Susanville Municipal Code Ch. 15.50 Historic Building Preservation

The city council finds that the protection and enhancement of buildings or sites that have historical or architectural significance located within Lassen County and the city of Susanville are of cultural and aesthetic benefit to its citizens. This provision will enhance the economic, cultural and aesthetic standing of the county and the city. The purpose of this provision is to promote the general welfare of the public by providing a means by which to protect and enhance historic structures in Lassen County and the city of Susanville.

Further, the intent of this chapter is as set forth in State Historic Building Code Section 8-101.3, Intent:

It is the intent of these regulations to facilitate the preservation and continuing use of qualified historical buildings or properties while providing reasonable safety for the building occupants and access for persons with disabilities.

(Ord. 02-882 § 1 (part))

This provision is enacted under the authority set forth in Section 18955 of the State Health and Safety Code.

(Ord. 02-882 § 1 (part))

A. The Lassen County/city of Susanville historic building review committee is hereby created to review applications requesting buildings and/or sites to be placed on the Lassen County/city of Susanville historic building registry for the purpose of utilizing the State Historic Building Code. Said committee shall be comprised of five members, to be appointed as hereinafter provided.

B. The city council of the city of Susanville and the Lassen County board of supervisors shall appoint four members (selecting two members each) through an application process. The fifth member shall be selected at large by those four appointees. Applicants shall have demonstrated special interest, experience and/or knowledge of local history. Appointees shall serve staggered two-year terms and the at large member shall serve a one-year term.

(Ord. 02-882 § 1 (part); Ord. 08-951 § 1)

The joint Lassen County/city of Susanville historical building review committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the city council/board of supervisors on matters relating to the identification, protection, retention and preservation of historical resources within the county and their duties shall include the following: To advise and make recommendations to the board of supervisors/city council on how it can best promote the preservation of cultural and historic resources of Lassen County.

(Ord. 02-882 § 1 (part))

The process to consider the designation of individual cultural or historic building and/or site may be initiated upon application of the owner of the property for which such designation is requested (or the authorized representative of the owner). Any such application shall be filed with the county community development department or city building department, as appropriate, depending on the location of the structure, and shall be accompanied by the following information (as appropriate):

(a) The assessor's parcel number and address of the site or the property whereon the building and/or site proposed for designation is located as well as the legal description of the property;

(b) A descriptive narrative detailing the building and/or site proposed for designation;

(c) A description of special aesthetic, cultural, architectural or historical qualities which justify such designation;

(d) Sketches, drawings, photographs or other descriptive material;

(e) A statement of the condition of the building and/or site;

(f) Any other information determined to be appropriate by the building official;

(g) Written, notarized authorization of the property owner(s) of record (or an authorized agent);

(h) Special recommendations from a local historical organization.

(Ord. 02-882 § 1 (part))

The committee shall consider the following criteria in the review of applications:

(a) The age of the building and/or site;

(b) The building and/or site are associated with events that have made significance in the heritage of the city or county;

(c) The building and/or site are associated with the lives of persons significant in the city's or county's past;

(d) The building and/or site embody the distinctive characteristic of a type, period or method of construction or represent the work of a master or possess high artistic value;

(e) The proposed building and/or site materially benefits the architectural or historical character of the community;

(f) The unique location or singular physical characteristic of the building and/or site proposed for designation represents an established and familiar visual feature of the community, area, city or county;

(g) The preservation of a building and/or site is essential to the integrity of the community;

(h) The committee may consider other unique buildings and/or sites.

(Ord. 02-882 § 1 (part))

The property owner(s) whereon such cultural/historic resource exists must submit an application for inclusion on the Lassen County/city of Susanville historical building registry to the Lassen County community development department or city of Susanville building department, as appropriate.

The content of the application shall be as determined by the Lassen County community development department or city building department, as appropriate.

A non-refundable application fee is paid at the time of application. An application fee will be established by resolution.

Upon acceptance of a completed application, the building official shall within 30 days convene the Lassen County/city of Susanville historic review committee to review the application and determine if the application qualifies to be included on the Lassen County/city of Susanville historic building registry. If property in the county is so qualified, the county building official will convey the recommendation of the historic building review committee (HBRC) to the board of supervisors for the building and/or site to be added to the Lassen County/city of Susanville historic building registry; if property in the city is so qualified, the city building official shall convey the recommendation of the HBRC to the city council for the building and/or site to be added to the Lassen County/city of Susanville historic building registry.

If the building and/or site are added to the Lassen County/city of Susanville historic building registry list, the Lassen County community development department or the city building department will record, at no additional fee, the historical listing on the property title.

(Ord. 02-882 § 1 (part))

The terms "use" or "occupancy," when used in the California Historic Building Code, only refer to the classification of building construction types in reference to how a structure is required to be constructed and not to land use and zoning regulations. Local zoning regulations still apply.

(Ord. 02-882 § 1 (part))