1989 Historic
Buildings Survey
Update
Zachary Dahl, AICPZachary Dahl, AICP
Community Development DirectorCommunity Development Director City Council HearingCity Council Hearing
September 08, 2026September 08, 2026
1 Historic Preservation Policy History
2 1987
1974
1990 1995
1993 2010 2024
2022
1989
City Adopted
Environmental Resources
Management Element
Plan
Historic Building Survey
Conducted and Survey
Report Published
General Plan
Updated
City Established
Ordinance, Downtown
District, and Mills Act
Program
Ordinance Updated
Ordinance Updated
General Plan 2030
Adopted
Ordinance Updated
General Plan 2040
Adopted
Funds Requested from
State for Historic
Preservation Program
New
Ordinance &
Historic
Context
Statement
2026
Historic Policy Update Effort
3 • January 21, 2025 – Policy Update initiated
• May 4, 2026 – Policy Update Approved by City Council
• New Historic Preservation Ordinance
• New Citywide Historic Context Statement
• Updated Mills Act Program
• Historic Resources Commission established
• Council Direction – Prioritize 1989 Historic Building Survey Update • May-October 2026 – Implement new Codes and Policies
• October 22, 2026 – Historic Policy Community Workship (Virtual) • Introduce updated Codes, Policies and Public Resource Documents General Plan 2040
Action CD 5.9 – Historic Context Statements
Prepare a citywide historic context statement to guide
future historic resource survey efforts to identify
individually eligible resources and historic districts. If a neighborhood is identified as a historic district, prepare a more detailed historic context statement for that individual neighborhood.
Action CD 5.10 - Historic Resources Survey
Establish and maintain an inventory of architecturally, culturally, and historically significant buildings, structures, sites, and districts. Proactively maintain an up-to-date historic resources inventory by seeking funding
opportunities to update the historic survey.
4 Downtown San Mateo
Source: CardCow
1989 Historic Building Survey
5 *Not included in survey update
**Rating of 4 in 1989 Survey is now considered a 7.
***Excludes properties that are already designated/listed. - Downtown Historic District (38)
- Glazenwood Historic District (36)
- NRHP/CRHR Listings (3)
Area Name
Individually Eligible (CHRSC 3)
&
Local Significance (CHRSC 5)
No evaluation,
but could be
eligible
(CHRSC 4)**
Ineligible (CHRSC 6)* Total Survey
Properties
Central Business District 7 1 2 8
Central 17 15 3 34
East San Mateo 4 1 4
Hayward Park 16 4 20
North Central 2 2 1 4
San Mateo Heights 39 7 47
West of El Camino Real 6 4 2 10
TOTAL 91*** 33 9* 124
Why Update the 1989 Survey?
• Update to capture existing conditions
• Identify physical changes to previously
recorded properties
• Document if buildings have been
demolished or significantly altered/
rebuilt
6 Project Objectives
7 • Updated Evaluation Framework
• California Register of Historical Resources did
not exist in 1989
• Build on Prior Work
• Streamline Project Approach and Schedule
• Meaningful Property Owner Engagement
• Establish a defensible basis for future
Landmark designations and additions to the
San Mateo Historic Resources Inventory
(HRI)
1989 Historic Building Survey Update
8 133
properties surveyed in 1989
91 identified as individually eligible
33 recorded but not evaluated
9 evaluated and recommended
ineligible
• Reconnaissance-level survey of built environment resources within the original boundary
• Re-evaluate significance against updated federal, state, and local criteria • Refer to the Citywide Historic Context Statement
Scope Options
9 133
Option 1
$168,687
● Re-survey properties previously identified as
historical resources
● Re-survey/fully document properties previously
identified but not evaluated – up to 33 DPR sets
● Up to 91 updated DPR 523L forms (eligible
properties)
Option 2
$140,584
● Re-survey properties previously identified as
historical resources
● Previously unevaluated properties are NOT re-
surveyed under this option
● Up to 91 updated DPR 523L forms (eligible
properties)
Community Outreach
10 ● Re-survey properties previously identified as
historical resources
● Previously unevaluated properties are NOT re-
surveyed under this option
● Up to 91 updated DPR 523L forms (eligible
properties)
● No new DPR sets for unevaluated properties
1 Public Hearings
Participation at two
City Council meetings,
including staff reports
and presentations.
2 Engagement
Materials
• Includes mailed
postcards and interactive
online activity.
• Mailed notices and direct
engagement with
affected property owners
3 Digital Outreach
Up to three eblast
emails and four social
media posts to build
awareness.
Virtual Workshop
One community
workshop, staffed by a
facilitator, subject
matter expert, and
notetaker (in addition to
City staff).
4 Project Timeline
11 M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7
Task 1: Kick-off & Project
Management M1–M7
Task 2: Historic Resources
Survey Update M1–M5
Task 3: Historic Resources
Survey Report M5–M6
Task 4: Community
Outreach Plan M6–M7M2-M5 (Property Owner Engagement )
Project Budget
12 • Funded by the Advance Planning Fund (Fund 225)
• No impact on the City's General Fund.
• Advance Planning Fund has fund balance of $6.39 million • Estimate as of July 1, 2026.
• In addition to the consultant services, staff time and resources to support Project estimated to cost $30,000 -$60,000
• Includes staff from Community Development Department, City Attorney's Office and City Manager's Office.
• These costs would be covered by each Department's current operating budget.
Recommendation
13 • Option 1 - Adopt a Resolution to appropriate an additional $168,687 from the Advance Planning Fund to the Historic Policy Update project; approve an amendment to the agreement with Rincon Consultants to survey up to 124 properties listed in the 1989 Historic Building Survey; and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement in substantially the form presented. • Option 2 - Adopt a Resolution to appropriate an additional $140,584 from the Advance Planning Fund to the Historic Policy Update project; approve an amendment to the agreement with Rincon Consultants to survey up to 91 properties listed in the 1989 Historic Building Survey; and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement in substantially the form presented. • Option 3 - Do not adopt a Resolution approving an appropriation or amendment to the agreement with Rincon Consultants and vote to not proceed with an update to the 1989 Historic Building Survey at this time.