HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC AGENDA PK 2001/04/16
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RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA
MEMO TO: Chula Vista City Council
DATE: April 16, 2001
Re: A CHULA VISTA HISTORICAL RESOURCE: THE CORONADO RAILROAD BELT LINE
AND ITS POSSIBLE LISTING ON THE CALIFORNIA HISTORIC REGISTER
On April 2, 2001, the Resource Conservation Commission was given a presentation by historian
Alex Bevil about the Coronado Railroad Belt Line, Brian Hunter, the city's Planning and
Environmental Manager for Community Development, provided an update on the City of Chula
Vista's future plans for the bay front area, Mr, Bevil is writing a designation report on behalf of
an organization named Save Our Heritage Organisation to have the Coronado Railroad Belt
Line listed on the California Historic Register,
The historian's presentation convincingly documented the fact that the Coronado Belt Line has
had significant impact on Chula Vista's formative years and helped chart the coarse for the
entire South Bay region, As such, the commission voted unanimously on April 2 to recommend
listing of the Belt Line on the State Register, A listing on the California Historic Register would
recognize the importance that the Coronado Belt Line has had in the development of the South
Bay, but it would not guarantee preservation of the Coronado Belt Line or prevent any future
development of the Chula Vista waterfront. An outline of Mr, Bevil's presentation citing the
qualifying criteria is attached,
The commissioners came to this decision with its responsibilities in mind, These responsibilities
are spelled out in Chapter 2,32 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code, Resource Conservation
Commissioners are entrusted to make recommendations to City Council under the following
guidelines:
"to provide citizens advice to the city council in the areas of energy conservation,
resource recovery, environmental quality, historic and prehistoric site protection, and
other related fields" (2,32,010 -Purpose & Intent)
"Safeguard the city's historic, aesthetic, social, economic, political and architectural
past;" (2,32,030 J - Goals and Policies)
"Recommend to the city council the designation of any site which it has found to meet
the criteria as a historical site" (2,32,070 A - Historical Protection)
The recognition of the importance of this railroad by potential listing on the California Historic
Register is in no way associated with the preservation of the right of way, These are two very
separate issues, Listing the Belt Line on the State Historic Register will not impede possible and
future development of the Chula Vista bay front, as outlined by Mr. Hunter's discussion of
possible future plans for the area, Future bay front development plans may actually benefit by
such a listing through tax break incentives available when incorporating a designated historic
entity within a development project. With this in mind, we recommend the viewing of Mr. Bevil's
presentation and respectfully request that the Chula Vista City Council support historic
designation for the right of way in order to benefit the citizens of Chula Vista in every way
possible,
Respectfully submitted by the Resource Conservation Commissioners
The Coronado Railroad Belt Line
Alexander D. Bevil
Historian specializing in historic land use studies; historic site designation at the
national, state and local levels
Project Scope
Retained by Save Our Heritage Organisation to investigate the history, historical
significance and potential for designation to the California Historic Register of the
surviving remnant of the Coronado Belt Line
Resource Description
A 7.5-mile railroad right-of-way between National City south through Chula Vista
and Imperial Beach to the base of the Silver Strand
Description of CEQA
Review levels of Criteria for listing on the California Register of Historic
Resources
Historic Significance
The surviving segment of the original 20,30-mile Coronado Belt Line is
historically significant on the local level under Criteria 1 of the California Register
of Historic Resources and Criteria A of the National Register of Historic Places
due to the following:
· One of the earliest independent interurban short steam rail lines in San Diego
County, its original 20,30-mile route provided direct steam freight and limited
passenger rail service between the resort community of Coronado and
downtown San Diego
· During its period of historic significance from 1888 to 1950 it was a major
contributor to the economic development of Coronado, as well as other
suburban communities along its right-of-way, including National City, Chula
Vista, and Imperial Beach.
