The City Council declares that recognizing, preserving, enhancing, perpetuating, and using structures, natural features, sites and areas within the City that have historic, architectural, archaeological, cultural or aesthetic significance is in the interest of the health, economic prosperity, cultural enrichment and general welfare of the people. The purposes of this chapter are to:
A. 
Safeguard the heritage of the City by providing for the protection of landmarks representing significant elements of its history;
B. 
Enhance the visual character of the City by encouraging and regulating the compatibility of architectural styles within landmark districts reflecting unique and established architectural traditions;
C. 
Foster public appreciation of and civic pride in the beauty of the City and the accomplishments of its past;
D. 
Strengthen the economy of the City by protecting and enhancing the City's attractions to residents, tourists and visitors;
E. 
Promote the private and public use of landmarks and landmark districts for the education, prosperity and general welfare of the people;
F. 
Stabilize and improve property values within the City.
(Ord. 564 § 3, 2019)
In this chapter:
"Adobe"
means unburnt, sun-dried, clay brick; or a building made of adobe bricks.
"Alteration"
means any exterior change or modification. For the purposes of this chapter, alteration of any landmark or of any property located within a landmark district includes, but is not limited to, exterior changes to or modification of structure, architectural details or visual characteristics, such as paint color and surface texture, grading, surface paving, new structures, cutting or removal of trees and other natural features, disturbance of archaeological sites or areas, and the placement or removal of any exterior objects such as signs, plaques, light fixtures, street furniture, walls, fences, steps, plantings and landscape accessories affecting the exterior visual qualities of the property.
"Archaeological"
means anything pertaining to the scientific study of the life and culture of earlier peoples by excavation of sites and relics.
"Architectural"
means anything pertaining to the science, art or profession of designing and constructing buildings.
"Committee"
means the Santee Historical Society.
"County assessor"
means the Tax Assessor of the County of San Diego.
"Cultural"
means anything pertaining to the concepts, habits, skills, arts, instruments, institutions, etc., of a given people in a given period.
"Elevations"
means the flat scale orthographic projected drawings of all exterior vertical surfaces of a building.
"Façade"
means the front of a building or the part of a building facing a street, courtyard, etc.
"Landmark"
means any structures, natural feature, site or area having historic, architectural, archaeological, cultural or aesthetic significance and designated as a landmark under the provisions of this chapter.
"Landmark district"
means any area of the City containing a number of structures, natural features or sites having historic, architectural, archaeological, cultural or aesthetic significance and designated as a landmark district under the provisions of this chapter.
"Natural feature"
means any tree, plant life or geological element.
"Owner"
means any person, association, partnership, firm, corporation or public entity appearing as the holder of title to any property on the last assessment roll of the County Assessor.
"Preservation easement"
means any interest held by the public in any structures, natural feature, site or area not owned by the public and restricting its use, alteration, relocation or demolition for the purpose of preservation.
"Site plan"
means any flat scale drawing of the place where something is, is to be, or was located.
"Structure"
means any building or any other manmade object affixed on or under the ground.
"Structure of merit"
means any structure not designated as a landmark but deserving official recognition as having historic, architectural, archaeological, cultural or aesthetic significance and designated as a structure of merit under the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 564 § 3, 2019)
In considering a proposal to recommend to the City Council any structure, natural feature, site or area for designation as a landmark, the committee must evaluate the following criteria:
A. 
Its character, interest or value as a significant part of the heritage of the City, the State, or the nation;
B. 
Its location as a site of a significant historic event;
C. 
Its identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the culture and development of the City, the State, or the nation;
D. 
Its exemplification of a particular architectural style or way of life important to the City, the State, or the nation;
E. 
Its exemplification of the best remaining architectural type in a neighborhood;
F. 
Its identification as the creation, design or work of a person or persons whose effort has significantly influenced the heritage of the City, the State, or the nation;
G. 
Its embodiment of elements demonstrating outstanding attention to architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship;
H. 
Its relationship to any other landmark if its preservation is essential to the integrity of that landmark;
I. 
