1004

SEC. 1004. DESIGNATION OF LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC DISTRICTS. (a) The HPC shall have the authority to recommend approval, disapproval, or modification of landmark designations and historic district designations under this Code to the Board of Supervisors. Pursuant to the procedures set forth hereinafter:

(1) The Board of Supervisors may, by ordinance, designate an individual structure or other feature or an integrated group of structures and features on a single lot or site, having a special character or special historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or value, as a landmark, and shall designate a landmark site for each landmark; and (2) The Board of Supervisors may, by ordinance, designate an area containing a number of structures having a special character or special historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or value, and constituting a distinct section of the City, as a historic district. (b) Each such designating ordinance shall include, or shall incorporate by reference to the pertinent resolution of the HPC then on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, as though fully set forth in such designating ordinance, the location and boundaries of the landmark site or historic district, a description of the characteristics of the landmark or historic district that justify its designation, and a description of the particular features that should be preserved. Any such designation shall be in furtherance of and in conformance with the purposes of this Article 10 and the standards set forth herein. (c) The property included in any such designation shall upon designation be subject to the controls and standards set forth in this Article 10. In addition, the said property shall be subject to the following further controls and standards if imposed by the designating ordinance: (1) For a publicly-owned landmark, review of proposed changes to significant interior architectural features. (2) For a privately-owned landmark, review of proposed changes requiring a permit to significant interior architectural features in those areas of the landmark that are or historically have been accessible to members of the public. The designating ordinance must clearly describe each significant interior architectural feature subject to this restriction. (3) For a historic district, such further controls and standards as deemed necessary or desirable, including but not limited to facade, setback and height controls. (4) For a City-owned park, square, plaza or garden on a landmark site, review of alterations as identified in the designating ordinance. (d) Except as provided in Planning Code Section 249.11, the Board of Supervisors may amend or rescind a designation at any time, subject to all of the procedures set forth in this Article 10 for an original designation; provided, however, that in the event that a landmark is accidentally destroyed or is demolished or removed in conformity with the provisions of Section 1007, or is legally demolished or relocated after compliance with the provisions of this Article 10, the Planning Director may request the HPC to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the designation be amended or rescinded, and in such case the procedures for an original designation set forth in Sections 1004.1 and 1004.2 hereof shall not apply. (Amended by Ord. 112-71, App. 5/7/71; Ord. 327-99, File No. 991871, App. 12/23/99; Ord. 82-07, File No. 070021, App. 4/20/2007; Ord. 94-12, File No. 120300, App. 5/21/2012, Eff. 6/20/2012; Ord. 197-25, File No. 250697, App. 10/27/2025, Eff. 11/27/2025, Oper. 11/27/25) AMENDMENT HISTORY Divisions (a), (b), (c)(3), and (d) amended; Ord. 94-12, Eff. 6/20/2012. Division (d) amended; Ord. 197-25, Eff. 11/27/2025. SEC. 1004.1. NOMINATION AND INITIATION OF LANDMARK AND HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION. (a) Nomination. The Department, property owner(s), or any member of the public may request that the HPC initiate designation of a landmark site or historic district. When a nomination is submitted by the owner(s) of a proposed landmark site or a majority of property owners of a proposed historic district, the nomination must be considered by the HPC. A nomination for initiation shall be in the form prescribed by the HPC and shall contain supporting historic, architectural, and/or cultural documentation, as well as any additional information the HPC may require. The HPC shall hold a hearing to consider nominations made by property owner(s) as set forth above no later than 45 days from the receipt of the nomination request. (b) Initiation. Initiation of designation of a landmark site or historic district shall be made by one of the following methods: (1) by resolution of the Board of Supervisors; (2) by resolution of the HPC; or (3) upon adoption of a resolution by the HPC to confirm a nomination made pursuant to subsection (a) above, provided that the HPC may disapprove the nomination or may request further information and continue the matter as appropriate. The Board of Supervisors and the HPC shall