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City of Palo Alto
Summary Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
March 20, 2000 CMR:186:00
STATUS REPORT ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION
This report is informational only. No Council action is required.
BACKGROUND
In March of 1999,-the City Council adopted temporary historic regulations, referred to as the
"interim historic regulations", that were intended to bridge the gap between the previous set
of temporary regulations and the approval of a new historic preservation ordinance. In June
1999, the Council adopted a new historic preservation ordinance. Shortly thereafter, a
referendum of the ordinance was placed on the March, 2000 ballot. This referendum,
Measure G, was successful and the voters of Palo Alto rejected the ordinance. This report is
intended to provide information on the current status of the historic preservation program.
STATUS REPORT
As a result of the March 7 election, the ordinance adopted by the Council in June 1999 will
not go into effect. This includes all of the regulations controlling alterations and demolition
of historic properties as well as the associated incentive program for owners of historic single
family homes. The incentive program allowed for: floor area bonuses of up to 500 square
feet; floor area exemptions for basements areas; flood regulation exemptions for basement~;
and, potentially, a set of financially based incentives that were reviewed by the City Council
but not adopted as part of the ordinance
With the defeat of Measure G, the interim historic regulations put into effect by the City
Council in March 1999 remain in place. These regulations control all major alterations and
demolitions of approximately 800 identified historic properties. The City Council may leave
these regulations in place for a reasonable and brief time period in order to consider other
options relating to historic preservation. Staffplans to return to Council within 60 days to
request action on this issue.
CMR:186:00 Page 1 of 2
If the interim regulations are rescinded, the pre-1996 historic preservation ordinance will
continue to be in effect. This ordinance inventories historic properties as Category 1, 2, 3 or
4 and currently includes all’ properties within historic districts. This ordinance requires
mandatory review but voluntary compliance for development projects on Category 1 and 2
properties and properties located within historic districts. The ordinance also allows the City
Council to delay demolition on these properties for up to one year. Additional properties
may be added to the historic inventory upon the recommendation of the Historic Resources
Board.
Staff intends to work with the community to determine if a new historic preservation
ordinance can be developed that would have the full support of the community. In the
meantime, staff will continue community outreach efforts and endeavor to provide accurate
and up to date information to the public on matters relating to historic preservation. The
services of Dennis Backlund, a former Historic Resources Board member and longtime
resident of Palo Alto, have been retained to continue this important work in the immediate
future.
Prepared by: George White, Planning Manager
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW:
GEORGE E. GAWF ,3
Director of Plannj, n-~ and Community Environment
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
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