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Home My WebLink About2010/09/08 - Agenda Packet S ,, THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA L I HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AGENDA RANCHO CUCAMONGA SEPTEMBER 8, 2010 - 7:00 PM Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center RAINS ROOM 10500 Civic Center Drive Rancho Cucamonga, California I. CALL To ORDER Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Chairman Munoz _ Vice Chairman Howdyshell • Fletcher_ Wimberly_ Oaxaca _ III. ANNOUNCEMENTS III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 25, 2010 Regular Meeting Minutes • IV. NEW BUSINESS A. TRAINING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN AND REVIEW OF THE NEW HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE V. PUBLIC COMMENTS This is the time and place for the general public to address the commission. Items to be discussed here are those that do not already appear on this agenda. • I VI. COMMISSION BUSINESS/COMMENTS 'HHISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION • L - AGENDA SEPTEMBER 8, 2010 RANCHO CUCAMONGA Page 2 IVII. ADJOURNMENT • I, Lois J. Schrader, Planning Commission Secretary of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, or my designee, hereby certify that a true, accurate copy of the foregoing agenda was posted on September 2, 2010 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting per Government Code Section 54964.2 at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga. (.7.{.... ..t— jz-ath. Please turn off all cellular phones and pagers while the meeting is in session. Copies of the Planning Commission agendas and minutes can be found at http://www.ci.rancho-cucamonga.ca.us • ® If you need special assistance or accommodations to participate in this meeting, please contact the Planning Department at (909) 477-2750. Notification of 48 • hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility. Listening devices are available for the hearing impaired. t. • STAFF REPORT ` PLANNING DEPARTMENT RANCHO Date: September 8, 2010 CUCAMONGA To: Chairman and Members of the Historic Preservation Commission From: James R. Troyer, AICP, Planning Director By: Mayuko Nakajima, Assistant Planner Subject: TRAINING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN AND REVIEW OF THE NEW HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE GENERAL: The City Council adopted the City of Rancho Cucamonga General Plan Update on May 19, 2010. As part of the General Plan update, new policies and goals were created for Historic Preservation. In order to facilitate the implementation of these goals and policies, this workshop was created to inform the public and the Commissioners on the next steps. Since the new General Plan emphasizes the importance of Historic Preservation in the ensuing years, it will help guide the program towards a positive direction with updated procedures and new strategies. • RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission review the presentation and file the report for future reference. Respectfully submitted, Jame R. Troyer, AICP Planning Director JRT:MN\ge Attachment: PowerPoint Handout • Item A 0-441-„d AC caed Cry 4, Hi'C City of Rancho Cucamonga Historic Preservation Program General Plan & Ordinance Update September 8, 2010 General Plan Update The General Plan and Historic Preservation e` '' a. n J.r n,e' 3.44 • New policies were yRmch l?ucun,nka„ created within the " �, G ferieral Plan•y Land Use Chapter c; r71:77. ` ;.r 3'.Y.'�a • A new HP section was added (Historic %T `� "' °� Resources) 1 General Plan Update Land Use Goals and Policies Goal LU-2 Sustainable and attractive infill development • Policy LU-2.4 Promote complementary infill development, rehabilitation, and re-use that contribute positively to the surrounding residential neighborhood areas. Goal LU-3 Encourage sustainable development patterns • Policy LUS-3.6 Create focused, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods that are reminiscent of the qualities found in earlier days, particularly within the original communities of Cucamonga, Alta Loma, and Etiwanda, and along Historic Route 66.. General Plan Update Land Use Goals and Policies zrh Goal LU-4 Establish p NIl pedestrian-friendly Foothill '� , _�".• Boulevard corridor • Policy LU-4.6 Accommodate land uses wa — that support the activity centers envisioned in the ,K ' Historic Cucamonga a 4°19 sector, as identified in the _" Foothill Boulevard Specific i Plan < ;, > 14 2 /; General Plan Update Land Use Goals and Policies Goal LU-6 Promote the stability of southwest Cucamonga residential neighborhoods ! '"' • • Policy LUS-6.3 Protect and O•' G _ �► r preserve historical sites that ,4 . ;:w+'w reflect the area's long-standing ' , .figg: ; agricultural heritage. ' ,' s; • Policy LUS-6.5 Encourage the re- y„ ---•-`�,,, �n�,�, use and rehabilitation of historic 1 { will 71' or high-quality existing buildings. ' 1 T "r ' General Plan Update Community Design Goals and Policies Goal LU-9 Foster a cohesive, healthy community through appropriate patterns and scales of development. • Policy LU-9.1 Preserve and enhance the special qualities of existing districts and neighborhoods through focused attention on land use, community design and economic development. • Policy LU-9.2 Integrate districts and neighborhoods into the overall City structure and image. 