Monday, May 14, 2007

PART II (of III): Historic Context Statement Agenda Item Symbolic of City Council Members Misunderstanding & Mental Confusion

The comments made by City Council Members in PART I demonstrate that Mayor Sue McCloud, City Council Member Mike Cunningham, City Council Member Paula Hazdovac and City Counicl Member Gerard Rose failed to read and comprehend the historic preservation content of the City’s Local Coastal Program prior to submittal to the California Coastal Commission for certification in late 2004. Furthermore, the City Council Members appear to be unknowledgeable about the following relevant excerpts from the City Local Coastal Program as it pertains to historic preservation.

Selected relevant excerpts from the City’s Local Coastal Program, as follows:

General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan Land Use & Community Character Element

Protection of Historic Resources

Although the Coastal Act does not specifically discuss historic preservation, this topic is related to the preservation of character required by sections 30251 and 30253 of the Act. The purpose of this component of the Land Use Plan is to provide a framework for policies that address the preservation of the diverse and valuable historic resources in Carmel. Its primary goals are to educate residents and visitors about the unique architectural, cultural and historic identity of Carmel-by-the-Sea, and to promote the identification and preservation of structures and sites that best represent this history. The addition of this component to the Coastal Plan reflects Carmel’s commitment to the preservation of its important historic resources and the City’s recognition of the role that historic resources play in defining community character. (LUP)

The types of historic resources in Carmel are classified using the criteria established in the California Register of Historic Resources. These range from architecturally significant historic buildings and collections of residences that form distinctive neighborhoods to those associated with important persons or events in Carmel’s history. It also includes street features, landscaping, and both prehistoric and historic archaeological resources.

The initial step in an historic preservation program is a reconnaissance survey of potential historic resources. This is followed by thorough research and documentation in an intensive survey using the themes established in the Carmel Historic Context Statement that explore the historic people, periods, places and events important to Carmel.

An historic context is a body of information about historic properties organized by theme, place and time. A single historic context describes one or more important aspects of the development of an area relating to its history, architecture, archaeology and culture. A context may be based on one or a series of events, patterns of community development, or associations with the lives of a person or group of persons that influenced the destiny and character of a place or region (from National Register Bulletin #24). Currently there are five themes developed in Carmel’s Historic Context Statement. They are: (1) Prehistory and Hispanic Settlement, (2) Economic Development, (3) Government, Civic and Social Institutions (4) Architectural Development in Carmel and (5) Development of Art and Culture.

Goals, Objectives and Policies
Community Character and Land Use


G1-1 Continue to preserve and maintain the predominance of the residential character in Carmel through appropriate zoning and land development regulations in all districts.

G1-2 Preserve the residential village character and perpetuate a balance of land uses compatible with local resources and the environment. (LUP)

P1-85 Maintain an Historic Context Statement that documents the historic periods, themes, events, people, architects and builders who have contributed to the cultural and developmental history of the City. Use the Historic Context Statement to identify, document and understand the importance of historic resources. Exclusion from this document shall not preclude a finding of significance for any resource. The Historic Context Statement shall be updated at least every five years. Updates shall be submitted to the California Coastal Commission as LCP amendments. (See Appendix Historic Context Statement, Carmel-by-the-Sea, 1997).

P1-86 Apply California Register of Historical Resources (California
Register) criteria to identify and document all historic resources. Use the Historic Context Statement to interpret the California Register criteria in determining the significance of Carmel’s historic resources. (LUP)

P1-87 Establish procedures to add historic resources to the Carmel Inventory based on recommendations from a qualified professional, as part of the City’s ongoing survey process. To qualify for listing in the Carmel Inventory, historic resources shall meet at least one of the California Register criteria, shall be representative of at least one theme included in the Historic Context Statement and shall retain substantial integrity5. Integrity (association, feeling, setting, location, design, materials and workmanship) shall be documented by comparing the existing condition of the resource with the original building plans or early photographs or other substantial evidence (e.g. literature review, architectural files, land records, Sanborn maps, etc.) and/or by physical inspection by a qualified historic preservation professional. (LUP)

P1-100 Implement guidelines for civic design to preserve unique community character resources (e.g. public structures, street signs, landscape features and materials, etc.). Incorporate the concept of cultural landscapes (e.g. streets and other non-building open space features) in future revisions to the Historic Context Statement and develop guidelines for their preservation. (LUP)

For the City's complete General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan Land Use & Community Character, click on post title above or copy, paste and click http://www.ci.carmel.ca.us/, click on "Planning," then "Land use plan Revisions."

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