SR-104-086 (3)
PCD:SF::F:\PLAN\SHARE\COUNCIL\STRPT\2002\Initiative Impact Report.doc
Council Mtg: December 10, 2002 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Impact Report Related to the Initiative Petition for Proposed Ordinance
Entitled “Homeowners Freedom of Choice Initiative”.
INTRODUCTION
On November 12, 2002, the City Council considered the Initiative Petition proposing an
amendment to the City’s Landmarks and Historic District Ordinance. Pursuant to
Election Code Section 9214, the City Council ordered an impact report from staff about
two limited topics: the number of properties affected by the proposed initiative and the
policies of other cities regarding owner consent.
DISCUSSION
The proposed “Homeowners Freedom of Choice Initiative” is only applicable to
properties in the R1 district. There are a total of 6,586 parcels zoned "R1”. Of these,
5,302 parcels have existing buildings that were constructed in, or prior to 1952.
Approximately 400 properties in the “R1” zone are listed on the City’s Historic
Resources Inventory, of which 348 are in the area north of Montana Avenue.
Staff conducted an inquiry into the issue of owner consent, polling other Cities with
historic preservation programs and reviewing available ordinances. Attachment A
contains data regarding 27 municipal and county jurisdictions with a range of
approaches to preservation of local historic resources. However, the majority of these
jurisdictions do not require owner consent for either individual designations or historic
district designations. Of the 27 jurisdictions surveyed, only 9 jurisdictions require owner
consent for individual property designation and only 6 jurisdictions require owner
consent for historic district designation.
Currently, several other Southern California cities are wrestling with preservation policy
issues. One local jurisdiction, Redondo Beach, currently requires owner consent for
both individual property designation and historic district designation. This city has also
faced significant development pressure. Because of the owner consent provision, many
historic buildings have recently been lost, and the city has no control over this trend.
Consequently, staff understands that the Redondo Beach City Council may consider
changing its demolition permit review process.
The City of Pasadena required owner consent of 51 percent of affected property owners
for historic districts and owner consent for individual properties until recently. However,
the City of Pasadena recently amended its regulations to eliminate owner consent for
both designations (effective on December 5, 2002) due to concerns over the loss of
significant historic resources.
The City of Glendale requires 100% owner consent of individual properties and of
affected property owners for historic districts. The City of Glendale is currently
developing a “Historic District Overlay Zone” process, which would require consent of at
least 50% of affected property owners to apply for a special zoning overlay.
Prepared by: Suzanne Frick, Director
Jay M. Trevino, AICP, Planning Manager
Amanda Schachter, Principal Planner
Kimberly Christensen, AICP, Senior Planner
Elizabeth Bar-El, AICP, Associate Planner
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City Planning Division
Planning and Community Development Department
Attachments
A. Matrix of preservation policies in selected California cities
LBE
F:\PLAN\SHARE\COUNCIL\STRPT\2002\Initiative Impact Report.doc
July 4, 2007
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Attachment A
Owner Consent Policies for Historic Designation, Selected California Cities
Jurisdiction Owner Consent Owner Consent Additional Comments
Required (Individual Required (District)?
Designation)?
City of Alameda No No
Berkeley No 50% of owners
must consent
Burbank Yes * *Municipal Code does not establish
any specific regulations for historic
districts.
Colton No No
Davis No. No.
Eureka Yes No Info.
Fresno No 50% plus one must
consent
Glendale Yes Yes* Developing a “Historic District
Overlay Zone” process, which
would require more than 50% of
owners consent in order to apply
for a special zoning overlay.
Highland No No
Long Beach No No
Marysville No No
City of Monterey Yes No Info.
Monterey County Yes No info.
City of Orange No info. No
Pasadena No No* *51% Owner consent was required
but was recently eliminated
(effective 12/5/02).
Redondo Beach Yes Yes* *Districts required 85% and
increased to 100%. Regulations
currently being reviewed again.
Redwood City No No
Sacramento No No
San Clemente No No info.
City of San Diego No (except for Geographical
religious institutions) Districts – No;
Thematic Districts -
Voluntary
San Diego County Yes Yes Without owner consent, resource
may be determined “eligible for
listing” until owner consent is
received.
Santa Clara Yes No info.
Santa Cruz No No info.
San Juan Capistrano No No
South Pasadena No No
Tuolumne County Yes Yes
West Hollywood No No
Source: Survey by City of Santa Monica, Planning and Community Development Department, November
2002
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