County of Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Advisory Commission
http://sbcountyplanning.org/boards/hlac/index.cfm
Contact:
Anita Hodosy-McFaul
Board Assistant Specialist, Planning and Development
Mailing Address:
Engineering Building
123 E. Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara CA 93101
Phone Number: (805) 884-6833
Email Address: Ahodosy@co.santa-barbara.ca.us
Legal Authority:
The County of Santa Barbara created the Historic Landmarks Advisory Commission (Commission) in 1965 to promote the preservation of historic sites, buildings, and structures. The purpose of the Commission is to promote the economic welfare and prosperity of the county by preserving and protecting those places, sites, buildings, structures, works of art and other objects having a special historic or aesthetic character or interest, for the use, education, and view of the general public to remind the citizens of this county and visitors from elsewhere of the historic background of the county (Ord. No. 1716 §2, codified at County Code, Chapter 18A, §18A-2.)
Membership:
The historic landmarks advisory commission shall be composed of not more than eleven residents of the county and no more than two members per district and one at-large member appointed by the board of supervisors. Each commission member shall serve at the pleasure of the board of supervisors during his/her four year term, which is renewable by the board of supervisors. A commissioner may be removed by a three-fifths vote by the board of supervisors. Five members in attendance at any regular or special meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the commission.
Commission members shall be appointed from professionals in the disciplines of architecture, history, architectural history, planning, archaeology or other historic preservation related disciplines, such as urban planning, American studies, American civilization, cultural geography or cultural anthropology, to the extent such professionals are available in the community. Commission members shall also include lay members who have demonstrated special interest, competence, experience, or knowledge in historic preservation, American studies, cultural anthropology, cultural geography or other historic preservation related disciplines. Such restrictions upon appointments are adopted to guide in the selection and appointment of prospective members.
Term:
Each commission member shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors. Each commission member shall serve a four-year term, which coincides with the term of the office of the supervisor of the district for which the commission member is appointed. The at-large commissioner serves a four-year term from the date appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
Duties:
The historic landmarks advisory commission when considering a proposal to designate any place, site, building, structure, or object as a place of historic merit or landmark, and the board of supervisors when considering a recommendation to designate a landmark, shall use the following criteria:
(a) It exemplifies or reflects special elements of the county's cultural, social, economic, political, archaeological, aesthetic, engineering, architectural or natural history; and/or
(b) It is identified with persons or events significant in local, state or national history; and/or
(c) It 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; and/or
(d) It is representative of the work of a notable builder, designer, or architect; and/or
(e) It contributes to the significance of a historic area, being a geographically definable area possessing a concentration of historic, prehistoric, archaeological, or scenic properties, or thematically related grouping of properties, which contribute to each other and are unified aesthetically by plan or physical development; and/or
(f) It has a location with unique physical characteristics or is a view or vista representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the County of Santa Barbara; and/or
(g) It embodies elements of architectural design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship that represent a significant structural or architectural achievement or innovation; and/or
(h) It reflects significant geographical patterns, including those associated with different eras of settlement and growth, particularly transportation modes or distinctive examples of park or community planning; and/or
(i) It is one of the few remaining examples in the county, region, state, or nation possessing distinguishing characteristics of an architectural or historical type or specimen.
The Commission shall have bylaws which provide additional guidance on eligibility for establishing landmarks and places of historic merit.
The historic landmarks advisory commission is authorized and directed to locate and identify other places of historic merit which may satisfy the criteria for designation as an historic landmark, or by reason of a unique feature have, in the opinion of the commission, special historic, aesthetic or cultural value.
Premises may be designated as having historic merit by the historic landmarks advisory commission, under the provisions of this section, even though the premises may not qualify for designation as an historic landmark.
The designation of premises as having historic merit under the provisions of this section shall not, by reason of such designation, require the conditions or restrictions on use, improvement or renovation of the premises which are provided for in this chapter.
The historic landmark advisory commission may require maintenance of the premises as a condition for continued recognition of the historic merit of the premises.
The historic landmarks advisory commission may make a designation of historic merit and/or landmark status, pursuant to this ordinance, by resolution of the commission adopted in any regular meeting or special meeting called to prevent imminent harm to a property. Following the adoption of such resolution, the historic landmarks advisory commission shall send by certified mail a copy of the resolution to the owner or owners of the premises as appear on the latest available county assessor's records. The historic landmarks advisory commission shall maintain a record of all premises that have been given recognition under the provisions of this ordinance and shall forward to the clerk of the board of supervisors copies of all resolutions making such designation.
Meeting Date and Location:
The Historic Landmarks Advisory Commission normally meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at: 123 E. Anapamu Street, Room 17, Santa Barbara CA 93101.