Historic preservation commission to lead $200,000 citywide survey; $3,000 evaluation fee remains until list adopted

The Sonoma Design Review and Historic Preservation Commission heard an overview of recent ordinance changes and next steps for a citywide historic resources survey, and staff said the $3,000 historic resource evaluation deposit will remain in place for now until the survey and local listing process are complete.

Staff described a multi-step program the city will run after City Council adoption of ordinance changes. The administration plans to issue two requests for proposals: one for a citywide survey and one for a cultural landscape survey focused on the Sonoma Plaza. Staff estimated the survey contract could be about $200,000 and said the survey work would produce documentation (DPR forms and context statements) that the city would use to create or refine a local register of historic resources.

The changes adopted by council reassign some responsibilities and rename the body the Historic Preservation Commission. Staff said the commission will no longer review demolition permits as part of its purview and that some reviews (notably many signs) will remain under planning staff or administrative review until the sign code is revised. Staff said the new ordinance will take effect in approximately three weeks, after which the new pathways for major and minor design review will be implemented.

City staff described how the permit…