REPORT ON THE MORATORIUM ON THE DEMOLITION OR MODIFICATION OF HISTORIC AND ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES

Recommendation:

That the City Council receive this report and adopt the attached ordinance on an urgency basis extending the subject moratorium for 10 months, 15 days (this requires a 4/5 vote for passage).

Background:

The City Council adopted the moratorium at your meeting of December 17, 1996. The first step in the process requires that the City Council hold a public hearing within 45 days of its enactment to determine whether or not the need still exists and if it should be extended to allow more time to review the several alternatives and consider and adopt a permanent ordinance. Since the adoption of the ordinance, a sub-committee of the City Council, composed of Councilmembers Bowler and Edgerton, have met with interested residents in developing a process for a permanent historic preservation ordinance. More time is required to fully review ordinances from other jurisdictions in order to shape a proposal that would meet the needs of Hermosa Beach. The committee continues to meet and is making good progress towards development of a program for Hermosa Beach. However, it is still necessary for the moratorium to continue so that the committee can complete its work and prepare a recommendation to the full City Council. Once this is completed, the City Council will hold a public hearing to determine whether or not the regulations would be adopted in a permanent ordinance.