. to
allow for more hay storage area under the roof. Another feature of the original barn was the
"cupola" which added beauty to the barn's roof. The cupola on the original 6 -stall barn has
louvers for ventilation for the storage area below
2. That the proposed landmark may be designated without imposing undue hardship on the
property owner.
The property is owned by the Town and the historic designation will help preserve the
history and architectural charm of the property and will not affect the use of the property.
Pursuant to LAHMC Section 11-1.09, a landmark alteration permit would be required to be
approved by the City Council for any alteration, construction, relocation, exterior painting
or demolition that would result in a material change in the exterior appearance of the
landmark.
3. That approval or modified approval of the application is consistent with the purposes and
criteria of this chapter.
The approval of the request would designate the Westwind Community Barn as having
special architectural, historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance as a landmark pursuant
to Section 11-1.05 of the Municipal Code.
Ordinance 601 Page 3