HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-03-23 City Council (19)TO:
FROM:
City
City of Palo Alto
Manager’s Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL ! !
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
AGENDA DATE: March 23, 1998 CMR:175:98
SUBJECT:ORDINANCE TO EXTEND THE INTERIM HISTORIC
REGULATIONS TO AUGUST 31, 1998
RECOMMENDATION
Staffrecommends that the City Council approve the attached ordinance extending the Interim
Historic Regulations for three months to August 31, 1998.
BACKGROUND
The Interim Historic Regulations (Chapter 16.50, Palo Alto Municipal Code) provide for
evaluation of historic merit, demolition control and design review of replacement structures
of residential buildings built before 1940. These regulations were first adopted by the City
Council in October 1996, to be in effect until November 1997. It was the intention of the
City Council that the interim regulations be in effect until the process of developing
permanent regulations in a revised historic preservation ordinance could be completed. In
September 1997, in order to provide four workshops for public involvement in developing
the revised historic preservation ordinance, City Council extended the period of the interim
regulations to May 31, 1998. Council considered the subject of historic ordinance revisions
at meetings on February 23 and 24, and March 2, 1998. Due to the great amount of public
interest and the importance of the issues, additional meetings have been scheduled for
deliberating key policy issues related to the new historic regulations.
DISCUSSION
Because of the extension of the public review process, it has become necessary to extend by
approximately three months the date upon which a revised historic preservation ordinance
would be completed and in effect. The projected effective date for the new ordinance is mid-
July 1998, if Council adopts a new ordinance on June 1.
Attached to this report is an ordinance extending the Interim Historic Regulations to August
31, 1998. If the ordinance is adopted, staff will return with a contract amendment and costs
CMR:175:98 Page 1 of 3
to extend the services of Historic Preservation Architect Barbara Judy, in order to continue
the Interim Historic Program to the expected date of adoption of the revised historic
preservation ordinance. Staffwill return in the near future with a revised contract with the
Preservation Architect and a Budget Amendment Ordinance.
ALTERNATIVES
The extension to August 31 would give a small "cushion" in theevent the date of adoption
of a new ordinance occurs after June 1. If a new historic ordinance is adopted on June 1,
Council at that time may take action to terminate the Interim Historic Regulations earlier than
August 31, to coincide with the effective date of the new ordinance.
The City Council could, alternatively, adopt the Interim Regulations as permanent
regulations, or allow the Interim Regulations to expire onMay 31, 1998, which would result
in the City’s historic regulations and procedures being those used prior to October 1996.
’RESOURCE IMPACT
By extending the Interim Regulations by three months to August 31, 1998, the additional
cost for the Historic Preservation Architect consulting-contract is expected to be
approximately $35,000, based on the previous records. Approximately 15 percent, or $5,200,
may be recovered through fees.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This report does not represent a change to current City policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Approval of the attached ordinance is exempt from environmental review under the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it can be seen with certainty that
there is no possibility extension of the Interim Regulations may have a significant adverse
impacton the environment.
ATTACHMENT
Ordinance to Extend Interim Historic Regulations to August 31, 1998
PREPARED BY: Virginia Warheit, Senior Planner
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW:
ANNE CRONIN MOORE
Interim Director of Planning and
Community Environment
CMR: 175:98 Page 2 of 3
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
Assistant City Manager
CC:Historic Resources Board
Planning Commission
Architectural Review Board
Palo Alto/Stanford Heritage
Palo Alto Historical Association
Chamber of Commerce
Board of Realtors
Barron Park Association
College Terrace Residents Association
Crescent Park Neighborhood Association
Community Center Neighborhood Association
Downtown North Neighborhood Association
Midtown Residents Association
Palo Verde Neighborhood Association
Ramona Homeowners Association
University Park Association
University South Neighborhoods Group
Ventura Neighborhood Association
CMR: 175:98 Page 3 of 3
ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
~ AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 4381IN ORDER TO EXTEND THE
PERIOD WITHIN WHICH CHAPTER16.50 OF THE PALO ALTO
MUNICIPAL CODE ( INTERIM HISTORIC R~EGULATIONS )
SHALL BE IN EFFECT
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as
follows:
~F~C-T/~L_I. Legislative Findings.
declares as follows:
The Council finds and
A. To further the protection, enhancement, perpetuation,
and use of structures, districts, and neighborhoods of historical
and architectural significance within the City of Palo Alto,
Council on October 28, 1996, adopted Ordinance No. 4381, adding
Chapter 16.50 to the Palo Alto Municipal Code. Chapter 16.50
contains interim regulations governing historic designation and
demolition of residential structures built before 1940, and review
of the design quality and neighborhood compatibility of replacement
structures ("Interim Historic Regulations"). Chapter 16.50 was
subsequently amended on April 22, 1997, by. Ordinance No. 4411, and
on May 5, 1997, by Ordinance No. 4414. Ordinance No. 4381 provided
that it would be effective until November 30, 1997 unless sooner
repealed. Ordinances 4411 and 4414 provided by their terms that
they would be effective until the last day Ordinance No. 4381 is in
effect.
B. Council intended the Interim Historic Regulations to
remain in effect until the process of development of new histori~
regulations could be completed. That process was originally
projected to be completed on or before May 31, 1998. Accordingly,
on September 8, 1997, Council adopted Ordinance No. 4444 which
extended the effective period of Chapter 16.50 to May 31, 1998.
C. Council has considered the subject of new historic
regulations at meetings held on February 23, 24, and March 2, 1998.
Input has been received from many members of the public and
interested groups. Because of the public interest and importance
of the issues, Council has scheduled an additional meeting for the
purpose of deliberating key policy issues regarding new historic
regulations. The revised schedule will not allow preparation,
public review, adoption, and the effective date of new historic
regulations to take place prior to expiration of Chapter 16.50 on
May 31, 1998.
D. In order to ensure the continuation of an appropriate~
review process for projects involving potentially historic
residences while the historic inventory and regulations are
reviewed and updated, it is necessary for the public health, safety
and welfare that the Interim Historic Regulations (Chapter 16.50 of
the Palo Alto Municipal Code) remain in effect until August 31,
1998.
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980312 lae 0080677
Section 4 of Ordinance No. 4381 is hereby
amended to read as follows:
"This ordinance shall become effective upon
the commencement of the thirty-first day
after the date of its adoption and shall
~remain in effect until the earlier of its
~repeal or August 31, 1998."
$2~IT/~_~. The City Council has determined that it can be
seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this
ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment because
the construction and reconstruction of single family homes on lots
of record is itself an exempt activity.
S2~LT/.Q~_4. This ordinance shall become effective upon the
commencement of the thirty-first day after the date of its
adoption.
INTRODUCED :
PASSED :
AYES :
NOES :
ABSTENTIONS :
ABSENT:
ATTEST:APPROVED:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Manager
Senior Asst. City Attorney
Director of Planning and
Community Environment
980312 la¢ 0080677
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