The following terms when used in this subchapter shall have the meaning set forth in this section, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context.
ALTERATION. Any act or process that modifies a cultural resource that either:
(1) Requires a building or other permit and/or changes one or more of the features of a landscape or structure including, without limitation, the setting of the resource or the construction, reconstruction, or relocation of any structure or any part of a structure; or
(2) Significantly changes the setting and/or any character-defining feature of a landscape or exterior of a structure that relates to its status as a historic landmark or contributing resource.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE. A cultural resource that is any material remains of past human life, activities, or habitation that are of historic or prehistoric significance. Such resources might include, but are not limited to, tools, pottery, weapons, weapon projectiles, structures or portions/remnants of structures, rock carvings, graves, skeletal remains, personal items and clothing, or other items.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (or CEQA). The statute and regulations applying to public agencies in California as codified in the Cal. Pub. Res. Code §§ 21000 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, and the corresponding Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act in the California Code of Regulations, §§ 15000-15387, Title 14, Chapter 3, as it may be amended from time to time.
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE. A Native American tribe located in California that is on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.
CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE (or CHBC; also known as the STATE HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE, or SHBC). As codified in Part 8, Title 24 of the State Building Standards Code, shall apply to all qualified cultural resources designated or included in an adopted inventory per federal, state, and local authority. The CHBC provides alternative, performance-based building and zoning regulations to allow for upgrades, changes to, and ongoing use of historically significant properties that preserve their historic integrity.
CERTIFICATE OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. The certificate granted to a property owner or applicant by the City Council to approve an initial review or certificate of demolition for a project that, due to undue economic hardship on the owner, does not comply with the Secretary’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
CHARACTER-DEFINING FEATURE. The physical elements and characteristics of a cultural resource that lend the resource its authenticity and significance. CHARACTER-DEFINING FEATURES can include, but are not limited to, a property's setting and site plan, overall form and massing, architectural style, materials, finishes, and decorative detailing, as well as relationship to neighboring properties, planning features, hardscaping and landscaping, and interior features.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR (or DIRECTOR). The Director of the Community Development Department or his or her designee.
CONSERVATION OVERLAY ZONE (or COZ). An area that contains, within defined boundaries, a cohesive concentration of related buildings, structures, sites, objects, planning features, or natural/landscape features. A CONSERVATION OVERLAY ZONE is distinguished from a historic district in that it does not qualify as a historic district as defined in this subchapter but nonetheless contains a cohesive collection of related properties that, considered together, are of interest to local planning. The CONSERVATION OVERLAY ZONE is not a historical resource pursuant to CEQA.
CONTRIBUTING RESOURCE (or CONTRIBUTOR). A cultural resource that is any building, structure, object, site, planning feature, sign, area, place, landscape, or natural feature within a historic district that contributes to the district’s historic, cultural, or architectural significance.
CULTURAL RESOURCE. The broad category of all historic and prehistoric (archaeological, Native American, and paleontological) resource types that are significant in the history or prehistory of the city, region, state, or nation as defined in this subchapter. CULTURAL RESOURCES include resources listed on or found eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, California Register of Historical Resources, San Gabriel Register of Cultural Resources, and the San Gabriel Inventory of Cultural Resources. CULTURAL RESOURCES can include paleontological resources, archaeological and Native American resources, buildings, structures, objects, historic districts, sites, public art and parks, cultural landscapes and natural features, and/or any resource defined by the CEQA Guidelines [California Code of Regulations Title 14] § 15064.5(a).
CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES. A set of guidelines that may be developed by the Historic Preservation and Cultural Resource Commission that describes requirements for the identification of archaeological, Native American, and paleontological resources and the preparation of Phase I cultural resources inventory reports; for the significance evaluation of archaeological and Native American resources and the preparation of Phase II cultural resources evaluation reports; for the mitigation of substantial impacts to significant archaeological resources through data recovery and the preparation of Phase III archaeological data recovery reports; and for the preparation of other cultural resources studies and reports.
CULTURAL RESOURCE SENSITIVITY MAP. The confidential map commissioned and maintained by the Director showing the location of culturally sensitive areas, including parcels and/or properties known or suspected to contain archaeological and/or Native American cultural resources. Access to the CULTURAL RESOURCE SENSITIVITY MAP shall be subject to the provisions of the federal Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 470hh), which requires that archaeological cultural resource site locations remain confidential in order to ensure their preservation. The California Public Records Act also provides for the nondisclosure of archaeological cultural resource information (Cal. Gov’t Code § 6254.10).
DEMOLITION. Any act or process that destroys, in whole or in part, a building, structure, or site or permanently impairs its structural integrity and which is not in conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
DIRECTOR. The Director of the Community Development Department or his or her designee.
HISTORIC CONTEXT. The broad patterns of historical development of a community or region that are represented by the physical development and character of the built environment. Contexts typically are based on one or more themes, a geographical area, and periods of significance. They also identify important associated property types and establish eligibility criteria and integrity thresholds.
HISTORIC DISTRICT. A type of cultural resource that is a geographic area having a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of buildings, structures, objects, planning features, sites, natural/landscape features and other features united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development.
