Whittier Municipal Code Art. I Introduction

This chapter shall be known as the Whittier Historic Resources Ordinance.

(Ord. 2785 Exh. A (part), 2001)

The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare through the following measures:

A. Safeguard the heritage of the city by protecting resources that reflect its cultural, historical and architectural legacy;

B. Promote public understanding, appreciation and involvement in the unique heritage of the city;

C. Foster civic pride in the beauty and notable accomplishments of the past;

D. Protect and enhance the city's attractions to residents and visitors and to support and stimulate business and industry;

E. Enhance the visual and aesthetic character of the city;

F. Promote the use of historic resources; and

G. Protect and safeguard the property rights of the owners whose property is declared to be a historic resource.

(Ord. 2785 Exh. A (part), 2001: Ord. 2389 § 1 (part), 1986)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all historic resources and structures that are at least fifty years old within the city.

(Ord. 2785 Exh. A (part), 2001)

The following words and phrases shall be defined as set forth in this section, for the purpose of this chapter.

A. "Alteration" means any exterior change or modification to the character-defining or significant, physical improvements or architectural features of a historic resource.

B. "Architectural feature" means an exterior design element of a historic resource embodying the style thereof, including, but not limited to, the kind, color, texture of building materials; tile and iron work; the type, style, and arrangement of windows, doors, lights, signs and other fixtures appurtenant to such structure; and, on a larger scale, includes siting, composition and massing (the number, placement and size of improvements).

C. "Certificate of appropriateness" means certification that the commission, or council upon appeal, has made the necessary findings to approve plans to alter, restore, rehabilitate, remove, relocate, add on to, or demolish, in whole or in part, a historic resource.

D. "Certificate of economic hardship" means certification that the commission, or council upon appeal, has made the necessary findings to permit the proposed work due to extreme financial privation or adversity.

E. "Commission" means the historic resources commission of the city.

F. "Contributing resource" means any improvement that adds to the historical, architectural, or cultural significance of a historic district.

G. "Historic district" means a specific geographic area that contains a number of historic resources that has been designated as such pursuant to this chapter.

H. "Historic landmark" means any singular historic resource that has been designated as such pursuant to this chapter.

I. "Historic resource" means any improvement, historic landmark or district, or other object of cultural, architectural or historical significance to the citizens of the city, the region, the state or the nation, which is designated or eligible for designation and determined to be appropriate for historic preservation by the commission, or by the council upon appeal, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

J. "Improvement" means any structural elements, architectural feature, plaque, light standard, light fixture, street furniture, porch and steps, structure, sign, fence, wall, mature tree or other specified object constituting a physical feature of real property.

K. "Mills Act agreement" means the property contract between the city and property owner that provides for reduced property taxes in return for the rehabilitation, restoration and preservation of a qualified historical property pursuant to California Government Code Title 5, Division 1, Part 1, Chapter 1, Article 12 (Government Code § 50280 et seq.).

L. "Non-contributing resource" means any improvement that does not add to the historical, architectural or cultural significance of a district.

M. "Secretary" means the secretary to the historic resources commission.

N. "Work" means any construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, restoration, remodeling or demolition of a historic resource.

O. "Work permit" means a permit issued pursuant to this title, allowing work to be done on a historic resource.

(Ord. 2785 Exh. A (part), 2001: Ord. 2598 § 1(B), 1993; Ord. 2389 § 1 (part), 1986)

(Ord. No. 3121, § 21, 8-25-20)