HomeMy WebLinkAbout71.57 ORDINANCE NO. 71. 57
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA AMENDING
VARIOUS SECTIONS IN CHAPTER 13 OF THE CITY CODE
RELATING TO HERITAGE PRESERVATION
The City Council of the City of Saratoga hereby ordains as follows:
SECTION 1: Paragraph (h) of Section 13-05.020 in Article 13-05 of the City
Code is amended to read as follows:
"(h) Heritage resom'ce means any public or private property designated by
the City, pursuant to this Chapter, as a historic landmark, heritage lane, or historic
district, and those properties listed on the City's Heritage Resource Inventory."
SECTION 2: Paragraph (i) of Section 13-05.020 in Article 13-05 of the City
Code is renumbered to Paragraph (j) and a new (i) is added to said Section, to read as
follows:
"(i) Heritage Resource Inventory means the City's official inventory of
heritage resources, as adopted and amended from time to time by resolution of the
Heritage Commission. A property may be listed on the Heritage Resource Inventory
without being designated pursuant to this Chapter as a historic landmark, heritage
lane or historic district."
SECTION 3: Section 13-10.010 in Article 13-10 of the City Code is amended to
read as follows:
~13-10.010 Creation; qualification and resideney of members
There is hereby established a Heritage Preservation Commission consisting of
seven unpaid members who shall be appointed by the City Council, with the
following qualifications:
(a) One member who shall have been a candidate nominated by the Saratoga
Historical Foundation.
(b) Two members who, by reason of training and experience, are
knowledgeable in the field of construction and structural rehabilitation, such as a
licensed architect, engineer, contractor or urban planner. Such members must
either reside or have a place of business within the City; provided, however, with
the approval of the City Council, any such members who do not maintain an office
within the City may reside within the geographic' area covered by the 95070 U.S.
Postal zip code.
(c) Four members appointed at large having demonstrable interest in
preservation of the heritage resources within the City. Such members must be
Rev. 3/1/89 -1-
residents of the City or, with the approval .of the City Council, may reside within
the geographic area covered by the 95070 U.S. Postal Service zip code.
SECTION 4: Section 13-10.020 in Article 13-10 of the City Code is
amended to read as follows:
"S13-10.020 Term of office
A Commissioner shall be appointed for a term of four years, unless the
appointment is to fill a vacancy created by a Commissioner who has left office prior
to the expiration of his term, in which event, the appointment shall be for the
remaining term of such former Commissioner. Any reappointment of a
Commissioner whose term of office has expired shall be for a further term of four
years."
SECTION 5: Paragraph (a) of Section 13-10.050 in Article 13-10 of the City
Code is amended to read as follows:
"(a) Conduct, or cause to be conducted, a comprehensive survey of properties
within the boundaries of the City for the purpose of establishing the Heritage
Resource Inventory. To qualify for inclusion in the Heritage Resource Inventory, a
property must satisfy any one or more of the criteria listed in Section 13-15.010 of
this Chapter. The Inventory shall be publicized and periodically updated, and a copy
thereof shall be kept on file in the Planning Department."
SECTION 6: Section 13-15.010 in Article 13-15 of the City Code is amended to
read as follows:
"S 13 - 15.010 Criteria
The Heritage Commission may recommend to the City Council designation of
a proposal as a historic landmark, heritage lane or historic district if it satisfies any
two or more of the criteria listed below and also retains a substantial degree of
architectural and structural integrity with respeet to the original design, as
determined by the Heritage Commission.
(a) It exemplifies or reflects special elements of the cultural, social,
economic, political, aesthetic, engineering or arehiteetural history of the City, the
County, the State or the nation; or
(b) It is identified with persons or events significant in local, county, state
or national history; or
(e) It embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method
of construction, or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or
craftsmanship; or
(d) It is representative of the notable design or craft of a builder, designer,
or aehiteet; or
Rev. 3/I/89 -2-
(e) It embodies or contributes to unique physical characteristics
representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood or district
within the City; or
(f) It represents a significant concentration or continuity of site, buildings,
structures or objects, unified by past events or aesthetically by plan or physical or
natural development; or
(g) It embodies or contributes to a unique natural setting or environment
constituting a distinct area or district within the City having special character or
special historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or value."
SECTION 7: Paragraph (a) of Section 13-15.020 in Article 13-15 of the City
Code is amended to read as follows:
~S13-15.020 Applications
(a) Applications for designation as a historic landmark, heritage lane or
historic district may be submitted to the Heritage Commission by any of the
following:
(1) The owner or owners of a building, improvement, structure, natural
feature, site or area of land, requesting designation of their
property as a historic landmark;
(2) The owners of at least sixty percent of the frontage of all recorded
lots abutting a street, road, avenue, boulevard, pathway or trail, or
portion thereof, requesting designation as a heritage lane;
(3) The owners of at least sixty percent of the area of all recorded
lots within a specific geographic section of the City, requesting
designation of the entire section as a historic district."
