City Will Weigh Preserving Historical Sites

Council to discuss a temporary historic preservation change
to the development code.

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Tuesday night, the Santa Clarita City Council will hear
public input regarding a potential temporary change to the City’s Unified
Development Code, which will force owners of some historically relevant
buildings in town to obtain a minor use permit before making major alterations
to their structures.

The properties that will be affected stem from two lists of
historically significant buildings that were identified as part of the Open
Space and Conservation element of the City’s General Plan, and separately, the
Environmental Impact Report compiled for the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan.

The proposed code change is temporary; it will only be in
effect for three years. However, proponents hope that it will inspire the city
to create a permanent process for handling historic sites.

The Planning Commission voted 4-1 in favor of the ordinance;
however they asked that the minor use permit fee would be waived for the few
sites that are functioning as residences.

Tuesday night, the City Council will discuss the matter, and
if they agree to it, they can pass it to a second reading, presumably taking
place September 9th.