HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd. No. 2019-1407 Historic PreservationORDINANCE NO. 2019-1407
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE
15 OF THE LAKE ELSINORE MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD CHAPTER 15.78
REGARDING HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Whereas, preservation of important historical resources enhances the quality of life in Lake
Elsinore; and
Whereas, there are buildings within the City of Lake Elsinore that are currently listed on the
National Register of Historic Places, as California Points of Historical Interest, as Riverside County
Historical Landmarks and/or as a Local Historic Landmark; and
Whereas, Goal 9 in Section 4.0 (Resource Protection & Preservation) of the City of Lake Elsinore
General Plan states that it is the City's goal to "[a]ssure the recognition of the City's heritage
through preservation of the City's significant historical sites and structures"; and
Whereas, the implementation program for the General Plan's Goal 9 of Section 4.0 calls for the
City to "recognize, support and encourage the maintenance of a historic register of structures and
other landmarks that are valuable to the cultural heritage of the City"; and
Whereas, the proposed Chapter 15.78 regarding historic preservation (Historic Preservation
Ordinance) which will be added to Title 15 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code, includes
definitions, procedures and criteria for nomination and designation of historical landmarks; and
incentives to encourage owners of historic resources to designate, maintain, preserve,
rehabilitate, and improve historic resources; and
Whereas, on December 4, 2018, at a duly noticed public hearing the Planning Commission
considered evidence presented by the Community Development Department and other interested
parties with respect to this item, and adopted Planning Commission Resolution No. 2018-102
recommending that the City Council amend Title 15 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code to add
Chapter 15.78 regarding historic preservation; and
Whereas, on January 8, 2019 at a duly noticed {public hearing, the City Council has considered
the recommendation of the Planning Commission as well as evidence presented by the
Community Development Department and other interested parties with respect to this item.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The City Council has reviewed and analyzed the proposed Historic Preservation
Ordinance and finds and determines that the ordinance is in compliance with the goals and
policies of the City of Lake Elsinore General Plan, that the ordinance will not be detrimental to the
public interest, health, safety, convenience, or general welfare of the city; and that it is internally
consistent with other applicable provisions of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code.
Section 2: The City Council hereby finds and determines that the proposed Historic Preservation
Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (Cal. Publ. Res. Code
§§21000 et seq. "CEQA") and the State CEQA Guidelines (14. Cal. Code Regs §§15000 et seq.),
specifically pursuant to Section 15308 (Class 8) which exempt actions taken by regulatory
agencies as authorized by state law or local ordinance to assure the maintenance, restoration or
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enhancement or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures
for protection of the environment. As separate and independent grounds, the City Council makes
a finding that the amendment of Title 15 is exempt from the application of CEQA by Section
15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption) in that it can be seen with a certainty that there is no
possibility that adoption of the Historic Preservation Ordinance may have a significant effect on
the environment. These findings are based on the facts that the State authorizes local agencies
to adopt such ordinance, which would further protect an environmental resource subject to
protection under CEQA, because it is establishing a process for additional local regulation of
historic structures and properties, is not approving any designation, and is making no physical
change in the environment
Section 3: Title 15 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code is hereby amended to add Chapter 15.78
regarding historic preservation to read as follows:
Chapter 15.78
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Sections:
15.78.010
Title
15.78.020
Purpose
15.78.030
Definitions
15.78.040
Commission
15.78.050
Powers and duties of commission
15.78.060
Lake Elsinore historic resources inventory
15.78.070
Lake Elsinore historic register
15.78.080
Landmark or historic district designation
15.78.090
Owner consent for landmark designation
15.78.100
Amendment or rescission of designation
15.78.110
Certificate of appropriateness
15.78.120
Demolition of historic resources
15.78.130
Economic hardship exception
15.78.140
Lake Elsinore Historical Society
15.78.150
Municipally -owned historic resources
15.78.160
Incentives
15.78.170
Maintenance
15.78.180
Unsafe or dangerous conditions
15.78.190
Enforcement and penalties
15.78.010 Title.
This chapter shall be known as the "Historic Preservation Ordinance."
