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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/18/25 HISTORIC PRESERVATION MTGCITY OF BAKERSFIELD HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING OF MARCH 18, 2025 AGENDA REGULAR MEETING 4:00 PM City Hall North 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield California First Floor Conference Room B A. ROLL CALL B. PUBLIC STATEMENTS 1. Agenda Item Public Statements 2. Non -Agenda Public Statements C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of November 19, 2024, meeting for approval. D. CLOSED SESSION None E. CORRESPONDENCE None F. PUBLIC HEARINGS None G. REPORTS None H. OLD BUSINESS POSTED ON .Z 7-5 by City Clerk's Office City of Bakersfield by 1. Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Goals Recommendation: Discuss implementation activities of goals and action items. 2. Update on Cultural Resource Surveys Project Recommendation: Review and discuss survey project update provided by ECD staff. I. NEW BUSINESS None J. COMMISSIONER STATEMENTS K. ADJOURNMENT Respectfully submitted, A%.� Jennifer . Byers, Economic and C,o n evelopme Director If anyone wants more information on any of these agenda items, call Cecelia Griego, Economic Development. Principal Planner; Economic & Community Development Department at (661) 326-3788. In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) if you have a disability and require assistance or reasonable modification in order to participate in this public meeting, please contact the event organizer: Monica Medve at 661-852-7018. or e-mail at mmedveabakersfieldcity.us no later than 72 hours before the meeting to make your request. The City will make every ' effort to meet the .expectations of the requestor's preferred modification but reserves the right to propose an alternative reasonable modification. S:%EDCD_SharedXEconomic DevelopmentlHistoric Preservation%HPC Meetings120251HPC 3.18.25\3.18.25 HPC Agenda.docx CITY OF BAKERSFIELD HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 19, 2024 MINUTES Chair Montgomery called the regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to order on Tuesday; November 19, 2024, at 4:03 P.M. at Conference Room B of City Hall North. Roll call was as follows: MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: PUBLIC STATEMENTS: Cathy Butler Roger Mobley Stephen Montgomery Eileen Diaz Mike McCoy Cecelia Griego Monica Medve Paula Rubio Josh Rudnick 1. Agenda Item Public Statements a. None 2. Non -Agenda Item Public Statements a. None APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Motion to approve minutes from the August 20, 2024, meeting. a. Minutes approved: Motion made by Commissioner Mobley to accept minutes; seconded by Commissioner Butler; APPROVED: 3-0. CLOSED SESSION: 1. None CORRESPONDENCE: 1. None PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. None REPORTS: 1. None OLD BUSINESS: 1. Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Goals a. Establish a Mills Act Program: Principal Planner Griego provided an update on the status of the Mills Act and discussed it with the Commission. Commissioner Butler recommends when active properties register on a first come first serve basis to encourage historic registration for other properties. Note: National Historic Designation does not automatically make a Local Historic Designation, they are separately initiated processes. b. Preserve Historic Neon or Other Signs That Contribute to Historic Character: Chair Montgomery discussed proposing "life tenancy" with historic signage. Commissioner Butler discussed displaying signage "now entering arts and entertainment and culture district," as this could encourage more signage. c. Conduct New and Update Neighborhood Surveys: four survey areas with maps, designation criteria, and excel tables provided at previous meetings, staff asked for any additional comments submitted by the commission before the holidays. d. Public Education and Encourage Historic Pride in Bakersfield: Commissioner Mobley discussed that survey information is valuable material to educate community in a variety of ways. Chair Montgomery discussed future demolition permits for buildings over a certain age needing approval by the Historic Preservation Commission. Commissioner Butler discussed that the Kern Historic Society and Downtown Business Association may be beneficial partners to encourage people to repurpose historic buildings. e. Identify Potential Grants and Partnerships with Non -profits to fund Historic Preservation Projects: Principal Planner Griego mentioned staff researches available grants and funding opportunities. f. Establish'Historic Districts/Neighborhoods: Chair Montgomery discussed the importance of celebrating culture and heritage and its relation to preservation. 2. Update to Culture Resource Surveys Project a. Commissioner Mobley asked for clarification on the methodology used in their recommendations for historic districts. NEW BUSINESS 1. None COMMISSION STATEMENTS: 1. None ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 5:01 p.m. by Chair Montgomery. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Lteting Date: March 18, 2025�]F Agenda Section: Old Business J Agenda Item: H-1 TO: Historic Preservation Commission FROM: Economic & Community Development Department DATE: March 11, 2025 SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Goals RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends discussion of implementation activities of goals and action items. BACKGROUND: The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) goals help guide HPC activities for the upcoming year and identify action items that accomplish the goals. Current fiscal year goals are attached. This agenda item is for the HPC to discuss the implementation of action items under each goal. ATTACHMENTS: • Adopted Fiscal Year 24-25 Goals G:\pin\SHARED\EDCD_Shored\Economic Development\Historic Preservation\HPC Meetings\2025\HPC 3.18.25\Admin Revised HPC Goals 3.1 1.25.docx CITY OF BAKERSFIELD HISTORIC PRESERVATION BARR31Tf�D