3 General Plan Update Community Design Goals and Policies • Policy LU-9.4 Ensure that infill development is sensitive and compatible with the design and scale of all adjacent historic properties. - When is a Cultural Resource Study appropriate? TIWANDA • Policy LU-9.6 Maintain the rural development pattern and character of the / Etiwanda area through the 'Sat' tr Etiwanda Specific Plan. it`k. ITry OF NANCIto L 11C C 1At(l•10 General Plan Update • • Chattel Architecture ❑n of wow cv..m.n.• I..,.,,G•.L,S Penn..for Nltte,l.P,.umten Final Product - Issues, Goals, and qy� Policies - Historic Context _ ��r Statement - Local Register of Historic Resources - Local Inventory of Historic Resources - Surveys 4 The 12 Historic Preservation Policies • Goal 1.0: Maintain local historic resource survey • Goal 2.0: Maintain local inventory of historic resources • Goal 3.0: Maintain local register of historic resources • Goal 4.0: Protect historic resources • Goal 5.0: Expand preservation incentives • Goal 6.0: Identify and protect cultural landscape features The 12 Historic Preservation Policies • Goal 7.0: Identify and protect historic districts and neighborhood character areas • Goal 8.0: Evaluate post-World War II buildings for historic significance • Goal 9.0: Develop a historic resource interpretation program • Goal 10.0: Preservation and interpretation of historic Route 66 • Goal 11.0: Interpretation of Pacific Electric Railway right-of-way • Goal 12.0: Educate residents and City staff about dealing with historic properties 5 General Plan Update Other HP Policies • Economic Development- Policy ED-3.2 • Community Services- Community Services Programs including Historic Museums and Residences (Maloof, Rains House, Chaffey- Garcia House, and Kaiser Steel-Fontana Museum) • Resource Conservation- A. ricultural, Water Resources and Cultural Re kPoh RC-1.4 and RC-8.1) 4Y� ,4 + .Y Affects of New GP on H.P. Ordinance • Consistency with: - General Plan Goals ' Ohl tai and Policies nc - Definitions : . �4 s ... — Designation criteria and status codes will be consistent with State & „ National standards (for �j E the purpose of CEQA). 6 Historic Preservation Ordinance • Refined "Purpose" section. • Added 41 "Definitions." • Updated to reflect current arrangements. • Thorough description of "Power and Duties." • Commission authority to approve/deny Certificates of Appropriateness. • Automatic designation (CA and National Registers). • Designation review criteria totally changed to mimic CA and National criteria. Historic Preservation Ordinance • Added language to include historic districts and "neighborhood character areas." • Designation procedures refined to reflect State & National criteria. • Procedures for applications without owner consent. • "Certificates of Appropriateness" instead of "Landmark Alteration Permit." Added specific procedures and guidelines. Findings of facts for all Certificates of Appropriateness. • Added Certificate of Economic Hardship section. 7 Historic Preservation Ordinance • Procedures for demolition of historic resources, listed on the new survey list. • Mitigation measures. • Historic Preservation Fund. • Unsafe or Dangerous Condition section revised. • Added Duty to Keep in Good Repair. • Added specific penalties for violation of Chapter. • Included additional preservation incentives. Questions? Comments? Thank you for your participation. . . 8 r� 1 ! /e-/u-7 7?e eo, d C r/ /zf c CPC Historic Resources As Rancho Cucamonga developed out of expansive swaths of vineyard and citrus groves into residential neighborhoods and industrial and commercial centers, some of the City's long-standing historical buildings have been torn down. Other structures have been lost to disrepair, neglect, redevelopment, and fire. Recognizing that economic prosperity and growth can sometimes overrun the historic fabric of the community, historic preservation groups and the City have made efforts to protect the historical buildings and landmarks that remain. The General Plan reinforces this commitment to recognizing, protecting, and maintaining Rancho Cucamonga's past. Rancho Cucamonga History The following narrative provides a glimpse into Rancho Cucamonga's past. Understanding the past and how the City has transformed over the years leads to understanding of the importance of protecting and maintaining many of the City's historic buildings. • The Beginnings of Our Community Early History Originally inhabited by Native Americans, the City of Rancho Cucamonga has been a center of land development opportunity since Franciscan priests and Spanish soldiers entered and