Agenda - 10-05-2010 - 4g - Laserfiche WebLink

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5J, i V. Removing Buildings from a Landmark Property 2 3 A. RELOCATION 4 Since the significance of historic buildings is linked to their setting, moving s buildings from their original location should only be considered to avoid 6 demolition. Relocating contributing buildings from their original location to another 7 place on the site, and particularly to a new location off of the site, is discouraged 8 and may result in the loss of Local Landmark status. 9 to When considering an application to remove a building from a local landmark 11 property, the Historic Preservation staff will review the designation materials to 12 determine if the building in question was identified as contributing or 13 noncontributing during the designation process. In most situations, applications to 14 remove noncontributing buildings from a local landmark property will be 15 considered a minor change and subject to staff approval only. Property owners 16 should, however, provide sufficient information (photographs, drawings, etc.) to 17 document the building's location for County records. �8 19 Requests to remove contributing buildings from a landmark site require formal 2o review from the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). The HPC will evaluate 21 the importance of the building to the significance of the property and determine if 22 removal will compromise local landmark status. The HPC may allow secondary 23 contributing buildings to be removed from the site should special circumstances 24 arise but it is unlikely that the Commission would allow a landmark property to 25 retain its status once the main house has been removed, unless relocation is the 26 only viable alternative to demolition or serves a greater purpose for the larger 27 community. (The HPC will then evaluate, in consultation with the County 2s Attorney, if landmark status can be transferred to the new site.) In almost all 29 cases, should a property owner wish to remove a significant building from a 3o designated local landmark, whether by relocation or demolition, he or she will 31 most likely have to withdraw from the program. Property owners who have 32 enjoyed the 50% property tax deferment from local landmark designation will lose 33 their special tax status and will likely have to pay up to three years' back taxes. 34 35 In rare situations and only with extremely important sites would a property be able 36 to maintain landmark status after loosing a significant building. If the property 37 owner wanted to rebuild a structure lost to fire or other natural disaster, he or she 3g would have to have enough documentation (measured plans, photographs and 39 physical evidence) to able to reconstruct the building without conjecture. 40 41 Prior to relocation, the local landmark and its setting should be recorded through 42 photographs, video-tapes, drawings, and/or site plans. Recording a landmark's 43 setting in this way provides future generations with a clearer understanding of its 44 lost context. Given the cost and complexity of moving a landmark structure, it is 45 best to involve a contractor experienced in moving comparable structures early in 46 the planning stages. Assessing the structural condition of the building is critical in 4� anticipating difficulties and preventing unnecessary damage during the move. 4s Since a building is often quite vulnerable during the moving process, a plan for 49 securing and weatherproofing it is also important to prevent damage due to the so elements or vandalism. s1 52 The selection and preparation of an appropriate and compatible new site 53 introduces additional issues and considerations. Ideally, the new site should 9/28/2010 Draft Orange County Design Standards 43