SECTION 8: Section 13-15.040 in Article 13-15 of the City Code is amended to
read as follows:
nS13-15.040 Objections to proposals
(a) In the event designation of a historic landmark, heritage lane or historic
district is proposed by the City Council or Planning Commission or considered by the
Heritage Commission upon its own initiative, and in the luther event the Heritage
Commission, as a result of its study of the proposal, determines that the proposal
should be recommended to the City Council for designation, the Heritage
Commission shall mail written notice of its intended recommendation to each person
whose name appears on the latest available tax roll of the County as owning the
property, or any portion thereof, which is the subject of the proposed designation.
Such written notice shall contain a complete description of the proposed designation
and shall advise the property owners that written objections to the proposal may be
filed with the Heritage Commission within forty-five days from the date of the
notice.
(b) If objections are filed by the owner of any property proposed to be
Rev. 3/1/89 -3-
designated as a historic landmark, or by the owners of at least forty-one percent of
the frontage of all recorded lots abutting a proposed heritage lane, or by the owners
of at least forty-one percent of the area of all recorded lots within a proposed
historic district, the Heritage Commission shall discontinue any further
consideration of the proposal. Such proposal may not again be considered for
designation for at least twelve months after the date of mailing the notice to the
property owners unless, prior to the expiration of such twelve-month period:
(1) The owner or owners of a proposed historic landmark withdraw
their objection; or
(2) A sufficient number of owners of recorded lots abutting a proposed
heritage lane or recorded lots within a proposed historic district
withdraw their objections so as to reduce the total percentage of
objectors to less than forty-one percent; or
(3) In the case of a proposed heritage lane or historic district, the
Heritage Commission decides to modify the proposal by reducing
the size or boundaries thereof so as to reduce the total percentage
of objectors to less than forty-one percent."
SECTION 9: Section 13-15.060 in Article 13-15 of the City Code is amended to
read as follows:
"~13-15.060 Historic landmark
(a) The report and recommendations of the Heritage Commission on a
proposed historic landmark, together with the information and documentation
pertaining thereto, shall be forwarded to the City Council. The City Council shall
consider the report at its next available regular meeting and determine whether or
not to accept the Heritage Commissionvs recommendations. The City Council shall
by ordinance either approve the proposed designation, in whole or in part or as
modified, or shall by motion disapprove the proposal in its entirety.
(b) Until final action has been taken by the City Council on the proposed
designation as a historic landmark, no building, alteration, grading, demolition or
tree removal permit shall be issued for any work to be performed upon or within the
property which is the subject of the proposed designation, unless approved by the
Heritage Commission or the City Council. This restriction shall become effective
as of the time the application for designation is filed, or upon the expiration of time
for filing objections in response to the notice given pursuant to Subsection 13-
15.040(a) of this Article, as the ease may be.
(e) In the event a designating ordinance is adopted by the City Council, such
ordinance shall become effective thirty days following adoption thereof and the
designated property shall thereafter be subject to the regulations set forth in this
Chapter and such further restrictions or controls as may be specified in the
designating ordinance.
(d) Adoption of a designating ordinance shall be based upon a finding by the
City Council that the designated property has special historical, cultural,
archeological, scientific, architectural or aesthetic interest or value as part of the
heritage or history of the City, the County, the State or the nation, and satisfies one
or more of the criteria set forth in Section 13-15.010."
Rev. 3/1/89 -4-
SECTION 10: Section 13-15,090 in Article 13-15 of the City Code is amended to
read as follows:
"~13-15.090 Notice of designation
(a) Following adoption by the City Council of an ordinance designating a
historic landmark, heritage lane or historic district, the Commission staff shall send
notice of the designation, together with a copy of the ordinance, to the owner or
owners of the designated historie landmark, or the owners of all property abutting a
designated heritage lane, or the owners of all property within a designated historic
district. The notice shall inform such owners that the designated property will be
added to the Saratoga Heritage Resource Inventory and may be eligible for certain
privileges and benefits under local, state or federal law. The notice shall include a
statement of the regulations and restrictions upon the designated property. The
Commission staff shall also send notice of the designation to:
(1) The Heritage Commission;
(2) The Planning Commission;
(3) Any agency or department of the City requesting such notice or
affected by the designation;
(4) The Saratoga Historical Foundation;
(5) The Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission;
(6) The California State Historic Preservation Officer; and
(7) The Saratoga News.
(b) Notice of the designation and the complete legal description of the
designated property shall be recorded in the office of the Recorder for the County."
SECTION lh Paragraph (a) of Section 13-15.100 in Article 13-15 of the City
Code is amended to read as follows:
"(a) The owner or owners of a designated historic landmark, or the owners of
not less than sixty percent of the frontage of all recorded lots abutting a designated
heritage lane, or the owners of not less than sixty percent of the area of all
recorded lots within a designated historic district, may apply to the Heritage
Commission for termination of the designation. The application shall contain a
detailed description of all facts and circumstances relied upon by the applicant as
reasons for termination."