HISTORIC INTEGRITY. The authenticity of a property’s historic identity. Properties with HISTORIC INTEGRITY are those properties that retain enough of their materials, features, and characteristics from their period of significance that they continue to convey the reasons for their significance. Often these are original materials that date from the property’s construction or early period. As defined by the National Park Service and in accordance with the accepted standards of professional preservation practice, HISTORIC INTEGRITY is the composite of seven aspects of integrity: location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. HISTORIC INTEGRITY is not the same as condition; a deteriorated property may still retain HISTORIC INTEGRITY.
HISTORIC LANDMARK. A type of cultural resource that is any improvement or natural feature that meets the eligibility criteria defined in § 153.607 and is subsequently nominated and added to the San Gabriel Register of Cultural Resources.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND CULTURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION (or COMMISSION). The Historic Preservation and Cultural Resource Commission established pursuant to this subchapter.
HISTORIC RESOURCE EVALUATION. An in-depth study of a property to determine its eligibility as a federal, state, or local historic landmark. A HISTORIC RESOURCE EVALUATION generally results in a report including detailed, property-specific information about the resource. This information can include ownership/occupant history, historic context and themes of significance, character-defining features, as well as building type, dates of construction, architectural style, description of other design aspects, materials, and setting, approximate dates of exterior alterations, physical condition, and historic integrity analysis.
HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY. A neighborhood- or city-wide survey to identify eligible cultural resources, including buildings, structures, objects, sites, historic districts, planning features, public art and parks, cultural landscapes, conservation overlay zones, and other features. A HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY generally results in an inventory of properties that are potentially eligible for national, state, or local landmark designation. The survey produces basic information about each resource. This information generally includes building type, dates of construction, architectural style, description of other design aspects, materials, and setting, approximate dates of exterior alterations, physical condition, and notes on historic integrity.
HISTORIC RESOURCES.
(1) Those cultural resources that meet the significance criteria for designation as historic landmarks itemized in § 153.607 or for historic districts itemized in § 153.608, including all the resources identified as “contributing” to a historic district. HISTORIC RESOURCES in San Gabriel would include resources listed on federal, state, and local registers, identified in the Inventory, or properties that have not yet been evaluated but which evidence shows would satisfy the designation criteria. Generally, the term HISTORIC RESOURCE does not include paleontological resources.
(2) HISTORICAL RESOURCES are defined pursuant to CEQA as resources listed in, or formally determined eligible for listing in, the California Register of Historical Resources; resources listed in the local, San Gabriel Register or identified as significant in a historical resource survey prepared in accordance with state requirements; and resources that appear to meet the significance criteria for listing in the California Register in light of the evidence.
IMPROVEMENT. Any building, structure, sign, fence, gate, wall, landscape, work of art, or other object affixed to and constituting a physical betterment of real property, or any part of such betterment.
INITIAL REVIEW. The review completed by the Historic Preservation and Cultural Resource Commission to determine if an application to make major alterations, relocate, or demolish a designated cultural resource is historically appropriate. Completion of the INITIAL REVIEW will result in a finding that the proposed changes are in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and other applicable design guidelines provided for in this subchapter and will result in no significant adverse impacts to the cultural resource.
INITIAL REVIEW ADMINISTRATIVE CLEARANCE. The review completed by city staff, at the administrative level, finding that an application for a minor alteration to a cultural resource is historically appropriate and in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and other applicable design guidelines provided for in this subchapter and will result in no significant adverse impacts to cultural resources.
MAJOR ALTERATIONS. Any work to a property that includes the alteration, removal, or obstruction of character-defining features, elevations, and spaces, or additions to a property that are visible from the public right-of-way, or, for properties not visible from the public right-of-way, those character-defining features that are visible from the front of the property. MAJOR ALTERATIONS to a designated cultural resource are subject to an initial review by the Historic Preservation and Cultural Resource Commission.
MILLS ACT HISTORIC PROPERTY CONTRACT (or MILLS ACT CONTRACT). The historic property contract between the city and property owner that provides the potential for reduced property taxes in return for the rehabilitation, restoration, and preservation of an historic resource, pursuant to Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 50280 et seq. and Cal. Rev. & Tax Code §§ 439 et seq.
MINOR ALTERATIONS. Any work to a property that does not include changes/removal of character-defining features and is subject to an initial review administrative clearance. MINOR ALTERATIONS generally include the following, to the extent they do not include changes/removal of, or do not affect, character-defining features: (1) paint color; (2) roofing material; (3) repairs to foundations; (4) ordinary maintenance and repair; (5) landscaping, including sprinkler system work (if the work does not involve character-defining landscaping or hardscaping features); (6) hardscaping and paving work (if the work does not involve character-defining landscaping or hardscaping features); (7) alterations carried out on the interior that do not affect the exterior of property (unless those interior features were historically accessible by the public and are specifically mentioned as character-defining features in an approved landmark designation or adopted survey); and (8) replacement of existing screens and awnings with the same or substantially consistent materials, form, and shape.
