New Neighborhood Voice

November 2, 2003

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Comparison of Historic Preservation Policy Area
with Current and Proposed Santa Clara County
Requirements and Codified Requirements of
 Other Jurisdictions in Northern California

Table 2 - Designation, Classification/Criteria and Initiation

Table 1 - Good Repair and Penalties/Enforcement
Table 2 (Below) - Designation, Classification/Criteria and Initiation
Table 3 - Types of Actions Reviewable by Commission

Jurisdictions Covered in Tables

Current Santa Clara County Regulations
Proposed Santa Clara County Historic Preservation Ordinance
State Historic Preservation Office Requirements
City of San Jose (ordinance adopted in 1975)
Town of Danville (ordinance adopted in 1993)
City of Davis
City of Eureka (ordinance adopted in 1997)
City of Fresno (ordinance adopted 1999)
Town of Los Gatos (ordinance adopted in 1998)
County of Monterey (ordinance adopted in 2000)
City of Sacramento (ordinance adopted in 2001)
County of Santa Cruz (ordinance adopted in 2000)

Provided to NNV 10/24/03 by Dana A. Peak, Historical Heritage Coordinator, Santa Clara County Planning Office, 70 West Hedding Street, East Wing - 7th floor, San Jose, CA 95110, Voice: (408) 299-5798, Fax: (408) 288-9198, E-mail: dana.peak@pln.co.scl.ca.us, Website: www.sccplanning.org 

Jurisdiction

Designation - Classification/Criteria

Classification - Initiation

Current Santa Clara County Regulations

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No provisions
Current uncodified standard is "Heritage Resource" as listed in the Heritage Resource Inventory
No provisions
Prior practice has been initiation by the Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission.

Proposed Santa Clara County Historic Preservation Ordinance

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LANDMARK
  1. Is fifty (50) years or older. If less than 50 years old, sufficient time must have passed to obtain a scholarly perspective on the events or individuals associated with the resource and/or the resource is a distinctive or important example of its type or style;
  2. Retains its historic integrity. If a resource was moved to prevent demolition at its former location, it may still be considered eligible if the new location is compatible with the original character and use of the resource; and
    Meets one (1) or more of the following criteria of significance:

  1. Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local or regional history, or the cultural heritage of California or the United States;

  2. Associated with the lives of persons important to local, California or national history;
  3. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of a master or possesses high artistic values; or
  4. Yielded or has the potential to yield information important to the pre history or history of the local area, California, or the nation.

HERITAGE PROPERTY

  1. Has not been designated and is not eligible for designation as a landmark under this chapter;
  2. Is thirty (30) years or older;
  3. Retains sufficient integrity that the resource is not significantly diminished in character by any existing alterations; and
    Meets one (1) or more of the following criteria of significance:
  1. Worthy of preservation because the resource materially benefits the cultural, historic, architectural or aesthetic character of the local community;
  2. Represents a type of building or is associated with a use which was once common but is now rare in the local community; or
  3. Possesses a distinctive location or singular physical characteristics that represent an established or familiar visual feature of the local community.
Designation initiated by property owner or authorized representative, Board of Supervisors, Historical Heritage Commission, historic preservation non-profit organization; or at least twenty-five (25) unrelated residents of Santa Clara County or the vicinity in which the designation is proposed as evidenced by petition.

State Historic Preservation Office Requirements

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Requires designation criteria
(determined by the local government)
Requires designation procedures complying with state enabling legislation
(determined by the local government)

City of San Jose
(ordinance adopted in 1975)

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LANDMARK (No age requirements)
Has special historical, architectural, cultural, aesthetic or engineering interest or value of an historical nature. The Landmarks Commission may consider: 
  1. Its character, interest or value as part of the local, regional, state or national history, heritage or culture; 
  2. Its location as a site of a significance historic event; 
  3. Its identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the local, regional state or national culture and history; 
  4. Its exemplification of the cultural, economic, social or historic heritage of the city of San Jose; 
  5. Its portrayal of the environment of a group of people in an era of history characterized by a distinctive architectural style; 
  6. Its embodiment of distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type or specimen; 
  7. Its identification as the work of an architect or master builder whose individual work influenced the development of the city of San Jose; 
  8. It embodiment of elements of architectural or engineering design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represents a significant architectural innovation or which is unique.
Designation initiated by City Council, Historic Landmarks Commission, owner, (or authorized agent)

Town of Danville
(ordinance adopted in 1993)

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HERITAGE RESOURCE
Any improvement or property over fifty (50) years of age or, in special circumstances under 50 years of age if it meets the following criteria:
  1. Is representative of a particular architectural style or reflects special elements of a distinct historical period, type, style or way of life important to the Town;
  2. Is a type of building or is associated with a business or use which was once common but is now rare;
  3. Is representative of the evolution or development or associated with the cultural, religious, educational, political, social or economic growth of the community, county, state or nation;
  4. Represents the work of a master builder, engineer, designer, artist or architect whose individual genius influenced his era;
  5. Is the site of an historical event or is associated with persons or events that have made a meaningful contribution to the nation, state or community;
  6. Has a high potential for yielding information or archaeological interest;
  7. Embodies elements of outstanding or innovative attention to architectural or engineering design, detail, craftsmanship or use of materials;
  8. The unique location or singular physical characteristic represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community or Town.
  9. Is an unusual natural feature.
Designation initiated by property owner, Heritage Resource Commission, Planning Commission, Town Council or any other organization with a recognized interest in historical preservation.