15.78.020 Purpose.
It is the intent and purpose of the City Council of the City of Lake Elsinore to:
A. Safeguard the City's architectural, cultural and historic heritage by recognizing that the historic
landmarks and districts are an important part of both the past and future of the City of Lake
Elsinore;
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B. Foster civic and neighborhood pride and a sense of identity based on the recognition of the
City's past and its historic resources;
C. Promote participation in the rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, restoration, maintenance, and
continued vitality of historic resources and districts, and to recognize their contribution to the
unique fabric of the City of Lake Elsinore;
D. Encourage public education and participation in the City's historic preservation program;
E. Protect historic resources, including landmarks and districts, as a means to enhance the City
of Lake Elsinore attraction to residents, tourists and visitors, thus stimulating local business and
industry;
F. Acknowledge the critical role served by owners of landmarks and historic resources within
districts, as stewards in furthering the goal of historic preservation;
G. Codify the procedures and criteria for designation of historic resources and districts, as well as
the processes and standards for reviewing proposed demolitions, alterations, and additions to
historic resources;
H. Encourage preservation and adaptive reuse of historic resources by allowing changes to an
historic building to accommodate new functions, and not to "freeze" historic buildings in time;
I. Recognize that historic resources need to continue to be economically sustainable to reduce
the threat of demolition;
J. Identify financial and other incentives that are intended to encourage owners of historic
resources to designate, maintain, reuse, rehabilitate and improve historic resources and districts;
and
K. Fulfill the City of Lake Elsinore responsibilities regarding historic resources under applicable
State and federal preservation laws, if applicable, for National Historic Preservation Act Section
106 reviews, and ensure that all procedures comply with the California Environmental Quality Act.
15.78.030 Definitions.
The terms used in this chapter have the meaning set forth below:
"Adaptive Reuse" means converting a building, structure or site to a use other than that for which
it was designed.
"Alteration" means any change or modification, through public or private action, of an historic
resource or any property located within a historic district, including but not limited to, exterior
changes to or modification of structural and/or architectural details or visual characteristics such
as paint color and surface texture, grading, surface paving, construction of new structures, cutting
or removal of trees and other natural features, disturbance of archaeological sites or areas, and
the placement or removal of any exterior objects such as signs., plaques, light fixtures, street
furniture, walls, fences, steps, plantings, and landscape accessories affecting the exterior visual
qualities of the property.
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"Building Official" means the Building Director for the City of Lake Elsinore or his or her designee.
"California Environmental Quality Act" or "CEQA" means the California Public Resources Code
Section 21000 et seq., as amended from time to time.
"California Register statute and regulations" means California Public Resources Code Section
5024.1) and California Code of Regulations Section 4850 et seq., as amended from time to time.
"CEQA Guidelines" means the California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000 et seq., as
amended.
"Certificate of Appropriateness" shall mean the certificate required prior to undertaking work or
improvements on a landmark, contributing resource or non-contributing resource within a historic
district.
"Certificate of Demolition" shall mean the certificate required prior to undertaking work to demolish
a landmark, contributing resource or non-contributing resource within a historic district.
"Certificate of Economic Hardship" shall mean the certificate required to establish a hardship
exists for a specified landmark, contributing resource or resource within a historic district.
"Commission" means the Planning Commission of the City of Lake Elsinore.
"Community Development Director" means the Director of the City's Community Development
Department or designee.
"Contributing resource" means any building, structure or object within a historic district that is
either a separately designated historic landmark or designated as a resource that contributes to
the district's historic, cultural, or architectural significance.
"Demolition" means the complete or substantial removal of any building, structure, or site.
"Historic district" means a geographic area designated as a historic district by the City Council.
"Historic resource" means any building, structure, or object that has special character or special
historical, cultural, architectural, community, or aesthetic value and that has been designated a
historic resource pursuant to this chapter.
"Integrity" means the authenticity of a historical resource's physical identity as evidenced by the
survival of characteristics or historic fabric that existed during the resource's period of significance.
"Lake Elsinore Historic Register" means the official list of landmarks and historic districts and all
contributing resources within historic districts, as adopted by the City Council pursuant to this
chapter.
"Landmark" means any historic resource designated as a landmark by the City Council.
"Mills Act" means California Government Sections 50280 et seq., as amended from time to time.
"National Historic Landmark criteria" means 36 CFR 65.4, as amended from time to time.
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"National Historic Preservation Act" means 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq., as amended from time to time.
"Non-contributing resources" means all resources within a historic district that are not identified
as contributing resources.
"Period of significance" means the date or span of time within which significant events transpired,
or significant individuals made their important contributions.
