1 Jay Eastman
Planning Manager
April 19, 2023
Request by Councilmember
Speake
Historic Resources Revisions
(CMC Chapter 17.63)
The Ask...
Obtain feedback from the City Council on
possible changes to the Historic Resources
Ordinance.
2 Historic Resources Ordinance (CMC 17.63)
▷ Adopted 2001
▷ Established criteria for:
○ Approving properties or a structure as a
local landmark on the Corona Register of
Historic Resources.
○ Listing of a geographical area as a historic
district.
○ Alteration, relocation or demolition of
historic resources. 3
Background Prior Discussion
▷ Council Study Session – November 2022
▷ Council recommended a future study
session on possible amendments to the
Historic Resource Ordinance
Corona Heritage Inventory
▷ 529 heritage properties.
Corona Landmark Properties & Districts
▷ 62 properties listed as local landmarks
▷ 10 historic districts
National Landmark Listings
▷ 4 Properties
▷ 1 Street (Grand Boulevard)
Historic Property Preservation Agreements
▷ 45 agreements under the Mills Act.
Design Guidelines for Historic Buildings
▷ City design guidelines for preserving historic buildings. 4 City of Corona Historic Resources:
Today’s Discussion
Current challenges
Input from Corona Historic Preservation Society
Possible amendments to the Historic Preservation Ordinance Explore the creation of an additional pathway for getting homes recognized and qualified for Property Preservation Agreements under the Mills Act.
Explore changes to the Property Preservation Agreement. 5 1
2 3
4 5
Current Challenges
1. City has three separate design guidelines for residential properties ▷ Design Guidelines for Historic Buildings (Existing Buildings) ▷ Residential Development Design Guidelines
▷ Downtown Revitalization Specific Plan Guidelines
2. Downtown not officially adopted as an “Historic District”
3. No specific “architectural style standards” for new residential within Grand Avenue or on the outskirts
4. Historic preservation regulations not promoted well
5. Historic preservation regulations are verbose, interpretive, and “soft”
6. Cost of historic preservation
6 1
Historic Preservation Society Input
Ordinance Revisions Proposed by CHPS
1. Establish Historic Commission
▷ Five (5) members with expertise or education; Council appointed • Study City’s heritage inventory
• Evaluate historic applications
• Recommend to City Council on historic and cultural matters • Maintain Corona Register of Historic Resources
2. Establish new resources types to be included in Corona Register ▷ Designated Historic Resources (DHR) – Monuments, murals, markers, or similar
▷ Structure of Merit (SM) – Structures that do not meet the level of significance for listing as a Landmark property. 7
2 Historic Preservation Ordinance
Possible amendments for the City Council to consider
1. Update and clarify definitive residential architectural styles for infill development and major renovation of non-contributing buildings. 8 3
Victorian
Queen
Anne
(1880-1910)
Victorian
Hipped-Roof
Cottage
(1905-1930)
Mission &
Spanish
Revival
(1890-1940)
Colonial
Revival
(1893-1940)
Craftsman
Bungalow
(1905-1930)
Provincial
Revival
(1893-1940)
Historic Preservation Ordinance
Possible amendments for the City Council to consider
2. Consider creating “Preservation Areas” as step to “Landmark District”. ▷ Can be used to define significant historical architectural period for distinct neighborhoods.
3. Establish a “Corona Historic Commission” with knowledge and purpose. ▷ Review major alterations to historic buildings and districts, instead of Planning Commission.
▷ Review architectural style of residential infill against adopted architectural style standards.
▷ Act as an architectural review board.
4. Keep “50 year rule” but establish historic era context. 9 3
Preservation Incentives
Explore the creation of an additional pathway for
getting homes recognized and qualified for Property
Preservation Agreements under the Mills Act.
1. Consider properties eligible for listing as Landmarks (aka, heritage listed properties) as meeting criteria for Preservation Agreements (Mills Act). ▷ Not a common practice among cities evaluated, unless within historic district
▷ Same tax incentive formula, so consideration might include:
• Funding improvements to establish their value as a
Landmark property or contributions to a Landmark District, versus funding improvements that aren’t individually
significant
10 4
Preservation Agreements (Mills Act)
Explore changes to the Property Preservation
Agreement.
1. Consider Preservation Agreements (Mills Act) re-evaluations for enhancements and maintenance, versus automatic annual renewals. ▷ Fullerton example:
• Require annual progress report by property owner
• @ 5 year – Progress inspection
• @ 10 year – Rehabilitation/maintenance plan
11 5
Items to Consider…
Expand the types of designated resource?
▷ Designated Historic Resources – Monuments, murals, markers, etc. ▷ Structure of Merit – Structures with merit but not Landmark status. ▷ Preservation Zones – Areas of consideration for Landmark status.
Establish an Historic Commission or Committee?
Establish architectural styles for infill/non-historic structures? Change eligibility criteria for Preservation Agreements? Expand Preservation Agreement program requirements?
12 A
B
C
D
E
Next Steps... ▷ Organize today’s feedback and prepare
a draft amendment to the Historic
Resources Ordinance.
▷ Prepare guidelines for new construction
that include architectural styles
recommended by City Council.
▷ Return to a City Council study session
with the draft changes.
13 Discussion
A. Expand the types of designated resource?
B. Establish an Historic Commission or Committee?
C. Establish architectural styles for infill/non-historic structures? D. Change eligibility criteria for Preservation Agreements? E. Expand Preservation Agreement program requirements?