MULTI-PROPERTY NOMINATION. A group of thematically related properties that are nominated to the San Gabriel Register. Such properties may be physically dispersed but share a common history and/or significance.
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (or NEPA). The statute codified in 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and the regulations established in the C.F.R., Title 40, 1500-1508, requiring environmental review and outreach for qualifying projects.
NATIVE AMERICAN RESOURCES. Sites, features, places, cultural landscapes, sacred places, and objects with cultural value to a California Native American tribe.
NON-CONTRIBUTING RESOURCE (or NON-CONTRIBUTOR). Any building, structure, object, site, sign, area, place, or natural feature within a historic district that does not meet the criteria for eligibility, does not contribute to the district’s historic, cultural, or architectural significance, and therefore is not a cultural resource for the purposes of this subchapter.
ORDINARY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. Work on a cultural resource that:
(1) Does not, by law, require issuance of a permit;
(2) Involves regular or customary care of an existing building, structure, object, or site, for the purposes of preserving the property and maintaining it in a safe and sanitary condition; and
(3) Does not involve a change of design, material, or appearance of any identified character-defining features.
PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES. Those cultural resources that consist of fossils, or the remains, imprints, or traces of once-living organisms preserved in rocks and sediments. Significance for PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES shall be defined by a qualified paleontologist as defined in this subchapter.
PRESERVATION. The act or process of sustaining the existing materials, form, and integrity of a historic property. The focus of PRESERVATION is protecting and stabilizing the property, through on-going maintenance and repair of historic materials and features, rather than extensive replacement and new construction.
PROPERTY OWNER or OWNER. The person or persons appearing as the latest owner of the improvement, natural feature or site on the most recent equalized assessment roll of the County of Los Angeles.
QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL(S). Any of the following professions/occupations:
(1) ARCHAEOLOGIST. An archaeologist who meets and/or exceeds the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards in archaeology, as defined by the National Park Service (36 C.F.R. 61).
(2) ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN. An architectural historian who meets and/or exceeds the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards in architectural history, as defined by the National Park Service (36 C.F.R. 61).
(3) ECONOMIC PROFESSIONAL. A qualified economic consultant selected and approved by the city.
(4) HISTORIAN. A historian who meets and/or exceeds the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards in history, as defined by the National Park Service (36 C.F.R. 61).
(5) HISTORIC ARCHITECT. A licensed architect who meets and/or exceeds the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards in historic architecture, as defined by the National Park Service (36 C.F.R. 61).
(6) NATIVE AMERICAN MONITORS. Experienced cultural resource monitors recommended by culturally affiliated Native Americans listed by the California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) as local contacts for the region.
(7) PALEONTOLOGIST. A paleontologist who is a qualified professional paleontologist as defined by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.
(8) STRUCTURAL ENGINEER. Any individual registered by the State of California to practice structural engineering and to use the title structural engineer pursuant to the Cal. Bus. and Prof. Code, Chapter 7, § 6701. When working with historic buildings and structures for the City of San Gabriel, the STRUCTURAL ENGINEER shall satisfy the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for Engineering and have demonstrable project experience in historic preservation and the use of the California Historical Building Code.
REHABILITATION. The act or process of making possible a compatible use for a property through repair, alterations, and additions while preserving those portions or features which convey its historical, cultural, or architectural significance.
RESTORATION. The act or process of accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a property as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal of features from other periods in its history and reconstruction of missing features from the restoration period, which may include the limited and sensitive upgrade of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and other code-required work to make the property functional and safe.
SAN GABRIEL INVENTORY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES (or INVENTORY). The INVENTORY of buildings, structures, objects, sites, historic districts and historic district contributors, signs, areas, landscapes, places, and natural features in the city that have been found potentially eligible for historic designation through an adopted historic resource survey prepared and approved in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter. The INVENTORY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES shall be prepared and approved in accordance with § 153.605. The locations of archaeological resources shall remain confidential, pursuant to the federal Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 470hh) and California Public Records Act (Cal. Gov’t Code § 6254.10).
SAN GABRIEL REGISTER OF CULTURAL RESOURCES or (REGISTER). The list or register of designated cultural resources, including individual historic landmarks, historic districts, and their contributing features, archaeological resources, paleontological resources, and Native American resources, prepared and approved in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter. The locations of archaeological resources shall remain confidential, pursuant to the federal Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 470hh) and California Public Records Act (Cal. Gov’t Code § 6254.10).
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR’S STANDARDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES (or SECRETARY'S STANDARDS). The Standards and Guidelines developed by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service (36 C.F.R. § 68), for the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction of historic resources. In accordance with California Code of Regulations Title 14, Chapter 3, §§ 15064.5, 15126.4(b)(1), and 15331, physical changes to historical resources that conform with the Secretary’s Standards are generally considered to be mitigated to a level of less than significant under CEQA. Projects complying with the Secretary’s Standards may be eligible for a Class 31 Categorical Exemption from CEQA.
(Ord. 636-C.S., passed 8-15-17)