La Mesa Municipal Code Ch. 25.02 La Mesa Historic Resources Inventory

The La Mesa Historic Resources Inventory, contained in the Historic Preservation Element of the City of La Mesa General Plan, may be amended, either to delete improvements or sites from the inventory or to add improvements or sites to the inventory.

A. No cultural resource included in the inventory may be altered or demolished, except in compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section.

B. Each application for a demolition or building permit pertaining to any cultural resource included in the inventory shall be referred by the Building Department to the Planning Department.

C. The Planning Department shall review the application and approve the proposed action if it is consistent with the purposes of this Ordinance.

D. If the proposed action is inconsistent with the purposes of this Ordinance, the Planning Department will refer the permit application to the Historic Preservation Commission, and no permit shall be issued for thirty (30) days. Within this 30-day period, the Historic Preservation Commission may initiate a landmark designation procedure, as contained in Section 25.03.020. If a landmark designation procedure is not initiated within 30 days, the Building Department may issue the permit according to the procedure established by the Uniform Building Code.

E. If the Historic Preservation Commission initiates a landmark designation procedure, the permit request shall be considered, in the case of a proposed alteration, as an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness or, in the case of a proposed demolition, according to the procedure set forth in Section 25.03.060.

The Historic Preservation Commission shall recommend to the City Council for approval a list of resources that shall become the Potential Landmark Registry as an amendment to the Historic Preservation Element of the General Plan. The Potential Landmark Registry may be amended from time to time to add or delete resources upon recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission and approved by the City Council as an amendment to the Historic Preservation Element.

(Ord. 2582 § 2 (part); June 25, 1991)

A. No cultural resource included on the Potential Landmark Registry may be altered or demolished, except in compliance with procedures set forth in this Section.

B. Each application for a demolition permit or building permit pertaining to a cultural resource listed on the Potential Landmark Registry shall be referred by the Building Department to the Planning Department.

C. If the proposed building permit for an alteration of a resource is determined to be inconsistent with the purposes of this chapter, the planning Department will refer the building permit to the Historic Preservation Commission, and no permit shall be issued for thirty (30) days. Within this thirty (30)-day period, the Historic Preservation Commission may initiate a landmark designation procedure, as contained in Section 25.03.020. If a landmark designation procedure is not initiated within thirty (30) days, the Building Department may issue the permit according to the procedure established by the Uniform Building Code.

D. No demolition permit shall be issued for a resource listed in the Potential Landmark Registry without prior approval of a new development on the site and the issuance of building permits for the new project in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section.

1. Where a new project proposes the demolition of a resource on the Potential Landmark Registry, as part of the project application process, the applicant shall provide an architectural and financial analysis examining the potential for remodeling or reuse of the existing structure, and providing a justification for the removal of the resource.

2. If a new project is approved that requires the demolition of a resource on the Potential Landmark Registry, the applicant shall be required to submit funds for the City to prepare and cause to be published in a newspaper of local distribution, an advertisement noticing the availability of the structure(s) for relocation to avoid demolition of the resource if feasible. This advertisement shall be published a minimum of three times. The demolition permit shall not be issued for a period of six (6) months from the date the first notice is published unless approved by the Historic Preservation Commission.

E. An appeal of the Historic Preservation Commission's determination to initiate landmark designation procedure or to seek exemption from the procedures required above prior to issuance of a demolition permit may be approved by the City Council based on findings that there are overriding considerations that justify proceeding with the issuance of the demolition permit in accordance with the Uniform Building Code without further study or delay.

(Ord. 2582 § 2 (part); June 25, 1991)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Ordinance or any other ordinance, it shall be lawful to repair, restore, or rehabilitate designated historic landmarks, contributing structures within designated historic districts, and cultural resources included in the inventory according to the provisions of the California State Historical Building Code, provided that such proposed repair, restoration or rehabilitation shall be approved by the Planning Director and the Building Department and such building or structure shall be safe and not hazardous to its occupants or the public.