§ 33-790. Purpose and definitions.

• (a) Purpose. It is the purpose and intent of this article to:

  • (1) Protect, enhance and perpetuate historical resources, sites, and districts that represent or reflect elements of the city's cultural, social, economic, political, and architectural history for the public health, safety, and welfare of the people of the city;

  • (2) Safeguard the city's historical heritage as embodied and reflected in its historical resources, sites, and historical districts;

  • (3) Stabilize and improve property values;

  • (4) Foster civic pride in the character and accomplishments of the past;

  • (5) Strengthen the city's economy by protecting and enhancing the city's attractions to residents, tourists, and visitors and serve as a support and stimulus to business and industry;

  • (6) Enhance the visual character of the city by encouraging the preservation of unique and established architectural traditions;

  • (7) Promote the use of historical landmarks and districts for the education, pleasure, and welfare of the people of the city;

  • (8) Permit historical and archaeological sites to be identified, documented, and recorded by written and photographic means and allow an opportunity for preservation of historical and archaeological sites.

• (b) Definitions. Whenever the following terms are used in this article, they shall have the meaning established by this section.

"Alteration" means any exterior change or modification through public or private action of any historical property or resource on the Escondido historic sites survey, local register or located within an historical district, affecting the exterior visual qualities of the property or resource excluding routine maintenance (masonry tuckpointing, cleaning), temporary fixtures (awnings and canopies, signs and plaques, light fixtures, portable spas, steps, and landscape accessories) and maintenance and removal of plantings and nonmature trees. Alteration also includes removal of historical resources such as mature trees and other landscape features identified on the Escondido historic sites survey as well as disturbances of archaeological sites.

"Archaeological site" means an area where remains of man or his and her activities prior to keeping of history are still evident.

"California Register of Historical Resources/California Register" means a state

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City of Escondido, CA § 33-790

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§ 33-790

authoritative and comprehensive listing and guide to California's significant historical resources. The California Register is used by state and local agencies, private groups and citizens to identify, evaluate, register and protect California's historical resources. The California Register is administered by the State Historic Resources Commission, and the Office of Historic Preservation.

"Catastrophic event" means an event, such as fire, earthquake or flooding, that is beyond the property owner's ability to control and renders historical resources hazardous. Catastrophic event shall not include improper/insufficient owner maintenance or corrections that can be accomplished through reasonable measures.

"Certificate of appropriateness" means a certificate issued by the director of development services approving alteration, restoration, construction, removal, relocation in whole or in part, consistent with the Secretary of Interior Standards, of or to a property on the local register or to an improvement within an historical district.

• (1) "Certificate of appropriateness (major)" means a major project that undergoes design review by planning commission or city staff, prior to issuance of the certificate of appropriateness.

• (2) "Certificate of appropriateness (minor)" means a minor project that undergoes planning administrative review, prior to issuance of the certificate of appropriateness.

"Demolition" means any act that destroys in whole or in part an historical resource on the local register or an improvement within an historical district.

"Design Guidelines for Historic Resources" means the guideline/manual adopted by city council Ordinance 91-57 and any subsequent amendments, applicable to any historical resource or any property within an historical district, intended for property owners, design professionals, and city boards and commissions as a design resource, regulatory tool and policy guide.

Escondido Historic Sites Survey. See Survey.

"Façade" means the exterior face of a building that is the architectural front, sometimes distinguished from other faces by elaboration of architectural or ornamental details.

"Fixture" means a decorative or functional device permanently affixed to a site or the exterior of a structure and contributing to its ability to meet historical designation criteria. Permanently affixed shall include, but not be limited to, attachment by screws, bolts, pegs, nails or glue, and may include such attachment methods as rope, glass or leather if such material is integral to the design of the device. Fixtures include, but are not limited to, lighting devices, murals, moldings, leaded glass or other decorative windows and decorative hardware.

