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Historic Preservation Information

1.    The History of Rancho Cucamonga

2.    Historic Surveys

3.    Designating Historic Landmarks

4.    Alterations of Historic Landmarks

5.    The Historic Preservation Commission

6.    Historic Preservation Ordinance

1.    History of Rancho Cucamonga

2.    Historic Surveys

The City of Rancho Cucamonga performed a City-wide survey in the late 1980’s to evaluate the City’s historic and cultural resources.  Historic Resource Surveys were completed with the assistance of the State Office of Historic Preservation. Through the ongoing efforts of the survey, over 300 sites have been identified as potential local Landmarks. New sites are added each year as more information becomes known about the community. For copies of the survey contact the Planning Department at (909) 477-2750.

Most of the City's designated Landmarks and Points of Interest are privately owned. Help preserve our history by respecting the homes and other structures of your fellow residents, and their privacy, while admiring these buildings for what they represent to our community's heritage.

The City’s “Designated and Potential Historic Site list” is based on these initial surveys that took place almost 20 years ago.  Periodic updates of the list have been maintained, and surveys of individual properties have been conducted on an as-needed basis.  Currently, the City is undergoing a General Plan update, which will include an all new City-wide survey that will be performed by a professional consultant.  This new survey will help identify resources that may have been missed or have become significant over time.  A new, updated survey will continue to promote the goals for our historic preservation program.

3.    Designating Historic Landmarks

How does a structure become a Landmark?

Designation of landmarks may be proposed by the City Council, Historic Preservation Commission, the Secretary or on application of the owners, or their authorized agents, of the property for which designation is requested. The City may request that an owner pursue Landmark status. A development application on an historic site, or a request to alter or demolish a historic structure, would also cause Landmark designation consideration. Applications for Landmark designation are available from the Planning Division. Landmark designation applications do not require the payment of any fees.

The following is a summary of the steps in the Landmark process:

• Upon request for Landmark designation, the Planning Division staff conducts a thorough field survey of the site to carefully document all structures and features, including photos, notes, and site plan.

• Records are researched to determine age of structures, property ownership history, and other known facts about the property, its former inhabitants and use. The results are compiled into a written report to the Historic Preservation Commission.

• The Historic Preservation Commission will conduct a hearing and make recommendations to the City Council.

• The City Council designates Landmarks or historic Points of Interest.

What makes a structure historic?

A Landmark designation is reserved for those structures, sites or features that have a special aesthetic, cultural, architectural, or engineering interest or value of an historic nature. Review and designation as a Point of Interest is merely recognition for historical purposes, but is not considered significant, and does not enable the property owner to receive any of the incentives for preservation. When determining historic significance, the Historic Preservation Commission and staff ask the following questions.

• Is the proposed Landmark particularly representative of a historic period, way of life, or type of business? For example, the Casa de Rancho Cucamonga (Rains House) stands out as an example of the early settlement of this area.

• Is it older than most buildings of its kind or does it stand out as being an example of a type of structure that was once common but is now rare?  For example, the G.P. Ledig home began as a folk Victorian grove farm house at a time when the Alta Loma area was covered by citrus groves.

• Was the architect or engineer or the owner someone renowned?  For example, the Klusman house was constructed by John Klusman who established the Mission Winery (later known as the Virginia Dare Winery).

• Were the construction materials or engineering methods used in the proposed Landmark outstanding?  For example, the Cucamonga Methodist Church is a superb example of native rock construction.

• Does it represent an established community feature or does it materially benefit the area in which it lies?  For example, the Thomas Winery has been a prominent part of the City's landscape since the 19th century.

First, it fosters civic pride and helps us develop a sense of place and a sense of history. It also qualifies the owners to apply for use of the Mills Act Contract to lower property taxes. Other preservation incentives may include use of the flexible State Historic Building Code, tax advantages, grants for restoration or rehabilitation, and assistance from various historic preservation organizations. Landmark designation requires the Historic Preservation Commission to review any significant material changes to the exterior of the structure or any demolition requests. Landmark designation does not prevent the owners from making changes, it does not require review of painting or historically accurate repair in kind or interior changes, nor does it require that the building be open to the public.

