Irvine Municipal Code Ch. 5-5 Historic District

The Historic District is an overlay zone which implements the City's General Plan cultural resources element by promoting the conservation, preservation, protection and enhancement of historic resources identified as significant in the General Plan.

(Code 1976, § V.E-504.1; Ord. No. 92-3, 4-14-92; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 95-4, 5-9-95)

A. Encourage the nomination of significant protected sites to the National Register of Historic Places.

B. Include sites which are appropriate for educational or recreational purposes as an integral part of either public or community facilities or as part of the City-wide bikeway, pedestrian, and equestrian trail system.

C. Encourage agencies, organizations and individuals to develop interpretive and educational programs in order to properly utilize the site for the benefit of the entire community.

D. Determine the methods and means of preservation on a case-by-case basis according to a site's importance and disposition methods available. These methods may include public or private acquisition or one of the following provided extreme care is exercised not to adversely affect the site.

1. Inclusion with greenbelts, parks, open space spines, preservation areas or other open space.

2. Coverage by adequate fill, pavement, or building of surface of subsurface sites.

3. Use of the site for nondestructive public interest or educational purposes such as museums, interpretative centers, or outdoor classrooms.

4. Movement of buildings for preservation as part of a consolidated historic site.

5. Utilization of buildings in a preserved state as part of their functional capacity (e.g., a building preserved and used as an office, restaurant, or home).

6. Use of historically correct planting verified by project landscape architect.

7. The rescue of historic signs.

E. Encourage site preservation through economic incentives such as reduced taxes or reduction of other amenity requirements as required through the dedications/exactions process established by the City.

F. Every person in possession or control of a structure and appurtenant premises in the district shall maintain and keep in good repair such structure and premises. Good repair includes, and is defined as, that level of maintenance and repair which clearly ensures the continued availability of such structure and premises for lawful reasonable uses; prevents deterioration, dilapidation, and decay of any exterior portion of such structure and premises; and avoids impairment to surrounding structures of the benefits of the zone.

G. Encourage the dedication of conservation easements for the public purpose of preserving buildings, structures or sites of historical, architectural, or cultural significance.

H. Ensure that adverse impacts of a proposed project on cultural resources are mitigated in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as well as other appropriate City policies and procedures, where preservation of a significant site is not practicable.

(Code 1976, § V.E-504.2; Ord. No. 92-3, 4-14-92; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 95-4, 5-9-95)

A. The Historic Overlay District applies to all areas shown on Figure 5-5.

B. Properties eligible to be considered for this district must be designated historically significant by the General Plan and the property owner must submit a formal request for the property to be included in the district.

(Code 1976, § V.E-504.3; Ord. No. 92-3, 4-14-92; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 95-4, 5-9-95)

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