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BACKGROUND Historic buildings are a community resource, and the City lists historic resources in the General Plan, has an inventory of historic residential structures in the Downtown Specific Plan area, and has determined other structures to be historic resources in other City documents.' When the owner of a historic building seeks to alter such building through renovation, or remove by relocation or demolition, that is typically considered in conjunction with an application for new development.2 Rarely, a historic building may be determined by the Chief Building and Safety Official to be a "dangerous building" - an immediate health and safety danger, and may be demolished.3 To prevent owners from allowing their buildings to become dangerous, the municipal code prohibits the demolition of a historic building through neglect or lack of maintenance.4 DISCUSSION To discourage and penalize unpermitted historic building demolition or alteration, a proposed new Municipal Code Section 18.140.030 (Attachment 1) would be triggered when the owner of a historic building: 1. Demolishes all or part of a historic building without the proper approval from the City, or authorization from the Building and Safety Division due to a dangerous building condition; 2. Moves a historic building from its original site without City approval; 3. Demolishes a building by neglect or lack of maintenance; or 4. Alters the historic elements beyond granted approvals. The proposed ordinance would create a strong disincentive to illegal demolition or alteration by imposing fines and restrictions on future development. Approaches in other communities were considered when developing these proposed fines and restrictions.5 Fines. The proposed ordinance allows for a fine to be imposed that is based on the greater of either: (1) the appraised value of the building, or altered portions of the building, before demolition, using a licensed appraiser selected by the city; or (2) the replacement value of the demolished building, or altered portions of the building. ' See: General Plan -Open Space and Conservation Element- Policy 5; General Plan Historic Neighborhoods and Structures Table 7-3; Downtown Specific Plan HP-G.3.; and Residential Structures in Residential Districts in the Downtown Specific Plan Area that were Determined to be Historic Resources. 2 See Municipal Code§18.74.170— Process for Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish historic building in Downtown Revitalization District; and Municipal Code Chapter 18.20— process for design review which would include alteration or demolition of historic building. ' See Municipal Code§20.04.090 and Chapter 20.32. 4 See Municipal Code§§9.28.025 and 18.74.200. 'The Planning Commission's 11/13/2019 staff report, Attachment 3, includes a table of limitations and penalties imposed in other jurisdictions. Page 2 of 4