began their occupation of the area in the late eighteenth century. The name "Cucamonga," a Shoshone word for"sandy place," first appeared in a written record of the San Gabriel Mission dated 1811. Development of the three towns of Cucamonga, Alta Loma, and Etiwanda began in the late 1870s and 1880s as a direct result of acquisition and distribution of land and water and the availability of rail transit through the region. In the 1930s a fourth distinct neighborhood, Northtown, developed along the Santa Fe Railroad. Etiwanda The first European settlers came to the Etiwanda Colony, located in the eastern portion of Rancho Cucamonga, in the early 1860s. Having made his fortune in the California gold mines, Captain Joseph S. Garcia (1823-1902) of the Azores Islands (located off the coast of Lisbon, Portugal), purchased a large amount of land in the Cucamonga Valley and in 1881, sold off much of the land comprising Etiwanda-560 acres—to brothers George and William Chaffey for $30,000. This purchase included Garcia's house and the water rights to local water sources, including Day Canyon and a creek to the east. The Chaffeys made other land purchases in the Etiwanda area over time, eventually creating a tract of over 7,500 acres. They named the colony "Etiwanda" after an Indian chief who had been a friend of their uncle. Managing Land Use, Community Design, and Historic Resources LU-100 R A N C H O C U C A M O N G A G E N E R A L P L A N MF` .rs h w, C, ,x ."% t Cultivating the sandy soil • ; �"° ° t *` �S °,t2 " uts - ti"`• ■� 7� inanEtiwandavineyard, • $." � +� b .�' "fit "'fits` rn d+ a''�'" •xs` r ••s a `, �✓d� y „ 1'4 x�' a4 4 Ra - 199. 'wet . t ` an-rs. _ t`„ x !+ t u:r+ i{ )GyF^ 1 ' '`Il fi an „- Tt Ff M fi 4y SZ'�r+` '4 r , ^+nI K tiv •rim-°•• J tug�♦ 1 r«�°.." ♦.•r. :µ.a' .--,4 `'•)�- ..zZ. y y? ! f t ,'1- , ti e Tgj"�.c"'ti-..j.a1 21-et,"'.� .,ti � t....o.., <'A C' II'11, I� �JIt-..' '1' ".;`• • a•fry ♦ - 111 ,,•4+�s;':i a' • "� f'af.r.r..i'•'""'t'Sry. 4♦rix...i. ipxc•"', pr=_• !�T'. - tlM}�LY.`t •1y+..!•W� • 2 t Clr� ' HS+t Pk �. h 1 T.4 '[✓l,•,. Cucamonga In 1870, Jewish immigrant Isaias Hellman, a prominent Los Angeles businessman and one of the original 23 founders of the Farmers and Merchants Bank in downtown Los Angeles, along with several of his associates, came into ownership of the Rancho Cucamonga at a cost of approximately $50,000. They immediately sold a small amount of the land, turning a quick profit, and kept the remaining 8,000 acres. Under a newly formed partnership, Cucamonga Company (later Cucamonga Vineyard Company) and Hellman and his associates subdivided the residual acreage, planted it with a variety of crops, and oversaw restoration of the local vineyards, resulting in the Cucamonga Valley becoming the biggest winemaking area in California. Some Cucamonga Company lands were sold, ultimately comprising portions of Alta Loma and Etiwanda. A dramatic effort was undertaken, tunneling horizontally into Cucamonga Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains to the north with a primary labor force of local Chinese immigrants, to access water from natural springs in the mountains. Water was delivered to Cucamonga in 1887. �" z ,fix <, � , � ,�y , x ;r x It „•� >}w 1 ay+ • r .� .� b �},^ _ Cucamonga Winery, built 2 ;,'i X:r • �n ,'14;4,; ,� rS A. Y �.t ' • 1835, is sald to be tr '+ +' a-t g rr x , fu ;40- _ + .! California's oldest wine n vM.LafY^ '9 s winery▪ •t" A1''. ^. s ,a¢, ° "` x x r tea: p (photo taken in 1939). *'"` �Y•,•"♦ aa�`2= �Y hr "Pn N rta'htl ∎1 e'T rt 'ry i�B,t ' .s..-4- it--Yi.S,..:?t yr ' rte; 4 n'▪ 4 r'y-2 -y-'t- F z..,°�.. ,..} ?', ir.,. '.t --. ir/ - +1'r y .;.-.9t.::.. ,x Pout l'f a E3 " W •• P t ' w"aX-`441;:. `i"' ter. .. _ .. .. Managing Land Use, Community Design, and Historic Resources RANCHO CUCAMONGA GENERAL PLAN LU-1.01. Alta Loma In 1880, Pasadena-based horticultural land developer Adolph Petsch and a group of associates purchased 160 acres of land in northern Alta Loma, naming the land Hermosa. They also purchased the water rights to nearby Deer and Adler Canyons and formed the Hermosa Land and Water Company in 1881. In 1883, they purchased more land in present-day Alta Loma, establishing the "Iowa Tract" on 500 acres. The Iowa Tract was joined with Hermosa in 1887, and the entire area was renamed loamosa. The Hermosa Land and Water Company was incorporated in the same year to handle the consolidated land holdings which amounted to over 700 acres. Petsch and the Hermosa Land and Water Company were able to sell lands quickly because of their ability to supply each parcel with a dependable supply of water, using a method of irrigation similar to that which was being used in Etiwanda. The Alta Loma area produced high quantities of citrus fruits, including lemons, oranges, and grapefruit beginning in the 1880s, and continued to grow citrus on a large scale for the next 60 years. loamosa was renamed Alta Loma when colonists determined that a new town should be built along the incoming