"Historic Register Incentives Program" means a program adopted by city council resolution of various incentives intended to encourage and facilitate the preservation, maintenance and appropriate rehabilitation of significant historical resources. The availability of incentives may vary from time to time.

"Historic sign" means a sign that possesses historical, cultural, architectural, or community interest or value associated with the development, heritage or history of the city and that is listed on the Escondido historic sites survey or designated on the local register of historic places.

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City of Escondido, CA

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"Historic street markings list" means the list adopted by city council Ordinance 88-57, and any subsequent amendments, identifying the location and name of the historical markings.

"Historical district" means any area that contains a number of structures or landscape features having a similar character of historic, archaeological, cultural, architectural, community or aesthetic value as part of the heritage of the city, region, state, or nation, and that has been designated pursuant to this article.

"Historical resources" means and includes, but is not limited to, any object, building, structure, site, area, place, sign, outdoor work of public art, landscape feature, record, or manuscript which is historically or archaeologically significant, or is significant in the architectural, engineering, scientific, economic, agricultural, educational, social, political, military, or cultural annals of Escondido and listed on the Escondido historic sites survey.

"Historical site" means any parcel or portion of real property that has special character related to its special historical, cultural, or archaeological feature.

"Improvement" means any place, building, structure, landscape feature or object constituting a physical addition to real property or a structure on real property, or any part of such addition or façade excluding routine maintenance such as masonry tuckpointing, cleaning, awnings, signs, plaques, light fixtures, steps, spas, plantings, nonmature tree and landscaping accessories.

"Landscape feature" means any tree or plant life that has been placed, planted or manipulated by man for cultural purposes.

"Local historical landmark" means any historical resource that has been registered as a local historical landmark pursuant to this article because of its outstanding historic, cultural, architectural, archaeological, or community interest or value as part of the development, the heritage or history of the city.

"Local register of historical places" means a local list established by the city council of districts, sites, buildings, uses, landscape features, signs, structures and objects of local, state or national importance that are significant and warrant protection because of their historic, architectural, archaeological, or cultural values. The local register includes local historical landmarks and districts.

"Mature tree" means as defined in Escondido Zoning Code Article 55, Grading and Erosion Control.

"National Register of Historic Places" means a national list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects of local, state or national importance that are significant for their historical, architectural, archaeological or cultural values. Properties less than 50 years old ordinarily are not eligible for the Register unless they are of exceptional importance. The Register is administered by the Keeper of the Register, U.S. Department of the Interior, and is the nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation.

"Owner" means the person appearing on the last equalized assessment roll of the County of San Diego.

"Person" means any individual, association, partnership, firm, corporation, public agency or political subdivision.

"Planning commission" means the planning commission of the City of Escondido as established by Chapter 20 of the Escondido Municipal Code.

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City of Escondido, CA § 33-790

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"Secretary of the Interior's Standards" means the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, 1995 Edition, or such later edition as adopted by the city council.

"Street markings" means any street name or stamp in concrete or curbs that denotes the original name of the street or contractor. This definition also includes any historical feature such as horse rings or lamp posts as identified in the Escondido Historic Survey, and all items identified in the historic street markings list.

"Survey" means the Escondido Historic Sites Survey consisting of an historical resources inventory compiled and maintained by the zoning administrator that documents structures, uses, sites, and artifacts that are related to the area's history including all areas within the corporate limits. Resources on the list must be 50 years or older unless the zoning administrator deems a younger, exceptional resource worthy of documentation. The inventory was originally completed in March 1984 and is updated as needed. The survey may also include an inventory of archaeological resources. Certain records of archaeological resources may not be subject to public review in the interest of protecting these resources from tampering. Resources listed in the survey are eligible for nomination to the Escondido local register of historical places.

"Zoning administrator" means the director of development services (director), or designee, as provided for in Title 7, Chapter 4, Article III (section 65901) of the Government Code. (Ord. No. 2024-05, 5/8/2024)