Ventura Municipal Code Art. 2 Designating Landmark/Point of Interest/District 4

4Section 50 of Ord. No. 2021-017 , adopted December 13, 2021, amended Article 2 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Article 2 pertained to the same subject matter, consisted of Sections 24.455.210 through 24.455.230, and derived from Ord. No. 2005-004, adopted May 2, 2005.

An application to designate a landmark, point of interest, or historic district shall include sufficient materials to justify the potential designation, to the satisfaction of the director. Applications to create historic districts shall require proposed architectural and development standards. The historic preservation committee will review applications for designation of landmarks, points of interest and historic districts at a public hearing. The committee shall, by resolution, recommend to the city council that, pursuant to the standards set forth in this chapter, a subject be declared a landmark or point of interest or otherwise acquired or made such by application by any person, entity, group, or body.

However, the property owner’s consent must be obtained prior to any such recommendation.

A. Landmarks and Points of Interest. The city council’s action on the historic preservation committee’s recommendation shall be by resolution, and subject to all of the following findings:

1. The landmark or point of interest shall meet the definitions of “landmark” or “point of interest.”

2. The landmark or point of interest shall have significance to the people of the city.

3. The landmark or point of interest shall not require the expenditure by the city of any amount of money not commensurate with the actual or aesthetic value of the subject to be preserved.

Resolutions approving a landmark or point of interest designation will include a legal description of the property involved including lot and block number and the name of the property owner and will be duly recorded by the city clerk in the county recorder’s office.

B. Historic District. For applications to establish a historic district, the planning commission shall receive the historic preservation committee’s recommendation, hold a public hearing, and adopt a resolution forwarding a recommendation to the city council. The city council shall consider the recommendation pursuant to Chapters 24.340 and 24.540. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 50, 12-13-21)

From the time the application is made for potential designation of a landmark until the time the city council either declares, or decides not to declare, that property a landmark, the time period involved not to exceed the time period specified in this chapter for the city council to begin consideration thereof, and including any continuances, it shall be unlawful for the property owner or any other person to carry out or to cause the defacing, demolishing, altering, or removing of, or constructing of any additions to, the proposed landmark and any such act shall constitute a misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 50, 12-13-21)