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Home My WebLink About2024-07-08; Historic Preservation Commission; ; Historic Plaque Program – Recommendation UpdateMeeting Date: July 8, 2024 To: Historic Preservation Commission From: Mike Strong, Assistant Director of Community Development Staff Contact: Mike Strong, Assistant Director of Community Development Mike.strong@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2721 Subject: Historic Plaque Program – Recommendation Update Recommended Action Adoption of a resolution recommending City Council approval of a uniform Interpretive Plaque Program for historic locations, which has been updated to incorporate heritage trees (Exhibit 1). Executive Summary This agenda item was first presented on May 8, 2023 and again on Jan. 8, 2024. The Historic Preservation Commission ultimately adopted its recommendations for a prospective Plaque Program on March 11, 2024. The purpose of this agenda item is to consider updates to the group’s recommendations to incorporate criteria for heritage trees. Discussion At its May 8, 2023 and Jan. 8, 2024, meetings, Historic Preservation Commission members received presentations regarding potential plaque programs to promote historic awareness and public appreciation for historic properties. At the conclusion of the Jan 8. 2024 agenda item, the Historic Preservation Commission directed staff to prepare a resolution to develop an “interpretive” type of plaque program. The Historic Preservation Commission adopted a resolution on March 11, 2024 to forward the group’s recommendations. For more information, refer to the May 8, 2023, Jan. 8, 2024, and March 11, 2024 Historic Preservation Commission staff reports. Shortly after making the March 11, 2024 recommendation, Diane Nygaard, representing Preserve Calavera, requested that natural resources, such as heritage trees, also be included in the program (Exhibit 2). A heritage tree is a tree that has special value due to its age, size, rarity, or significance. Designated heritage trees are often protected by ordinances to prevent them from being removed or damaged; however, the goals of the city’s Heritage Tree Program are primarily to encourage tree owners to preserve these unique trees for the good of the public. Regarding the city’s Heritage Tree Program, the Historic Preservation Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission are tasked with making recommendations to the City Council regarding the designation of additional heritage trees. The Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan, Chapter 6 - Heritage Tree Program, addresses the following: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION July 8, 2024 Item #3 1 of 8 •Describes the significance of heritage trees in the community; •Lists a brief description of each of the heritage trees in Carlsbad; •Provides management recommendations for the heritage trees; and •Outlines the process for nominating trees for heritage tree designation. In 2002, the city received a Heritage Tree Report—Phase I of the Historic Village District, prepared for the Historic Preservation Commission and established an inventory basis of potentially eligible trees. Following that submission, in 2011 the city received a Heritage Tree Report - Phase II, also prepared for the Historic Preservation Commission. The later report identified trees in a wider geographical area, not just the Village area. Both reports were brought current in 2019, to be included with the Community Forest Management Plan. These two reports together found over 137 candidates for heritage tree status. Subsequent to the City Council’s approval of the Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan in September 2019, staff received seven nominations for heritage tree designation. The last of which was presented to the Historic Preservation Commission for review and consideration on March 11, 2024. Since the recommendation of the Historic Preservation Commission on the Plaque Program has not yet been presented to the City Council, the Historic Preservation Commission may still incorporate criteria for heritage trees. As proposed in the attached resolution (Exhibit 1), individual sites (including heritage trees) would be eligible to receive a bronze plaque to identify and celebrate the fact that the property is designated under the local, State, or National register or is a property of interest because of the siting of a heritage tree. Fiscal Analysis There is no direct fiscal impact associated with receiving this informational report. In terms of plaque program implementation, staff researched vendor costs and it is estimated that each custom plaque would cost approximately $1,000, based on lowest cost proposal. The total cost includes $892 for a 17x12 bronze plaque with 408 characters, which is about eight to nine lines of text and an additional $40 for shipping. Additional art development charges are $1 for every additional character. There has been no change to the fiscal impact analysis of the prospective Plaque Program since the matter was last considered on March 11, 2024 in that no budget has been allocated to support this program. The proposed plaque program is silent on a funding source, so any near- term nominations would have to be funded by the property owner. Otherwise, the Historic Preservation Commission would need to obtain authorization from the City Council to allocate funds to the program and to utilize funds for the program. Environmental Evaluation (CEQA) Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21065, this action does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and therefore does not require environmental review. July 8, 2024 Item #3 2 of 8 Exhibits 1.Resolution 2.Correspondence from Diane Nygard July 