Agenda Item Wording:
title
HPAC Annual Report - Review and accept the 2023/2024 Annual Report from the City of Visalia Historic Preservation Advisory Committee.
body
Deadline for Action: 9/16/2024
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Tyler Davis, Chairperson, Historic Preservation Advisory Committee
Cristobal Carrillo, Associate Planner, (559) 713-4443, cristobal.carrillo@visalia.city <mailto:cristobal.carrillo@visalia.city>
Paul Bernal, Planning and Community Preservation Director, (559) 713-4025 paul.bernal@visalia.city <mailto:paul.bernal@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends the City Council review and accept the annual report from the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (HPAC). The annual report provides the City Council with a detailed overview of all activities conducted and projects reviewed by the HPAC between January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
Background:
As one of the oldest cities in the Central Valley, Visalia hosts an impressive collection of historic sites and structures. Numerous structures with distinctive architectural styles are present in Visalia, concentrated in the city’s historic core. The Historic Preservation Ordinance, adopted in 1979 and updated in 2001 and 2022, established the HPAC to act as a steward for historic preservation causes. The HPAC is a seven-member committee that is primarily responsible for periodically updating the Local Register of Historic Structures, nominating properties to Local, State, and Federal Historic Registers, and reviewing building/planning actions related to historically designated structures within the Historic District and/or on the Local Register. Review of building and planning actions is the most frequent task undertaken by the Committee, consisting of review of exterior alterations to historically designated structures, and review of zoning actions on sites within the Historic District (ex. Change of Zones, Conditional Use Permits, Variances, and Planned Unit Developments). HPAC reviews are free of charge and conducted with a focus on preserving the integrity of historic structures and maintaining the unified architectural character of historic neighborhoods. Committee actions are appealable directly to the City Council.
The Committee currently consists of seven members with a wide variety of knowledge relevant to historic preservation. Current members of the HPAC work in construction, education, insurance, and landscaping, and many of the members are active in community groups. Three of the seven members also reside within the boundaries of the
Historic District (Chair Tyler Davis, Vice-Chair Karen Ayala, and member Michael Tomola). The Committee meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month to provide expedient review of development requests.
Discussion:
Reporting Timeframe
This annual review reports on actions conducted by the HPAC between January 2023 to June 2024. Previous annual reviews were reported on a calendar year basis, with the last review conducted August 21, 2023, covering the 2022 calendar year. Staff has since been directed to report actions based on the fiscal calendar year (July to June). Consequently, this annual review covers an 18-month span. Future reports will revert to covering only a 12-month span, with next year’s report covering July 2024 to June 2025.
Project Reviews
Between January 2023 to June 2024, the HPAC held a total of 36 public meetings, which included 33 regular meetings, and three special called meetings. The HPAC reviewed a total of 45 items during that timeframe. Items reviewed consisted of a wide range of residential, office, and quasi-public projects, including proposals for a complete rehabilitation of the MindDivers office building (512 North Court Street), rehabilitation to multiple single-family residences (ex. 509 North Locust Street, 516 West Myrtle Avenue), and review of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church tower (608 North Church Street). All projects, as well as decisions rendered by the HPAC, are summarized in Attachment No. 1.
Project Consultations
In the 2023/2024 timeframe, the HPAC conducted two consultation meetings with applicants looking to develop projects on historically designated sites. The purpose of these meetings was for the HPAC to provide guidance on exterior façade treatments and Historic District compatibility, to streamline the HPAC review process. The proposals reviewed are as follows:
• 112 East Oak Avenue: Rehabilitation of an adobe structure previously used as a church, to be converted into a coffee shop. The HPAC consulted with the applicant on July 26, 2023. This project has since been formally reviewed by the HPAC on April 24, 2024, and been issued a Building Permit for demolition work to the interior and outer patio. Additional permits for interior and exterior renovations are required and have yet to be submitted.
• 320 North Church Street: Removal of a basketball court for the construction of a three-story office building. The HPAC consulted with the developer on two occasions, February 28, 2024, and April 24, 2024. This project was submitted to Site Plan Review for review on April 24, 2024. However, no additional action by the developer has occurred at this time.
Long Range Projects
Historic District Survey Project:
In 2023, the HPAC began the process to identify historically significant sites and neighborhoods for possible inclusion on the Local Register of Historic Structures and expansion of the Historic District. This is in compliance with the duties and responsibilities assigned to the HPAC by Visalia Municipal Code, Section 17.56.050.C.6, which directs the Committee “…to compile and update the historic survey and inventory, and to nominate properties to the local register, the California Register of Historical Resources, and the National Register of Historic Places.” Activities in service of the Historic District Survey Project have included holding a volunteer training, conducting over 1,000 site visits of properties in and around the existing Historic District, and documenting conditions for evaluation by the HPAC. Site surveys were performed by both HPAC members and nine volunteers and were completed in early 2024. HPAC evaluation of the surveys have been ongoing since Fall 2023 and are expected to be completed by the end of October 2024. Evaluations have thus far focused on potential additions to the Local Register. Once survey evaluations are completed, the HPAC will consider if and where the Historic District/Local Register could expand and present its preliminary findings and proposed recommendations to the City Council during a work session for further direction. If directed by Council to further engage potential properties owners about inclusion of their properties into the historic district or on the local register, the Committee will then follow processes previously established during the HPAC’s last expansion effort which was the addition of the Homebuilders Addition subdivision to the Historic District and Local Register, which occurred in 2012. These processes included the following:
• Conduct multiple public outreach meetings with stakeholders to provide information on the Historic District and Local Register, and to answer questions;
• Conduct a mail survey of stakeholders, gauging interest in inclusion of properties into the Historic District and Local Register. This would include a second round of certified mailings to non-respondents of the first mailing;
• Conduct another work session with the City Council to share findings from public outreach efforts, and obtain direction on how to proceed.
