Chapter 17.510 — Historic Preservation

This chapter provides guidelines to assist in the identification and preservation of historic and cultural resources within the City. These guidelines are intended to preserve those elements of San Jacinto's heritage, which may now or in the future be endangered as to their existence, or to maintain their historic or cultural integrity.

(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)

The Commission shall have the authority to review and make determinations and recommendations on various matters relating to a proposed or designated historic resource.

(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)

A San Jacinto Register of Historic Resources is hereby created that shall contain the name, location, pertinent historic data, and date of entry on the register of structures, or natural or man-made features receiving a Historic Resource designation. The San Jacinto Register of Historic Resources shall be maintained in the City Clerk's office.

(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)

• A. Designation. Upon the written consent of the property owner, the Commission may upon its own initiative or upon request of a person or government agency, approve a designation for a historic or cultural resource.

• B. Public hearing. The Commission shall hold public hearings on requests for designation in compliance with Chapter 17.710 (Public Noticing and Hearings).

• C. Findings and decision. The Commission, after due consideration and public hearing(s), shall by resolution approve or disapprove the request for designation, stating the reasons for the action.

• D. Appeal of decision.

  1. The decision of the Commission shall be final unless appealed to the Council within 15 days following the decision.

  2. If appealed, the City Clerk shall schedule a public hearing before the Council and the Council shall, by resolution, approve or disapprove the request, stating the reasons for the action, in compliance with Chapter 17.715 (Appeals).

• E. Notice with City Clerk. Upon approval of a designation, notice shall be placed with the City Clerk and in the building permit address file for consideration before issuance of future requested building or demolition permits.

(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)

In considering a request for a designation, the following criteria shall be used in determining eligibility:

• A. Character, interest, or value as part of the heritage of the City.

• B. Location as a site of historical event.

• C. Identification with a person(s) or group(s) who significantly contributed to the culture and development of the City.

• D. Exemplification of a particular architectural style or way of life important to the City.

• E. Identification as the work of a person(s) whose work has influenced the heritage of the City, the State of California, or the United States.

• F. Embodiment of elements of outstanding attention to architectural design, craftsmanship, detail, materials, or the best remaining architectural type in an area.

• G. Relationship to other landmarks, where the preservation of one has a bearing on the preservation of another.

• H. A unique location or singular physical characteristic representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood.

I. Integrity as a natural environment that strongly contributes to the wellbeing of the people of the City. (Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)

• A. Rehabilitation criteria. An alteration of an historic resource shall comply with the Secretary of the Interior's "Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Properties," the State Historical Building Code (Health and Safety Code Section 18950 et seq.), and other design criteria and standards established by resolution of the Council. The primary concern is with the exterior of the Historic Resource unless there are interior features that greatly contribute to the significance of the property.

• B. Maintain historic nature. Every attempt shall be made to restore or modify the historic resource in a way to maintain the historic nature of the property, but not so as to burden the owner of the historic resource with the requirements that are not practically or economically available in current markets.

• C. Alterations. Alterations of an historic resource shall be subject to review and approval in compliance with the following procedures.

  1. Director review. The following projects shall be subject to the review and approval of the Director. Alternatively, the Director may defer action and refer the request to the Commission.

     • a. Minor alterations, including the addition, change, or removal of exterior architectural features and existing hardscape.

     • b. Minor improvements (e.g., air-conditioning units, arbors, fences, greenhouse windows, roof-mounted equipment, skylights, and solar panels).

     • c. Expansion of an historic resource by less that 10% of the existing floor area; provided, the expansion is not readily visible from the public street.

     • d. The construction or demolition of accessory structures that have a floor area less than 500 square feet.

  2. Commission review. The following projects shall be subject to the review and approval of the Commission.

     • a. A proposed alteration that the Director determines to be inconsistent with the design criteria of the Secretary of Interior's "Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Properties" and/or the State Historical Building Code (Health and Safety Code Section 18950 et seq.).

     • b. A proposed alteration that involves the construction of a new, detached structure that has a floor area of 500 square feet or more.

     • c. Expansion of an historic resource by more than 10% but less than 50% of the existing floor area; provided, the expansion does not exceed 500 square feet.

     • d. An alteration of an historic resource that is readily visible from the public street.

  3. Site plan and design review required. The following projects shall be reviewed by the Commission and shall require site plan and design review in compliance with Chapter 17.630 (Site Plan and Design Review). The Commission may approve projects with conditions that the historic resource be memorialized by providing a written history of the site, photo documentation, placement of a historic marker signifying the importance of the site, or other means as deemed appropriate by the Commission.

nd shall require site plan and design review in compliance with Chapter 17.630 (Site Plan and Design Review). The Commission may approve projects with conditions that the historic resource be memorialized by providing a written history of the site, photo documentation, placement of a historic marker signifying the importance of the site, or other means as deemed appropriate by the Commission.

  - a. On appeal, a proposed alteration that the Director determines to be inconsistent with the design criteria of the Secretary of Interior's "Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Properties" and/or the State Historical Building Code (Health and Safety Code Section **18950** et seq.). 

  - b. An alteration that results in an historic resource being enlarged by more than 50% of the existing floor area or more than 500 square feet. 

  - c. The demolition of an historic resource where all or part of it will be removed from a site either by relocation or destruction. 

• D. Waiver of standards. The Commission may waive or modify the applicable development standards identified in this chapter.

• E. Approval of a land use not otherwise allowed. In order to preserve an historic resource, the Commission may approve a change to a land use that is not otherwise allowed in the subject zone, but which is allowed in other zones.

(Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)

• A. Report on potential historic resources. For structures that potentially have historical significance as identified in Figure RM-4 (Cultural Resources) of the General Plan, the City shall require preparation of a study by a qualified professional archaeologist or historian to determine the actual significance of the structure and potential impacts of the proposed development in compliance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5.

• B. Mitigation. The Director may require modification of the project and/or mitigation measures to avoid any impact to a historic structure, when feasible, by retaining or rehabilitating historic structures in compliance with the City guidelines.

• C. Relocation allowed. If an adverse impact on a historic structure cannot be avoided by the project, the significant historic structure may, as a mitigation measure, be relocated to avoid the adverse impact.

• (Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)

Decisions made by the Director or the Commission may be appealed in compliance with Chapter 17.715 (Appeals). (Ord. 24-13, 10/1/2024)