Pacific Electric Railway in 1913. Northtown The Northtown neighborhood, named for its position to the township of Guasti to the south, is a historically Latino community that began along the Santa Fe Railway in the 1930s when Mexican immigrants began moving to the region looking for work during the Great Depression, eagerly answering the demand for agricultural laborers to pick grapes, maintain vineyards, and harvest and pack citrus. Located south of the original town center development of Cucamonga, Northtown comprises approximately a square mile roughly bounded by the Santa Fe Railway to the south, Feron Boulevard to the north, Archibald Avenue to the west and Haven Avenue to the east. The community was, for a time, a distinctly defined land area surrounded by vineyards, orchards, and empty fields on all sides. In the early 1900s, several other Latino neighborhoods were located throughout the City, including a neighborhood on Monte Vista Street in Alta Loma and one on Base Line Road in Etiwanda, where 1-15 • now passes through the City. Mexican immigrants also lived in Guasti, a self- contained wine company town located south of Northtown (currently in the neighboring City of Ontario). The 1930s-era worker housing in Northtown tended to be small in size, containing only one or two bedrooms, one outhouse, and sometimes a garage or additional outbuilding. Northtown was connected to Cucamonga by commercial development along Archibald Avenue. Railroads and Early Town Development (1887-1945) Construction of railroads through the Cucamonga Valley allowed for tremendous growth of the local agriculture industry, the success of land sales, and subsequent development of the towns of Cucamonga (including the Northtown neighborhood), Alta Loma, and Etiwanda. Similar to other Southern California boomtowns, construction. of railroads through the region created a rapid increase in local development, enabling both people and goods to move in and out of Rancho Cucamonga at an unprecedented speed, which dramatically increased agricultural production and sales. From the early 1900s to the 1950s, the northern portion of the City's landscape consisted of mostly citrus groves, while the southern portion was dominated by vineyards. The San Bernardino Line of the Pacific Electric Railway, with stations in Claremont, Upland, Alta Loma, Etiwanda, Fontana, and Rialto, was the Pacific Electric's longest line. It was completed through Rancho Cucamonga via stations at Alta Loma and Etiwanda in July 1914, offering competition to the older Santa Fe Railway to the south. Initially the Pacific Electric Railway was mostly used to transport citrus, although it carried a variety of freight. Managing Land Use, Community Design, and Historic Resources LU-102 R A N C H O C 'U C A M O N G A G E N E R A L P L A N y- 41 tt f V y ,{ �. t ,. � .� t� "I`�5`�gn '�`;�S�r„ `�r.� '!� �5'�J ,i+s a. �[ ‘ t Ct".� z ri .- s t 11, 41,0- }h�cr „4''� 'y,5 a f ) < .e ate ' Pacific Electric Railwa Y A ✓.$4,12,,I;{�` 4” t( yf i k y t s',.,: /'� V 0,'x9" 4, n1:, 'li1. r g Hi 'W d'4,r t$_ =::` ,,,, ,,, at;,; \` t x��ra }z� :: x, , s Etiwanda Station, 1950. kav „!,,,,1‘,—..:0;.1%:� 4 zq��t i2 4 + try LOS AryGE�E6 ' ,' t�� nds`w" ,w� . 1111�} l _ a W r a k^. F ” ct a 14 11 ft: Lt.- -- 1 lit . 1:1,11, re b • I ...,,, Lit 4 I.1 - r uu,es x— t 11,001.3.4,• 1..: fk . � - + , NSi .._mss. i f" �.-... _`4,p - ._�._c-"✓>: �n ,� -�h'Nu. • Winemaking (1858-1970) Granted the 13,000-acre Rancho Cucamonga in 1839, Tiburcio Tapia planted a small vineyard from vine 'clippings likely obtained from the neighboring San Gabriel Mission, established by Franciscan priests in 1771, and also formed a small-scale winery. Tapia's original vineyard passed through the hands of several individuals before being sold to John Rains in 1858, who added greatly to the original vineyard, doubling it in size. As a result of this effort, Cucamonga became the most important business point between San Bernardino and Los Angeles, and shortly thereafter, the wines produced here became known far and wide. Following Rains' death, the vineyard was taken over by Pierre and Jean Louis Sansevain, who also improved the vineyards, but the vineyards were later destroyed, falling victim to locust infestation. View of the Cucamonga . ,� � � >♦q F��, .: q ,� Valley, home to numerous ➢ t xr t s v a s+r ' 4 ?�i .i f�x.' , 1. , �s. ` F y . acres of vineyards ards in 1942. 5 .C.-•';'.,",%;y v ,fie *, A 1 i :... r t I : j a u°i 4 Gh k y 0! , yet I� t11 a ,'' t rt• r d I' Y ' P •t-44.: • S 5, ( ' Y . h .x`bc` >" "` s"'vMni+. 4�.ri Kfin"r '}' S x' Y watc xln"cc", .Q. .�.A7W ,,?dsY +114. «' . 'm".'7. is r F"var4 ¢ly 'el.c. ^l "i....014 ..r.` 124.44Vtteke +.A1.x!'. ?i,r sar yy," -- A�t �h f.' M t 4 d 7fl`�'C co i x t 3. .': 7Svh`^SY ��, ' a.{Z,/ P ,� } r r �!� `t� I'a+ 1:t1;_43-.41..:1'. . A Yom" 1�y Y i h ,�Q W h,- ?' r: �uR.'! ' x W r sr y fr ! 'Ui '.9S? K• •�'; :-.... +w`,:o thSd,Y: .7A,Y . tdt: r'Yw 11tA4 r'F' i......� - ..c.., .