La Quinta Municipal Code Ch. 7.06 Historic Resources, Historic Landmarks and Historic Districts

The city council shall establish and maintain a historic resources inventory according to the requirements of the state historic preservation office.

(Ord. 536 § 2, 2016; Ord. 238 § 2, 1993; Ord. 207 § 1, 1992)

A historic resource may be considered for inclusion in the historic resource inventory based on one (1) or more of the following:

A. It exemplifies or reflects special elements of the city's cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering or architectural history; or

B. It is identified with persons or events significant in local, state or national history; or

C. It embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of construction, is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship or is representative of a notable work of an acclaimed builder, designer or architect; or

D. It is an archaeological, paleontological, botanical, geological, topographical, ecological or geographical site which has the potential of yielding information of scientific value; or

E. It is a geographically definable area possessing concentration of site, buildings, structures, improvements or objects linked historically through location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and/or association, in which the collective value of the improvements may be greater than the value of each individual improvement.

(Ord. 536 § 2, 2016; Ord. 238 § 2, 1993; Ord. 207 § 1, 1992)

Landmarks shall be established by the city council in the following manner:

A. Any person may request the designation of an improvement as a landmark by submitting a written request for such designation to the planning commission. The planning commission or city council may also initiate such proceedings by motion.

B. Any such request shall be filed with the planning and development department upon prescribed forms and shall include the following data:

1. Name and address of property owner and assessor's parcel number and address of site;

2. Description of the proposed landmark, including special aesthetic, cultural, architectural or engineering interest or value of a historic nature, including information about the architecture, notable features, construction and other information indicating the historical significance of the site;

3. Sketches, photographs or drawings;

4. Statement of condition of the improvement;

5. Explanation of any known threats to the improvement of the site;

6. Additional information:

a. Site plan in appropriate scale,

b. Legal description of the property,

c. Photographs, old and recent,

d. Proposed use,

e. Existing zoning,

f. Bibliography and references,

g. Chain of title, if available.

C. Within forty-five (45) days of the date of the request, the commission shall hold a public hearing to review the landmark application according to the criteria of Section 7.06.020.

D. Notice of the public hearing shall be published in a paper of local circulation at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing date. In addition, notice of the date, place, time and purpose of the hearing shall be mailed, return receipt requested, to the owner of the proposed landmark property as shown on the last equalized assessment role at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the public hearing. Failure to send notice by mail to any property owner when the address of such owner is not on the latest equalized assessment role shall not invalidate any proceedings in connection with the proposed designation.

E. A notice of the request for designation as a landmark shall be forwarded to the building and safety department and no building or demolition permits for any alteration to any exterior architectural features of the proposed landmark shall be issued while the matter is pending final decision.

F. After the public hearing, the commission shall, by resolution, make a report and recommendation to the city council. If the commission determines that the improvement does not meet landmark criteria, the process shall terminate and the commission shall notify the property owner and applicant of such termination in writing within ten (10) days of the commission's determination. If the commission determines that the historical resource warrants landmark designation and the property owner has consented to same in writing, then the commission shall submit a written recommendation to the city council incorporating its reasons in support of the proposed landmark designation. Without the property owner's consent to the proposed designation, the proposal shall terminate.

G. The city council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed historic landmark designation within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the recommendation from the commission.

H. At the conclusion of the public hearing on the proposed designation, the city council shall, by resolution, designate, conditionally designate, or disapprove the designation of the landmark. Written notice of the city council action shall be mailed to the property owner.

(Ord. 536 § 2, 2016; Ord. 238 § 2, 1993; Ord. 207 § 1, 1992)

Historic districts shall be established by the city council in the following manner:

A. The procedures for designating a historic district shall be the same as for designating a landmark, except as otherwise provided in this section.

B. Any application for designation of a historic district shall be filed with the planning and development department upon the prescribed form and shall include the following data:

1. Boundaries of the proposed district and a list of names and addresses of property owners, assessor's parcel numbers and addresses of properties within the boundaries;

2. Description of the proposed historic district, including special aesthetic, cultural, architectural or engineering interest or value of a historical nature;

3. Sketches, photographs or drawings;

4. Statement of condition of structures and improvements within the district;

5. Explanation of any known threats to any historic resource within the district;

6. Other information requested by the planning and development department.

C. If written consent of two-thirds (⅔) of the owners of property within the proposed district to the proposed designation is not obtained at the time of the planning commission hearing, the process shall terminate and the commission shall notify the property owners and applicant of the termination within fourteen (14) days of the commission's determination.

D. If the commission determines that the area warrants historic district designation, it shall submit a written recommendation to the city council incorporating its reasons in support of the proposed district designation, within thirty (30) days of its decision. Such recommendation shall include a report containing the following information:

1. A map showing the proposed boundaries of the historic district and identifying all structures within the boundaries, contributing or noncontributing;

2. An explanation of the significance of the proposed district and description of the cultural resources within the proposed boundaries;

3. Recommendations as to appropriate permitted uses, special uses, height and area regulations, minimum dwelling size, floor area, sign regulations, parking regulations and any other modification to existing development standards necessary or appropriate to the preservation of the proposed historic district;

4. Proposed design guidelines for applying the criteria for review of certificates of appropriateness to the nominated historic district.

(Ord. 536 § 2, 2016; Ord. 238 § 2, 1993; Ord. 207 § 1, 1992)

A. Findings of Fact. De-designation of a landmark property or district may be initiated by the property owner or by the City based on one or more of the following findings of fact.

1. New evidence is provided to the City that demonstrates the previously identified historical significance of the landmark property or district has been reduced or no longer exists such that the landmark property or district no longer meets the eligibility criteria; or

2. The landmark property or district was designated inaccurately based on incorrect information; or

3. The integrity of the landmark property or district itself has been greatly diminished such that it no longer physically conveys its identified historical significance resultant from extensive unintentional damage, fire, flood, or natural disaster.

B. Historic Landmark Assessment Report. A Historic Landmark Assessment Report may be required, at the Design and Development Director's discretion, as part of the de-designation request, and will be paid for by the applicant. The Historic Landmark Assessment Report shall respond to the findings of fact included in this section and shall be provided to the Planning Commission and City Council.

C. De-designation Procedures.

1. Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, the City shall complete the appropriate environmental review for the proposed de-designation process.

2. The Planning Commission shall consider all landmark de-designation requests and associated Historic Landmark Assessment Reports as well as any other information provided by the applicant or the Director. Upon consideration at a regularly scheduled public hearing, the Planning Commission shall forward a recommendation to the City Council to de-designate or to not de-designate the property or district in question.

3. If one or more of the findings of fact exist, the City Council, at a regularly scheduled public hearing, may:

a. De-designate the landmark property or district and update or cancel the Mills Act Agreement accordingly; or

b. Maintain the previous designation assigned.

D. Filing fees for de-designation of a landmark property or district shall be determined by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. 621, § 1(Exh. A), 4-1-2025)