Designation requires written consent of property owner

City of Davis

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HISTORICAL RESOURCE (No age requirement)
  1. It exemplifies or reflects valued elements of the city's cultural, social, economic political aesthetic, engineering, archaeological or architectural history; or
  2. It is identified with persons or events important in local, state or national history; or
  3. It reflects significant geographical patterns, including those associated with different eras of settlement and growth, particular transportation modes or distinctive example of park or community planning; or
  4. It embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style, type, period, or method of construction, or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship; or
  5. It is representative of the notable work of a builder, designer or architect whose style influences the city's architectural development.

OUTSTANDING HISTORIC RESOURCE
A structure, site or other improvement which meets the above criteria at the highest level and whose loss would be a major loss to the city, may be designated an outstanding historical resource.

Designation initiated by the Historical Resources Management Commission, any resident of Davis, owner of the property.

City of Eureka
(ordinance adopted in 1997)

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DESIGNATED PROPERTIES (50 year or older age requirement as implied by federal criteria)
The property shall be proposed for designation if it meets the guidelines as in effect at the time the designation is considered. Except to the extent modified by the City Council after the effective date, the guidelines shall be those which would apply to eligibility of the property for listing in the National Register of Historic Places
Designation initiated by Historic Preservation Commission or any person (with written consent of owner)

City of Fresno
(ordinance adopted 1999)

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HISTORIC RESOURCES
It has been in existence more than 50 years and it possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, and:
  1. It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
  2. It is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or
  3. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values; or
  4. It has yielded or may be likely to yield,, information important in prehistory or history.

It has been in existence less than 50 years, it meets the criteria above and is of exceptional importance within the appropriate historical context, local, state or national.

HERITAGE PROPERTIES
Any building, structure, object or site may be designated a Heritage Property if it is found by the Commission to be worthy of preservation because of its historical, architectural or aesthetic merit.

HISTORIC RESOURCES
Designation initiated by the City council, Commission, Secretary, property owner or authorized representative of the owner.

HERITAGE PROPERTY
Designation initiated by the property owner or authorized representative

Town of Los Gatos
(ordinance adopted in 1998)

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LANDMARK/LANDMARK SITE (No age requirements)

May designate one or more individual structures or other features, or integrated groups of structures and features on one or more lots or sites, having special character or special historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or value, as landmarks, and shall designate a landmark site for each landmark.

Designation initiated by the City Council or Planning Commission

County of Monterey
(ordinance adopted in 2000)

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HISTORIC RESOURCE (50 year or older age requirement as implied by federal and state criteria)
Meets criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources, or one or more of the following:

Historical and Cultural Significance

  1. The resource is particularly representative of a distinct historical period, type, style, region, or way of life.
  2. The resource is, or contains a type of building which was once common but is now rare.
  3. The resource was connected with someone renowned.
  4. The resource is connected with a business or use which was once common but is now rare.
  5. The resource represents the work of a master builder, engineer, designer, artist or architect whose talent influenced a particular architectural style or way of life.

Historic, Architectural and Engineering Significance

  1. The resource exemplifies a particular architectural style or way of life important to the county.
  2. The resource exemplifies the best remaining architectural type of a community.
  3. The construction material or engineering methods used I the resource embody elements of outstanding attention to architectural or engineering design, detail, material or craftsmanship.

Community and Geographic Setting

  1. The resource benefits the historic character of the community.
  2. The unique location or singular physical characteristics of the resource represent an established and familiar visual feature of the community, area or county.
Designation initiated by the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Review Board, Secretary, property owner or authorized representative.

Designation requires property owner consent.

City of Sacramento
(ordinance adopted in 2001)

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LANDMARK (No age requirement)
One or more of the following:
  1. It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of the history of Sacramento, the region, the state or the nation;
  2. It is associated with the lives of person significant in Sacramento's past;
  3. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction;
  4. It represents the work of an important creative individual or master;
  5. Possesses high artistic values; or
  6. It has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in the prehistory or history of Sacramento, the region, the state or the nation.

The resource has integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association. Integrity shall be judged with reference to the particular criterion or criteria above.

The resource has significant historic or architectural worth, and is designation as a Landmark is reasonable, appropriate and necessary to promote, protect and further the goals and purposed of this chapter.

Factors to be considered:

  1. A structure removed from its original location is eligible if it is significant primarily for its architectural value or it is the most important surviving structure associated with a historic person or event.
  2. A birthplace or grave is eligible if it is that of a historical figure of outstanding importance and there is no other appropriate site or structure directly associated with his or her productive life.
  3. A reconstructed building is eligible if the reconstruction is historically accurate, if the structure is presented in a dignified manner as part of a restoration master plan, and if no other, original structure survives that has the same association.
  4. Properties that are primarily commemorative in intent are eligible if design, age, tradition, or symbolic value invest such properties with their own historical significance.
  5. Properties achieving significance within the past fifty (50) years are eligible if such properties are of exceptional importance.
Designation initiated by the City Council, Design Review and Preservation Board, Preservation Director

County of Santa Cruz
(ordinance adopted in 2000)

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HISTORIC RESOURCES (No age requirements)
Structures, objects, sites and districts shall be designated as historic resources if, and only if, they meet one or more of the following criteria and have retained their architectural integrity and historic value:
  1. The resource is associated with a person of local, state or national historical significance.
  2. The resource is associated with an historic event or thematic activity of local, state or national importance.
  3. The resource is representative of a distinct architectural style and/or construction method of particular historic period to way of life, or the resource represents the work of a master builder or architect or possesses high artistic values.
  4. The resource has yielded, or may likely yield information important to history or pre-history
Designation initiated by the property owner or representative, Board of Supervisors, Historic Resources Commission, County staff or any member of the general public

For more information on local ordinances: http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=1243 

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Copyright© 2003 by Judy Thompson.  All rights reserved.