Salinas staff audits 1989 historic-resources survey; flagged properties to receive additional permit review

Planning staff told the Historic Resources Board on July 7 that they are auditing the city's 1989 historic-resources survey and will flag listed properties in the permitting system so any permit applications trigger an additional historic review.

"I'm halfway through, out of 6 pages. So I am, 3 out of 6 pages left," Assistant Planner Yesenia Segovia said, describing the audit as "very tedious" and noting the list comprises more than 100 properties from the 1989 survey.

Segovia explained her process: she is double-checking addresses on the survey against the city's permit-tracking software and marking items that are not currently flagged. After Segovia completes the review, a supervisor will apply the flags in the tracking system. Staff estimated the process could take a couple of months.

Board members asked practical questions: what happens when a flagged property applies for a permit (staff said the application is routed for additional planning review), whether national Secretary of the Interior standards apply (staff said the code references those standards and agreed to follow up with precise applicability), and how buyers or realtors are notified (staff said such notifications typically appear in escrow or assessor records but agreed to research options for outreach and realtor notification).

Why this matters: Flagging properties in the permitting system means contractors and homeowners seeking permits for work on older, surveyed properties will trigger a review for historic impacts.

Staff will report back with confirmation about how Secretary of the Interior standards are applied, the timing of flagging in the permitting system and options for notifying realtors or buyers.