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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-02-25 - AGENDA REPORTS - STATE HISTORICAL LANDMARK (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Item to be presented py yl „ , i CONSENT CALENDAR DATE: February 25, 1992 SUBJECT: Letter of Support by the City Council to the State Historical Resources Commission to Designate Beale's Cut as a State Historic ` Landmark DEPARTMENT: Community Development BACKGROUND: On February 6, 1992, the City received a letter from the Envicom Corporation requesting the Council's support to have the local landmark known as Beale's Cut designated as a State Historic.Landmark. Envicom represents the owner (Hondo Oil & Gas) of the approximately 116.9 acre property upon which Beale's Cut is located. Envicom and the property owner are now in the process of working with the .Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society to complete the application package for submittal to the State. The requested letter of support from the City would become part of that submittal. The Hondo Oil & Gas Company recently submitted a proposal to develop portions of the site as a business park. The project ("Valley Gateway") is presently undergoing review by the City in accordance with planning and environmental law. Under the proposed plan, approximately one-third of the property is proposed to be dedicated as permanent open space. The Cut, and its approach trail, is included in this area and would serve as the physical and symbolic centerpiece of the the park. Designation of the Cut as an historic landmark would be consistent with the goals, policies and objectives of the City of Santa Clarita General Plan, including those in the Open Space and Conservation Element to'preserve special natural features which define the area, and which encourage the incorporation of unique or significant natural features within new development. Additionally, it will support preservation of local historical, cultural, and archaeological resources, and support efforts of the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society and others to identify and preserve. historical sites. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the letter to the State Historical Resources Commission to support the application of Hondo Oil & Gas Company seeking classification of Beale's Cut as a California Registered Landmark, and encouraging the Commission to approve such designation. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Letter to the State Historical Resources Commission. 2. Letter from Envicom requesting support (dated 02/04/92). DMW:605 APPROVED Agenda Item: lWity of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Blvd. Suite 300 City of Santa Clarita California 91355 February 12, 1992 Phone (805) 259-2489 Fax (805) 259-8125 State Historical Resources Commission Office of Historic Preservation Department of Parks and Recreation Post Office Box 942896 Sacramento, California 94296 RE: California Registered Historical Landmark Designation Application: Beale's Cut Stagecoach Pass, Santa Clarita, California Dear Commissioners: It has come to our attention that Hondo Oil & Gas Company, with the assistance of the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society and a number of interested local citizens, has submitted an application seeking designation of the Beale's Cut stagecoach pass as a California Registered Historic Landmark. The Cut and its approach trail are located within the 116.9 acre property (formerly the Newhall Refinery) located in the southeastern portion of the _City of Santa Clarita. Hondo .Oil & Gas Company has recently submitted a proposal to reuse portions of the site as a business park. The development application, known as the Valley Gateway Project, is presently undergoing review by the City, in accordance with the State Subdivision Map Act and the California Environmental Quality Act. Under the proposed development plan, the southern one-third of the property, including the Cut and its approach trail, is proposed to be preserved as permanent open space, to be dedicated to the City of Santa Clarita (or other appropriate public entity) for use and enjoyment as a passive public park. The Cut and its approach trail will serve as the physical and symbolic centerpiece of this park. As you are. aware from the information contained within the application materials, the Cut served as the primary non -coastal means of passage into and out of the Santa Clarita Valley and the Los Angeles Basin during the formative years and settlement of the State. The Cut stands as a striking and dramatic monument to the early pioneers who constructed and used it. The Cut is one of the few remaining features in the community which is evocative of the historic "wild western" image and character of the Newhall area and Santa Clarita 01 Valley. The Cut is also an extremely unique local and regional visual feature, and is a source of pride for the community. State Historical Resources Commission February 12, 1992 Page Two 0 Formal approval of the Cut as an officially -designated California Registered Historical Landmark will assist in further ensuring its preservation and will allow it to continue to be enjoyed and appreciated for generations to come. Designation of the Cut will be fully consistent with and will serve to assist in achieving a number of the important goals, objectives, and policies of the City of Santa Clarita General Plan. These include those contained within the Open Space and Conservation Element which seek to "preserve the special natural features which define the area and give it its distinct form and identity" and "encourage the incorporation of unique or significant natural features within new development." Designation of the Cut will also serve to substantially fulfill and further many 'of the specific states goals, objectives, and policies of the City related to the preservation of local historical, cultural, and. archaeological resources. These include "continuing to support programs established by the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society and others to identify and preserve historical sites," "integrating historic sites with recreational and open space areas whenever possible," and "incorporating historic sites into proposed development in such a manner as to preserve the integrity of the site whenever possible." For the reasons outlined above, the City of Santa Clarita wholeheartedly supports the application of Hondo Oil & Gas Company seeking classification of Beale -'s Cut as a California Registered Landmark, and strongly encourages the Commission to approve such designation. Please feel free to contact Lynn M. Harris, Deputy City Manager/Community Development if you have any questions regarding this recommendation or the proposed Valley Gateway Project in general. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. . Sincerely, Jill Klajic, Mayor JR:DMV:lf:602 E erivicom�o�� Environmental Research • Energy Resource Management • Urban and Regional Planning February 4, 1992 RECEIVED City of Santa Clarita LFEB 0.6.1992 Community Development Department COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite #300 CITY OF SANTA CMITA Santa Clarita, California 91355 Attention: Lynn M. Harris, Deputy City Manager Subject: Valley Gateway Project (Tentative Tract Map #51044): Application for Historic Landmark Designation of Beale's Cut Project No.: 40-008-101 Dear Ms. Harris: As you are aware, one component of the proposed Valley Gateway Project is an attempt on the part of Hondo Oil & Gas Company, the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society, and a number of interested citizens to have the Beale's Cut stagecoach pass and approach trail which transects the southwestern portion of the site, formally designated as a California Registered Historical Landmark. Formal designation of such landmarks is under the jurisdiction of the State Historical Resources Commission, administered and managedby by the State Office of Historic Preservation under the State Department of Parks and Recreation. The staff person at the State Office responsible for landmarks is a Mr. Clarence Caesar (916) 653-9010. To be considered for formaldesignation, the applicant/owner must complete and submit a relatively detailed designation application package (see attached requirements and forms). We are now in the process of completing the application package, with the assistance of Jerry Reynolds and Cynthia Neal -Harris from the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. The Society will also be forwarding a formal letter recommending designation; a prerequisite of the application. We are targeting consideration of our application at the next (quarterly) meeting of the State Historical Resources Commission, scheduled for May, 1992. 4764 Park Grenade • Calabasas Park, CA 91302.1593 • Telephone (B1 B) COf��701� J t■1011 Lynn M. Harris February 4,1992 Page Two Although it is not a formal requirement or prerequisite, I thought it would be most helpful (and perhaps politically appropriate) to the nomination if the application package contained a formal letter of support from the City of Santa Clarita (the jurisdiction in which the feature is located). We realize that this support by the City would be regarding the designation of the feature only. The action should not and would not be construed or inferred as an action or reflection of the City's position and opinion relative to the proposed development plan itself. In this regard, and in consideration of the feature's prominent role in the settlement and economic history of the Santa Clarita Valley, I would like to respectfully request that you consider writing such a letter of support. If the concept is deemed appropriate, I would suggest two possible options: (1) the letter could be signed by yourself or another senior administrator (i.e., City Manager Caravalho); or (2) the request could be forwarded to the Planning Commission and/or City Council for formal consideration and (hopefully) approval, then signed by Mayor Klajic. If the latter course of action were taken, we would be glad to make a brief presentation in front of the Commission or Council, if necessary (explaining the process and displaying some of the historic photographs) when the request is discussed. Because a small portion of the Cut itself and the majority of the approach trail lies within part of the project site that is still within unincorporated County territory (but proposed to be annexed under our development plan), I am submitting a similar request for a letter of support to Supervisor Antonovichs' office, through Ms. Darcy. If the feature were to receive formal designation, it is our intent (with the assistance of the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society) to host a celebratory announcement/program adjacent to the feature at the site in late May of 1992. Regardless of the City's .decision on the -letter of support request, it is our intent to invite City and County officials to formally participate in the event (uncovering a temporary plaque of designation, making brief remarks, etc.). �vicom c�o��o��ow Lynn M. Harris February 4,1992 Page Three In addition, if the feature were to receive formal California Registered Historical Landmark designation, it is our intent to request that the State Historical Resources Commission forward the appropriate applications to the State Historic Preservation Officer and Keeper of the National Register for consideration of the feature's receiving placement on the National Register of Historic Places. Please advise me of your decision and any other actions that I might take to assist this process. If you have any questions or need any additional information or materials regarding the request, please feel free to contact me. Our deadline for. assemblage of the completed materials is March 15, 1992. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, David J. Armanetti, Manager Real Estate Development Services cc: City Council Members City.Planning Commission Members George Caravalho, City Manager Glenn Adamick, Case Planner, City of Santa Clarita Blaine Hess, Hondo Oil & Gas Company Jerry Reynolds, Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society Cynthia Neal -Harris, Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society ptitY 4F SAIiTACI.ARtTA FEB m