Item No. 1
Linda Thai
From: Erik Van Breene
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2023 9:23 AM
To: Downey City Clerk - Public Comment
Cc: Adrian Fine
Subject: Proposed Downey Historic Preservation Ordinance - City Council Agenda Item 1 (February 14, 2023) Attachments: LA Conservancy, Letter of Support, Historic Preservation Ordinance, City of Downey, 2.14.23.pdf Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers,
Please find the Los Angeles Conservancy's letter of support and comments for agenda item 1 attached. If possible, I would like to be added to the list of interested parties for this item.
Best,
Erik
Erik Van Breene
Preservation Coordinator
Los Angeles Conservancy
523 West Sixth Street, Suite 326
i
An eles, CA 90014
Pronouns: He / His / Him / Mr.
laconservanc .org
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February 14, 2023
Submitted Electronically
City of Downey
City Council
11111 Brookshire Ave
Downey, CA 90241
Email: ccpubliccommentea do ne ca,org
RE: Los Angeles Conservancy Support for the City of
Downey's Municipal Code Amendment — Historic
Preservation Ordinance
Dear Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers:
On behalf of the Los Angeles Conservancy, I am writing to voice our support and desire for an amendment prior to the adoption of the proposed Historic Preservation Ordinance by the Downey City Council.
Local historic preservation ordinances are the most powerful tool for protecting historic resources. The ordinance provides the framework for the designation and project design review processes. While we generally agree with the recommendations, we strongly encourage the City of Downey to amend the current draft and instead establish a dedicated historic preservation commission as part of the proposed ordinance. Rather than granting the Planning Commission with the power and authority to perform all preservation duties, the Preservation Commission can fulfill this specialized function and implement the provisions outlined within the preservation ordinance.
Our experience has shown that dedicated historic preservation commissioners are better equipped to assist the community and determine project compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Generally, preservation commission members are often professionals in this field, have completed preservation -based trainings, and/or have a F3
Im S ANGELES
CONSERVANCY
523 West Sixth Street, Suite 826
Los Angeles, CA 90014
213 623 2489 OFFICE
213 623 3909 FAx
leconservency.org
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strong personal interest in historic preservation. This is not always the case with planning commission members.
As part of the process to adopt a preservation ordinance, we encourage the City to explore a historic resources survey and/or a historic context statement to strengthen the effectiveness of the preservation ordinance. Surveys offer the opportunity to better plan and to take stock of a city's historic resources by identifying eligible individual resources as well as potential historic districts.
As a companion to the survey, historic context statements provide a framework for identifying and evaluating historic resources within the survey area. The context is a narrative that may cover multiple themes, including architectural, social, ethnic, and cultural topics.
As stated above, the Los Angeles Conservancy supports and encourages the City Council to adopt the historic preservation ordinance, and amend to include the formation of a historic preservation commission. We look forward to working with the City and offer our assistance as you begin this exciting new phase of preservation in Downey.
About the Los Angeles Conservancy:
The Los Angeles Conservancy is the largest local historic preservation organization in the United States, with nearly 5,000 members throughout the Los Angeles area.
Established in 1978, the Conservancy works to preserve and revitalize the significant architectural and cultural heritage of Los Angeles County through advocacy and education.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at or
should you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
d
Adrian Scott Fine
Senior Director of Advocacy
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