[k-.Rtry,`;'7•. Despite the loss of Tapia's original vineyard, the winemaking industry continued to develop and flourish in the Cucamonga Valley, moving from modestly sized wine making operations to larger-scale wine production facilities. Secondo Guasti's Italian Vineyard Company, established in 1883, was among the first production-oriented Managing Land Use, Community Design, and Historic Resources R A N C H O C U C A M O N G A G E N E R A L P L A N Lu-103 wine-making companies in the region, covering over 5,000 acres with wine-producing grapes by the early 1900s. By comparison, the entire Cucamonga Valley contained over 16,000 acres of wine grapes by 1919. In 1919, the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed, establishing nation-wide prohibition of the sale, manufacturing, or transportation of alcoholic beverages. It lasted approximately 15 years and had a pronounced effect on the local wine-making industry. While many wineries were forced to close down operations, others conceived of creative ways to keep their businesses open despite Prohibition. Some wineries continued to harvest grapes, using their facilities to produce a variety of products, including table grapes, grape juice, grape and wine jellies, and beef and liver additives. As taking wine with meals was an important custom for Italian immigrants, home winemaking was allowed at a maximum quantity of 200 gallons per year for family use. Despite hardships placed on grape growers during the Prohibition era, the amount of land used for vineyards continued to grow in the Cucamonga region, increasing from 16,000 acres in 1919 to 21,000 acres in 1930. Prohibition was repealed in December of 1933, and many United States wineries restarted their operations. During this time, the wine-making industry largely shifted from small- to large-scale production. To compete with large-scale wineries, small- . scale wineries joined with one another to form cooperatives such as the Cucamonga Pioneer Vineyard Association (formed 1934); members would pool their fruit and share revenue on a percentage basis determined by the quantity of fruit contributed by each grower. Improvements in the handling and transportation of wine grapes that came about upon the repeal of Prohibition also facilitated recovery and success of the winemaking industry in the Cucamonga Valley, which continued to flourish until the early 1950s. • The postwar alteration of Cucamonga Valley's rural landscape began in 1947 with construction of Henry J. Kaiser's large steel mill in Fontana. Then, in 1951, the City of • Ontario removed a vineyard purchased 11 years earlier for expansion of its airport; Ontario continued to acquire more vineyards as the airport grew. Meanwhile, tastes in wine were changing, and sweet wines traditionally produced in the Cucamonga Valley were losing market share to drier varietal wines produced in Northern California. Bad weather conditions in the early 1950s led to poor harvests. Suburban sprawl sent real estate prices and property taxes soaring, and increased air pollution adversely affected agriculture. In 1950, 20 wineries were operating in the Rancho Cucamonga area. By 1970, only five remained. Route 66 (1926-1970) Completed in the late 1930s, United States Highway 66 (Route 66) resulted from a nation-wide effort to create a highway linking small towns and larger cities from Chicago to Los Angeles. In Rancho Cucamonga, Route 66 is Foothill Boulevard running east-west through the City. Several historic resources potentially significant for their association with Route 66 remain. Aided by the financial backing and large- scale organization of the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916 and the Federal Highway Act of 1921, Route 66 (also referred to as The Mother Road) was commissioned in 1926. Nationwide prosperity following World War II afforded many people the opportunity to travel for leisure. Automobile excursions west on Route 66 quickly evolved into a cultural phenomenon, attracting a multitude of tourists anxious to see the West and visit the interesting roadside businesses that had sprung up alongside Route 66. These roadside attractions appealed to the tourist market with an array of food and refreshment options, trading posts, references to Native American culture, and more obscure sources of entertainment, such as snake pits, petting zoos, and exotic carnival games. The popularity of Route 66 indirectly led to its demise and ultimately Managing Land Use, Community Design, and Historic Resources LU-104 RANCHO CUCAMONGA GEN E RAL PLAN to its decommissioning in 1985. Experiencing heavy traffic by tourists and by the trucking industry, Route 66 became crowded and fell into disrepair. In addition, beginning in the 1950s, modern highways and interstate systems were built throughout the nation, often bypassing small towns that had grown dependent on Route 66 travelers for business. Despite the dramatic decline in traffic, some Route 66 businesses endured, developing a cult following of travelers anxious to experience the mystic Route 66 as it once was. • , 40 Foothill Boulevard (Historic • Route 66), 1962. ko I . . te.