Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission

Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission
Name	Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission
Type	Preservation agency
Formed	196?- (see history)
Jurisdiction	Santa Barbara, California
Headquarters	Santa Barbara, California
Parent agency	City of Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission is a municipal commission responsible for identifying, designating, and advising on landmarks within Santa Barbara, California. It operates within the regulatory framework of the City of Santa Barbara and interacts with local, state, and federal preservation entities including the California Office of Historic Preservation and the National Park Service. The commission's activities intersect with urban planning, cultural resource management, and heritage tourism in the Santa Barbara County, California region.

History

The commission emerged amid mid-20th century preservation movements connected to events like the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake recovery and the postwar redevelopment debates that involved actors such as the Santa Barbara City Council and civic organizations like the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation and Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Influences included state-level initiatives such as the California Environmental Quality Act and federal programs administered by the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Register of Historic Places. Early designation efforts cited prominent projects including restoration of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, rehabilitation of the El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, and conservation of the Mission Santa Barbara. Over decades the commission worked alongside preservationists connected to institutions like the University of California, Santa Barbara, scholars associated with the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, and professionals from the American Institute of Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Mission and Responsibilities

The commission's mission aligns with statutes found in ordinances adopted by the City of Santa Barbara and interacts with programs from the California Historical Resources Commission and the National Park Service. Responsibilities include evaluating requests for designation, reviewing alterations to designated properties, issuing findings for California Environmental Quality Act reviews, and advising the Santa Barbara Planning Commission and the Santa Barbara City Council. The commission consults with professional bodies such as the Society of Architectural Historians, the American Planning Association, and the California Preservation Foundation while engaging stakeholders including Santa Barbara County supervisors, neighborhood associations like the Eastside Neighborhood Association, and heritage nonprofits like the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation.

Designation Criteria and Process

Designation criteria reflect standards promulgated by the National Park Service for the National Register of Historic Places and by state guidance from the California Office of Historic Preservation. Local criteria emphasize associations with persons like Edward Payson Ripley, architectural significance exemplified by architects such as Jesse H. Miller and George Washington Smith (architect), contexts including the Chumash people cultural landscape, and integrity assessments comparable to those used by the Historic American Buildings Survey. The process engages property owners, applicants from firms like SWA Group or local architectural practices, and technical reviewers from agencies such as the California State Parks and the California Historical Resources Information System. Hearings are noticed to entities including the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments and project applicants may appeal determinations to the Santa Barbara City Council.

Preservation and Regulatory Activities

Regulatory roles include issuance of Design Review approvals, Certificates of Appropriateness, and participation in environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. The commission coordinates with city departments like the Santa Barbara Planning Division and services such as the Santa Barbara County Planning and Development Department. Preservation activities involve grant and incentive programs aligned with state initiatives like the State Historic Preservation Tax Credit and federal incentives tied to the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit. Technical guidance references publications from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and documentation standards from the Historic American Landscapes Survey. Enforcement may engage municipal code provisions and collaboration with legal counsel from the City Attorney of Santa Barbara.

Notable Landmarks Designated

Designated landmarks include civic and cultural properties connected to prominent sites such as the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Mission Santa Barbara, El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, the Kobeylinsky House neighborhood examples, and residences by George Washington Smith (architect), Peter J. Barber, and Carleton Winslow Sr.. Commercial and institutional listings intersect with buildings like the El Paseo complex, historic theaters linked to the Santa Barbara Symphony, and maritime resources tied to Stearns Wharf and the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. Landscape and archaeological designations reflect the presence of Chumash sites and historic ranchos like Rancho San Marcos. Many landmarks also cross-list on the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources.

Outreach, Education, and Partnerships

The commission undertakes educational programs in partnership with cultural institutions including the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, Mission Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, and academic partners at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Outreach consists of walking tours, lectures, and publications coordinated with groups such as the Santa Barbara Preservation Foundation, the Santa Barbara Public Library, and the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission. Collaborative initiatives extend to nonprofits like the California Preservation Foundation, federal partners like the National Park Service, and statewide networks convened by the California Office of Historic Preservation.

Organizational Structure and Governance

The commission is constituted under municipal ordinance with commissioners appointed by the Santa Barbara City Council and supported administratively by staff in the Santa Barbara Planning Division and the Community Development Department. Meetings are conducted in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and public notices coordinate with the Santa Barbara Independent and the Santa Barbara News-Press. Professional liaisons include consulting archaeologists registered with the Register of Professional Archaeologists, architectural historians affiliated with the Society of Architectural Historians, and legal advisers in municipal law linked to the California League of Cities. Appeals and code interpretations involve the Santa Barbara City Council and, where applicable, state agencies such as the California Office of Historic Preservation.

Category:Historic preservation in California Category:Santa Barbara, California