8, 2024 Item #3 3 of 8 Exhibit 1 Attachment A 1/24 Historic Preservation Commission Interpretive Plaque Program Guidelines and Criteria Program Goals & Objectives •Recognize and landmark local historic resources, sites, and location of events or persons that are significant in the area of architecture, archaeology, Carlsbad history and traditional culture. •Promote preservation and rehabilitation of historical properties, sites, heritage trees, and structures. Program Form Customized Plaque: •Specially‐made cast metal plaque ‐ Bronze metal, dark green finish w/rear & front rosettes for mounting; however a smaller size is acceptable. •Size and layout: Plaque must be rectangular in shape, 17” x 12” minimum size. •Design: Plaque must contain City Seal, Local Register site number (if applicable), name of resource. Includes at the bottom of each plaque: “COURTESY OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION” •Text: Up to nine lines of customized wording describing the historic resource. Content includes a brief description of the significance of the resource and a metal photo when available (text in sentence case structure). Text must be appropriate reading level. Use short sentences and keep text blocks short. •Font: Use type styles and sizes and are easy to read. Program Criteria A. Eligibility: o Option 1. Meet all of the following criteria: -Be of a significant age relative to the founding of the city. -Have importance/significance in the “collective memory” of the community by qualifying as the “first” of its kind in the city (i.e. first post office, first school, etc.). -Represent the cultural history of the region or the city. o Option 2. Be listed in the Local, State, or National Register; or be designated by resolution as a heritage tree in the city’s Heritage Tree Inventory o Property owner consent required. B.Process of identifying plaque locations: a.Historic Preservation Commission may identify up to 2 sites each year to be presented to the City Council for approval. July 8, 2024 Item #3 6 of 8 2 b.Private citizens may also nominate sites by submitting recommendation in writing to the Historic Preservation Commission. The property owner must consent to the nomination. Consideration of nominated sites will be batched and grouped together and be considered by the Commission at the end of each calendar year. c.The Historic Preservation Commission will retain responsibility on which sites to recommend to Council. C.Potential conditions, agreements and responsibilities: o The property owner must sign a letter of agreement with the city in which the owner agrees to maintain the structure’s historic integrity. -The agreement may also state that the program is voluntary and no requirements of the owner now or in the future other than to return the plaque to the City of Carlsbad in the event they remove it from the current location. -The Historic Preservation Commission may revoke the privilege of displaying the plaque should the building or structure fail to comply with the conditions. -The cost of maintaining and installing the plaque is borne by the property owner. o City staff to collaborate with property owner on content, provided it meets established criteria. o Installation method and location on a building or grounds are to be site specific and, if on private property, coordinated and approved by property owner. The plaque may only be displayed on the building or structure for which it is issued; or adjacent to a heritage tree or conspicuously located on the premises of a historical site. o When determining installation location, consider the relationship between the sign and the subject it is interpreting, the potential for vandalism, and how accessible the sign is to persons with disabilities. o If it is lost or stolen, the property owner must notify the Historic Preservation Commission of its loss. A new plaque may be issued upon approval of a new application. o Other potential conditions, agreements and responsibilities may be considered as part of the historic designation process (if applicable). July 8, 2024 Item #3 7 of 8 From:Diane Nygaard To:Mike Strong Cc:Todd Reese Subject:Plaques For Heritage Trees Date:Thursday, May 9, 2024 7:46:44 PM Hi Mike Just following up on our previous emails about plaques for heritage trees. We were happy tohear that the Historic Preservation Commission approved the recent additions of heritage trees to the city program and is working on a standard system of plaques to designate historicresources in the community. Of course our natural resources are a key part of the historical/cultural resources of Carlsbad. And what better representation of those resources could there be than these officiallydesignated Heritage Trees ? We certainly hope that plaques for these trees will be included as part of this new program. There are a wide range of how other areas have addressed such plaques. These includeelaborate monument signs on one end, down to bronze plaques, and the even lower cost metal signs the state California uses. The key is to have a standard way to designate these resourcesin a way that is long lasting, holds up to the weather, and is vandalism resistant. In the future we could see this getting included in Arbor Day celebrations- and of course historic walking tours. Please let me know what we can do to support such a program. Diane NygaardPreserve Calavera CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Exhibit 2 July 8, 2024 Item #3 8 of 8 HISTORIC PLAQUE PROGRAM Mike Strong, Asst. Director, Community Development Department JULY 8, 2024 7 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING RECOMMENDED ACTION Adopt the resolution recommending City Council approve a uniform Interpretive Plaque Program. 8 ITEM 3: Historic Plaque program