Redlands Municipal Code Art. II Nomination and Designation

A. The commission shall undertake to establish and maintain a list of nominated resources that have been identified in a preliminary survey. An individual who presents documentation equal to that collected in the preliminary survey may request that resource be placed on the list. This list may include single structures or sites, portions of structures, urban design features, manmade or natural landscape elements, or works of art that are fifty (50) years old or older. Districts may not be placed on the list.

B. A nominated resource may be designated a landmark or historic property and a district may be designated a historic and/or scenic or urban conservation district by the city council after public hearings and a recommendation by the historic and scenic preservation commission.

C. In determining the category for a resource, the commission shall refer to the definitions set out in section 2.62.030 of this chapter. (Ord. 1954 § 8, 1986)

The criteria, any one of which may be used to determine such designation, are as follows:

A. It has significant character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the city of Redlands, state of California, or the United States;

B. It is the site of a significant historic event;

C. It is strongly identified with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the culture, history or development of the city;

D. It is one of the few remaining examples in the city possessing distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type or specimen;

E. It is a notable work of an architect or master builder whose individual work has significantly influenced the development of the city;

F. It embodies elements of architectural design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship that represents a significant architectural innovation;

G. It has a unique location or singular physical characteristics representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the city;

H. It has unique design or detailing;

I. It is a particularly good example of a period or style;

J. It contributes to the historical or scenic heritage or historical or scenic properties of the city (to include, but not be limited to, landscaping, light standards, trees, curbings, and signs);

K. It is located within a historic and scenic or urban conservation district, being a geographically definable area possessing a concentration of historic or scenic properties which contribute to each other and are unified aesthetically by plan or physical development. (Ord. 1954 § 8(a), 1986)

A. Designation of nominated resources and designation of districts shall take place in accordance with the procedures in this section:

1. No nominated resource shall be altered, moved, demolished, subdivided or otherwise permanently changed until eligibility for designation has been determined or the designation process has been initiated in accordance with this section and a certificate of appropriateness, if applicable, has been secured.

2. Any person or group may request the designation of a nominated resource or ten percent (10%) of the property owners in a potential district may request the designation of a historic and/or scenic or urban conservation district by submitting an application for such designation to the commission on forms prescribed by the commission. The commission or city council may also initiate such proceedings on their own motion.

B. The commission shall use the survey process to prepare a written report regarding the proposed designation including a description of the proposed designated resource, reasons for its significance, criteria used to determine eligibility and other appropriate data.

C. The commission shall schedule a public hearing as soon as feasible but not less than twenty one (21) days after the filing of the application. Notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation not less than ten (10) days before the date set for the commission hearing. The notice shall be filed with the city clerk and mailed to the applicant and owner.

D. In the case of a proposed landmark or historic property, notice of the date, place, time and purpose of the hearing shall be given by first class mail to the applicants, owners, and occupants of the improvement at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the public hearing, using the name and address of such owners as shown on the latest equalized assessment rolls, and shall be advertised once in a daily newspaper of general circulation.

E. In the case of a proposed historic and/or scenic or urban conservation district, notice of the date, place, time and purpose of the hearing shall be given by first class mail to the applicant and owners of all properties within the proposed district at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the public hearing, using the name and address of such owners as shown on the latest equalized assessment rolls, and shall be advertised five (5) consecutive days in a daily newspaper of general circulation. Notices shall be posted every three hundred feet (300') within the proposed district. An area is not eligible for designation if more than forty nine percent (49%) of the property owners as shown on the last equalized assessment rolls within the potential district object in writing to the proposed designation. Such objection shall be dated and signed by the objectors and filed with the commission.

F. At the conclusion of the public hearing for the designation of a proposed landmark, historic property, historic and/or scenic district, or urban conservation district, the commission shall recommend to the city council in writing approval in whole or in part, or disapproval in whole or in part of the proposed designation stating the findings of fact and the reasons for its recommendation based on the report and information brought out at the public hearing.

G. Following receipt of such report, the city council shall within forty five (45) days consider at a noticed public hearing, the designation by resolution of each property recommended for designation by the commission.

H. Following such designation by the city council, the city clerk shall within thirty (30) days cause to be recorded in the office of the county recorder notice that such property has been designated and placed on the city's register of historic and scenic resources. Following the recordation of such notice, such property shall be subject to all the provisions of this chapter.

If the city council decides not to designate a property, it may review the proposed designation again after one year, sooner if there are substantial changes in the application.

I. The historic and scenic preservation commission may effect the amendment or rescission of any designation in the same manner and procedure as was followed in the original designation. (Ord. 1954 § 8(b), 1986)

Following designation, the provisions of Redlands' design guidelines shall apply to landmarks, historic properties, historic and/or scenic districts and urban conservation districts. Thereafter, any alteration, improvement, subdivision, lot split, demolition or moving of any historic resource or sign associated with a historic resource shall be subject to the review of the city in accordance with article III of this chapter. The purpose of this review is to retain buildings and their features as well as features of the site, and streetscape and landscape features which are important in defining the historic character of the property or district.

The design guidelines contain recommendations for making exterior changes to historic resources and are intended to be interpreted most strictly for landmarks and more broadly for urban conservation districts. (Ord. 1954 § 8(c), 1986)