A. 
This chapter is adopted to preserve areas and specific structures and objects in the City which reflect elements of its cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history; to promote their use for the education and welfare of the residents of the City; to encourage tourists to visit the City; to stabilize and improve property values in historic areas, structures and objects for the ultimate aesthetic and economic benefit of the City; and to provide increased availability to building owners of various construction code, financing aids and tax benefits permitted under State and Federal laws when buildings have designated historical landmark status or lie within a designated historical district.
B. 
Definitions.
Demolition.
Actions that constitute demolition shall include the following: clear buildings from a site or sites, tear down, dismantle, raze or break to pieces.
Director.
Community Development Director
Designated Historic Landmark.
Any historical resource which has met state/national historic or architectural criteria, and is a registered resource on the state/federal listing as a historical landmark.
Designated Historical District.
Definable unified geographic entity that possesses a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures, or objects united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development and is registered on a state or federal listing as a historical district.
Designated Historical Resource.
Historical resource approved by the Planning Commission to be locally listed as a designated historical resource.
Eligible Historical Resource.
A potential historical resource that has been identified on a historical resources inventory or other historical surveys as eligible for listing on the local, state, or national registry.
Honorary Historic District.
A recognized geographic area that possesses a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures or objects united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development, but is not registered on a State or Federal listing as a historical district.
Significant Alteration.
Changes to the exterior of a building or area that may change defining characteristics of the building, site, and environment or historic materials that characterize the property.
(Prior code § 12A-1-1; Ord. 1695 § 1, 2022)
A. 
Powers and Duties. The Planning Commission shall have the following powers and duties related to historic landmarks, districts, and resources:
1. 
To undertake a comprehensive historic resources inventory and maintain a historic register;
2. 
To establish various criteria, guidelines and standards to carry out the intent of this chapter;
3. 
To recommend to the City Council the designation of historical landmarks and historical districts;
4. 
To participate in administrating regulations pertaining to historical landmarks and historical districts;
5. 
To recommend to the City Council ways to fund and to otherwise make financially feasible the protection of historical landmarks and historical districts in the City;
6. 
To recommend to the Council the means to implement the historic preservation element of the General Plan and this chapter by developing information and programs to increase awareness of, preservation of, and use of historical landmarks and historical districts in the City;
7. 
To perform such other duties as the City Council may direct.
(Prior code §§ 12A-2-1—12A-2-6; Ord. 1695 § 1, 2022)
A. 
Standards for Designation of Historical Landmarks, Historical Districts and Historical Resources.
1. 
A building, structure, object, or particular place may be designated for preservation as a landmark if it meets one or more of the following criteria:
a. 
Historical Importance. The building, structure, object, particular place, vegetation or geology, has character, interest of value, as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the City, State or Nation; or is the site of an historic event with an effect upon society; or is identified with a person or group of persons who had some influence society; or exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social or historic heritage of the community.
b. 
Architectural Importance. The building, structure, object, or particular place exemplifies the environment of a group of people in an era of history characterized by distinctive architectural style; or embodies those distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen; or is the work of an architect or master builder whose individual work has influenced the development of the area; or contains elements of architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation.
2. 
An area may be designated as an historical district when it includes at least two designated historical landmarks in such proximity that they create a setting historically or culturally significant to the local community, the State, or the Nation, sufficiently distinguishable from other areas of the City to warrant preservation by such means. Such districts may include structures and sites that individually do not meet criteria for landmark status but which geographically and visually are located so as to be part of the setting in which the other structures are viewed.
3. 
The City Council shall approve and maintain a historical resources list. A building, structure, or object may be included on the list as a historical resource if, in the determination of the City Council, it satisfies the Planning Commission's historical resources inventory study list evaluation criteria.
B. 
Procedure for Designation of Historical Landmarks, Historical Districts, and Historical Resources.
1. 
The Planning Commission by resolution may recommend to the City Council designation of a landmark or historical district, or an addition to the historical resources list, upon compliance with the following procedure:
a. 
Information concerning the proposal shall be filed with the Community Development Department and shall include:
i. 
The assessor's parcel map number for the site;
ii. 
A description detailing the special aesthetic, cultural, architectural, or engineering interest or value of an historic nature;
iii. 
A map outlining the subject area;
iv. 
Sketches, drawings, photographs or other descriptive material showing what is to be preserved;
v. 
A statement of condition of the structure, object, or particular place;
vi. 
In the case of a proposed addition to the historical resources list, such other information as may be necessary for the Commission to determine whether the proposal satisfies the Commission's historical resources inventory study list evaluation criteria.
vii. 
Such other information as reasonably may be requested by the Commission.
b. 
The proposal shall be considered at a public hearing. Notice of the time, place and purpose of such hearing shall be given by the secretary of the Commission in a newspaper of general circulation in the City and by mail to each owner of property subject to the proposed designation.
c. 
