HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-07-06 City Council (11)City of Palo Alto
C ty Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER
DATE:
SUBJECT:
JULY 6, 1998 CMR:300:98
IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNCIL DIRECTION TO EXTEND
INTERIM HISTORIC REGULATIONS
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the extension of the Interim Historic
Ordinance and direct staff to return on August 3 with recommended amendments to the
Ordinance and revisions to the Historic Preservation Regulations and Compatibility Review
Standards.
BACKGROUND
On June 29, 1998, the City Council approved a recommendation from Vice Mayor Schneider
and Council Members Eakins, Wheeler and Kniss to direct staffto prepare specific proposals
to address the impacts of extending the Interim Historic Regulations.
DISCUSSION
Staff agrees with the City Council that a fresh approach is called for in the administration of
the Interim Historic Regulations between now and the adoption of the Permanent Historic
Ordinance. The City Manager has brought together a Steering Committee composed of
herself, the City Attorney, the Assistant City Manager, Interim Director of Planning and
Community Environment, and the Chief Planning Official, to focus concerted attention on
the issues. The Committee is working to consolidate the direction received from the Council
at various points in the deliberative process to ensure a comprehensive strategy for action.
Staff intends to provide a more detailed strategy statement and related action plan in the next
month, to present to the Council at its August 3 meeting, along with a request for the
resources required to implement the strategy. The major elements required to implement that
strategy and action plan will include:
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Amendments to the Interim Historic Preservation;
Specific recommended revisions to the Historic Preservation Regulations and
Compatibility Review Standards;
Timeline for developing incentives and benefits;
Resource request
Amendments to the Interim Historic Preservation Ordinance Consultant: The Council has
proposed amendments which include changing or refining the definition of demolition,
Landmark alteration review and the fee structure services.
Specific. Recommended Revisions to the Historic Regulations and Compatibili _ty Review
Standards: Revisions will be proposed with the purpose of streamlining the ministerial
process and minimizing uncertainty for residents, or, in the instances where identification of
specific recommendations may take further analysis, an indication of the direction staff is
pursuing.-
Timeline for Development of Incentives and Benefits: Staff will work with the Planning
Commission on the development of incentives and benefits which are intended to
compensate homeowners for any burdens placed on them by the regulatory process. Staff
needs to-solicit the input from the Planning Commission regarding the desirable process and
estimated time frame for completing this assignment. Staff envisions a process similar to
that utilized with the Capital Improvement Program, in which a subcommittee of the
Planning Commission works closely with the staff in identifying issues and altematives.
Resource Request: This will be composed of not only the additional funding for Dames ~and
Mooreto complete the Priority 1 and Priority 2 study lists, but also consultant services to
continue to administer the Interim Regulations; staffing resources to improve the oversight
consultants administering the Interim Regulations, as well as to support the Planning
Commission’s efforts on the expedited development, of proposed incentives for historic
preservation; and consultant assistance for public outreach. Staff also intends to propose
contracting for an "ombudsperson" to assist homeowners in the regulatory process,
Consultant and statTmg resources will be required not only to continue the administration of
the Interim Regulations and Compatibility Review Standards, but to provide improved
customer service-oriented support to homeowners going through the review process. As was
discussed at the June 22 Council meeting, staff is pursuing retaining additional qualified
historic preservation specialists to maximize the level of customer support provided to
homeowners in the regulatory process. The requested resources for public outreach reflect
the fact that staff has learned during the past several months that it is important to preserve
an ongoing dialogue with affected property owners both while the Interim Regulations are
CMR:300:98 Page 2 of 3
in place and in the drafting of the Permanent Historic Ordinance. Examples of Where such
professional assistance will be invaluable during the period that the Interim Regulations
remain in place include the design of informational material to assist the homeowner to
prepare for the experience of design regulation. In addition, as staff begins the process of
drafting the regulations which will implement the Permanent Historic Ordinance, consultant
assistance in the use of focus groups to provide property owner input will both make the best
use of limited staff resources and avoid some of the problems experienced with the initial
notification of affected property owners of their status on the Priority 1 or Priority 2 Study
List.
RESOURCE IMPACT
Staff will return with a resource plan at the August 3 Council meeting.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This proposal responds to previous Council direction regarding the continued administration
of the Interim Historic Regulations.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
This is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
ATTACHMENT
Ordinance
PREPARED BY: Emily Harrison, Assi City
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
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ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 4381 IN ORDER TO EXTEND THE
PERIOD WITHIN WHICH CHAPTER 16.50 OF THE PALO ALTO
MI/NI C I PAL CODE ( INTERIM HISTORIC REGULATIONS )
SHALL BE IN EFFECT
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as
follows:
SECTION 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 historic
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 scheduled an additional meeting for the
purpose of deliberating key policy issues regarding new historic
regulations. The revised schedule would 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. Council scheduled consideration of the new historic
regulations for June i, 1998. ~
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D. In May 1998, the City mailed notices to several
thousand property owners informing them of the possibility that
their property might be considered for designation as an historic
resource. Council received a large number of letters and oral
communications during Council meetings expressing strong concern
about the proposed ordinance and the process for possible historic
designation. On May 26, 1998, Council determined that the proposed
historic ordinance should not be effective before property owners
have received at least prelininary determinations about the
designation of their property and that the ordinance should not be
effective before a series of historic preservation incentives have
been finally developed and enacted. The designation and incentives
development process will take approximately six to twelve addi-
tional months.
E. 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 June 30, 1999.
SECTION 2. 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 orl June 30, 1999."
SECTION 3. 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.
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SECTION 4.
commencement of
adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
~NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST:
This ordinance shall become effective upon the
the thirty-first day after the date of its
APPROVED:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney
Mayor
City Manager
Interim Director of Planning
and Community Environment
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