"Resource" means any building, structure, object, site, area, place, feature, characteristic,
appurtenance, landscape, landscape plan or improvement.
"State Historical Building Code" means the State Historical Building Code as contained in Part 8
of Title 24 (California Building Standards Code) of the California Code of Regulations, as
amended from time to time.
15.78.040 Commission.
The Commission is authorized to make recommendations, decisions, and determinations
concerning the designation, preservation, protection and enhancement, and perpetuations of
historic resources and historic districts.
15.78.050 Powers and duties of commission.
The Commission shall have the following additional powers and duties:
A. To consider and recommend to the City Council additions to the Lake Elsinore Historic Register
through the designation of both individual landmarks and multiple -property historic districts.
B. To conduct studies and evaluations of applications requesting the designation of a landmark,
historic resource, and/or historic district, and make determinations and recommendations as such
appropriateness for consideration of such applications.
C. To make recommendations to the City Council on zoning and general plan amendments
related to historic preservation and long-range planning goals and policies.
D. To grant or deny applications for permits for demolition, new construction, or major alterations
of designated historic resources and properties within historic districts.
E. To make recommendations to the City Council on applications for properties to be included in
the Mills Act property tax incentive program which may be subject to historic property contracts.
F. To recommend and encourage the protection, enhancement, appreciation and use of
properties of historical, cultural, architectural, community or aesthetic value that have not been
designated as historic resources but are deserving of recognition.
G. To encourage the cooperation between public and private historic preservation organizations.
H. To advise the City Council and other City of Lake Elsinore boards and commissions as
necessary on historic preservation issues and environmental reviews that may be pending.
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15.78.060 Lake Elsinore historic resources inventory.
A. The purpose of the Lake Elsinore Historic Resources Inventory is to identify buildings,
structures, objects, sites or districts that are designated historic resources, appear eligible for
historic designation, or are considered historic resources for purposes of CEQA.
B. The Community Development Director shall compile, maintain, and periodically update a Lake
Elsinore Historic Resources Inventory. Notice will be sent to property owners when their property
is being considered for inclusion on the inventory.
C. The Lake Elsinore Historic Resources Inventory shall consist of buildings, structures, objects,
sites, or districts that:
1. Are identified as historic resources or potential historic resources through survey or
other evaluation;
2. Are included on any list of historic and cultural resources, including, but not limited to,
the National Register of Historic Places, California Register of Historic Resources, or
California Points of Historical Interest;
3. Are a designated Riverside County Historical Landmark; or
4. Are designated historic landmarks or contributing resources to a historic district by the
City Council.
D. The Lake Elsinore Historic Resources Inventory shall be kept on file with the Community
Development Department.
15.78.070 Lake Elsinore historic register.
A. There is hereby established the Lake Elsinore Historic Register, a register of locally designated
historic landmarks and all contributing resources within Historic Districts.
B. Any property within the City that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, on the
California Register of Historic Resources, identified as a California Point of Historical Interest or
is designated as a Riverside County Historical Landmark shall automatically be deemed listed on
the Lake Elsinore Historical Register.
C. Any historic landmark designated as a culturally significant landmark or as a historic landmark
by the City on or before the effective date of this chapter shall not automatically be designated a
historic landmark for purposes of this chapter, but shall require review to determine if the
designation is consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
D. New designations of Historic Landmarks and Historic Districts can be initiated in accordance
with the criteria and procedures set forth in this chapter.
E. The designation of a historic landmark, historic district or contributing resource runs with the
land, and is not affected by a change of the property ownership.
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F. The conditions and process for amendment or rescission of a designation as a historic
landmark or district, or of a contributing resource, are described in Section 15.78.100.
15.78.080 Landmark or historic district designation.
A. Prior to recommending approval or modified approval, the Commission shall find that said
proposed landmark or historic district has special aesthetic, architectural, cultural, engineering, or
historical interest or value. In making its findings, the Commission may consider the following
factors, among other relevant factors, with respect to the proposed landmark or historic district:
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 significant 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 culture, economic, social or historic heritage of the City of Lake
Elsinore;
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, master architect or builder whose individual
work has influenced the development of the City of Lake Elsinore;
8. Its embodiment of elements of architectural or engineering design, detail, materials or
craftsmanship which represent a significant architectural innovation or which is unique.
9. National Historic Landmark criteria, the California Register statute and regulations
and/or the definition of historic resources found in the CEQA Guidelines.
