City Council seeks parameters for historical designation process
La Cañada Flintridge City Council members and staffers agree there should be a way to identify historically significant homes and properties before they undergo renovation or demolition, but developing a process for doing that has so far been elusive.
Since 2014, senior planner Harriet Harris has worked with a historical resources subcommittee, comprising city officials, real estate agents and historians appointed by the council, to research the issue and come up with a list of recommendations about creating a historic preservation ordinance.
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Harris shared the group’s progress at a February council meeting, asking members for their suggestions about the possible scale and scope of such a law. But with Councilwoman Terry Walker absent, the group was reluctant to make a formal decision.
Hoping to continue that discussion, Harris brought the matter back to a full council Tuesday night. She said age alone was not a practical means of evaluating a building for a potential historic designation — especially given the prevalence of residential and commercial structures 50 years or older.
“There are approximately 5,500 properties that are 50 years old or more. This was a little overwhelming and alarming to me,” Harris told the council. “Staff’s main concern is that we have a tool to process the cases that come before us.”
Without a law on the books, the city has no formal way to know where its valuable historic resources are located and no means of protecting properties should their owners decide to completely remodel or demolish them.
Up until now the city has been fortunate that the owners of a couple of individual properties plucked from the permitting process for further evaluation and determined to be significant have complied with preservation recommendations. But that alone is not a fail-safe, Harris said.
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“So far, we’ve had people who were willing to comply. There will come a time when someone will say, ‘I don’t want to, or I really want to demolish this house and build the house of my dreams,” she added.
Deputy Community Development Director Susan Koleda said so many different factors could be used to determine a property’s relevance that the subcommittee needs guidance to strike a balance between doing nothing and developing an overly burdensome process.
After some discussion, council members decided to kick the matter back to the subcommittee, asking members to develop a historic context statement that would give a broad overview of historic relevance specific to the La Cañada community and then return to council with some possible parameters for identifying qualifying properties. They permitted the group to hire a consultant to help draft such a document, using money from the city manager’s discretionary fund if need be.
Mosquitoes, air quality, preschools
In other news Tuesday, the City Council heard presentations from several agencies and community groups that offer programs and services to La Cañada residents.
Kelly Middleton, director of community affairs for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, updated residents on new mosquito-borne virus threats and offered tips for keeping homes safe. Michael Cacciotti, a governing board member for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, informed the council of new developments in air-quality improvement and gave advice on applying for grants to bring such innovations to La Cañada.
Newly appointed Mayor Jon Curtis introduced a new series of presentations he hopes to hold in the coming year called “Making a Difference,” in which community group leaders publicly address how their programs and services impact the lives of La Cañadans.
First up Tuesday was the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge and the CCLCF Preschool. Georgina Fernando, president of the preschool’s parent board, shared her gratitude to the school for helping ease her family’s transition from London three years ago and providing a strong social support network for her two young sons.
Community Center Executive Director Maureen Bond shared how her group provides safe and fun places for residents of all ages. From camps for kids to senior activities, a number of lives have been enriched through such programs, said Bond, who recounted tales from satisfied customers.
Curtis thanked the group, giving an official proclamation to recognize the center’s work and success.
Afterward, LCF Youth Council President and St. Francis student Jonathan Azterbaum presented his group’s annual report, highlighting past events and future outreach efforts, in accordance with the city’s Youth Master Plan.
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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com
Twitter: @SaraCardine
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