Recommendation of designation of all or part of the proposal shall be based on enumerated facts which show that the standards contained in this chapter for such designation have been met.
d. 
Commercial and Public Building Properties. A proposal affecting commercial and public building properties cannot be considered unless accompanied by written consent of a majority of the affected property owners.
e. 
Residential Buildings. A proposal affecting residential building properties cannot be considered unless accompanied by written consent of all of the affected property owners.
2. 
Upon receipt of the recommendation from the Planning Commission, the City Council shall approve, modify, or disapprove the recommendation upon compliance with the following procedure:
a. 
A public hearing on the matter shall be scheduled for the next regular meeting consistent with demands of the agenda. Notice of the time, place and purpose of such hearing shall be given by the City Clerk in a newspaper of general circulation in the City and by mail to each owner of property subject to the proposed designation not less than 10 calendar days prior to the date of hearing.
b. 
Approval of the recommendation of designation shall be by resolution of the City Council. The City Clerk shall give written notice of such designation to each owner of property subject to the designation.
C. 
Appeal. Any person dissatisfied with any action of the Planning Commission on an historical district or landmark designation, or designation as a historical resource, may appeal the decision to the City Council, at any time within 10 days after the rendition of the decision by the Planning Commission (unless additional time is granted by the Commission). No conflict of interest shall exist solely by reason of the filing of an appeal by the City Council, an individual City Council member, or the City Manager. The appeal is taken by filing a notice of appeal with the secretary. Upon filing of the notice of appeal and, except where an appeal is taken by the City Council, a City Council member, or the City Manager, payment of a filing fee, the secretary must, within 10 days, transmit to the City Clerk all exhibits, notices, affidavits, orders, and other papers and documents on file together with the finding of the Planning Commission.
1. 
The City Council shall hold a hearing upon said appeal after giving written notice to applicant and by causing a notice thereof to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation within the City at least 10 days prior to said hearing by the City Council.
2. 
No official action, such as the issuance of a building permit, license or other type of permit, shall be taken while an appeal or proceedings for designation are pending.
(Prior code §§ 12A-3-1—12A-3-3; Ord. 1695 § 1, 2022)
A. 
When Permit Required.
1. 
No person shall demolish, remove, move, or make alterations which affect the exterior appearance of, or cause excavations which affect the exterior appearance of, a designated historical landmark, designated historical resource, or undertake the same with respect to any structure located in a designated historical district, without first obtaining approval from the Planning Commission; excepting therefrom maintenance or repair work that does not change the design, material or exterior appearance thereof, or work authorized by the Building Official upon written approval of the Community Development Department for protection of public safety.
2. 
No person shall demolish a designated historical landmark or designated historical resource without first obtaining approval from the Planning Commission, unless the Chief Building Official certifies that such demolition is required for the public safety due to an unsafe or dangerous condition. For purposes of this chapter, "demolish" shall include the following: clear buildings from a site, tear down, dismantle, raze or break to pieces.
B. 
Application for Permit. A property owner who desires to construct, alter, move, remove, or demolish a designated historical landmark or any structure within a designated historical district, or who desires to demolish a designated historical resource, shall file an application with the Community Development Department upon a form prescribed by the City. The application shall include all necessary information required by the rules of the Planning Commission. When the application is filed, it shall be referred to the Planning Commission.
C. 
Procedure Upon Application.
1. 
Upon the filing of an application, the Planning Commission shall cause an appropriate level of review to be conducted pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). After such review has been completed, the secretary of the Historical Preservation Planning Commission shall set the matter for hearing and shall give written notice to the applicant and shall cause publication of notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of the date, time, and place of the hearing. Approval of the application shall require an affirmative vote of a majority of the Commission members present. If the Commission fails to act within the foregoing time periods, the application shall be considered approved unless the applicant and the Commission agree to an extension of time.
2. 
At the conclusion of the hearing, the Commission shall makes its decision and shall file a certificate of approval with the Building Official, or deny the application. No person may do any work upon a designated historical landmark or any structure within a designated historical district, or proceed to demolish a designated historical resource, which is the subject of an application, and the Building Official may not issue a building permit, until the Commission files a certificate of approval.
3. 
Approved work shall be completed within one year from the date of approval unless substantially undertaken before such period has elapsed and diligently pursued thereafter.
D. 
Criteria for Evaluating Application. In reviewing and acting upon each application, the Commission shall consider to the extent applicable, the following criteria:
1. 
The historic value and significance, or the architectural value and significance, or both, of the designated historical landmark, the structure within a designated historical district, or the designated historical resource, and its relation to the historic value of the surrounding area;
2. 
The relationship of the exterior architectural features of the structure to the rest of the structure itself and to the surrounding area;
3. 
The general compatibility of the exterior design, arrangement, texture and material which is proposed by the applicant;
4. 
Plans for structures which have little or no historical value or plans for new construction for their compatibility with surrounding structures;
5. 
