Historic Preservation Commission
Staff Report
May 4, 2022
SUBJECT: Presentation of Fences in Historic Districts
PROJECT PLANNER: Geoffrey Starns, AICP, LEED AP BD+C, Historic Preservation Supervisor Several months ago, the City Council asked the Commission to look at our regulations regarding front yard fences in historic districts. In order to assist the Commission in this task, staff has surveyed each district and identified every front yard fence. In addition, we ha ve looked for reasons why front yard fences are located where they are. Staff will be presenting our findings and provide the Commission options at the meeting.
Attachment No. 1
1/18/2023
1 Front Yard Fences
in Historic Districts
Background
• Since 2009, all new fences in the historic districts require the approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness or Fence and Wall Permit. "The acceptability of a new fence or wall installation will depend on the existence of fences and walls in the immediate neighborhood. Whenever possible, avoid installing a new front yard fence or wall in neighborhoods with open front yards” (Guidelines for Fence / Wall Alternations and Installations on Historic Properties). • Which fences fall under a Fence and Wall Permit?
“Fence or wall that are [not] located in a front yard, street facing side or rear yard where visible from a public street require approval of a [Fence and Wall Permit]...” (Appendix 1, Part 3, Section .503. of the Pomona Municipal Code). • Which fences fall under a Minor Certificate of Appropriateness? "Minor projects shall include… the addition of elements which are part of a site but not an integral part of an historic landmark structure… Adding an element to the site could include a perimeter fence…” (Appendix 1, Part 3, Section .5809-13. of the Pomona Municipal Code).
• Which fences fall under a Major Certificate of Appropriateness? "Major projects shall include changes which significantly alter the following: height, proportions, the relationship of the building mass and space, roof shape, scale or distinctive façade of the structure” (Appendix 1, Part 3, Section .5809-13. of the Pomona Municipal Code).
Background (continued)
• City Council instructed Planning staff to study front yard fences to determine if existing guidelines are consistent. • Objective:
Have objective standards for front yard fences in the following historic districts: Hacienda Park, Lincoln Park, and Wilton Heights.
The Civic Center, Downtown Landmark Quarter, and Edison Historic Districts were excluded from the analysis.
Methods
• STEP 1: Surveyed all properties in the three historic districts for the presence of front yard fences.
• STEP 2: Analyzed the presence of front yard fences against various variables.
Chain link
Vinyl
Block wall
Wood
Legend
Map of Front Yard Fences
Wrought Iron
Chain Link
Wood
Vinyl
Block
None
Historic District Boundaries
Police Reporting Districts
2020 Census Block Group
2020 Census Tract
NTS
Contributing and Nonexempt Properties
Contributing and
Nonexempt
Properties with
Fences
Contributing
and
Nonexempt
Properties
without
Fences
Total
Contributing
and
Nonexempt
Properties
% with
Fences
Hacienda
Park
23 188 211 11%
Lincoln
Park
109 661 770 14%
Wilton
Heights
104 237 341 30%
Legend
Noncontributing / Exempt
1/18/2023
2 Legend
Material of Front Yard Fences
Wrought
Iron
Chain
Link
Wood Block Vinyl
Hacienda
Park
93560
Lincoln
Park
41 25 38 1 4
Wilton
Heights
41 33 27 1 2
Total 91 61 70 8 6
2021 Crime Report
Reporting Districts Total Crimes
Hacienda Park 35 117
36 22
47 15
Lincoln Park 96 9
10 167
11 19
Wilton Heights 85
48 217
* Highlights indicate districts with reportedly high crime. Legend Historic District Boundaries
Police Reporting Districts
2018-2021 Crime Report
Reporting
Districts
2018 2019 2020 2021
Hacienda Park 35 154 230 131 117
36 44 15 16 22
47 37 26 20 15
Lincoln Park 9 135 111 69 69
10 279 255 179 167
11 53 30 27 19
Wilton Heights 8 26 2 - 5
48 283 363 201 217
* Highlights indicate districts with reportedly high crime.
Hacienda Park
Hispanic or Latino White Black or African American
American Indian and Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Some other race alone Two or more races
Lincoln Park Area Wilton Heights AreaHacienda Park Area 63%19%
8%
8%
64%22%
3%
7% 3%
75%
12%
5%
5% 2%
Demographics
of any race
Source: American Community Survey (ACS), 2020
Average Household Size
Source: American Community Survey (ACS), 2020
Proximity to Collector Streets
Legend
NTS
260 feet from Collector
Street
Historic District Boundaries
1/18/2023
3 Lot Size
Block in Lincoln Park, Monroe St.
Block in Wilton Heights, Wisconsin Pl. & Wisconsin St.
Academic Study
• Latino Urbanism
• "There is a general lack of understanding of how
Latinos use, value, and retrofit the existing US
landscape in order to survive, thrive, and create a
sense of belonging." (James Rojas)
• “Latino single-family houses ‘communicate’ with each
other by sharing a cultural understanding expressed
through the built environment. The residents
communicate with each othe r via the front yard. By
building fences they bind together adjacent homes.
By adding and enlarging front porches, they extend
the household into the fr ont yard. These physical
changes allow and reinforc e the social connections
and the heavy use of the front yard.” (James Rojas)
Source: Photos by James Rojas
Front Yard Usage
Front Yard Usage
Redlining
Legend
NTS
Pre-1900s
100s E. Jefferson ST
300s N. Park Ave
Historic Photos
1920s
1/18/2023
4 Options
1. Permit front yard fences in Lincoln Park, Hacienda Park, and Wilton Heights with conditions:
a. Conditions could be on material and height
2. No front yard fences permitted
3. Keep front yard fences case-by-case or block-by-block