· Through its various corporate lives as the Coronado railroad, the san Diego
Southern, the San Diego & Southeastern, the San Diego & Arizona, and
finally the SO & Arizona eastern railway, the line provided the means for the
transport of bulk agricultural and industrial raw materials from the region to
San Diego's harbor and transcontinental rail links throughout the United
States
· Besides shipping bulk agricultural and industrial raw materials, the line was
also a critical hauler of strategic war materiel in and out of important local
industries during both world wars
· Western Salt Works at La Punta
· Hercules Powder Factory at Gunpowder Point
· Rohr Aircraft Plant
. A section of the line between National City and Chula Vista shared service
with an electric traction interurban passenger line
. The forerunner of today's San Diego Trolley, the line served as part of a
key electric trolley commuter route that connected the south bay to
downtown San Diego's business center
Coronado Belt Line is also historically significant on the local level under Criteria
3 the California Register of Historic Resources and Criteria C of the National
Register of Historic Places due to the following:
· The surviving 7.5-mile segment of railroad right-of-way including its roadbed,
rails, ties, switches, and wooden trestles, represents a type, period and
method of late 19th century and early 20th century railroad construction
techniques and materials.
· While these components may lack individual distinction, together they
represent a significant and distinguishable entity
Historical Integrity
The surviving 113-year old right-of-way is still able to convey its significance and
association with the original 20 ,30-mile Coronado Belt Line through the following:
· Its location, design, setting, materials, and feeling
· Its historic association with one of San Diego's earliest locally owned and
operated interurban short lines, which served as a vital rail transportation
corridor linking the South Bay with Coronado, San Diego, and
transcontinental rail links throughout the United States
C. In conjunction with input on environmental documents, the commission may make recommendations
regarding the environmental impact, energy or resource conservation or impact on historic resources
of the project to the appropriate decision-making authority. These recommendations may include
methods to mitigate adverse effects, reduce energy or resource consumption or other suggestions
within the purpose and intent of the commission.
(Ord. 1928 §2 (pan), 1980).
2.32060 Additiooal duties-Energy conservati~n and resource recovery.
A. All proposed energy or resources conservation or recovery policies, programs, or regulations shall be
reviewed by the commission so it may make recommendations to the city council regarding
compliance with this chapter.
B. The commission may make recommendations to city staff, other boards or commissions or the city
council regarding the commission's review of policies, programs or regulations,
C. The commission shall review and make a recommendation to the council for the disposition of appeals
regarding the administration of Tide 20, Energy Conservation, of this code except those poItions which
are within the Scope of the Doard of appeals and the planning commission.
(Ord. 1932 §2 (part), 1980),
232070 . Additiooal duties-Hist~ri<:al protection..
The commission shall:
A. Recommend to the city council the desismation of any site which it has found to meet the criteria as
a historical site. The commission shall also recommend if the historical site pennit process as provided
in Section 2.32.090 of the chapter, should be imposed on the site;
.
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B. Inspect any site which the commission has reason to believe could meet the criteria for a historical
site;
C. Explore means for the protection, retention and preservation of any historical site, including, but not
limited to, appropriate legislation and financing, such as the establishment of a, private funding
organization or individual, local, state or federal assistance;
D. Recommend standards for historical and aesthetic districts and the establishment of such districts
within the city;
E. Coordinate its activities with the county, the state and the federal government as appropriate to
prevent duplication of efforts.
F. Provide direction to staff for the preparation and maintenance of a register of all designated historical
sites. The register shall include a description of the site, its location, the reason for its designation
and other infonnation that the commission detennines is necessary. The register shall be distributed
to city departments, the owners and; or occupants of designated historical sites and other interested
civic or governmental agencies;
"
111 (R 11/91)
G. Ten days prior to the consideration by the commission of any site f0J;~d~!~H0n,as:j1 historical site,
the owner shall be notified in writing that the site is under consideratiori;fói'"iriclusiori in the register.
The notice shall include the date, time and place of the meeting. For purposes of this chapter, the
owner of such property is the person appearing a. the owner of such property on the last equalized
assessment roll of the county. Such notice shall be mailed to the address shown on the assessment
roll, in order for a person to appear and protest such inclusion. The owner shall also be notified of
any subsequent discussion or possible actions regarding the potential site by the commission or city
council.
(Ord. 1932 §2 (Part), 1980).
2.32.080 Administrative functions.
A. The commission shall select a chairperson and vice chairperson from its membership at the
commencement of each fiscal year. Four members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business.
B. The commission shall meet not less than once a month and at the call of the chairperson, or in his
absence, the vice chairperson or a majority of the members of the commission.
c. The commission shall adopt reasonable rules. regulations, procedures and standards, which are
consistent with the law, and which are necessary to implement goals, policies and intent of this
chapter and related goals, policies and regulations of the city.
