Commission backs pilot plaque program for Article 10 landmarks

Planning Department staff presented a proposal Nov. 4, 2015, to create a historic-plaque program for Article 10 individual landmarks and asked the Historic Preservation Commission for direction on content and structure.

"To be eligible to display a plaque, the property must be designated as an Article 10 individual landmark," Shannon Ferguson, department staff, said, describing a voluntary program that would require an owner affidavit consenting to installation and that the owner be responsible for installation and maintenance. Staff showed plaque templates and said the program could run as a pilot while a code amendment to Article 10 is prepared.

Staff provided cost estimates for an 18-inch bronze plaque at about $694 to $729 and an 18-inch aluminum plaque at about $446 to $656. Tim Frey said finance review shows the department can fund a pilot: "we can fully fund this pilot program," he said, and staff proposed taking the first 25 requests on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding sources discussed included the department’s annual budget or a small fee added to building permits or entitlements.

Commission discussion touched on plaque size and legibility, installation methods for glass-fronted buildings such as Twin Peaks Tavern, and whether plaques should be mandatory for new designations (staff said the program must be voluntary). Commissioners expressed support for the pilot and asked staff to continue work on funding, permit requirements with the Department of Building Inspection, and any necessary code amendments.

Next steps: staff will refine cost and funding options, consult with DBI and the City Attorney about permit and code implications, mail pilot information to landmark owners, and roll out the first 25 plaques on a pilot basis if approved.