- .�"" IF k. 'r...• ;..- � sc . wal -mgt.,. � ''�cl.� • =- is . +/ .r �r Q a. . . .. Postwar Development (1945-1977) Following World War II in 1945, Rancho Cucamonga's landscape began to shift from a rural to suburban environment, reflecting the nation-wide trend toward decentralization of the city. Driven by rapid highway construction, increasing automobile ownership, availability of modern building technologies, and the Baby Boom, the postwar period brought about an increase in housing demand and rising land values, spawning development of tract housing and light industry in Rancho Cucamonga. The area that is now Rancho Cucamonga (not yet incorporated and under the jurisdiction of San Bernardino County) became a sprawling suburb during this time, with neighborhood-scale shopping centers and office parks and proliferating surface parking. As lands once occupied by agricultural uses were needed to accommodate this new pattern of development, the citrus groves and vineyards that had once characterized the local landscape eventually gave way almost entirely to suburbanization. Consolidation and Incorporation (1977) Encouraged by the initial boom in land values and development, Rancho Cucamonga activists began discussing the possibility of incorporating the three towns of Cucamonga, Alta Loma, and Etiwanda as early as 1887. Despite attempts at consolidation over the years, it was not until many decades later that this dream was realized. The City of Rancho Cucamonga was finally incorporated in 1977, consolidating Cucamonga, Alta Loma, and Etiwanda into one municipality, reaching a milestone sought after by local residents for nearly 100 years. Incorporation halted the uncontrolled growth that had been occurring in the area and provided numerous other benefits, including increased recreational opportunities and park development, improvements to existing neighborhoods, construction of new neighborhoods, and advances in local economic development. The three historic towns became part of the larger whole, providing opportunities for growth and improvement but also absorbing the character of each town center. As a result, the City now has the Managing Land Use, Community Design, and Historic Resources R A N C H O C U C A M O N G A G E N E R A L P L A N LU-105 opportunity to plan for the benefit of the City at-large while also continuing to recognize the historic communities from which it came. Preservation Framework The following programs are incentives that have been used to preserve and recognize local historic resources. Federal and State Programs National Historic Preservation Act To be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, the quality or significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or cultural achievement must be present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association and possess one of the following: • The project is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of American history. • The project is associated with the lives of persons significant in the past. • The project 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. • The project has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. The Casa de Rancho Cucamonga (Rains House Museum) at 8810 Hemlock is the only building in Rancho Cucamonga on the National Register of Historic Places, as of 2009. California Register of Historical Resources The California Register of Historical Resources program is designed to allow State and local agencies, private groups, and citizens to identify, evaluate, register, and protect historical resources. It is also an authoritative guide to the State's significant historical and archeological resources. The California Register of Historical Resources includes buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts significant in the architectural, engineering, scientific, economic, agricultural, educational, social, political, military, or cultural annals of California. As of 2009, five properties were listed in the California Register, including: • Padre/Biane Winery, 9951 81" Street(1909) • Ernst Mueller House, 6563 East Avenue (date unknown) • James G. Isle House, 6490 Etiwanda Avenue (date unknown; moved to 7086 Etiwanda Avenue) • Herbert Goerlitz House, 6558 Hermosa/9893 Highland Avenue (1926; moved to 6558 Hermosa Avenue) • John Rains House, 7869 Vineyard Ave (1859; currently at 8810 Hemlock Street) • Managing Land Use, Community Design, and Historic Resources LU-106 RANCHO CUCAMONGA GENERAL PLAN • In addition, there are two California Historical Landmarks and six California Points of Historical Interest in Rancho Cucamonga.' California Historical Landmarks: • Cucamonga Rancho Winery/Thomas Vineyards, 8916 Foothill Boulevard (1839) (California Historical Landmark No. 490) • Site of Tapia Adobe, top of Red Hill, approximately 8501 Red Hill Country Club Drive (1839; California