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4.    Alterations to Historic Landmarks

Building and Demolition Permits

Please don't alter or demolish your historic building until you have obtained proper permits. The City's goal is to preserve historic structures or sites for their historical, cultural or architectural significance. Rancho Cucamonga regulations require that a property owner obtain a building permit prior to altering an existing building. When an application is submitted to the Building & Safety Division, one of the first items verified is whether the building is listed on the City's Historic Resources Survey or whether the building is 50 years of age or older. If the structure is determined to be a Landmark, then a Landmark Alteration Permit must first be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission BEFORE any building permits can be issued.

Landmark Alteration Permits

A Landmark Alteration Permit is required whenever someone wants to make a material change, including demolition, on any designated Landmark. A material change is broadly defined as "any change in the exterior appearance of a structure or feature, through alteration, construction, relocation, grading, demolition or otherwise." Interior changes not visible from the outside or painting of a Landmark structure does not require a Landmark Alteration Permit. Repair involving reconstruction or replacing in kind (i.e., matching the original) also does not require a Landmark Alteration Permit. The Planning Division can assist you in determining whether a Landmark Alteration Permit is necessary.

Altering/Demolishing a Structure that Qualifies as a Historic Landmark

A request to alter or demolish a potential historic landmark would result in an investigation. Any such request would be delayed pending the completion of the investigation and action. As part of the investigation, Planning Division staff will discuss with you alternatives to alteration or demolition. Alternatives may range from redesigning the project to minimize exterior changes to relocating the structures to another site where they can be preserved. The Planning Division will prepare a staff report to the Historic Preservation Commission. The Planning Division staff conducts a thorough field survey of the site to carefully document all structures and features, including photos, notes, and site plan. Records are researched to determine age of structures, property ownership history, and other known facts about the property, its former inhabitants and use. The results are compiled into a written report to the Historic Preservation Commission who will make recommendations to the City Council. The City Council may approve or deny designation of Landmarks or historic Points of Interest. If Landmark designation is given to the building in question, then you must apply for a Landmark Alteration Permit. Landmark designation and Landmark Alteration Permit applications do not require the payment of any fees.

Requirements when Demolishing a Historic Building

If demolition is approved through the Landmark Alteration Permit process, the property owner demolishing a historic building may be required to provide "mitigation" to offset the loss of an historic resource. The mitigation required will vary depending upon the significance of the historic resource. Mitigation measures may include, but are not limited to, installing a commemorative plaque, contribution of funds toward historic preservation activities, preparation of detailed plans documenting the architecture and engineering design of the structure, offering donation of the structures, and incorporating public art into the project which reflects the history of the area.

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5.    The Historic Preservation Commission

6.    Historic Preservation Ordinance  -  Current Ordinance

       BACKGROUND (Amended 6 times since adoption):

• Adopted by the City Council on April 4, 1979. 

• Amended:  May 16, 1979 to change the number of voting members from 5 to 7.

• Amended: September 19, 1979 to include "Points of Historic Interest" as a designation. 

• Amended: April 2, 1980 to include a provision for the protection of proposed landmarks by prohibiting alterations or demolition of a proposed landmark until a final determination on the landmark status could be made by the Historic Preservation Commission or the City Council. 

• Amended: May 21, 1980 to include language that further clarified the roles of the City Council and the Historic Preservation Commission in the process of landmark designation. 

• Amended: March 2, 1988 to include a penalty for the violation of the Ordinance and the types of civil penalties available in the event of a violation. 

• Last amendment: May 26, 1993 to allow the City Council to designate the Planning Commission as the Historic Preservation Commission, which vested powers to:
  
  

  • Administer the provisions of the Ordinance.
  • Perform such other advisory functions as may be delegated from time to time to the Historic Preservation Commission  by the City Council.
  • Maintain a current register of landmark and point of historic interest designations for public use and information.
  • Recommend to the City Council the designation of a "landmark" or "point of historic interest" based on the landmark designation review criteria set forth in the Ordinance.  The commission may also recommend to the City Council the amending or rescinding of a landmark or point of historic interest designation pursuant to the same procedure set forth for original designation.
  • The Historic Preservation Commission may approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove applications regarding landmark change of use and/or landmark alterations, upon receiving an application by staff.

The Advanced Planning staff is in the process of drafting an update to the Historic Preservation Ordinance and forming a stakeholders group in order to solicit community input on the new ordinance.

 

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