B. Designation Process. Historic resources, outstanding historic resources, and historic districts
shall be designated by the City Council upon the recommendation by the Commission in the
following manner:
1. Initiation of Designation. Designation of an individual historic resource or landmark, or
an historic district may be initiated by the Commission, by any resident of the City of Lake
Elsinore, or by the owner of the property that is proposed for designation. Applications for
designation originating from outside the Commission must be accompanied by such
architectural, cultural, and historic information as is required by the Commission to make
an informed recommendation concerning the application.
2. List. The Commission shall publish and _ transmit to all interested parties a list of
proposed designations, and shall disseminate any relevant public information concerning
the list or any site, structure, or area contained therein.
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3. Review. The Commission shall prepare a designation report, which shall establish how
the proposed landmark or historic district meets the applicable criteria for designation.
4. Commission Public Hearing. The Commission shall schedule a public hearing on all
proposed designations, whether originating with the Commission or with another party. If
an application for designation originates from outside the Commission, the public hearing
shall be held within ninety (90) days of the Commission's receipt of an application deemed
complete.
5. Work Moratorium. While the Commission's public hearing and the City Council's
decision on the Commission's recommendation is pending, a work moratorium is in place.
During the moratorium, any work that would require an alteration permit if the improvement
were already designated a historic resource or historic district shall not be carried out. The
work moratorium will end upon the City Council's decision on the proposed designation,
or the moratorium termination date designated by the City Council that shall not to exceed
one hundred eighty (180) calendar days from the date of commencement of the
moratorium, whichever occurs first.
6. Notice. Notice of the public hearings for the designation of historic resources or historic
districts shall comply with the requirements set forth in Chapter 17.192 of the Lake Elsinore
Municipal Code.
7. Action of the Commission. The Commission may recommend approval in whole or in
part or may recommend disapproval of the application for designation in writing to the City
Council, setting forth the reasons for the decision.
8. Action by the City Council. A report of the findings and recommendations of the
Commission shall be transmitted to the City Council after the Commission hearing. The
City Council shall make its own determination regarding the application for designation
and may by resolution approve, disapprove, or give modified approval to a proposed
designation. If the City Council approves a proposed designation, the City Clerk shall
promptly send notice of the City Council's decision to the applicants and owners of the
designated property. Notice shall also be sent to the Building Official, the Community
Development Director and the Lake Elsinore Historical Society.
9. Failure to Send Notice. Failure to send any notice by mail to any property owners where
the address of such owner is not a matter of public record shall not invalidate any
proceedings in connection with the proposed designation.
10. Amendment or Rescission. The City Council may amend or rescind any designation
of an historic resource or historic district in the same manner and procedure as are
followed for designation.
15.78.090 Owner consent for landmark designation.
The City shall not designate any landmark without the owner's consent.
15.78.100 Amendment or rescission of designation.
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The City Council, upon the recommendation of the Commission, may amend or rescind any
designation of a historic landmark or historic district, including identified individual contributing
resources to a historic district, in the same manner and procedure as for designation.
In rescinding or amending the designation of a historic landmark or historic district, the City
Council must make the finding that the building, structure, object or district no longer meets the
designation criteria due to:
1. New information that compromises the significance of the property; or
2. Destruction of the historic landmark or contributing resource to a historic district through
a catastrophic event that has rendered the structure a hazard to public health, safety, or
welfare; or
3. The demolition, relocation, or removal of the historic landmark or contributing resource.
15.78.110 Certificate of appropriateness.
A. Certificate Required. No person shall carry out or cause to be carried out any alteration,
restoration, rehabilitation, construction, removal, relocation or demolition of any designated
historic resource or historic district unless the City has first issued a Certificate of Appropriateness
in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. An application for such permit shall be filed
with the Commission, who may require that the application for permit be supplemented by such
additional information or materials as may be necessary for a complete review by the
Commission.
B. Exceptions. The provisions for the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness shall not be
construed to prevent ordinary maintenance or repair, which does not change the design, materials
or, architectural elements or site features of a designated property. Selected activities are exempt
from the review procedures including exterior repainting and paint color selection, and the repair
of exterior walls with materials and finishes to match the existing walls.
C. All applications for a Certificate of Appropriateness shall include the following:
1. Completed City of Lake Elsinore application forms.
2. Three (3) sets of site plan, floor plan and scaled elevations and drawings of the
proposed work and its relationship to the designated historic property's buildings,
structures, sites and features.