Historical Landmark No. 360), demolished. Note: Property is also a local Designated Point of Interest (DPI). California Points of Historical Interest: • Base Line Road, Highway from Highland to Claremont (1853; point of Historical Interest No. SBR-012) • Cucamonga Chinatown Site, 9591 San Bernardino Road (1920; point of Historical Interest No. SBR-077) • Christmas House, 9240 Archibald Avenue (1904; point of Historical Interest No. SBR-073) • Garcia Ranch House (currently the Chaffey-Garcia House), 7150 Etiwanda Avenue (1874; point of Historical Interest No. SBR-082) • Sycamore Inn (historically Uncle Billy's Tavern), 8318 Foothill Boulevard (1848; point of Historical Interest No. SBR-070) • Milliken Ranch, 8798 Haven Avenue (1891; point of Historical Interest No. SBR-075) Mills Act In 1972, California State senator James Mills introduced a bill known as the Mills Act to grant property tax relief to owners of qualified historic properties. The Mills Act is a preservation tool created by the California legislature to encourage the preservation and restoration of historic properties. The Act enables cities to enter into historical property agreements with owners of qualifying properties; these agreements will result in reductions to the owner's property taxes. The agreements provide a benefit to cities in that they ensure preservation and guarantee authentic rehabilitations and a high level of maintenance of cultural resources important to communities. Local Programs In 1978, the City adopted the Historic Preservation Commission Ordinance to "designate, preserve, protect, enhance, and perpetuate those historic structures and sites which contribute to the cultural and aesthetic benefit of Rancho Cucamonga." The Ordinance established a Historic Preservation Commission to review applications for Landmark designation, review plans for physical alterations or change of use to Landmarks, and maintain the register of Landmarks. Pursuant to the Ordinance, a Landmark Designation Program was established. An important element of the program is the identification of benefits and incentives to encourage participation. The City has designated many Landmarks and Points of Interest within Rancho Cucamonga and the Sphere of Influence. Each is photographed and described in the Historic Landmarks and Points of Interest - booklet, prepared by the Community Development Department (see Figure LU-8: Historic Resources). 1 The State no longer designates Historical Landmarks or Points of Historical Interest. Properties previously designated as such must be reevaluated to be included in the California Register and may not constitute historical resources for purposes of evaluation under the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA). Managing Land Use, Community Design, and Historic Resources R A N C H O C U C A M O N G A G E N E R A L P L A N W-107 • • Participation in the Landmark Designation Program provides the following benefits: • Qualifies buildings to use the flexible Historical Building Code • Qualifies the owners to apply for use of the Mills Act contract for lower property taxes • Enables owners to receive free information about rehabilitation • Fosters civic pride and encourages additional historical research • Allows qualified owners to participate in the City's Landmark Plaque Program Historic Districts and Neighborhood Character Areas In an effort to recognize historic communities in Rancho Cucamonga and groupings of historic resources and places of interest, the General Plan recommends evaluating the potential creation of historic districts and/or neighborhood character areas. A historic district is a definable unified geographic entity that possesses a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures, or objects united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development. It can be distinguished from surrounding properties and presents the same constraints and opportunities as individually listed properties. Historic districts can be designated at the national, State, and local level. Each level of designation has its own specific criteria, although the California Register and most local inventories base their designation criteria on those contained in the National Register. In addition, each level of designation entails • a different level of protection, triggers different levels of review, and makes the property potentially eligible.for various preservation incentives. A neighborhood character area, also commonly referred to as a conservation district, is a tool used to define a group of significant historic resources that do not retain adequate integrity to qualify as a historic district but still maintain important levels of cultural, historic, or architectural significance. The focus of a neighborhood character area is on maintaining basic community character of an area, but not necessarily specific historic details of buildings or landscapes. Neighborhood character areas are designated as a zoning overlay geographically over