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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 - Goldenrod Avenue Pedestrian BridgeCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Staff Report July 22, 2014 Agenda Item No. 12. TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: David A. Webb, Public Works Director- (949) 644 -3330, dawebb @newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Fong Tse, Assistant City Engineer PHONE: (949) 644 -3321 TITLE: Goldenrod Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Designation ABSTRACT: Should the City seek a "Historic" Designation for the Goldenrod Avenue pedestrian bridge in Corona Del Mar? RECOMMENDATION: Receive, discuss, and direct staff whether or not to pursue a Historic designation for the Goldenrod Bridge. FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: This discussion item does not have a fiscal impact to the adopted FY14 -15 budget. DISCUSSION: At the July 8, 2014 regular meeting, City Council directed staff to explore the possibility, mechanics, and impacts of obtaining a "Historic" designation for the Goldenrod Pedestrian Bridge (Bridge). Accordingly, staff researched City records and the resources available from the California State Parks Office of Historic Preservation ( CAOHP) and the United States Department of Interior National Park Service ( USDOI) on this subject. The concrete Bridge was constructed in 1928 (making it 86 years old) to connect the "north" and "south" halves of the area once known as the 'Pacific Gulch" (now Bayside Drive) and to provide a more direct access to the beach from the "north ". The most recent improvements made to the Bridge was a seismic retrofit project in 2010 that was fully paid by Federal and State funds. The Bridge, now being more than fifty years old, satisfies the first of several criteria that both the State and the USDOI have set to qualify applications seeking a Historic designation. There are four (4) broad Historic categories under which the Bridge can be nominated and listed. They are "California Historical Landmarks ", "California Points of Historical Interest ", "California Register of Historical Resources ", and "National Register of Historic Places ". It should be noted that the applications for placement in the National Register of Historic Places must be reviewed and approved by the CAOHP prior to their forwarding to the USDOI. While the California Historical Landmarks category is geared toward applications that have had influence over a large geographic area of the State such as Northern, Central, or Southern California, the California Points of Historical Interest category is more suitable for entries that have had regional (city /county) impacts and would probably be the best suited category should the City wish to pursue an Application. In addition to the minimum 50- year -old criterion, the Bridge must meet at least one of the following criteria to be eligible for a Historic designation: • Being the first, last, only, or most significant of its type in the state, over a large geographic area or within a local region; • Be associated with an individual or group having a profound influence on the history of California; or • As a prototype of, or an outstanding example of, a period, style, architectural movement or construction or is one of the more notable works or the best surviving work in a region of a pioneer architect, designer or master builder. Upon CAOHP approval of the Historic Designation, the Bridge will be automatically listed in the California Register of Historical Resources and a bronze plaque may be installed at the site by the City. Additionally, a highway directional sign may be ordered through the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District office at cost to the City. In our research discussions, we were informed that given the current CAOHP staffing level, their office estimated that the application and determination processes can take up to two years to complete upon submittal of an application. Additionally, Caltrans has informed staff that while a Historic designation for the Bridge by itself may not be sufficient cause to impede any Federal or State related funding for future bridge work or adjacent projects, additional qualification requirements (reports and documentation) will need to be included in processing any necessary permits. Other possible agency approvals may be necessary depending upon the scope of the proposed future project work. One last impact associated with a Historic Designation was identified in our inquiry. We were told that private property owners adjacent to the Designated Bridge might, depending on the scope of their projects, be required to implement additional protective measures to ensure protection of a Historical Structure. Staff estimated that gathering the necessary information and preparing the application package for a State Designation including the various required records and resource documentations will take several months to complete. If City Council desires to proceed with an application, staff may need to identify a minor amount of funding (possibly around $10,000) to hire consultant staff for assistance in preparing and filing the necessary application. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Environmental review is not required for an agenda item that is limited to City Council discussions and providing direction to staff. NOTICING: The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item). ATTACHMENTS: Description Attachment A. Location Map Attachment B. Historic Categories Matrix Attachment C. Photos of Goldenrod Avenue Pedestrian Bridge ATTACHMENT A P OP sT s� O� 41 '1'GF P GOLDENROD PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE J F PJQ. O O GF�GF 6,9� QJ �5 A N.T.S. G�. GOLDENROD PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT LOCATION MAP 07/22/14 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION California Historical Landmarks • The first, last, only or most significant of its type in the state or within a large geographic region (Northern, Central or Southern California). • Associated with an individual or group having a profound influence Criteria on the history of California. • A prototype of, or an outstanding example of, a period, style, architectural movement or construction or is one of the more notable works or the best surviving work in a region of a pioneer architect, designer or master builder. California Points of Historical Interest Same as those for Landmarks, but directed to local (city or county) regions. ATTACHMENT B OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION California Register of Historical Resources Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local or regional history or the cultural heritage of California or the United States. Associated with the lives of persons important to local, California or national history. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region or method of construction or represents the work of a master or possesses high artistic values. Has yielded, or has the potential to yield, Information Important to the prehistory or history of the local area, California or the nation. National Register of Historic Places Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. Associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction. Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, Information Important in history or prehistory. Relation to other Resources listed as California Resources listed as Points of Resources listed in National Register or as Resources listed in National Register are registration Historical Landmarks are Historical Interest are concurrently California Historical Landmarks or Points of automatically listed in California Register. automatically listed in California listed in California Register. Historical Interest are also listed in programs Register. California . Register. Owner Consent Written consent of property owner(s) Written consent of property owner(s) Consent of property owner(s) not required, Consent of property owner(s) not required, is required. is required, but cannot be listed if owner(s) objects. but cannot be listed if owner(s) objects. Local Local government must be given 60 Local government must be given 60 Clerk of local government must be given 90 Local government must be given 60 days to Government days to comment on application days to comment on application days to comment on application before it is comment on application before public hearing Notification before public hearing Is held. before public hearing is held. sent to OHP. is held. Effects of Designation REVISED 1998 Local building inspector must grant code alternatives provided under State Historic Building Code. Local assessor may enter into contract with property owner for property tax reduction (Mills Act). Limited protection (environmental review may be required under CEQA if property Is threatened by a project). Contact local planning aaencv for further information. Bronze plaque (with text) at site and highway directional marker (no text). Local building inspector must grant code alternatives provided under Slate Historic Building Code. Local assessor may enter Into contract with property owner for property tax reduction (Mills Act). Limited protection (environmental review may be required under CEQA if property is threatened by a project). Contact local planning aaencv for further information. Highway directional marker (no text). Owner may place own plaque or marker. Local building inspector must grant code alternatives provided under Slate Historic Building Code. Local assessor may enter Into contract with property owner for property tax reduction (Mills Act). Limited protection (environmental review may be required under CEQA If property is threatened by a project). Contact local olannino aaencv for further information. Owner may place own plaque or marker Tax incentives, in some cases, for rehabilitation of depreciable structures. Tax deduction available for donation of preservation easement. Local building inspector must grant code alternatives provided under Slate Historic Building Code. Local assessor may enter into contract with property owner for property tax reduction (Mills Act). Preservation consideration in federally funded or licensed undertakings (Section 106, National Historic Preservation Act). Limited protection (environmental review may be required under CEQA if property is threatened by a project). Contact local olannino aaencv for further information. Owner may place own plaque or marker \a� r r� +tea D �. , , I l_n 7NROD FOOTRRIDOF Thi RridRe was built in 1925 for $10,88: and spans 243 feet across what was then known as "Pacific Gulch ". It was built to provide com.enient access to the beach for residents and visitors to the community. At the time of construction the I populatirn of Newport Beach was less thin MOO residents.