(a) Historic Resource Inventory. The Santa Cruz County Historic Resources Inventory subject to the provisions of this Chapter shall consist of those structures, objects, properties, sites, and districts as designated by Resolution of the Board of Supervisors and thereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Chapter, with subsequent amendments as provided for in paragraph (b) below.
(b) Inventory Amendment. Amendment to the Santa Cruz County Inventory of Historic Resources shall be by resolution of the Board of Supervisors following the review and recommendation of the Historic Resources Commission. Actions of both bodies shall be taken following public hearing with public notice provided pursuant to Section 18.10.223. Any action to amend the Inventory of Historic Resources to add or remove a structure, site, object or district shall be based on the criteria provided in paragraph (c) below, and may be initiated by a property owner or their representative, the Board of Supervisors, the Historic Resources Commission, County staff or any member of the general public. Inclusions of new historic resources in the inventory shall be accompanied by a completed California Department of Parks and Recreation Historic Inventory Form to document the historic and architectural values of the designated resource.
(c) Designation Criteria. Structures, objects, sites and districts shall be designated as historic resources if, and only if, they meet one or more of the following criteria and have retained their architectural integrity and historic value:
1. The resource is associated with a person of local, state or national historical significance.
2. The resource is associated with an historic event or thematic activity of local, state or national importance.
3. The resource is representative of a distinct architectural style and/or construction method of a particular historic period or way of life, or the resource represents the work of a master builder or architect or possesses high artistic values.
4. The resource has yielded, or may likely yield information important to history or prehistory.
(d) Rating of Significance. For purposes of administering the historic preservation program, general public information, and to aid in the nomination of historic resources to the National Register, designated historic structures, objects, sites and districts shall be assigned a National Register (NR) Rating Code for historic significance based upon guidelines published by the United State Department of Interior, National Park Service as follows:
NR 1. A property listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
NR 2. A property that has been determined to be eligible for listing on the National Register by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
NR 3. A property eligible, in the opinion of the County Historical Resources Commission, to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
NR 4. Property which may become eligible for listing on the National Register if additional research provides a stronger statement of significance, or if the architectural integrity is restored. These buildings have either high architectural or historic significance, but have a low rating in the other categories.
NR 5. A property determined to have local historical significance.
(e) Combining Designations. Designated historic sites and districts shall be assigned one or more of the following combining designations in addition to a rating of significance pursuant to paragraph (d) above:
-D (District) A geographically defined area of nationwide, state or local historical significance possessing a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures, and/or objects united by past events or aesthetically by plan or physical development;
-S (Site) A parcel of land or property previously occupied by an historical structure, the scene of a past historical event, or a place associated with an historical person.
(f) Potentially Significant Properties. The County shall maintain a listing of those properties which have been evaluated and determined to be ineligible for designation as an historical resource based on the criteria in paragraph (c) above and/or due to their deteriorated architectural integrity or condition. These properties shall be given a rating of significance of NR-6 and may be reevaluated periodically based on new conditions of improvements to the architectural integrity and condition of the structure.
(g) Recording of Certified Resolution Establishing the Historic Resource Designation. Within 90 days after an historical resource has been included in the Santa Cruz County Historic Resources Inventory by the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Director shall cause to be filed for record with the County Recorder, a Certified Resolution Establishing the Historic Resource Designation specifying the names of the owners of record, a legal description of the property, a description of the historic resource and its historic and/or architectural value, and a statement that the historic resource so described is subject to the provisions of the County Code, Chapter 16.42, Historic Resource Preservation. A copy of the recorded certified resolution shall be sent to the property owner.
(h) Project Referrals. Following receipt of an application for approval of a Land Division, Development Permit, Building Permit or Demolition Permit, the Planning Director may suspend permit processing and refer the project property to the Historic Resources Commission for a determination of whether the property constitutes an historical resource which should be considered for addition to the County Inventory of Historic Resources for protection of its historic and/or architectural values. The Historic Resources Commission shall consider the referral at the next available Commission meeting, at which time the Commission shall decide whether or not to initiate an amendment as provided in Section 16.42.080(b) to add the property to the Inventory of Historic Resources.
(i) Pending Designations: Once an amendment to the Inventory of Historic Resources has been initiated to designate a property as an historical resource, no permit may be approved for any project affecting the property until either:
1. Final action has been taken to reject the amendment; or
2. Any required project review or approval of an Historical Resource Preservation Plan by the Historic Resources Commission has been obtained. (Ord. 4823 § 2, 5/23/06)