3. Written scope of work and narrative description of how the work is in conformance with
the applicable design guidelines and standards, and length of time estimated to complete
the project.
4. Accurate representation of all building materials and finishes to be used.
5. Photographs and other exhibits, as _needed, which clearly de.pict location, extent and
design of proposed work.
6. Applicable application fees.
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D. Administrative Review. The Community Development Director may administratively issue a
Certificate of Appropriateness for work that requires the issuance of a permit when it is determined
that:
1. The work is minor and clearly meets the applicable standards and guidelines and any
modifications to the proposed work requested by the City of Lake Elsinore are agreed to
by the applicant.
2. The proposed work will not diminish, eliminate or adversely affect the historic character
of the subject historic resource or the district in which it is located.
No changes shall be made to the approved plans for which an administrative approval was issued
without resubmittal to the Community Development Director for approval of the changes.
E. Commission Review.
1. The Commission will review and make a recommendation to the City Council on the
issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness for those applications that do not qualify for
administrative review. The Community Development Director shall review the application
and, if determined to be complete, schedule the item for a hearing before the Commission.
2. Notice of public hearings for the designation of historic resources or historic districts
shall comply with the requirements set forth in Chapter 17.192 of the Lake Elsinore
Municipal Code. The Community Development Director will review the application
materials and analyze how the proposed work conforms to the appropriate guidelines and
standards and any other relevant codes, such as the California State Building Code, and
make a recommendation for approval, denial or approval with conditions.
3. The Commission will review the application, staff report, and evidence presented at the
public hearing to make a recommendation to the City Council as to whether to issue a
Certificate of Appropriateness. The Commission may recommend approval, approval with
conditions, or denial or may continue the matter with directions as to what additional
information is needed to make a recommendation.
F. Action by the City Council.
The City Council shall make a final decision as to whether to grant, conditionally grant, or
deny a Certificate of Appropriateness.
G. Standards for Consideration of a Certificate of Appropriateness:
1. For a designated historic district, whether or not the subject property is classified as a
contributing or non-contributing resource.
2. The proposed work will neither adversely affect the architectural features of the
resource(s) nor adversely affect the character or historic, architectural, or aesthetic
interest or value of such resource(s) and its site.
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3. The proposed work will be reviewed relative to the elements of placement, orientation,
size, scale, massing, proportions, materials, textures, finishes, patterns, details,
embellishments and the relationship of these elements to one another which contribute to
the historic, architectural, cultural, technological and/or educational significance of the
property;
4. Conformance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and any Commission -
adopted guidelines; and
5. For the relocation of historic buildings and structures, the extent to which the new
location and its siting re-create the setting and environment associated with the original
period of significance for the historic property.
H. A Certificate of Appropriateness will expire one year from the date of issuance unless work is
started within that time. No changes shall be made to the approved plans after the issuance of a
Certificate of Appropriateness without resubmittal to the Commission and determination of the
necessary approval process for the proposed changes.
I. The Commission may establish guidelines for minor projects to be reviewed and approved by
the Community Development Director. If, in the judgment of the Community Development
Director, the proposed work does not meet the standards and guidelines, the Community
Development Director shall forward the application to the Commission for its independent review
and determination.
15.78.120 Demolition of historic resources.
Purpose: Once a historic resource is demolished, it is forever gone and cannot be replaced.
Therefore, it is the intent of this section to preserve the architectural, cultural and historic
resources that have a demonstrated significance to the City of Lake Elsinore. Consequently, these
provisions are structured to take reasonable measures to ensure that historic resources are not
inadvertently or unnecessarily destroyed and to explore all alternatives to their demolition.
A. No person shall carry out or cause to be carried out demolition of any designated historic
resource unless the City has first issued a Certificate of Demolition in accordance with the
requirements of this chapter. Without a valid Certificate of Demolition, the Building Official shall
not issue permits to demolish a property designated on the City of Lake Elsinore Historic Register.
B. Certificate of Demolition. All applications for a Certificate of Demolition shall include the
following:
2. The demolition permit application;
3. If the building has been determined an imminent hazard, written documentation from
the Building Official of this determination;
4. Narrative text, graphic illustration or other exhibits that the building, structure or object
is of no architectural, cultural or historic value or importance.
