The purpose of this chapter is to promote the economic and general welfare of the City of Santa Clarita by preserving and protecting public and private historic, cultural, and natural resources which are of special historic or aesthetic character or interest, or relocating such resources where necessary for their preservation and for their use, education, and view by the general public.
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013)
The nomination of a historic resource shall be initiated by the owner of the property or structure that is proposed for designation. The owner of the property or structure shall provide the Director with written notice of the intent to be nominated. The Director shall schedule a public hearing before the Commission within sixty (60) days of the receipt of the letter as described in Sections 17.06.110 (Type II Public Noticing (Public Hearing)) and 17.06.120 (Public Hearing Procedure) at which the Commission shall be asked to make the findings set forth in Section 17.64.030 (Commission Resolution Findings for Designating a Historic Resource).
Once a property or structure has received a designation, the owner of the property or structure may apply for removal of the designation and the City may remove the designation subject to the Commission making the following findings by resolution:
A. 
There is sufficient evidence, including evidence provided by the applicant, that the property retains no reasonable economic use, taking into account the condition of the structure, its location, the current market value, and the costs of rehabilitation to meet the requirements of the building code or other City, State, or Federal law.
The Commission shall designate a date up to one (1) year from the public hearing date as the date on which the designation shall be removed. The owner of the property shall reimburse the City for any financial incentives received during the entirety of the period in which their property was designated as a historic resource prior to the removal of the designation.
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013)
A building, structure, or object may be designated by the Commission as a historic resource if it possesses sufficient character-defining features and integrity, and meets at least one (1) of the following criteria:
A. 
Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the historical, archaeological, cultural, social, economic, aesthetic, engineering, or architectural development of the City, State or nation; or
B. 
Is associated with persons significant in the history of the City, State or nation; or
C. 
Embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period, or method of construction, or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship; or
D. 
Has a unique location, singular physical characteristic(s), or is a landscape, view or vista representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the City; or
E. 
Has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the history or prehistory of the City, State, or nation.
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013)
The requirements of this chapter shall apply to the renovation or alteration of historic resources within the boundaries of the City of Santa Clarita. A minor use permit is required for any proposed renovation or alteration of a historic resource with the exception of those items listed in Section 17.64.070 (Exceptions to Permit Requirements for the Renovation or Alteration of a Historic Resource). The application, public hearing and approval process for the minor use permit shall be as described in Sections 17.06.100 (Type I Public Noticing) or 17.06.110 (Type II Public Noticing (Public Hearing)), whichever is applicable per Section 17.64.050 (Actions by the Director for the Renovation or Alteration of a Historic Resource), and in Section 17.24.120 (Minor Use Permit); provided further, however, that the Council shall receive a copy of any application for such renovation or alteration at the time such application is deemed complete. There shall be no entitlement fee for the review of any proposed renovation and alteration to historic resources.
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013)
The Director has the discretion to approve, approve with modifications and/or conditions, refer the matter to the Commission or deny the minor use permit for renovation or alteration to a historic resource. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the minor use permit shall instead be acted upon by the Council if any member of the Council so requests prior to any action being taken on the minor use permit application by the Director or Commission.
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013)
The Director may approve a minor use permit, pursuant to this chapter, if it is determined that the following findings can be made with regard to the proposed project:
A. 
Findings for Renovation or Alteration of a Historic Resource.
1. 
The proposed renovation or alteration will not adversely affect any significant historical, cultural, architectural, or aesthetic feature of the subject property or of the history of the neighborhood in which it is located;
2. 
The proposed change is consistent with the architectural style of the building;
3. 
The scale, massing, proportions, materials, colors, textures, fenestration, decorative features and details proposed are consistent with the period and/or compatible with adjacent structures.
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013)
The Director may exempt a designated property from obtaining a minor use permit if the following actions will not affect the historic integrity of the historic resource:
A. 
Routine maintenance and minor repairs;
B. 
Exterior painting;
C. 
Replacing deteriorated roofing materials with the same type of material already in use;
D. 
Replacing damaged chimneys with the same type already in use;
E. 
Addition or removal of screens, awnings, canopies and similar incidental appurtenances;
F. 
Addition or removal of exterior walls and fences;
G. 
Addition or removal of exterior lighting;
H. 
Addition or removal of landscaping;
I. 
Addition or removal of driveways and walkways;
J. 
Interior alterations, including the addition or removal of fixed or movable cases, shelving and partitions not exceeding eight (8) feet in height; carpeting, hardwood or tile flooring, counters or countertops and similar finish work;
K. 
Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery;
L. 
Relocation of a privately owned, historically designated structure from a property owned by the State of California or the County of Los Angeles to another site within the City of Santa Clarita.
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013)
The requirements of this chapter shall apply to the relocation or demolition of historic resources within the boundaries of the City of Santa Clarita. A minor use permit is required for any relocation or demolition of a historic resource within the City of Santa Clarita. The application, fees, public hearing and approval process for the minor use permit shall be as described in Sections 17.06.110 (Type II Public Noticing (Public Hearing)) and 17.24.120 (Minor Use Permit) with the exception that approval of the minor use permit shall be subject to both a public hearing before the Commission at which the Commission will recommend for or against the application, and a public hearing before the Council at which the Council will grant or deny the application. There shall be no entitlement fee for the relocation of any historic resource.
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013)
A property or structure that has been designated a historic resource shall be relocated with the approval of the Council, after a recommendation from the Commission, based on the Council making one (1) or more of the following findings:
A. 
That the owner of the property wishes to develop or redevelop their property in such a way that would otherwise require the demolition of the designated historic structure and that the designated structure may be moved without destroying its historic or architectural integrity and importance as demonstrated by a report prepared by an expert in historic preservation/building relocation.
B. 
That the relocation of the structure is necessary to proceed with a project consistent with and supportive of identified goals and objectives of the General Plan, and the relocation of the structure will not have a significant effect on the achievement of the purposes of this code or the potential effect is outweighed by the benefits of the new project and that the structure may be moved without destroying its historic or architectural integrity and importance as demonstrated by a report prepared by an expert in historic preservation/building relocation.
Upon making either finding, the Council shall direct the property owner to relocate the designated historic structure to a site within the City of Santa Clarita and approved by the Council. Such relocation may include the assistance of the developer, the City of Santa Clarita, the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society, or other entity as appropriate. Alternatively, upon completion of appropriate environmental review, if any, and upon making the determination that relocation is infeasible and there are no feasible alternatives to demolition, the Council may direct the Building Official to issue the permit for demolition.
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013)
If a historic resource is demolished without a minor use permit as required by this chapter, no building or construction-related permits shall be issued, and no permits or use of the property shall be allowed, from the date of demolition for a period not to exceed five (5) years.
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013)
The decision of the approving authority is final and effective within fifteen (15) calendar days unless an appeal is filed, in writing, in accordance with Sections 17.06.150 (Decision after Administrative Hearing or Public Hearing) and 17.06.170 (Effective Date of Decision).
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013)
This chapter shall not apply to properties owned by the County of Los Angeles or the State of California. The owners of specific structures on properties owned by the County of Los Angeles or the State of California may nominate their structures, or otherwise have their structures nominated as historic resources. Any resulting designation will apply only to the structure, building or object and not the underlying property.
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013)
In addition to any other incentive of Federal or State law, the owner of a historic resource may apply for the following incentives, subject to the discretion of the Director:
A. 
Use of the California Historic Building Code. Whenever applicable, the Owner may elect to use the California Historic Building Code for alterations, restorations, new construction, removal, relocation, or demolition of a historic resource, in any case which the building official determines that such use of the code does not endanger the public health or safety, and such action is necessary for the continued preservation of the resource. Such use of the Historic Building Code is subject to construction work undertaken for resources pursuant to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and that has already been reviewed and approved by the Director or Commission in conjunction with a minor use permit.
B. 
Mills Act Tax Relief. The Mills Act can provide relief to the property taxes associated with properties designated as historic resources. This subsection will implement State law (Government Code Sections 50280 through 50290), allowing the approval of historic property contracts by establishing a uniform procedure for the owners of qualified historic properties within the City to enter into contracts with the City.
C. 
Waiver of Fees for Renovation and Alteration of Historic Resources. There shall be no entitlement fee for the renovation or alteration of historic resources.
D. 
Technical Assistance. The Community Development Department shall provide technical assistance to the owner of a historic resource regarding any proposed improvements that are not exempt under Section 17.64.070 (Exceptions to Permit Requirements for the Renovation or Alteration of a Historic Resource); and/or
E. 
Streamlined Permitting. The Community Development Department shall provide the owner of a historic resource with priority entitlement review for proposed improvements that are not exempt under Section 17.64.070 (Exceptions to Permit Requirements for the Renovation or Alteration of a Historic Resource).
F. 
City of Santa Clarita Historic Structure Grant. When funds are available, owners of structures with a historic designation may apply to receive grant assistance from the City.
(Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/2013; Ord. 21-6 § 3, 6/22/2021)