(Amended October 5, 1993)
Because of the great number and rich variety of early 20th Century homes that still exist in this neighborhood, city architectural and historic surveyors in the 1980s nicknamed it Bungalow Heaven. The name became official in 1989 when it was designated as a city Landmark District -- the first city Landmark District in Pasadena. Attaining Landmark District status included development and approval of a neighborhood Conservation Plan designed "to assist homeowners . . . with restoration, alteration or additions, so that the historic and architectural qualities of the District are maintained and preserved."
VI. Work Requiring Design Review
A. Contributing Structures
B. Non-Contributing Structures
IX. Assistance to Property Owners/Applicants
This plan, adopted by the City Council on October 5, 1993,
replaces in its entirety the Conservation Plan adopted on November 14, 1989.
With the goal of preserving the unique historical and environmental qualities of a residential neighborhood in the City of Pasadena, the homeowners in the neighborhood - by majority vote - petitioned the City to create the Bungalow Heaven Landmark District (District) in 1989.
This Conservation Plan establishes certain guidelines that may affect exterior changes to your home. Please read carefully.
Bungalow Heaven Landmark District is a rare and mostly intact collection of over 800 homes built from the turn-of-the-century through the 1930s. The district is bounded by East Orange Grove Boulevard on the south, East Washington Boulevard on the north, North Mentor Avenue on the west, and North Chester Avenue on the east. Both sides of the street on Mentor and Chester are included in the district.
While the majority of homes in Bungalow Heaven are Craftsman style bungalows, hence the name of the district, many fine residences of significant historic design, including Spanish Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival, populate the neighborhood. The neighborhood retains a distinct single-family quality. The character of the district is enhanced by mature street trees and attractive landscaping, which are important elements of the overall streetscape.
Distinctly American in origin, Craftsman architecture flourished in Pasadena from approximately 1905 to the 1920s. The architectural style was utilized in the design of both humble houses and large mansions. Bungalow Heaven, which developed at the height of this enthusiasm, has one of the largest, intact collections of Craftsman bungalows in Pasadena. The bungalows of this neighborhood stand as an example of regional architecture and are a significant, historic resource for the City, the State, and the Nation.
The goals and objectives of this Conservation Plan are:
VI. WORK REQUIRING DESIGN REVIEW
Chapter 17.52 of the Pasadena Municipal Code authorizes design review within designated landmark districts. Within the Bungalow Heaven Landmark District, design review shall apply as follows:
Future construction or exterior alterations to existing structures, new construction within the areas zoned for single-family and multi-family residential development, and relocations of structures into the district require a Certificate of Appropriateness ("Certificate") from the City of Pasadena before a building permit is issued.
The review applies only to those portions of a structure that are visible from the public right-of-way. Additions or alterations that may be concealed by temporary features such as landscaping and fences, may be subject to design review. Features of a structure that are not visible from the public right-of-way are exempt from review.
An architectural survey of the Bungalow Heaven Landmark District was completed in 1987. The purpose of the survey was to identify those structures within the District whose historic character had been essentially maintained ("contributing") and those structures that, due to alterations or additions, no longer reflected their original historical character or due to a more recent construction date is outside the district's period of historic significance ("non-contributing").
City staff shall determine whether a structure is contributing or non-contributing. The staff shall refer to the City's Historical and Architectural Inventory (#21, Bungalow Heaven) in these determinations in addition to evaluating the building's current status of significance.
A. Contributing Structures
1. The following items are not subject to review. If a building permit is required, a Certificate will be issued without review:
2. The following items, if visible from the public right-of-way, require review by the staff of the Cultural Heritage Commission (Commission):
NOTE: Certificates for this category of work will be issued upon approval by staff. At its discretion, the staff may refer applications to the Cultural Heritage Commission.
3. These items, if visible from the public right-of-way, require review and approval by the Commission:
B. Non-Contributing Structures
1. Alterations to structures identified as non-contributing to the historic quality of the district shall be exempt for review except for the following:
2. Review Guidelines for Non-Contributing Structures.
1. The Commission shall also be responsible for the following reviews:
2. All requests for demolition permits in the District (except for garages) will be reviewed by the Commission. Demolition of historic structures shall not be allowed unless:
3. The current zoning requirement for two covered parking spaces (P.M. C.17. 68.020) may be waived by the staff or the Commission only for single family residences and if the existing, covered parking structure is:
This waiver ensures that historic garages are not remodeled or demolished simply to meet the zoning requirements for parking. Alterations to historic garages require a Certificate if the alteration is visible from the public right-of-way.
The City of Pasadena, as a major property owner in the district, will endeavor to maintain the historic quality of the neighborhood. This objective includes but is not limited to:
IX. ASSISTANCE TO PROPERTY OWNERS/APPLICANTS
To assist property owners to comply with this Conservation Plan, the City of Pasadena will make available to property owners information and resources relative to acceptable methods of construction and alteration. Representatives of the Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association are available to assist residents with the preparation of applications for Certificates.
1. Exterior alterations listed in the previous section as requiring design review will be reviewed by the Commission or by staff to the Commission. The Commission (or staff) will determine whether the proposed alteration or construction is in keeping with the historic quality of the neighborhood and adheres to the most current edition of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, available from the office of the Design & Historic Preservation Section (626-744-4009) of the Planning Division. The Commission (or staff) may approve, conditionally approve, or deny an application.
2. All Commission meetings are open to the public.
3. Staff decisions are not subject to calls for review by the Commission. Any decision by the staff may be appealed by the applicant to the Commission. Any decision by the Commission may be appealed by the applicant to the City Council.
4. The Landmark District has a zoning designation of "LD overlay district." Within this district, the Commission or staff may impose reasonable design-related conditions that are stricter than the zoning regulations if it finds that a proposal for demolition, alteration, or new construction is inconsistent with this plan and with the historic architectural qualities of the district. Copies of the district ordinances may be obtained from the office of the Design & Historic Preservation Section.
jdc/cp2engx (rev 4/12/94)
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