CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES: A TOOLBOX FOR PRESERVATION - September 5, 2007 A PLANNER’S...

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES:A TOOLBOX FOR PRESERVATION - September 5, 2007

A PLANNER’S VIEW: LESSONS LEARNED

PAM FIGGE, PRESENTER


Overview of Presentation

• Background: Regulation and Why are Land Use Planners in Charge?

• The LESSONS: Don’t Miss the Forest for the Trees Know the Terminology Don’t be Fooled by Facades Champion Re-use Know Your City-County Permit Process Understand Contextual Setting Recognize Historical Associations and Private Investors


Local Regulatory Agency

• City or County Planning Department General Plans (Optional Historic Preservation

Element - POLICY) Zoning Regulations (Implement goals and policies of

the General Plan - LAW) Historic Preservation Ordinance Historic or Landmark Overlay Zones Specific Plan Down-zoning Historical Building Code Financial Incentives (Tax Credits – Mills Act)


The Role of a Planner

• Generalists Development

Applications State Mandates Not Policy Makers

• Lack Specialized Training

• Work in a Political Arena


Ministerial and DiscretionaryActions: CEQA

• Ministerial Actions – Involves little or no personal judgment; standards have been adopted – e.g.: building permits Exempt from CEQA (California

Environmental Quality Act)

• Discretionary Actions – Board, Commission, Council exercise judgment or deliberation – Involves due process Subject to CEQA


CEQA Section 21084.1“The fact that a resource is not listed in, or determined to be eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, not included in local register of historical resources (pursuant to section 5020.1(k) of the Public Resources Code), or identified in an historical resources survey (meeting the criteria in section 5024.1(g) of the a Public Resources Code) does not preclude a lead agency form determining that the resource may be an historical resource as defined in Public Resources Code sections 5020.1(J) or 5024.1.”


Categorical Exemptions CEQA

15300.2(c) “Significant Effect. A categorical exemption shall not be used for an activity where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances.”


What’s Below the Surface?Lesson #1


Are You Grading or Excavating?


Know the Difference Between Preserve, Rehabilitate, Restore,

Renovate and Replicate

Lesson #2


But…Don’t Get Hung-Up on Language to Preserve Resource Historical vs Aesthetic Resource


Facades…Faux-Historical

• Keep new architecture true to its historical time and its setting

• Buildings should not present a false sense of historical development

Lesson #3


New Construction

New buildings can respect adjacent older architecture through the use of similar materials, size/height, window meter and style, roof shape and pitch


RE-USE IS ESSENTIALLesson #4


Re-use MakesEconomic Sense


Building Permits and Demolition

Does your city/county

issue demolition permits over the counter?

Lesson #5


The Stone Block Building


Unsafe Buildings – Local Government’s Responsibility


ECONOMICS VS PRESERVATIONThe loser? The Community

Triple-brickConstruction


Saving the Cupola


INCENTIVES FOR SAVING BUILDINGS

• City/County in leadership role• Façade Improvement Program –

Why not a Structural/Restoration Improvement Program?

• Provide public improvements: curb, gutter, sidewalk repairs or

“relax” off-street parking requirements• Streamline permit process: flexibility for re-use projects; CA Historic Building Code

(Educate Building Department)


Opportunities


Contextual Setting:Building New Structures in an

Old Neighborhood

Lesson #6


CONTEXTUAL SETTING


Architectural Review


Third Street HousesChico’s Federally-Listed District

1972 - Language Houses

1999 - Renovated


The Committed Private Investorwith Support from the Local Historical Association

Lesson #7


Baby Steps Are OK

“MUST HAVES”

•Community Support & Political Will•“In it for the long-run” attitude•A Local Historic Preservation Group to Keep Preservation in the Forefront and be “Watchdogs”•Preservation Goals and Policies in the General Plan•Trained Planning and Building Staff •An Adopted Local Inventory of Resources is Best


“These old buildings do not belong to us only; they have belonged to our forefathers, and they will belong to our descendants, unless we play them false.” William Morris

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES: A TOOLBOX FOR PRESERVATION - September 5, 2007 A PLANNER’S...

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