Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2008-062 - Historic and Architectural Properties . . RESOLUTION NO. 2008 - 62 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDDING ADOPTING A POLICY REGARDING PARTICIPATION IN THE MILLS ACT HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM AND GUIDELINES FOR INCLUSION OF PROPERTY ON THE LOCAL REGISTER OF QUALIFIED AND CANDIDATE HISTORIC PROPERTIES, COUNCIL POLICY 1808 WHEREAS, on June 3, 2008, the City Council introduced an ordinance adding Chapter 18.23 to the Redding Municipal Code, concerning Historic and Architectural Preservation, and at that time directed staff to return to Council with a policy describing implementation guidelines for local designation of historic properties. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Redding that the attached City Council Policy 1808 titled "Participation in the Mills Act Historic Property Tax Abatement Program and Guidelines for Inclusion of Property on the Local Register of Qualified and Candidate Historic Properties" is hereby adopted. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was introduced, read, and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 17th'" day of June, 2008, by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Bosetti, Dickerson, and Stegall Murray None Jones ATTEST: ~ ~~ill MAR LE S STEGALL, or FORM APPROVED: " \' I j '- _ . I II!J~"'-' r '- 'r t,,,' /J ':- ./ -< ~ CONNIE'STROHMAY ,City Clerk ~~ RICHARD A. DUVERNAY, y Attorney ....;",'- ..:~ '- ~.. I."...... L' ,"_ -~ '~r;_"...." ~:' '. " ~ o ~ CITY OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT (DRAFT) Participation in the Mills Act Historic Property Tax Abatement Program or Inclusion on the Local Register of Qualified and Candidate Historic Properties Resolution Number Policy Number Effective Date Page 2008-62 1808 7-17-08 I BACKGROUND On June 3, 2008, the City Council added Chapter 18.23, Historic and Architectural Preservation, to the Redding Municipal Code. The ordinance reflects the General Plan policy direction to protect the community's historic and architecturally important structures and places. The ordinance implements the Mills Act Historic Property Tax Abatement Program. Enacted in 1972, the Mills Act legislation grants local governments the authority to enter into contracts with property owners who agree to maintain the historic character oftheir property in exchange forreceiving reductions in property taxes. It also serves to establish a Local Register of Qualified and Candidate Historic Properties. PURPOSE It is the purpose of this policy to clarifY the criteria which will be used by the Planning Commission for determining if a property is eligible for designation as a "Qualified Historic Structure" for participation in the Mills Act Historic Property Tax Abatement Program, as set forth in Section 18.23.040.B of the Redding Municipal Code, or for inclusion on the list of Qualified Properties in the "Local Register of Qualified and Candidate Historic Properties." POLICY A property may be eligible to enter into a Mills Act contract if it meets one or more of the criteria within the ordinance and is consistent with any formal policy or guidelines adopted by the City Council for evaluating historical significance, as demonstrated by materials prepared by a qualified professional. The Planning Commission will review and consider such requests as provided for in the ordinance. In determining if inclusion of a structure or site on the Qualified Properties list is consistent with the intent ofthe ordinance, the Commission shall use the factors outlined in this policy. A building will not be considered for historic designation unless it is at least 50 years old. Exceptions may be made if the property is the site of a historic event or is related to a person of historic importance to the community, state, or nation or otherwise contributes significantly to local history. I. Buildings Associated with Historic Events or Persons The ordinance criteria within this category are as follows: I. Has significant inherent character, interest, or value as part of the development or heritage of the community, state, or nation. , . CITY OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT (DRAFT) Participation in the Mills Act Historic Property Tax Abatement Program or Inclusion on the Local Register of Qualified and Candidate Historic Properties Resolution Number Policy Number Effective Date Page 2008-62 1808 7-17-08 2 2. Is the site of an event significant in local, state, or national history. 3. Is associated with a person or persons who contributed significantly to the culture and development of the community, state, or nation. To be considered under these criteria, a building must be associated with an event or person that has made a significant contribution to our history. Ifrelated to a historic event, it must be documented through accepted means of historical research that the property under consideration did exist at the time of the event and that the property was directly associated with the event. For consideration of a building through its associations with a person who has made a contribution to our history, a property's association with an individual must be documented by accepted methods of historical research. The length of association should be identified and will be an important factor when considering an application. II. Buildings Associated with Historic Architecture or Historic Period The ordinance criteria within this category are as follows: 1. Exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social, ethnic, or historic heritage of the community, state, or nation. 2. Embodies distinguishing characteristics of a type, style, period, or specimen in architecture or engineering. 3. Is the work of a person whose work has influenced significantly the development of the community, state, or nation. 4. Contains elements of design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation. To meet these criteria, a structure must embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represent the work of a master or possess significant cultural or artistic values. Embodying the distinguishing characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction means representing the way in which a building was conceived, designed, or fabricated by a people or person in past periods of history. Representing the work of a person refers to illustrating the technical and/or aesthetic achievements by a craftsman or professional of significance within a field (e.g., Architect Frank Lloyd Wright). Possessing significant artistic values concerns the expression of aesthetic ideals or preferences and applies to aesthetic achievement. Cultural, political, economic, social, ethnic, or historic heritage refers to a structure or site which represents the needs, technologies, aesthetic preferences, attitudes, or activities of a people or culture in a definable period of history. . CITY OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT (DRAFT) Participation in the Mills Act Historic Property Tax Abatement Program or Inclusion on the Local Register of Qualified and Candidate Historic Properties Resolution. Number Policy Number Effective Date Page 2008-62 1808 7-17-08 3 A building must clearly represent a historic type, period, or method of construction for eligibility. A building may be significant because it represents an unusual method of construction or represents an innovative or influential method of construction that was broadly used to support traditional or vernacular design for a period of history. Significant innovation may be expressed in terms, such as form, structure, plan, style, or materials. The design of an eligible structure may reflect historical functions and technologies or aesthetics, including materials; structural system; massing; arrangement of space; fenestration pattern; textures or colors of surface materials; and type, amount, and style of ornamental detailing. Materials are the physical elements that represent a pattern or configuration for a building of a historic period. Craftsmanship is the physical evidence of the crafts of a particular culture or people during a period in history. Craftsmanship may be expressed in vernacular methods of construction or in sophisticated configurations and ornamental detailing. It may be based on common traditions or innovative period techniques. Craftsmanship can furnish evidence of the technology of the craft, illustrate the aesthetic principles of a historic period, and may reveal individual or local applications of both technological practices and aesthetic principles. III. Buildings or Places of Historic Community Significance The ordinance criteria within this category are as follows: A. Represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood or community. B. Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. These criteria apply to buildings or structures having a special historical, cultural, archaeological, architectural, community or aesthetic heritage as determined by the work of a qualified professional, and subject to confirmation by the Planning Commission. A historic structure, place, or feature may only be considered for inclusion on the Local Register of Historic Properties ifit has been documented by accepted methods of historical research.