• If supported, the HPAC would conduct any follow up actions directed by the City Council.
Following the above, the Historic District Survey Project will require public hearings before the HPAC, Visalia Planning Commission, and Visalia City Council. Additional public notices would be published and mailed for the Planning Commission and City Council hearings.
Historic Awards Program:
In 2023, the HPAC began the work of creating a program to formally recognize the efforts of members of the public who restore historically/architecturally significant buildings to their former prominence. Currently, the City only has one “active” awards program, known as the Historic Recognition Program (HRP, included in Attachment No. 6). The program provides guidelines for the HPAC to give a “stamp of approval” for the placement of a plaque on a property. However, the program provides no funding for plaques, and requires the applicant to apply, fund, and place the plaque themselves. Placement of plaques through the program was largely funded in previous years by the Kaweah Kollectors of Questers, a private group which helped develop the HRP. The most recent plaque promoted by the Kaweah Kollectors, after a lapse of approximately 9 to 12 years, was for the Darling Hotel (210 North Court Street), which was approved by the HPAC on July 24, 2024, and will be placed onsite sometime in September 2024. However, once the Darling Hotel plaque is placed, the Kaweah Kollectors have stated that they will no longer be active. As such, the HPAC has begun discussions for the creation of an annual awards program, wherein the HPAC could proactively identify and recognize individuals who restore historic homes and award plaques or letters of commendation accordingly. The HPAC hopes to fund the making of plaques for awards recipients by requesting to utilize some of the funds already appropriated by the City Council for use by Committees/Commissions. This would help to acknowledge and incentivize historic preservation efforts. Once the HPAC has developed a draft program, staff will schedule a work session with the City Council to obtain comment and direction prior to implementation of the program.
Public Outreach
Tulare County Association of Realtors Luncheon
On February 16, 2023, members of the HPAC attended the Tulare County Association of Realtors Luncheon and made a presentation on historic preservation in the City of Visalia. The members answered questions and provided staff contact information to spread awareness on the efforts to assist in the preservation of historic structures.
Lifestyle Magazine Article
Through the efforts of HPAC member Jerome Melgar, an article was published in the May 2024 edition of Lifestyle Magazine (a local community centered publication) sharing information on the different types of historic homes in Visalia. The article was written by Melgar, with input from the entire HPAC provided between March and May 2024. The article is included as Attachment No. 7.
Historic Preservation Month Proclamation
Through efforts from the HPAC, the Visalia City Council issued a proclamation on May 6, 2024, declaring May 2024 as Historic Preservation Month. The proclamation celebrated the establishment of the City and various actions taken to preserve the City’s historic resources. The proclamation is included as Attachment No. 5 of this report. This was the second time the proclamation was made, with the first occurring May 2022. The HPAC aims to make this an annual practice.
Historic Preservation Mailer
In 2023 the HPAC conducted its annual mailing of the Historic Preservation Informational Pamphlet to all occupants and property owners of sites on the Local Register and within the Historic District. The mailer contains information on what types of projects require HPAC review. The pamphlet is written in both English and Spanish, to allow for wider understanding of HPAC requirements. Through this effort the HPAC seeks to educate homeowners and occupants so that historic resources are better protected. For future years, the HPAC will endeavor to mail the informational pamphlet on a bi-annual basis, further ensuring that property owners and occupants are regularly informed. A copy of the pamphlet is included in Attachment No. 8.
Fiscal Impact: None.
Prior Council Action:
On August 21, 2023, the City Council accepted the 2022-2023 Annual Report from the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee.
Committee/Commission Review and Action:
The Historic Preservation Advisory Committee discussed the preparation and content of the annual report at its August 28, 2024, meeting.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to accept the 2023/2024 Annual Report from the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee.
end
CEQA Review: Not applicable.
Attachments:
1. Historic Preservation Advisory Committee - Project Reviews January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024
2. Historic Preservation District Ordinance (2022)
3. Local Register of Historic Structures (2022)
4. Historic District & Local Register Map
5. National Historic Preservation Month Proclamation - May 2024
6. Historic Recognition Program
7. “Walk Through Visalia’s Home History” by Jerome Melgar - Lifestyle Magazine, May 2024.
8. Historic Preservation Mailer
9. Committee Member List