Agenda Item Wording:
title
Second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2022-10 approving Zoning Text Amendment No. 2022-01, a request by the City of Visalia to amend Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 17.56 (Historic Preservation District).
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Deadline for Action: 8/15/2022
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Cristobal Carrillo, Associate Planner, 713-4443, cristobal.carrillo@visalia.city <mailto:cristobal.carrillo@visalia.city>
Paul Bernal, Community Development Director, 713-4025, paul.bernal@visalia.city <mailto:paul.bernal@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council conduct the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2022-10, to amend portions of Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 17.56 (Historic Preservation District).
Background Discussion:
The first reading of Ordinance No. 2022-10 for Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) No. 2022-01, approved by the City Council on August 1, 2022, amended provisions in Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 17.56 (Historic Preservation District) related to the following:
• Subjecting exterior alterations to “Background” Local Register structures located outside the Historic District to Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (HPAC) review;
• Granting the HPAC the ability to deny demolition requests for any property within the Historic District or Local Register;
• Adding definitions for Local Register classifications to the Ordinance;
• Adding specific criteria for the evaluation of fencing proposals;
• Limiting the percentage of paved surfaces allowed within front yard areas;
• Changing the frequency of Local Register reviews; and
• Including reference to the California Register of Historical Resources.
Fiscal Impact:
None.
Prior Council Action:
The City Council took the following actions:
1. At the February 16, 2021, meeting of the City Council, during presentation of the 2020 HPAC Annual Report, members of the Council directed the HPAC to provide recommendations for the revision of the Historic Preservation District Ordinance.
2. At the March 1, 2021, City Council Committee/Commission Work Session, the HPAC was encouraged to undertake projects related to their mission. A request was made by members of the City Council for the HPAC to consider reviewing the Historic Preservation District Ordinance for potential changes.
3. At the October 4, 2021, City Council and Historic Preservation Advisory Committee Work Session, direction was provided by the Council regarding proposed revisions to the Historic Preservation District Ordinance. The Council directed the Committee to meet with the Building Advisory Committee, solicit comment, and return to the Council for a follow-up work session
4. At the February 22, 2022, City Council and Historic Preservation Advisory Committee Work Session, the HPAC presented comments provided by the Building Advisory Committee on proposed revisions to the Historic Preservation District Ordinance. The Council provided additional comment and directed the HPAC to pursue a Zone Text Amendment to revise the Historic Preservation District Ordinance.
5. At the June 20, 2022, meeting of the City Council, during presentation of the 2021 HPAC Annual Report, the Council approved the Committee’s 2021 Work Plan. This included completion of the Historic Preservation Ordinance Update project.
6. At the August 1, 2022, meeting of the City Council, the City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 2022-10, approving Zoning Text Amendment No. 2022-01, a request by the City of Visalia to amend Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 17.56 (Historic Preservation District).
Committee/Commission Action:
Building Advisory Committee
At the direction of the City Council, the HPAC conducted a joint meeting with the Building Advisory Committee (BAC) on November 11, 2021, to solicit comment on proposed changes to the Historic Preservation Ordinance. The BAC members in attendance expressed support for the majority of changes proposed by the HPAC. The BAC only advocated for elimination of a proposal which would have removed exceptions for activities conducted with “Like Materials (such as reroofing/residing/masonry/assorted repairs). The HPAC concurred with this recommendation and removed the change to the “Like Materials” section of the Ordinance.
Historic Preservation Advisory Committee
HPAC review of the proposal was completed at a special called meeting held May 26, 2022. At that meeting, the Committee recommended approval of the Historic Preservation Ordinance Update to the Visalia Planning Commission on the basis that the proposal is consistent with the Zoning Ordinance and the Historic Preservation Element of the Visalia General Plan, and that the proposal will not be injurious to the character or overall uniformity of the Historic District and Local Register of Historic Structures.
Visalia Planning Commission
Planning Commission review of the proposal was completed at a regular meeting held July 11, 2022. At that meeting, the Commission recommended approval of the Historic Preservation Ordinance Update to the Visalia City Council on the basis that the proposal is consistent with the Zoning Ordinance and the Historic Preservation Element of the Visalia General Plan. With its decision the Commission included a recommendation that the ordinance update include references to the California Register of Historical Resources as appropriate.
Alternatives:
None.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve the second reading of Ordinance No. 2022-10 for Zone Text Amendment No. 2022-01.
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CEQA Review:
The requested action is considered exempt under Section 15061(b)(3) Per Section 15061 (b) (3) of the State Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A Notice of Exemption has been prepared for the project because Section 15061 (b) (3) states that the project is exempted from CEQA if the activity is covered by the common-sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
The proposed text amendment to Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 17.56 (Historic District Preservation Ordinance) will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 2022-10 for Zoning Text Amendment No. 2022-01.