D, The city manager may make available staff and clerical support as necessary to fulfill its functions and
duties, provided such staff and clerical support is available. In the event that private funds or funds
from other governmental agencies are made available for special projects, surveys, educational
programs or general program support the city manager is authorized, upon recommendation of the
commission and approval of the council, to enter into appropriate contracts for the utilization of such
funds in furtherance of the purpose and intent of, and the duties and functions of the commission.
E. The resource conservation commission shall have no pOWer or right to acquire any property for or on.~
behalf of itself or the city, nor shall it acquiÍ'e"or hold any money for itself or on behalf of the city.
Further, the resource conservation commission shall not have the power or right to negotiate with any
party for the acquisition of property designated as a historic site.
COrd. 1932 §2 (part), 1980).
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A. The city council may, after considering such a recommendation by the resource conservation
commission, impose the permit restrictions contained in this section.
B, ,Nõ'ì>êìîDitfor-tlìei'djmlolitiol1;' substan1:ialialt¢rätioi( at; rêJ)ioVai."'of¡riiYbllildiÌii;st:ruci:1.1re:òr,site.- shalf'
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city manager determines that demolition, removal or substantial alteration of any such building,
structure or site is immediately necessary in the interest of the public health, safety or general welfare.
The building, engineering and planning departments shall notify the resource conservation commission
in writing within five days of any request it receives for any such pennir.
"
(R 11/91) 112
C. The resource conseIVation commission shall have thirty days from the date of such notification within
which to object to the proposed demolition, major alteration or removal of the trees, plants or other
major landscaping. The resource conservation commission shall file its objections with the city
manager or his delegate. Upon the filing of such objections, no permits shall be issued for the
demolition, major alteration or removal of the historic site for a period of not less than thirty nor more
than one hundred eighty days. The city manager shall notify the appropriate departments of the filing
of objections by the resource conseIVation commission. Failure to file objections within the thirty-day
period is a waiver of all objections, and the permit shall be issued in due course. When the resource
conservation cOmmission files objections with the city manager pursuant to this chapter, all such
objections, upon their transmittal to the city manager, shall in addition be transmitted to the applicant
for any permit or entitlement to demolish, perform a major alteration upon, or remove any historic
site or other feature protected by the terms of this chapter.
0, Upon the fùing of objections, the resource conservation commission shall take such steps within the
scope of its powers and duties as it determines are necessary for the preservation of the historical site.
No such action shall be taken by the resource conseIVation commission, however, until the same has
been submitted to and approved by the city council, At the end of the fIrst thirty days, the resource
conservation commission shall report its progress to the city council which may, upon review of the
progress report, withdraw and cancel the objection to the proposed demolition, major alteration or
removal, and the necessary permits shall then be issued. If at the end of the fIrst one hundred days
of the aforesaid one.hundred-eighty_day period, it is found that the preservation of the site, building
or structure Cannot be fully accomplished within the one-hundred-eighty_day period, and the resource
conservation commission determines that such preseIVation can be satisfactorily completed within an
additional period not to exceed one hundred eighty days, the resource conseIVation commission may
recommend to the city council that a request for extension be granted. Such recommendation shall
set forth the reasons therefor and the progress to that date of the steps taken to preserve the site. The
city council may accept such recommendation for good cause shown and if it appears that preseIVation
may be completed within the time requested, may grant an extension of time not to exceed one
hundred eighty days. No such request for extension shall be made after the expiration of the original
one-hundred-eighty_day suspension period.
E. No person shaIl remove trees, plants or other major landscaping from any property designated as an
historical site without the apploval of the city's landscape architect. The city's land""ape architect
shall notify the resource conseì'vation commission in writing of any such request within five days of
its receipt
(Ord. 1932 §2 (part), 1980).
"
113 (R 11/91)
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
:) Property Maintenance. All buildings, structures, yards and other
improvements shall be maintained in a manner which does not detract from the
appearance of the immediate neighborhood. The following conditions are
prohibited:
J.. Dilapidated, deteriorating, or unrepaired structures, such as: fences,
roofs, doors, walls, and windows;
2. . ,Scrap lûrnber, junk, trash or debris;
3. Abandoned, disc~rded or unused objects or equipment, such as automobiles,
automobile parts, furniture, stoves, refrigerators, cans, containers, or
similar items;
4. Stagnant water or excavations, including pools or spas;
5. Any device, decoration, design, structure or vegetation which is unsightly
by reason of its height, condition or its inappropriate location.
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EXHIBIT "B-2ft
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