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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-09-13 City Council (17)City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT DATE:SEPTEMBER 13, 1999 CMR:358:99 SUBJECT:UPDATE ON HISTORIC SURVEY, IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERIM HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE, AND POTENTIAL IMPACT OF MARCH 2000 REFERENDUM ON THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM This is an informational report and no Council action is required. DISCUSSION Completion of Final Phase of Historic Survey The final phase of the city’s historic survey is currently underway. For each of the 270 properties identified as potentially eligible for the National Register, the Dames & Moore consultants are conducting an individual assessment to determine whether the property meets National Register criteria. For those that do not meet the criteria, a memorandum is being prepared explaining why the property is not eligible. For those that do meet the criteria, a written evaluation will be prepared that explains why the property is historically significant. In addition, the consultants have responded to requests from approximately twenty property owners for an expedited review of eligibility, and to owners of several properties identified as eligible only for the California Register who have requested consideration for the Palo Alto Register. The written property evaluations are scheduled to be completed in November, with the final historic survey report to be completed in December. The final task of working with City staff to archive the historic survey materials will complete the Dames & Moore contract. Interim Historic Preservation Ordinance The interim historic preservation ordinance (Ordinance No. 4549) was adopted by the City Council in February 1999. This ordinance continues to be in effect pending the outcome of the referendum on the permanent historic preservation ordinance in the March 2000 general election. These interim regulations apply to the protected properties list that is made up of approximately 500 properties that were placed on the City’s historic CMR:358:99 Page 1 of 3 inventory prior to 1996 and an additional 270 properties identified in the current historic survey as potentially eligible for the National Register. The interim ordinance is currently being enforced by a combination of contract services provided by Architectural Resources Group and reassigned Planning Department staff. The Historic Preservation Officer position will eliminate the need to rely on these contract services and enable currently assigned Planning staff to serve other important functions, such as support to the Architectural Review Board, Advance Planning projects, and Development Center duties. The Since March 1999, there have been approximately 25 building permit applications involving structures on the protected properties list. Architectural Resources Group has provided assistance on the majority of these projects. Activities conducted by staff and/or the consultants include: Education and outreach: Respond to inquiries and requests for assistance from property owners and other members of the public regarding the city’s historic resources, historic preservation regulations and other aspects of the historic preservation program. Assistance with development projects: Professional design assistance for property owners in designing proposed exterior alterations and additions that protect the historic character of the property. Assistance to owners of historic properties, real estate agents and potential buyers in identifying development options for historic properties. Implementing interim historic regulations: Review of proposals for major alterations to protected properties for conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Review of proposals to demolish a protected property, preparation of documentation and conducting public hearings before the Historic Resources Board (HRB). At the request of property owners, research to assess reclassification of a protected property based on loss of historical integrity/historical significance. Conducting Environmental Review under CEQA: In compliance with CEQA requirements for commercial/multifamily projects potentially eligible for the National Register or California Register, research to evaluate potential historic significance or review evaluations prepared by others, and prepare documentation for Architectural Review Board public hearing. Staff support to the Historic Resources Board CMR:358:99 Page 2 of 3 Permanent Historic Preservation Ordinance The permanent historic preservation ordinance adopted by the City Council in June 1999 will go into effect if approved by voters in the March 2000 general election. This ordinance addresses the same group of historic properties as the interim regulations currently in effect, except that the number of properties subject to the ordinance is expected to drop to approximately 650-680 as the final phase of the historic survey is completed and properties that do not meet the criteria for the Palo Alto Register are identified and removed from the list of protected properties. The main regulatory differences between the permanent historic preservation ordinance and the current interim ordinance are that some minor projects not reviewed under the interim ordinance would be subject to staff review under the permanent ordinance, and many major projects currently reviewed by staff would be reviewed by the HRB at a public hearing under the permanent ordinance. If the permanent historic preservation ordinance (Revised PAMC section 16.49) is rejected by voters in the March 2000 general election and the City Council repeals the interim historic regulations, the former historic preservation ordinance (PAMC Section 16.49) would remain in effect, unless rescinded by the City Council. It is primarily a voluntary ordinance and applies to approximately 500 properties listed on the City’s Historic Inventory as of 1996. For about half of these properties (Categories 1 and 2 and Professorville), exterior alterations are reviewed by the HRB but compliance with the Board’s recommendation is voluntary. About 50 commercial/multifamily properties, mostly in the Downtown, are subject to discretionary review by the Architectural Review Board, which includes consideration of impacts on historic significance as part of the environmental review process under CEQA. Approximately 200 properties (Categories 3 and 4 not in Downtown or Professorville) are not subject to any historic review. While demolition of some properties may be delayed, only about 30 properties (Categories 1 and 2 in Downtown) are protected from demolition. PREPARED BY: Ed Gawf, Director of Planning and Community Environment DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: G. EDWARD GAWF Director of Plann. ing and Community Environment EMIL’g~_ARRISON " Assistant City Manager CMR:358:99 Page 3 of 3