REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
September 24, 2015
FROM: JENNIFER K. CLARK, AICP, Director
Development and Resource Management Department
BY: KARANA HATTERSLEY-DRAYTON, M.A. Historic Preservation Project Manager
Development and Resource Management Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the South Van Ness Industrial District Historic Survey (Council District 3)
1. RESOLUTION - Adopting the South Van Ness Industrial District Historic Survey
2. Authorize the Director of the Development and Resource Management Department to forward the survey to the California Office of Historic Preservation pursuant to FMC 12-1606(7) and the terms of the approved Certified Local Government grant agreement
Body
RECOMMENDATION
The Development and Resource Management Department (DARM) recommends that the Council adopt the completed South Van Ness Industrial District Historic Survey and direct department staff to forward it to the State Office of Historic Preservation along with the final request for payment of the Certified Local Government (CLG) matching grant.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On September 11, 2014 City Council adopted Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2014-95 appropriating a $40,000 matching grant from the California Office of Historic Preservation for the South Van Ness Industrial District Historic Survey. DARM staff issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for consultants meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications in Architectural History to prepare the parcel-by-parcel historic survey. The project area included 228 properties of which 187 were fully evaluated on State of California survey forms. The draft and final surveys were reviewed and accepted by the City’s Historic Preservation Commission at publicly noticed meetings held on July 27, 2015 and August 24, 2015. The survey is forwarded to the City Council for adoption as required by FMC 12-1606(7).
BACKGROUND
In its 2014 final report the City’s Business Friendly Fresno Task Force recommended that intensive historic surveys, for neighborhoods not previously surveyed, would help facilitate future investment and streamline environmental review. The City’s DARM staff identified the South Van Ness Industrial Revitalization Project area, with its mix of commercial and residential properties, as a good candidate for a parcel-by-parcel historic survey. DARM staff prepared the CLG application for a matching grant of $40,000 from the California Office of Historic Preservation and the grant was awarded to the City in summer of 2014. On September 11, 2014 the City Council approved AAR No. 2014-95 appropriating the $40,000 grant and authorizing the department to execute all related agreements and payment requests.
The attached historic survey was completed by staff and Architecture+History consultants who were selected by the City following a competitive RFP process. The survey includes 228 properties of which 187 were constructed prior to 1970 and which were fully evaluated on State of California DPR survey forms for their eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources and Fresno’s Local Register of Historic Resources. Historic surveys are intended to create a baseline for land use planning and an inventory of potential historic resources in the project area. Surveys do not constitute a final determination as to the actual historic or cultural value of the properties. Nevertheless, all property owners in the project area with buildings that were evaluated as potentially eligible for historic designation were sent the survey forms for their parcel with a letter and invitation to attend the public meeting of the City’s Historic Preservation Commission. Several property owners attended the meeting held at City Hall on August 24, 2015 and at least three property owners have asked to have their buildings considered for designation to the Local Register of Historic Resources.
All documents for this grant have previously been approved to form by the City Attorney’s office.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Historic surveys are not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
A $60,000 match for the project was previously approved as part of the DARM’s 2015 budget. AAR No. 2014-95 appropriating the $40,000 from the California Office of Historic Preservation was approved by the City Council on September 11, 2014.
Attachments:
South Van Ness Industrial District Historic Survey
Resolution Adopting the South Van Ness Industrial District Historic Survey