SECTION 12: Section 13-20.010 in Article 13-20 of the City Code is amended to
read as follows:
"~13-20.010 Permit required
It is unlawful for any person to alter, demolish, remove, relocate or otherwise
change any exterior architectural feature or natural feature of a designated historic
Rev. 3/1/89 -5-
landmark or to construct, alter, demolish, remove or relocate any building,
improvement or other structure upon any property located within a designated
heritage lane or historic district, or to place, erect, alter or relocate any sign upon
or within a designated historic landmark, heritage lane or historic district, without
first obtaining a written permit to do so in the manner provided in this Article."
SECTION 13: Section 13-20.070 in Article 13-20 of the City Code is amended to
read as follows:
"S 13-20.070 Criteria
The Planning Director, on the recommendation of the Heritage Commission, or
the Planning Commission or City Council on appeal, shall authorize issuance of a
permit, or a conditional permit, if and only if, it is determined that:
(a) The proposed work is consistent with the purposes and objectives of this
Chapter; or
(b) The proposed work does not adversely affect the character of the
designated historic landmark, heritage lane or historic district; or
(c) In the case of construction of a new building, structure or other
improvement upon or within a designated historic landmark, heritage lane or historic
district, the exterior of such improvements will not adversely affect and will be
compatible with the external appearance of the existing landmark, lane or district."
J~L:CTION 14: Section 13-20.080 in Aricle 13-20 of the City Code is amended to
read as follows:
'S13-20.080 ttardship
Notwithstanding Section 13-20.070, the Planning Director, on the
recommendation of the Heritage Commission, or the Planning Commission or City
Council on appeal, may approve an application for a permit to conduct any proposed
work upon or within a designated historic landmark or property located within a
designated heritage lane or historic district, if the applicant presents clear and
convincing evidence demonstrating that a disapproval of the application will work
immediate and substantial hardship on the applicant because of conditions peculiar
to the person seeking to carry out the proposed work or because of conditions
peculiar to the particular improvement, building, structure, topography or other
feature involved. If a hardship is found to exist under this Section, the Heritage
Commission or the Planning Commission or City Council shall make a written
finding to that effect, and shall specify the facts and reasons relied upon in making
such finding."
SECTION 15: Section 13-25.010 in Article 13-25 of the City Code is amended to
read as follows:
"~13-25.010 Fees
(a) No fee shall be charged for the filing, processing or public noticing of
any application for designation or any application for termination of a designation.
Rev. 3/1/89 -6-
(b) The City Council shall by resolution adopt a schedule of fees to be
charged for the filing and processing of applications for any permit required under
Section 13-20.010, and appeals to the Planning Commission and City Council
pursuant to Section 13-20.060."
SECTION 16: Section 13-25.020 in Article 13-25 of the City Code is amended to
read as follows:
~S13-25.020 Ordinary maintenance and repair
Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent the ordinary
maintenance, painting, landscaping or repair of any exterior feature in or upon any
designated historic landmark or property located within a designated heritage lane
or historic district that does not involve a change in design, material or the external
appearance thereof, nor does this Chapter prevent the construction, reconstruction,
alteration, restoration, demolition or removal of any designated historic landmark or
property located within a designated heritage lane or historic district which has
been certified by the City building inspector, or fire chief, or other code
enforcement officer as being in unsafe or dangerous condition which cannot be
rectified through the use of the California State Historic Building Code."
SECTION 17: Paragraph (b) of Section 13-25.040 in Article 13-25 of the City
Code is amended to read as follows:
"(b) The Planning Director shall have the duty and authority to enforce the
provisions of this Chapter, and any other laws, rules or regulations of the City which
govern or relate to the issuance of permits for work to be performed upon or within
a designated historic landmark or property located within a designated heritage lane
or historic district, by any or all of the following means:
(1) Serving notice upon the owner or occupant requiring the correction
or removal of any violation of this Chapter;
(2) Issuance of citations for violation of any provision of this Chapter;
(3) Authorizing and instructing the City Attorney to initiate
appropriate legal proceedings against any person who violates this
Chapter, including actions for injunctive relief to restrain or enjoin
such violation;
(4) Request enforcement assistance from the County Sheriff's
Department and the City Community Service Officers."
SECTION 18: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or
unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions
of this Ordinance. The City Council of the City of Saratoga hereby declares that it
would have passed this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause and
phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that one or more sections, subsections,
sentences, clauses or phrases may be held invalid or unconstitutional.
Rev. 3/1/89 -7-
SECTION 19: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty days after its
passage and adoption.
The above and foregoing Ordinance was regularly introduced and after the
waiting time required by law, was thereafter passed and adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of the City of Saratoga held on the 15~h day of
Ma~ch, 1989, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Cle~enger, ~DyleS~. Petersonj Stutzman, .and Mayor Anderson
NOES: None
ABSENT: NOne
MAYOR
ATTEST:
~ C~/, ~ The above and foreg~in.g,lis a true and correct
copy of Ordinance ' ,b
~_,,.. ? which has been
"' Deputy City CI;~r ' Date -a
Rev. 3/1/89 -8-