HomeMy WebLinkAbout02 Historic Plaque/CommendationITEM #2
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DATE: OCTOBER 9, 2007 I I"1 ~ ~ C - C O m ~~ ~~
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PLANNING COMMISSION
TO:
EROMs COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: HISTORIC REGISTER AND COMMENDED PROPERTY PROGRAMS
RECOMMENDATION
That the Planning Commission receive this report and provide direction to staff.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Owners of historic homes or commercial buildings in Tustin are eligible to participate in the
City's plaque designation program, called the Tustin Historic Register. The purpose of the
voluntary program is to recognize Tustin's historic properties, educate the public, increase
public interest in historic properties, and promote community pride. Property owners who
would like to participate are responsible for the cost, installation, and maintenance of the
plaques.
The plaques display the construction date of the building, up to two lines of text, and are
identified with the words "Tustin Historic Register." Nomination forms are obtained from
the Community Development Department. Anyone, including the Planning Commission,
may nominate properties.
In a letter dated July 24, 2007, Tustin Preservation Conservancy President Linda Jennings
expressed the Preservation Conservancy's interest in assuming responsibility for
administering the Tustin Historic Register Plaque Program and the Commendation
Program.
On August 14, 2007, and August 28, 2007, the Planning Commission discussed the matter
and directed staff to meet with a representative from the Tustin Area Historical Society to
determine whether the organization would also be interested in assisting the Planning
Commission with the two programs. Staff met with Historical Society President Don
Ropele, who indicated that the Society would be pleased to assist the Planning
Commission.
This collaboration with the Preservation Conservancy and Historical Society would result in
some procedural changes to the Tustin Historic Register plaque program. Therefore, staff
has prepared the following draft procedures for consideration by the Planning Commission:
1. The Community Development Department would receive all nominations to the
Tustin Historic Register plaque program. Nominations would then be forwarded to
the presidents of the Preservation Conservancy and Historical Society.
Planning Commission Report
Historic Register Program
October 9, 2007
Page 2
2. A' person or committee within each organization would review the nomination,
research the history of the property, and note the most appropriate historical
property name and date of construction. The sources of information used to
determine the name and date would also be noted. All of this information would be
transmitted to the Community Development Department within ten (10) days of
receiving the nomination.
3. Upon receiving the information from the Preservation Conservancy and Historical
Society, Community Development Department staff would prepare a Planning
Commission staff report referencing the provided information.
4. At a regularly scheduled meeting, the Planning Commission would review the
information presented and approve or deny the nomination.
5. If the nomination were approved, Community Development Department staff would
then provide the property owner(s) with an order form and payment instructions.
Upon receiving the order and payment, staff would then order the plaque from the
manufacturer and contact the owner(s) once the plaque has been delivered to the
City.
Commendation Program:
The commendation program recognizes an Old Town residence of outstanding merit every
calendar quarter. A decorative sign is displayed at the residence and the owner is
provided with aCity-paid plaque and recognized at a City Council meeting. Properties
commended to date include 355 West Second Street, 320 West Third Street, 520 West
Main Street, and 160 South Pacific Street.
If the Conservancy/Historical Society were to assume this responsibility, their Board of
Directors could present the commended properties to the Planning Commission and/or city
Council on a quarterly basis.
Should the Commission wish to consider this procedure, it would be appropriate for the
Commission to direct staff to forward this information to the City Council for their
consideration.
colt stin
~ Senior Planner
Attachment -Letter dated July 24, 2007
S:\Cdd\PCREPORll2007\Historic Register and Commended Property Programs 4.doc
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Tustin Preservation Conservancy
- 350 South B Street
--- ~ Old Town Tustin, California 92780
July 24, 200
Elizabeth Binsack
Director of Community Development
City of Tustin
300 Centennial
Tustin, CA 92780
Dear Elizabeth,
Boud of Directora
Linda Jenrnngs
Sharon'AugustJones
Brrnt A. Ferdig
Scot Lewis
April Pollock
Cuol Tink-Fox
Ronda Ussery
Heidi Brown
Mazl-us Brown
The Tustin Preservation Conservancy Board of Directors would like to assume responsibility
for the Tustin Historic Register plaque program. In keeping with the effort to reduce staff
time for City of Tustin employees, we believe this program can be operated by the
Conservancy and still maintain the goals and effectiveness of the register as prescribed by the
Historic Resource Committee. '
The Conservancy will receive requests for plaques from local residents and businesses, use
the survey to research the title of the property, and order the plaques in the same format and
from the same manufacturer as used by the City for past plaques. We are prepared to take on
this responsibility immediately.
The Board of Directors is also willing to continue the quarterly Commended Property
program, recognizing homes and business properties that deserve recognition for outstanding
appearance. We need direction as to whether the City is willing to continue purchasing
plaques for those commended properties that don't have them at the time they are
recognized.
Please let me know when we might make a presentation to the Commission concerning this
matter.
Sincerely,
Linda Jennings
President
Cc: Brett Floyd, Chair
Planning Commission