C. Upon receipt of a complete application for a Certificate of Demolition, the Commission shall
review the application, provided however, that if the building, structure or object has been
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determined to be an imminent threat to public health, safety, and welfare by the Building Official,
the Community Development Director may approve or deny the request.
D. Applications for Certificates of Demolition shall be processed in the same manner and
procedure as are followed for landmark or historic district designation.
E. The Commission will review the application materials and make a recommendation to the City
Council for approval, denial or approval with conditions. If the Commission determines to
recommend approval to the City Council, the Commission shall make one or more of the following
findings:
1. There is sufficient evidence, including evidence provided by the applicant, that the
property retains no reasonable economic use, taking into account the condition of the
structure, its location, the current market value, and the costs of rehabilitation to meet the
requirements of the building code or other city, state or federal law;
2. That the demolition or relocation of the structure is necessary to proceed with a project
consistent with and supportive of identified goals and objectives of the general plan, and
the demolition of the structure will not have a significant effect on the achievement of the
purposes of this chapter or the potential effect of the demolition or relocation of the
structure is outweighed by the benefits of the new project;
3. In the case of an application for a permit to relocate, that the structure may be moved
without destroying its historic or architectural integrity and importance; or,
4. That the demolition or relocation of the structure is necessary to protect or to promote
the health, safety or welfare of the citizens of the city, including the need to eliminate or
avoid blight or nuisance.
F. The City Council may require a reasonable continuance for consideration of the demolition
request for the purpose of providing adequate time to investigate alternatives to demolition.
G. In the event that the City Council determines to approve the application for a Certificate of
Demolition, the City Council shall direct the Building Official to issue the necessary permit and
rescind the historic landmark designation and/or the building's identification as an individual
contributing resource to a historic district.
15.78.130 Economic hardship exception.
A. Application for Economic Hardship Exception. An application for an Economic Hardship
Exception shall be filed concurrently with and shall be processed in the same manner and
procedure as a Certificate of Appropriateness before the Commission.
B. An application for an Economic Hardship Exception shall be accompanied by documentation
in support of the requested exception, which may include the following:
1. Estimate of the cost of the proposed construction, alteration, demolition or removal, and
an estimate of any additional cost that would be incurred to comply with the requirements
of this chapter;
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2. Estimated market value of the property in its current condition; estimated market value
after completion of the proposed construction, alteration, demolition or removal; and
3. Any other information considered necessary for making a determination as to whether
the property does yield or may yield a reasonable return to the owners.
C. In considering an application for an Economic Hardship Exception, all relevant factors shall be
considered. In order to grant the exception, the Commission shall find that without approval of the
proposed demolition or alteration, a reasonable use of or return from a designated historic
resource or property within a historic district will be denied the property owner.
15.78.140 Lake Elsinore Historical Society.
The Lake Elsinore Historical Society (Society) shall receive timely notice of applications submitted
pursuant to this chapter. The Society may, at its discretion, provide comments to the Planning
Department regarding such applications or otherwise act in a voluntary advisory capacity.
15.78. 150 Municipally -owned historic resources.
The Commission shall review and provide recommendations to the City Council on all projects
affecting City -owned designated or eligible for designation historic resources, including changes
to public and semi-public interior spaces before any plans for it are approved or work commences.
15.78.160 Incentives.
The City Council establish preservation incentives to encourage owners of historic resources to
designate, maintain, preserve, rehabilitate, and improve historic resources. In addition to any
other incentive of federal or state law, owners of properties designated as historic landmarks or
contributing resource to historic districts may apply for the following:
A. Use of the State Historical Building Code: Pursuant to the California Health and Safety Code
Sections 18950 et seq., the Building Official is authorized to apply the State Historical Building
Code in permitting repairs, alterations, and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration,
rehabilitation, safety, moving, or continued use designated historic resources. Whenever
applicable, the property owner may elect to use the State Historical Building Code for alterations,
restorations, new construction, removal, relocation, or demolition of a designated historic
resource, in any case which the Building Official determines that such use of the code does not
endanger the public health or safety, and such action is necessary for the continued preservation
of an historic resource. Such use of the Code is subject to construction work undertaken for
historical resources pursuant to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, and that has already
been reviewed and approved by the Commission and/or City Council in conjunction with a
certificate of appropriateness.