Conformance with guidelines and standards adopted by the Commission;
6. 
Conformance with the Woodland General Plan.
E. 
Commission Restricted to Exterior Features Only. The Commission shall consider and pass upon only the exterior features of a designated historical landmark (unless the applicant voluntarily requests that interior features be included), or new structures upon sites located within a designated historical district, and may not consider interior arrangement therein.
F. 
Special Considerations.
1. 
If an application affects the exterior appearance of a structure or proposes to move, remove, or demolish a structure which the Commission considers will be a great loss to the City, the Commission shall attempt to work out an economically feasible plan for the preservation of the structure.
2. 
If the Commission is satisfied that the proposed construction or alteration will not materially impair the historic or architectural value of the structure, it shall approve the application.
3. 
If the Commission finds that the retention of the structure constitutes a hazard to public safety and the hazard cannot be eliminated by economic means available to the owner, the Commission shall approve the application for demolition.
4. 
If the Commission considers the structure valuable for the period of architecture it represents and important to the neighborhood in which it exists, the Commission may nevertheless approve the application if any of the following circumstances exist:
a. 
The structure is a deterrent to a major improvement program which substantially benefits the City;
b. 
The site is required for a public use which will be of more benefit to the public than the building which is the subject of the application, and there is no feasible alternative location for the public use;
c. 
The proposed application is necessary to construct a project of special merit;
d. 
Denial of the proposed application will result in unreasonable economic hardship to the owner, and it is not feasible to preserve or restore the building, taking into consideration the economic feasibility of alternatives to the proposal, and balancing interest of the public in preserving the historic resource or portion thereof and the interest of the owner of the building in its utilization;
e. 
Retention of the structure is not in the interest of the majority of inhabitants of the City.
5. 
The Commission may approve the moving of a structure of historical or architectural value as an alternative to demolition.
G. 
Limit on Application Within One Year. No application for the same or substantially similar work may be filed within one year after the Commission has rejected it.
H. 
Exceptions from Regulations. The regulations contained herein which require approval by the Historical Preservation Planning Commission do not apply to painting, routine maintenance or repair of a designated historical landmark or a structure within a designated historical district, or of a designated historical resource.
I. 
Appeal. Any person dissatisfied with any action of the Planning Commission on a request for building or demolition permit may appeal the decision to the City Council, at any time within 10 days after the rendition of the decision by the Historical Preservation Planning Commission (unless additional time is granted by the Commission). The appeal is taken by filing a notice of appeal with the secretary. Upon filing of the notice of appeal and payment of a filing fee, the secretary must, within 10 days, transmit to the City Clerk all exhibits, notices, affidavits, orders and other papers and documents on file, together with the finding of the Planning Commission.
1. 
The City Council shall hold a hearing upon said appeal after giving written notice to applicant and by causing a notice thereof to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation within the City at least 10 days prior to said hearing by the City Council.
2. 
No official action, such as the issuance of a building permit, license or other type of permit, shall be taken while an appeal or proceedings for designation are pending.
(Prior code §§ 12A-4-1—12A-4-9; Ord. 1695 § 1, 2022)
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Building Official of the City with the aid of persons from such other City departments as may be requested by the Building Official. The provisions of the State Historic Building Code (California Administration Code, Title 24, Part 8) shall be applicable in permitting repairs, alterations and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, moving or continued use of an historical building or structure.
(Prior code § 12A-5-1; Ord. 1695 § 1, 2022)
A. 
Demolition Review Required. All applications for demolition permits affecting buildings or other structures which are not designated as historical landmarks or historical resources shall be subject to review as provided in this chapter to prevent, to the extent possible, the loss of buildings or other structures of potential historical significance.
B. 
Determination of Historic Potential.
1. 
Upon receipt of any application for a permit to demolish a building, structure, or other feature, the Building Inspection Division shall forward the application to the Planning Division of the Community Development Department. The Planning Division shall determine whether the building, structure, or other feature is a designated historical landmark or resource and, if not, whether the building, structure, or other feature that has potential historic significance. Such determination shall be completed within 10 working days of receiving an application for a demolition permit from the Building Inspection Division.
2. 
If the building, structure or other feature has potential historic significance, and has been identified in a historical resources inventory study as eligible for historical listing or is over 50 years old, but is not currently designated as a historical landmark or historical resource subject to CEQA, the Director can request that a historic resource survey be prepared as part of a demolition or structural alteration application. Upon review of the historical survey, if the building is identified to have distinct architectural elements and/or historical use of potential historical significance, additional requirements may be included as part of the ministerial demolition permit, such as architectural salvage, informational plaque, architectural reuse of salvage material, or equivalent. The Director shall have the ability to elevate the review to the Planning Commission
a. 
The Director may place development requirements on any demolition permit granted pursuant to this section as the Director determines to be necessary.
(Prior code §§ 12A-7-1—12A-7-3; Ord. 1695 § 1, 2022)