This chapter shall be known as the “Placentia Historical
Resources Ordinance.”
(Ord. O-2015-01 § 3, 2015)
The purpose of this chapter is to ensure the appropriate evaluation
and preservation of sites, buildings, or structures that embody the
heritage, history, and culture of the city.
(Ord. O-2015-01 § 3, 2015)
“Administrator”
shall mean the city administrator of the city of Placentia
or designee.
“Alteration”
means any change, modification, or demolition, through public
or private action, to the character-defining or significant physical
features of properties affected by this chapter. In the case of historical
resources that are buildings or structures, “alteration”
shall include changes to the exterior unless otherwise designated
per the permit approval or per the requirements of the United States
Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic
Properties. Such changes may be: changes to, or modifications of,
structural or architectural details, or visual characteristics; grading;
surface paving; the addition of new structures; the cutting or removal
of designated trees, landscapes or other natural features; the disturbance
of archaeological sites or areas; or the placement or removal of any
significant objects such as signs, plaques, light fixtures, street
furniture, walls, fences, steps, plantings, or landscape accessories
affecting the significant visual and/or historical qualities of the
historical resource.
“Improvement”
means any building, structure, fence, gate, wall, landscaping,
planted tree, work of art, or other manmade physical feature of real
property, or any part of such feature which is not a natural feature.
“Natural feature”
means any naturally-occurring tree, plant life, habitat,
geographical or geological site or feature, but does not include improvements.
“Permit”
means a permit issued by the planning commission or the city
council, as the case may be, authorizing the alteration/demolition
of an historic resource.
“Person”
shall mean and include any natural person, property owner,
or occupant; association, company, corporation or other legal entity;
local, city, county, or federal agency holding or possessing legal
or equitable title in and to the historical resource and property.
“Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties”
means the guidelines prepared by the United States National
Park Service for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing
Historic Buildings and the standards for historic preservation projects
prepared by the National Park Service with the most current Guidelines
for Applying the Standards.
(Ord. O-2015-01 § 3, 2015)
No permit for the demolition, substantial alteration or relocation
of any historical resource shall be issued, and no historical resource
shall be demolished, substantially altered or relocated without first
referring the matter to the planning commission, except where the
building official or the city engineer determines that demolition,
relocation or substantial alteration of any historical resource is
immediately necessary in the interest of the public health, safety
or general welfare.
(Ord. O-2015-01 § 3, 2015)
Any person seeking to demolish, substantially alter or relocate an historical resource shall apply for a permit therefor with the administrator and pay the fee established by city council resolution. The permit application, including any appeal thereof, shall be processed in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter
23.87 of the Placentia Municipal Code (Use Permits). The applicant shall pay the requisite deposit to permit the evaluation of the application pursuant to the provisions of CEQA, 14
California Code of Regulations Section 15064.5.
(a) The commission shall base a determination on the approval of a permit
for the substantial alteration of an historical resource on each of
the following:
(1) The substantial alteration, including additional buildings on a site
containing multiple buildings with a unified use, complies with the
standards for rehabilitation approved by the United States Secretary
of the Interior; and
(2) Whether the substantial alteration protects and preserves the historic
and architectural qualities and the physical characteristics that
make the site, building, or structure an historical resource; and
(b) The Commission shall base its determination on the approval of a
permit for the demolition or removal of any historical resource on
the following:
(1) A report regarding the structural soundness of the building or structure
and its suitability for continued use, renovation, restoration or
rehabilitation from a licensed engineer or architect who meets the
Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards
as established by the Code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61,
as the same may be amended from time to time. Said report shall be
based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Architectural
and Engineering Documentation with Guidelines, as amended; and
(2) Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, Public
Resources Code Section 21000, et seq.
(Ord. O-2015-01 § 3, 2015)