Chico Municipal Code Ch. 2.56 Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board

There is hereby established an architectural review and historic preservation board of the city.

(Ord. 1239 §2 (part), Ord. 1259 §2 (part), Ord. 2410 §1)

A. The architectural review and historic preservation board shall perform the following functions when conducting review of architectural drawings or renderings which are required to be submitted with an application for a building permit and shall approve such plans prior to the issuance of the building permit. Such drawings or renderings shall be considered by the architectural review and historic preservation board in an endeavor to provide that the architectural and general appearance of the buildings, structures and grounds are in keeping with the character of the neighborhood and will not be detrimental to the orderly and harmonious development of the city or, in the case of commercial or manufacturing districts, will not impair the desirability of the neighborhood as a place to invest and/or work. The action of the architectural review and historic preservation board shall be based on a project design meeting those design standards established in Chapter 19.18 of this code.

B. The architectural review and historic preservation board shall perform the following functions regarding historic preservation:

1. Review proposals and make recommendations to the city council regarding the listing of historic resources on the City of Chico Historic Resources Inventory and the creation or modification of landmark overlay zoning districts; and

2. Approve or deny applications for certificates of appropriateness and certificates of demolition regarding the major alteration or demolition of structures, landmarks, or sites which are listed on the Historic Resources Inventory.

(Ord. 1239 §2 (part), Ord. 1259 §2 (part), Ord. 1322 §1, Ord. 1711 §3, Ord. 2410 §1)

A. Regular members. The architectural review and historic preservation board shall consist of three regular members, two of whom are engaged in the visual arts field such as architects, landscape architects, artists, or designers and at least one of whom have professional experience in the disciplines of architecture, history, architectural history, planning, archeology, or other historic preservation-related disciplines, such as urban planning, American studies, American civilization, cultural geography, or cultural anthropology, to the extent that such persons exist on the Planning Commission and are otherwise qualified to serve on the board. In addition, all members shall have a demonstrated interest or competence in, or knowledge of, historic preservation, American studies, cultural anthropology, cultural geography, or other historic preservation-related disciplines.

B. Alternate members. If any regular member of the architectural review and historic preservation board is absent from a meeting of that board, the chair of the planning commission may serve or may appoint another member of the planning commission to serve, as an alternate member of the architectural review and historic preservation board during the regular member's absence if necessary to ensure the presence of a quorum of the board.

C. Ex Officio Member. In addition to the regular members, the architectural review and historic preservation board shall include the planning director, or his or her designee, who shall be a nonvoting, ex officio member thereof.

(Ord. 1239 §2 (part), Ord. 1259 §2 (part), Ord. 1690 §5(a), Ord. 1694, Ord. 2268, Ord 2364 §57, Ord. 2410 §1, Ord. 2439 §19, Ord. 2590 §2)

Members of the architectural review and historic preservation board shall be elected by the Planning Commission as a subcommittee of the Planning Commission to serve for a term of two years and until their respective successors are duly appointed and qualified.

(Ord. 1239 §2 (part), Ord 1259 §2 (part), Ord. 1690 §5(b), Ord. 2410 §1, Ord. 2590 §3)

Subsequent to the biennial selection of new board members, the architectural review and historic preservation board shall set a weekday and a time for regular monthly meetings.

(Ord. 1239 §2 (part), Ord. 1256 §1, Ord. 1259 §2 (part), Ord. 1578, Ord. 2182, Ord. 2410 §1, Ord. 2590 §4)

Regular meetings and adjourned regular meetings shall be held by the architectural review and historic preservation board in the council chamber building of the city, or in such place to which any such meeting may be adjourned. If by reason of fire, flood, earthquake or other emergency, it shall be unsafe to meet in the place designated, the meeting may be held at such place as is designated by the presiding officer of the board and notice thereof given to the city manager and to others as may be required by law.

(Ord. 1239 §2 (part), Ord. 1259 §2 (part), Ord. 2410 §1)

Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the city council may, by resolution, establish a special architectural review and historic preservation committee for special projects and/or locations within the city including, but not limited to, Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Community Block Grant project areas, Bidwell Park and the Chico Municipal Airport. Such committee, if established, shall have sole responsibility for architectural review and historic preservation within any such area as may be designated by the city council, and shall have the same authority with respect to such area as provided herein to the architectural review and historic preservation board. Such special architectural review and historic preservation committee shall also be subject to the same appeal provisions as provided herein for appeals from the actions of the architectural review and historic preservation board, except in the case of the airport and park commissions which shall make the final determination as to the architectural design of facilities constructed upon property under their control.

(Ord. 1239 §2 (part), Ord. 1259 §2 (part), Ord. 2410 §1)

The architectural review and historic preservation board must meet a minimum of four times per year and each board member must attend at least one training session per year that is certified as meeting the requirements of the California State Historic Preservation Office’s Certified Local Government (CLG) program. The architectural review and historic preservation board is also responsible for preparing and submitting an annual report to the California State Historic Preservation Officer in accordance with state requirements to maintain CLG status.

(Ord. 2410 §1)