a neighborhood and may be coupled with other regulations. Conceptually, a neighborhood character area creates "buffer zones" to transition from historic districts to surrounding development. Managing Land Use, Community Design, and Historic Resources LU-10$ RANCHO CUCAMONGA GENERAL PLAN of—fi��l %caret copy y //Pc /�� Key Historic Preservation Issues Key issues relative to historic preservation are: • Loss of Historic Buildings. Historic resources in the City of Rancho Cucamonga are growing increasingly rare, highlighting the opportunity to continue developing a comprehensive preservation program implemented by a historic preservation ordinance, regularly updating a local historic resource survey and inventory of historic resources, and maintaining a local register of historic resources. By updating the Historic Preservation Ordinance to be consistent with State and Federal preservation standards and maintain a local register of historic resources, greater protection and community awareness of historic resources will be achieved. Existing historic resource survey efforts, local inventory of historic resources, and local registry of historic resources needs to be clearly identified, distinguished from one another, and updated over time. • Lack of Preservation Incentives. The variety of available preservation incentives should be consolidated into one program to increase awareness and streamline use of available incentives. The City currently utilizes the Mills Act and should expand it to create an incentive program that includes a variety of available incentives for properties listed in the local register. • Loss of Cultural Landscapes. Agriculture was the leading industry responsible for development of Rancho Cucamonga beginning in the late 1880s, made possible by the acquisition and distribution of water to Cucamonga, Alta Loma, and Etiwanda, and the availability of rail transit through the three communities. As such, important cultural landscape features in Rancho Cucamonga include but are not limited to vineyards, citrus groves, windbreaks, resources related to water acquisition and distribution, railway rights-of-way, and uniquely designed curbs and gutters. • Loss of Historic Town Center Identity. Rancho Cucamonga existed as three distinct towns until the City incorporated in 1977. However, the unique identities of the historic towns of Cucamonga, Alta Loma, and Etiwanda have become difficult to discern, and are increasingly threatened as historic buildings are altered or demolished and cultural landscapes vanish, diminishing a historic sense of place within each community. The City should identify and retain character in these historic centers to the maximum extent feasible. In accordance with General Plan policy that approves the creation of specific plans for identified areas in the City, specific plans have been prepared for Etiwanda (adopted 1983), Etiwanda North (adopted 1992), and Foothill Boulevard (adopted 2002). The creation of specific plans for Alta Loma and Cucamonga should become priorities. • Preservation of Post-World War II Historic Resources. The City of Rancho Cucamonga is home to post-World War II buildings and tract housing developments that have recently become old enough and/or developed sufficient significance to be considered historic resources. As the age threshold for determining whether or not a property is "historic" is typically 45 to 50 years, early tract housing is beginning to present itself as a potential historic resource. Buildings may be individually eligible for the local register or may qualify for eligibility only as an intact grouping (tract). This topic warrants further research in Rancho Cucamonga, as the City is home to some of the earliest tract housing development in the Inland Empire. Managing Land Use, Community Design, and Historic Resources R A N C H O C U C A M O N G A G E N E R A L P L A N LU-ill • Interpretation of Historic Resources. Interpretation of historic resources refers to the way in which historic buildings, objects, and sites are identified and communicated to the public. An effective interpretation program helps preserve a sense of local history and enhances opportunities for cultural heritage tourism. • Lack of Resources for Educating Residents about Identifying and Caring for Historic Properties. Property owners often alter historic properties in a manner that causes significant loss of architectural integrity, rendering potential historic resources ineligible for inclusion in the local inventory, register and/or historic district. Likewise, City employees charged with preservation program implementation and code enforcement often do not have sufficient training in dealing with historic resources to adequately address historic preservation. The City's Library does not have a preservation resource center but does have a small local history collection of books. Managing Land Use, Community Design, and Historic Resources LU-112 R A N C H O C U C A M O N G A G E N E R A L P L A N