Frequently Asked
Questions
1. What are
the issues concerning Historic Resources and Preservation?
This section presents answers to
frequently asked questions about historic preservation in the City of
Santa Monica. Information provided includes how a property becomes a
designated historic site, the difference between designated historic
sites and the historic resources inventory, the benefits and
responsibilities of owning a historic property, and the process for
altering or redeveloping a historic property.
A.
Overview
B. Locally
Significant Historic Resources
·
How does a property
become a designated historic site?
·
What is the process for
designation?
·
What are the criteria for
designation?
·
Can I (or anyone else)
appeal a decision of the Landmarks Commission?
·
What are the
responsibilities of the owner of a designated property?
·
What are the benefits of
Landmarks and Historic District designation?
·
What can I do to fix up,
rehabilitate or add onto my historic property?
C. What
is the Historic Resources Inventory?
D. Requests for demolition of structures more than 40 years old
·
What is the process for
obtaining approval for demolition of a structure?
E. View a list and map of designated historic properties and
districts
A.
Overview
The City of Santa Monica has three
categories of historic designation, a citywide historic resources
inventory, and demolition permit review requirements.
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B. Locally
Significant Historic Resources
·
How does a property
become a designated historic site?
The City’s
Landmarks Commission decides whether a property should be a
designated Structure of Merit, Landmark, or included within a designated
Historic District, based on certain required findings contained in the
Landmarks Ordinance. These official designations are for resources that
are considered locally significant historic sites or areas. Landmarks
are considered to have the highest level of individual historic
significance and therefore, along with buildings within historic
districts, Landmarks are offered the highest protection with respect to
alterations and demolitions.
Structures of Merit are considered to
be less significant and therefore reviewed only if demolition is
proposed.
Properties included in a Historic
District are significant in that they contribute to the historic
character of the district. Any area in the city can be
designated a Historic District if a majority of property owners agree
and the City Council approves.
Click below to view:
Designated Landmarks and Structures of Merit
Historic Districts
·
What is the process
for designation?
The
Landmark designation process involves any member of the public or
the Landmarks Commission filing an application to have the resource
designated. Thorough evaluation of the historic integrity of the
resource by a professional consultant and City staff is done in
preparation for a public hearing before the Landmarks Commission. This
is a process that takes approximately 3 months and it is possible that
the Landmarks Commission could find that the listed resource does not
rise to the level of a designated Landmark.
The process for Structure of Merit
designation is similar to the Landmark designation procedure although
has different designation criteria.
The process for Historic District
designation places the Landmarks Commission in an advisory role to the
City Council, with the Council approving district designations through
adoption of an ordinance. In contrast to the other designation
procedures, some minor alterations or repairs may be permitted while the
District is under consideration.
·
What are the criteria
for designation?
Landmark, Historic District, and
Structure or Merit designations can only be approved if certain criteria
are met. Click on the links below to find out the criteria for each
designation:
Landmark and Historic District Designation Criteria
Structure of Merit Designation Criteria
·
Can I (or anyone else)
appeal a decision of the Landmarks Commission?
Yes, all decisions of the Landmarks
Commission may be appealed to the City Council. However, Historic
Districts are approved by the City Council and therefore, the decision
is final.
·
What are the
responsibilities of the owner of a designated property?
The owner of a designated property is
obliged to ensure that the building does not fall into disrepair and to
maintain both interior and exterior features of the building.
· What are the benefits
of Landmarks and Historic District designation?
Ø
Potential property tax
savings (Mills Act Contract)
Ø Waiver of Building Plan
check and permit fees plus Planning permit fees for Administrative
Approval applications
Ø
Waiver of fees for
Certificates of Appropriateness
Ø
Application of California
State Historical Building Code to alterations
Ø
Priority plan check
processing
Ø Consideration
of existing architecture and character of the neighborhood when
streetscape improvements are proposed in Historic Districts.
To see a full list of incentives please click here
· What can I do to fix
up, rehabilitate or add onto my historic property?
The process to rehabilitate a
designated property depends on the scope of work and type of
designation. In addition, the Landmarks Commission only reviews
modifications to the exterior of historic properties and not the
interior. There are 4 types of approvals that are possible: Certificate
of Appropriateness, Certificate of Economic Hardship, Certificate of
Administrative Approval, and Certificate of Exemption. Click to
see a
table summary of which certificates will apply to the type of work
proposed.
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C. What is
the Historic Resources Inventory?
The
Historic Resources Inventory is a database containing
information, building descriptions, and evaluations of potential
historic resources in Santa Monica. The City compiled this information
starting in the 1980s and there are approximately 1350 potential
historic resources listed on the Inventory. The purpose of the
Inventory is as a planning tool so that the City can understand where
some important, perhaps unknown, resources are located and identify ways
in which we can ensure that they are not lost. Sellers are required by
law to disclose to buyers whether their property is listed on the
Inventory
with a
Real Estate Transfer Disclosure form.
Listing on the Inventory is not the
same as a Landmark designation. The key difference is that alterations
to Landmarks require the approval of the Landmarks Commission and the
issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness. There is no such process
for resources listed on the Inventory, however information in the
inventory is used during the review of projects that require review by
the Planning Commission, Architectural Review Board or Zoning
Administrator, and during evaluation of demolition permits for buildings
that are 40 years old or more.
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D. Requests for demolition of structures more than 40 years old
All structures in the City of Santa
Monica with building permits that were issued more than 40 years ago
must be reviewed by the Landmarks Commission before they are demolished.
This demolition procedure applies to all properties older than 40 years
old and is not limited to Landmarks, Historic District, or Inventory
properties. The purpose of the Landmarks Commission’s review of
these demolition permits is to ensure that significant historic
resources that contribute to our community character.
· What is the process
for obtaining approval for demolition of a structure?
The
demolition permit process for a Landmarks Commission review for a
property more than 40 years old takes approximately 2-3 months.
1)
Applicant submits
application for demolition to the Building Division.
2)
Application is routed to
the City Planning Division’s Landmarks Commission liaison.
a. If
it is determined that building permits were issued more than 40
years ago, the application for demolition is placed on a Landmarks
Commission agenda for review. The Landmarks Commission has 60 days from
the filing of a complete application to decide whether to file an
application for Landmark designation.
b.
If it is determined that
the building permits were NOT issued more than 40 years ago OR if
the Landmarks Commission does not file an application for designation,
the demolition may be approved subject to compliance with other normal
requirements.
3) If the Landmarks
Commission files an application for designation, the City evaluates the
historic integrity of the property.
4) The application for
designation is typically scheduled for a Landmarks Commission meeting
within 65 days. The Commission reviews the property evaluation, staff’s
recommendation, and takes action on whether to designate the Landmark.
This is a public hearing where the property owner and any interested
person may speak.
5) Any decision of the
Landmarks Commission’s decision may be appealed to the City Council.
6)
If after review of the
application, the Landmarks Commission (or City Council on appeal) finds
that the property does not meet the criteria to be a designated
Landmark, the demolition may be approved subject to compliance with
other normal steps of the demolition process.
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Planning Commission
Agendas/Staff
Reports
