Mountain House Municipal Code Ch. 11 Historic Resource Preservation

The intent of this Chapter is to establish regulations for the preservation of historic resources, such as cultural, archaeological, architectural, aesthetic, and environmental resources, within the City of Mountain House. Accordingly, these regulations have the following specific objectives:

(a) To preserve, maintain, and improve structures, sites, and districts of historical significance;

(b) To ensure that modifications to historic resources within the City is consistent with the historic character to be preserved or enhanced; and

(c) To enrich the educational, cultural, and aesthetic interests of the City through the preservation of the county's historical resources.

(Ord. 2024-18, § 1(Exh. A), 2024)

The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all zones in the City of Mountain House.

(Ord. 2024-18, § 1(Exh. A), 2024)

A Use Permit in accordance with Chapter 10 of Division 8 shall be required prior to any change in the use of an historical resource with the following modifications to the Use Permit process:

(a) Additional Requirements for Application. The request for such Use Permit shall include the following additional information:

(1) Evidence that the proposed change in use is consistent with the intent of this Chapter;

(2) A list of alterations required for the change of use; and

(3) A site plan which clearly delineates the location and characteristics of the proposed use.

(b) Additional Findings. In addition to the findings specified for the Use Permit, the Review Authority shall find that all o following are true:

(1) Such historical resource has been identified as being significant by a recognized historical or architectural organization, or the historical value of the resource can be established by historical or architectural literature, publications, or official documents which discuss the resource and its place in history; and

(2) The proposed use of such historical resource shall not detract from, or otherwise impair, it as an historical resource, but instead, the proposed use shall complement, enhance, and be compatible with the historical resource.

(Ord. 2024-18, § 1(Exh. A), 2024)

Parcels may be created which are less than the minimum area required by the zone in which the historical resource is located, if the purpose of the smaller parcel is to permit the retention, sale, or transfer of the site on which the historical resource is located in order to attain the intent of this section. The minimum area of parcels created under the provisions of this section shall be determined by the Review Authority.

(Ord. 2024-18, § 1(Exh. A), 2024)

If, during the course of construction, including any grading activity associated with said construction, subsurface archaeological features are uncovered anywhere within the project site, work shall be immediately halted in the vicinity of the finding and a qualified archaeologist consulted for an on-site evaluation.

(Ord. 2024-18, § 1(Exh. A), 2024)

If artifacts or evidence of materials such as bone, shell or nonnative stone are uncovered during construction activities, work shall immediately be halted in the vicinity of the finding and a qualified archaeologist consulted for an on-site evaluation. Said evaluation may entail archaeological test excavation and/or mitigative data recovery.

(Ord. 2024-18, § 1(Exh. A), 2024)