COMMISSION IRSTOWC PRPSLRVATION Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Goals Per the City's Municipal Code, the object of this Commission is to promote public health, safety, and general welfare by providing for the identification, protection, enhancement, perpetuation, and use of improvements of buildings, structures, signs, objects, features, sites, places and areas within Bakersfield that reflect special elements of the City's architectural, artistic, cultural, engineering, aesthetic, historical, political, social and other heritage. Each of the following goals and action items align with Commission purpose and objectives as stated in the Municipal Code. Goal 1: Establish a Mills Act Program Actions: • Develop a Mills act program, per California Government Code, for historically designated properties • Create program materials (application, agreement, guidelines, brochure) about the City's Mills Act program • Make recommendation to City Council Legislative and Litigation Committee for consideration Goal 2: Preserve Historic Neon or Other Signs That Contribute to Historic Character Actions: • Consult with City Planning Department regarding sign ordinance • Develop criteria on what is considered a historic neon sign • Promote incentives for the re-creation or preservation of historic neon signs • Support efforts to develop neon signage to indicate historic corridors and districts, such as the Historic Arts & Entertainment District. Goal 3: Conduct New and Update Neighborhood Surveys Actions: • Research areas where 70% of homes are over 50 years old • Pursue grant funding for neighborhood surveys • Conduct neighborhood surveys per established guidelines • Partner with College and Highschool clubs/associations to assist in the update of neighborhood surveys Page 1 Goal 4: Public Education and Encourage Historic Pride in Bakersfield Actions: • Attend community events to educate the community about the City's historical resources and properties • Partner with Kern Historical Society and Kern County Museum in organizing walking tours of historical sites • Enhance and update website as needed • Conduct outreach presentations to community organizations • Support public art which celebrates our historic character • Encourage the reuse of historic buildings • Partner with Kern Historical Society and DBA to develop an award system to property owners that successfully repurpose historic buildings • Update the Rehabilitate Bakersfield Right guidebook • Partner with local institutions such as the CSUB Public History Institute in public education and related community projects Goal 5: Identify Potential Grants and Partnerships with Non -profits to fund Historic Preservation Projects Actions: • Research grant opportunities and develop a working document of funding sources • Contact non -profits to partner on historic preservation activities Goal 6: Establish Historic Districts/Neighborhoods Actions: • Conduct outreach to gauge residents' support for a historic district • Recruit more property owners to join the Historic Register • Develop recommendations to amend and improve the historic district component of the Bakersfield Municipal Code • Establish new historic districts within the City of Bakersfield • Support designation of 181h Street from L Street to H Street as a historic corridor or possible district Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Accomplishments: 1. Update Neighborhood Surveys: The City contracted with Historic Resources Group to create a Historic Context Statement and administer cultural resource surveys in four target areas. A final report and presentation are anticipated soon. 2. Historic public education: a downtown walking tour brochure has been printed and distributed at numerous outreach events. 3. Historic public education: interest letters for the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places were mailed to multiple properties, including the Big Shoe. 4. Historic Sites: Approved the Woolworth's Building as a cultural resource and approved the building's restoration project. 5. Public Recognition: ECD Staff assisted in creating and distributing Historic Preservation recognition certificates for properties on the Bakersfield Register of Historic Places. Page 2 ADMI NISTRATIVE REPORT Meeting Date: March 18, 2024 Agenda Section: Old Business Agenda Item: H-2 TO: , Historic Preservation Commission FROM: Economic and Community Development Department DATE: March 10, 2025 SUBJECT: Update on Cultural Resource Surveys Project RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommend review and. discussion on survey project update provided by ECD staff. BACKGROUND: Historic Resources Group has completed the survey work and related findings of potential historic resources and historic districts within four historic neighborhoods: Downtown, East -Bakersfield, Oleander -Sunset and Westchester -Riviera. In response to your feedback and questions submitted by staff, Historic Resources Group provided additional information regarding the recommended sites and districts in the draft survey work. Questions included: Why the smaller district areas? Will you use the Historic Context Statement research to make conclusions about recommended districts? How do individual properties play a role in the districts? Seems like districts should be larger to encompass more historic -sites and their contribution to the area. Responses from the consultant: 1. The Historic Context Statement (HCS) forms the basis.of all survey work. The HCS described important historical trends and patterns of development, organized by themes within chronological periods of time. These historical themes that are then applied to the existing built environment to identify extant properties with sufficient integrity to convey their historic significance under one of more of these themes. In this way, the HCS provides a necessary framework for determining the historic, social, cultural, and/or architectural significance of specific properties and neighborhoods and their potential eligibility for historic listing or designation. 