Ventura HPC with Fewer Powers

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The vote to keep HPC (with reduced powers) was 4-3.  Doug, Alex, Ryyn, and Liz voted in favor of retaining the HPC while limiting its scope over historic design review. McReynolds proposed a motion to eliminate the HPC entirely, Jim Duran, and Dr. Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios, but Halter voted for HPC with reduced powers. McReynolds, Duran, and Sanchez-Palacios made it clear they wanted to eliminate both DRC and HPC to streamline development and remove barriers to building in Ventura, following the public comments from the CEO of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce to eliminate the HPC and DRC.

Most City Council members mentioned they were looking forward to approving the City Wide Survey so that there was less need for the HPC. We acknowledge this would mean fewer meetings. But the best body to review historic landmarks and archeological sites is the one that has familiarity with those Landmarks and understands the Secretary of the Interior's Standards — the federal guidelines for historic review.

DRC disbanding was 4-3 in favor of disbanding. Mc Reynolds, Duran, Sanchez-Palacios, and Halter approved a motion to eliminate DRC entirely (the alternate motion by Alex to keep DRC with very limited review power failed). 

Staff will come back in July/August with ordinance updates that eliminate the DRC, and remove historic design review powers from the HPC. That July/August proposed ordinance can still be modified/enhanced by Council, so we will still advocate for HPC at future meetings.  

The next CC meeting will be listed here when the agenda is released. Sign up for E-mail announcements to be notified of preservation news.

While the options are not optimum and will result in inferior outcomes, the Conservancy will advocate at City Council to try to maintain the CLG status and powers of the HPC.

The Previous June 9, City Council Staff Report for AGENDA ITEM 10 is linked here:

https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/50479/10

The recently adopted Ventura 2050 General Plan (GP) has a "Preservation Element" – an entire chapter devoted to historic preservation. The Conservancy enthusiastically supported the GP because the GP is full of goals and actions involving the HPC and recognizing historic preservation as an economic driver and a pathway to meet our housing goals through adaptive reuse of historic buildings. 

The City Council made preservation a priority in the GP and now the ad hoc is suggesting this expert committee should be merged with a commission that has no preservation expertise. The Planning Commission is meant to look forward and make Ventura's future projects better. In contrast the HPC is meant to review significant sites in the existing built environment to maintain the charm, vitality, and authenticity that makes Ventura a special place. A historic place.

We don't understand the disbanding recommendations because very few people dislike preservation, history, and authenticity. Removing the HPC, an important expert committee that was established in 1973, and has done so much to protect Ventura's historic downtown, west side and midtown landmarks and districts seems to be counter to what the public is looking for. 

From the Elks Lodge, to Watermark, to 24 Hour Fitness at the mall, to new buildings like 60 California Street, which fit into their context and feel right, HPC review and comment has made these projects better. Projects near landmarks and districts require review by the Historic Preservation Committee which can recommend mitigations and changes that make developments more compatible – resulting in a win-win of growth AND harmonious infill.