make findings in support of any initiation of designation of a landmark site or historic district. The Board of Supervisors shall promptly refer any initiation of designation to the HPC for its review and recommendation. (Added by Ord. 27-67, App. 1/26/67; amended by Ord. 94-12, File No. 120300, App. 5/21/2012, Eff. 6/20/2012) AMENDMENT HISTORY Section header amended; section amended in its entirety; Ord. 94-12, Eff. 6/20/2012. SEC. 1004.2. DECISION BY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION. Upon initiation of designation, the HPC shall hold a public hearing on the proposed designation. A record of pertinent information presented at the hearing shall be made and maintained as a permanent record. (a) Notice of Hearing. Notice of the time, place and purpose of such hearing shall be given by at least one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City not less than 20 days prior to the date of hearing. Notice shall also be mailed not less than 10 days prior to the date of hearing to the owners of all property included in the proposed designation, using for this purpose the names and addresses of the last known owners as shown on the records of the Tax Collector and to the applicant, if any. Failure to send notice by mail to any such property owner where the address of such owner is not a matter of public record shall not invalidate any proceedings in connection with the proposed designation. The Department may also give such other notice as it may deem desirable and practicable. (b) Time Limitation. The HPC shall consider the conformance or lack of conformance of the proposed designation with the purposes and standards of this Article 10. Where the Board of Supervisors has referred an initiation of designation to the HPC, the HPC shall hold a public hearing and shall approve, disapprove or modify the proposal within 90 days from the date of referral of the proposed designation to the HPC. Failure to act within said time shall constitute approval. The Board of Supervisors may, by resolution, extend the time within which the HPC is to render its decision. (c) Referral of Proposed Designation. If the HPC recommends approval of a landmark designation, it shall send its recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, without referral to the Planning Commission. If the HPC recommends approval of a historic district designation, it shall refer its recommendation to the Planning Commission, which shall have 45 days to review and comment on the proposed designation, which comments, if any, shall be sent by the Department to the Board of Supervisors with the HPC's recommendation. The Planning Commission's comments shall be transmitted to the Board of Supervisors as a resolution and shall (i) address the consistency of the proposed designation with the policies embodied in the General Plan and the priority policies of Section 101.1, particularly the provision of housing to meet the City's Regional Housing Needs Allocation, and the provision of housing near transit corridors; (ii) identify any amendments to the General Plan necessary to facilitate adoption of the proposed designation; and (iii) evaluate whether the district would conflict with the Sustainable Communities Strategy for the Bay Area. If the HPC disapproves designation of a landmark or historic district, that decision shall be final and shall not require referral unless appealed as set forth below. (Formerly codified as Sec. 1004.3; redesignated and amended by Ord. 94-12, File No. 120300, App. 5/21/2012, Eff. 6/20/2012) (Former Sec. 1004.2 added by Ord. 27-67, App. 1/26/67; amended by Ord. 26-07, File No. 061068, App. 2/9/2007; deleted by Ord. 94-12, File No. 120300, App. 5/21/2012, Eff. 6/20/2012) AMENDMENT HISTORY Former Sec. 1004.3 redesignated as current Sec. 1004.2; section header, undesignated introductory paragraph, and divisions (a) and (b) amended; former divisions (c) and (d) deleted; new division (c) added; Ord. 94-12, Eff. 6/20/2012. SEC. 1004.3. DESIGNATION BY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. The Board of Supervisors shall hold a public hearing on any proposal so transmitted to it, after due notice to the owners of the property included in the proposal, and such other notice as the Board may deem necessary. The Board of Supervisors may approve, modify and approve, or disapprove the designation by a majority vote of all its members. Prior to the Board of Supervisors' vote on a proposed historic district, the Planning Department shall conduct thorough outreach to affected property owners and occupants. The Planning Department shall invite all property owners and occupants in the proposed district area to express their opinion on the proposed designation. Such invitation shall advise owners of the practical consequences of the adoption of the district, including the availability of preservation incentives, the types of work requiring a Certificate of Appropriateness, the process and fees for obtaining a Certificate of Appropriateness, and the types of work that is generally ineligible to receive a Certificate of Appropriateness.