2. Historic Districts Defined: A historic district is a grouping of properties that are related to each other historically. In defining the boundaries of a potential historic district, the area must be geographically,definable;, it must be distinguishable from the surrounding areas; and it must retain a significant concentration of contributing properties (typically a minimum of 60%). Page 1 of 3 Our municipal code, "Historic district" means any geographically definable urban or rural, small or large area containing buildings, structures, sites and objects linked historically through location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and/or association. The significance of a district is the product of the sense of time and place in history that individual components collectively convey. This significance may relate to developments during one period or through several periods in history. 3. Downtown: Bakersfield's commercial downtown was historically (and still is) larger than the area identified. However, for the purposes of defining a potential historic district that meets criteria and integrity thresholds for local designation, a core area was identified that contained a significant concentration of extant properties that date from the historic period and retain sufficient integrity to convey their historic significance. The boundary for the 19th Street Commercial Historic District as defined contains a total of 44 properties, 29 of which were evaluated as district contributors, or approximately 66%.-It was our judgement that if we were to enlarge the area to include adjacent blocks, this would lower the contribution percentage, thereby diluting the integrity of the district overall. If there is a specific block that the Commission feels would meet this threshold and should be considered for inclusion in the proposed downtown historic district, let us know and we can take another look. NOTE: The 19th Street Commercial Historic District also contains 5 designated properties, as well as 10 properties identified as individually eligible in addition to being district contributors. 4. Small Historic Districts: As noted above, defining the boundaries of a potential.historic district is about identifying a significant concentration of extant properties that are historically related, date from the historic period, and retain sufficient integrity to convey their significance. Depending on the district, this may result in a large boundary comprising an entire neighborhood, or a small boundary of just a block or two. Typically, an area less than a block would not be considered a historic district. For purposes of the survey, we try to be inclusive to make folks aware of even modest areas that appear to meet criteria and integrity thresholds for local designation as a historic district. For these smaller areas that may not be designated, they may be worthy of consideration in the local planning process. Ultimately, the survey is an informational document for use by the city, other decisions makers; and the community. 5. Individual Properties Within Historic Districts: In some instances, a property is found potentially eligible both individually and as a contributor to a potential historic district. For example, a historic district may be significant as a concentration of early-20th century Craftsman residential architecture. So, a property in the boundary that conveys this significance would be evaluated as a contributor to the district. District contributors (DCs) tend to have a lesser level of protection than individual properties because they are not historic resources on their own; rather, they are a feature of a larger resource which is the historic district itself. As such, a single DC could be inappropriately altered or demolished without significantly impacting the historic district overall. That same property might also be eligible individually for a historic association, for example with an important early resident of a pioneering family. In that instance, the property would be eligible for individual local listing (as a Bakersfield "Cultural Resource") and thus would enjoy a greater level of protection as a designated historic resource. Page 2 of 3 District Recommendations For this survey work, identification of an area as a potential historic district in the survey is their professional recommendation. However, it should not preclude an interested community of a larger or smaller area, or of an area not identified in the survey, from submitting a nomination for local designation as a historic district to be considered by the city. Note that a nomination for historic district designation typically requires a district survey, which may identify different boundaries and/or establish different thresholds for district contributors than were used in the survey. Cultural Resource Surveys: Final Deliverables The consultant for the cultural resource survey project will prepare a Survey Report as the final deliverable for the Cultural Resource Surveys Project, which includes a "Methodology" section that outlines their approach to research and fieldwork as well as how certain property types were identified and evaluated, so that those utilizing the survey findings in the future will having this information to help them understand how the survey was conducted and how survey findings were made. In conclusion, Historic Resources Group received all comments from the Commission regarding the list of Properties and Survey Area Maps. Historic Resources Group is now producing the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) forms for all eligible properties and districts, per the property lists and maps reviewed. Once all draft DPRs have been reviewed (typically by batches/survey area), the survey report will be prepared, which includes the finalized historic context statement and final versions of all DPRs as an appendix. G:\pin\SHARED\EDCD_Shored\Economic Development\Historic Preservation\HPC Meetings\2025\HPC 3.18.25\Admin Survey 3.10.25.docx Page 3 of 3