Pacifica Municipal Code § 9-7.201 Criteria

The Council may designate an historic landmark pursuant to Section 9-7.202 of this article in accordance with any of the following criteria:

(a) It exemplifies or reflects a significant element of the City's cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, architectural, geological, or archaeological history:

(b) It has special aesthetic or artistic interest or value due to elements of design, detail, material, or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation in architectural or engineering style;

(c) It is identified with historic persons or events significant in local, State, or national history;

(d) It embodies distinctive architectural characteristics of a style, type, period, or method of construction or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship;

(e) It is representative of a type of building which was once common and is now rare;

(f) It is representative of the notable work of a master builder, designer, or architect; or

(g) It is a part of or related to a square, park, or other distinctive area and should be developed or preserved according to a plan based on an historic, cultural, or architectural motif.

(§ I, Ord. 438-84, eff. January 9, 1985)

Historic landmarks shall be designated in the following manner:

(a) Applications. Any person, group, or organization may request the designation of a structure as an historic landmark by submitting an application for such designation to the Planning Commission. A designation may also be initiated by resolution of the Planning Commission or Council.

(b) Application requirements. The applicant shall file a written application with the Planning Division on a form provided by the Planning Administrator which shall be accompanied by the following information:

(1) The Assessor's parcel number of the site;

(2) A map showing the location of the structure;

(3) A description of the structure's special cultural, architectural, aesthetic, archaeological, or engineering interest or value of an historic nature;

(4) Photographs of the existing structure and site. Other descriptive materials may also be submitted, that is, drawings, sketches, lithographs, and the like;

(5) A statement of the condition of the structure;

(6) Other supporting materials or information as may be requested by the Planning Administrator; and

(7) A statement of the reasons the landmark may conform to the landmark criteria set forth in Section 9-7.201 of this article.

(§ I, Ord. 438-84, eff. January 9, 1985)

The Pacifica Historical Society may submit comments on any proposed landmark designation which shall be considered by the Planning Commission and Council. A notice shall be sent to the Pacifica Historical Society when an application for historic designation is received.

(§ I, Ord. 438-84, eff. January 9, 1985)

Notice of the time and date set for public hearings by the Planning Commission and Council shall be given as required by Section 9-4.3302 of Article 33 of Chapter 4 of this title. Notice of the public hearing shall also be mailed to the record owners of the property proposed for designation not less than ten (10) days prior to the date set for the hearing.

(§ I, Ord, 438-84, eff. January 9, 1985)

(a) The Planning Commission and Council shall hold public hearings before taking action on the designation of an historic landmark. The owner of the proposed landmark and any interested party may present testimony or documentary evidence regarding the proposed landmark designation.

(b) The Planning Commission may recommend by resolution to the Council the approval, disapproval, or modification of an application for designation.

(c) The Council by ordinance may approve, disapprove, or modify an application for designation or refer the application back to the Planning Commission for reconsideration.

(d) Within ten (10) days after the designation of a landmark by the Council, the City Clerk shall send by mail to the owners of record of the designated property a copy of the ordinance and a letter outlining the obligations which result from such designation.

(e) Within thirty (30) days after the date on which the Council designates any building, structure, or site as a landmark worthy of preservation, the City Clerk shall file with the County Recorder a certified copy of the ordinance stating that such property is designated a City historic landmark, and such ordinance shall be maintained on the public records until such time as the landmark designation may be withdrawn by the Council.

(§ I, Ord. 438-84, eff. January 9, 1985)

(a) The following structures, having been designated as structures of special historic significance both in the Historic Preservation Element of the General Plan of the City and in the Primary List of Historic Buildings and Sites prepared by the Pacifica Historical Society, are hereby given an interim landmark designation:

(1) Sanchez Adobe;

(2) Sharp Park Golf Course Clubhouse;

(3) Little Brown Church; and

(4) San Pedro School House.

(b) Such interim landmark designations shall be in effect pending a final determination by the Council on landmark designations for such structures.

(c) At its next regular meeting after January 9, 1985, the Council, by resolution, shall initiate the final designation review process for such structures with interim landmark designations.

(d) No application for a building or development permit to construct, alter, or demolish any structure with an interim landmark designation shall be approved while final designation proceedings are pending; provided, however, after 180 days have elapsed from the date of the initiation of such designation by ordinance of the Council, if final action has not been completed, permit applications may be approved.

(§ I, Ord. 438-84, eff. January 9, 1985)

No application for a building or development permit to construct, alter, or demolish any landmark structure or site filed subsequent to the day an application has been filed or resolution adopted to initiate the designation of such landmark shall be approved while designation proceedings are pending; provided, however, after 180 days have elapsed from the date of the initiation of such designation, if final action has not been completed, the permit application may be approved.

(§ I, Ord. 438-84, eff. January 9, 1985)

The following structures, having been approved by the Planning Commission and Council for designation as historic landmarks pursuant to the procedures of this article, are hereby given final landmark designation:

(a) Sanchez Adobe;

(b) Sharp Park Golf Course Clubhouse;

(c) Little Brown Church;

(d) San Pedro Schoolhouse;

(e) 185 Carmel Avenue;

(f) Vallemar Station, 2125 Cabrillo Highway;

(g) Anderson's Store, 220 Paloma Avenue;

(h) 165 Winona Avenue; and

(i) Dollaradio Station.

(§ 1, Ord. 482-C.S., eff. May 27, 1987, as amended by § 1, Ord. 533-C.S., eff. September 27, 1989, § 1, Ord. 534-C.S., eff. September 27, 1989, and § 2, Ord. 569-C.S., eff. July 10, 1991, § II, Ord. No. 770-C.S., eff. May 26, 2010)