Its unique location or singular physical characteristic representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood;
J. 
Its potential of yielding significant information of archaeological interest;
K. 
Its integrity as a natural environment that strongly contributes to the well-being of the people of the City, the State, or the nation.
(Ord. 564 § 3, 2019)
The procedure for designation of any landmark is as follows:
A. 
Upon its own initiative or upon the application of any person or entity, the committee may recommend to the City Council the designation as a landmark of any structure, natural feature, site or area having historic, architectural, archaeological, cultural or aesthetic significance.
B. 
The City Council may adopt a resolution of intention to consider recommendation of the property for designation as a landmark.
C. 
Thereafter, any environmental assessment required by any applicable Federal, State, or local laws or regulations must be completed.
D. 
No later than 35 days after the date of such resolution or completion of environmental assessment, whichever is later, the City Council must conduct a public hearing on the proposal, and provide a reasonable opportunity for any interested party to be heard.
E. 
The City Council must adopt a resolution to recommend designation of the property as a landmark, or to deny such recommendation, no later than the next regularly scheduled meeting following the public hearing. The resolution must be reduced to writing and contain specific findings by the City Council.
F. 
Upon designation of a landmark, the City Clerk must cause such designation to be recorded in the office of the Recorder of the County.
(Ord. 564 § 3, 2019)
Any property designated by the City Council as of special interest as historic landmark must not be demolished or relocated, except as provided for landmarks under Section 11.48.070. Upon designation as landmarks under Section 11.48.040, said properties must then become subject to all of the provisions of this chapter pertaining to landmarks.
(Ord. 564 § 3, 2019)
A. 
Prohibition—Exceptions. It is unlawful for any person to alter the exterior, relocate, or demolish a landmark, except under the following conditions:
1. 
Exterior alterations to a landmark for the purpose of restoring to its original appearance, or to substantially aid its preservation or enhancement, must not be made without the prior written approval of the City Council.
2. 
Relocation of a landmark to substantially aid its preservation or enhancement must not be made without the prior written approval of the City Council.
3. 
In the event that a landmark is damaged by earthquake, fire or act of God, and cannot with reasonable cost and with reasonable diligence be repaired and restored, such a landmark may be demolished with the prior written approval of the City Council.
B. 
Proposed Landmarks. It is unlawful for any person to alter the exterior, relocate, or demolish any structure, natural feature, site, or area proposed for designation as a landmark after adoption by the City Council of a resolution of intention, as provided in Section 11.48.040, unless and until such proposal is denied recommendation by the committee, or is denied designation as a landmark by the City Council.
C. 
Issuance of Permits. Any application to the City for a permit to alter the exterior, relocate, or demolish any landmark, together with plans, elevations and site plans therefor, must be referred to the City Council for consideration. No permit to alter the exterior, relocate, or demolish any such landmark will be issued without the prior written approval of the City Council.
(Ord. 564 § 3, 2019)
Any application for a permit to construct or alter the exterior of any structure designated as a landmark pursuant to this district, together with plans, elevations and site plans, must be referred to the City Council for review. A permit must not be issued without the prior written approval of the City Council. The City Council must not approve issuance of such permit unless the plans conform to the provisions of this chapter. Any application for a permit must be considered and either approved or disapproved by the City Council at its next regularly scheduled meeting for which an agenda has not been finalized after completion of any required environmental assessment, but may be continued to the next regular meeting. In the absence of timely oral or written objection by the applicant, the City Council may continue consideration of application to subsequent meetings.
(Ord. 564 § 3, 2019)
A. 
Unless the City Council determines it is unnecessary, alteration, construction, or relocation of City-owned designated landmarks and structures of merit are subject to Sections 11.48.060 and 11.48.070.
B. 
Any structure, natural feature, site or area owned or leased by any public entity and designated as a landmark or structure of merit is not subject to the provisions of Sections 11.48.060 and 11.48.070.
(Ord. 564 § 3, 2019)
The City may acquire easements restricting the use, alteration, relocation, or demolition of designated landmarks or structures of merit.
(Ord. 564 § 3, 2019)