B. Historical Property (Mills Act) Contracts: Pursuant to California Government Code Sections
50280 et seq. (known as the "Mills Act"), the City Council may establish a program providing for
entering into a contractual agreement with the owner(s) of an historic property for the purpose of
the preservation, rehabilitation and maintenance of a designated historic resource. The terms of
the Mills Act agreement allow the owner to receive a reduction in property taxes in exchange for
the property owner's commitment to repair, restoration and/or rehabilitation improvements and
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satisfactory maintenance of the property. The agreement shall include, but not be limited to, the
contract provisions as required under state law.
C. Change of Use: The city will encourage compatible adaptive reuse of historic properties.
15.78.170 Maintenance.
It is the intent of this chapter to address the range of circumstances that affect the preservation
of the City of Lake Elsinore significant architectural, cultural and historic resources including loss
because of deterioration from lack of maintenance.
Designated historic landmarks and contributing resources to historic districts shall be maintained
in good repair to prevent decay, demolition by neglect, loss of historic fabric, and possibility of
injury. Deteriorated or defective building elements shall be promptly addressed, and repaired or
stabilized to prevent further decay, deterioration, loss of historic fabric, and possibility of injury to
members of the public and/or property.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed so as to prevent the ordinary repairs and maintenance
of any building, structure, or site, provided that such repairs or maintenance do not result in a
conspicuous change in the design, form, proportion, mass, configuration, building material,
texture, color, location, or visual appearance of any structure, or part thereof.
15.78.180 Unsafe or dangerous conditions.
A. None of the provisions of this chapter shall be construed to prevent any construction, alteration,
removal, demolition or relocation of a historic landmark or contributing resource necessary to
correct the unsafe or dangerous conditions of any structure, or feature, or part thereof, where the
Building Official, has declared such condition unsafe or dangerous and the proposed construction,
alteration, removal, demolition or relocation necessary to correct the unsafe or dangerous
condition. Only such work as is necessary to correct the unsafe or dangerous condition may be
performed pursuant to this section.
B. If the work that is necessary to correct the unsafe or dangerous condition is not immediately
necessary to correct the unsafe or dangerous condition; the property owner shall process either
an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness or an application for a Certificate of Demolition.
C. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if no complete application for either a Certificate of
Appropriateness or a Certificate of Demolition has been submitted within sixty (60) days of an
order to abate a nuisance, or an earlier time if determined to be necessary by the Building Official,
the Building Official may proceed with an abatement action.
15.78.190 Enforcement and penalties.
Every person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. In addition,
the following penalties may be enforced:
A. The City Attorney or designee may maintain an action for injunctive relief to restrain a violation
or cause, where possible, the complete or partial restoration, reconstruction or replacement of
any structure demolished, partially demolished, altered or partially altered in violation of this
chapter.
Ord. No. 2019-1407
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B. The intentional and complete demolition of a potential or designated historic resource or district
or any feature within a potential historic resource or district in violation of this chapter may result
in the denial of building and construction -related permits for a future use of the site or property for
a period of not to exceed twenty-four (24) months from the date the City becomes aware of the
alteration or demolition in violation of this chapter. The purpose of this delay is to provide the City
with an opportunity to study and determine appropriate mitigation measures for alteration, removal
and to ensure that mitigation measure for the alteration or removal are incorporated into any future
development plans or approvals for the subject site or property. Mitigation measure imposed by
the City shall be imposed as conditions of approval of any subsequent permit for development of
the subject property or site.
Section 4: Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or its application is held invalid
by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, sections, or
applications of the Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
application, and to this end each phrase, section, sentence, or word is declared to be severable.
Section 5: Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective at 12:01 a.m. on the
thirty-first (31 st) day after the date of adoption.
Section 6: Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall
cause a synopsis of the same to be published according to law.
Passed and Adopted on this 22nd day of January
Attest:
Mark Mahan
Deputy City'Glerk
Ord. No. 2019-1407
Page 16 of 16
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE }
I, Mark Mahan, Deputy City Clerk of the City of Lake Elsinore, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Ordinance No. 2019-1407 was introduced at the Regular meeting of January 8, 2019,
and adopted by the City Council of the City of Lake Elsinore at its Regular meeting of January
22, 2019, by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members Sheridan, Johnson and Magee; Mayor Pro -Tem Tisdale and Mayor Manos
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
I further certify that said Synopsis was published as required by law in a newspaper of general
circulation in the City of Lake Elsinore, California on the 15th day of January, 2019, and on the
28th day of January, 2019.
Mark Mahan
Deputy City Clerk