City of Calabasas, CA
Home MenuHistoric Preservation Commission
Meetings
The Historic Preservation Commission meets quarterly on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers (subject to change).
- Current Agenda
- Archived Meetings and Minutes
- Historic Preservation Commission Action Agendas
- Receive Agendas via Email
All documents submitted to the City, including emails related to the public's business, are generally public records, absent a specific exception as articulated under State law, and could be posted on the City’s website and otherwise made available to the public.
Commissioners
- Michael Heumann, Chair
- Justin Ford, Vice Chair
- Mark Silverman
- Carol Steffen
- Vacant
- Vacant (Calabasas-Las Virgenes Historical Society Representative)
Staff
- Tom Bartlett, AICP, City Planner
Application to Serve on the Commission
Purpose of the Historic Preservation Commission
The Historic Preservation Commission serves two functions for the City of Calabasas. Primarily, the Commission serves as the citizen oversight body for the City’s historic preservation policies and programs. As a Certified Local Government under State of California historic preservation law {California Public Resources Code, Section 5020.1. Definitions}, the City must establish and maintain a citizen commission for this purpose.
The second role of the Historic Preservation Commission serves as the review body for development projects proposed within the Old Town Calabasas area. In this capacity the duties of the Commission are guided by the Old Town Calabasas Master Plan and the zoning standards and requirements associated with the Commercial Old Town zoning district within CMC Chapter 17.14 and Section 17.11.010. For certain projects which may also affect a historic resource within of adjacent to the Old Town Calabasas area, the Commission would function in both capacities.
Commission Profile
The Historic Preservation Commission was created under Ordinance No. 2008-241, which was adopted by the City Council on January 2, 2008. Please click here for the full text of the ordinance, including more complete information on the Commission and the Historic Preservation program. All members of the Commission should have a demonstrated interest in Calabasas’ historical, architectural and cultural heritage and have special interest, knowledge, or training in fields closely related to historic preservation. Such fields include architecture, history, landscape architecture, architectural history, planning, archaeology, urban design, geography, real estate, law, finance, building trades or related areas. Anyone interested in applying for the Historic Preservation Commission is encouraged to download and complete a Commission application found on the Commissions homepage.
The powers and duties of the Historic Preservation Commission include the following:
- Conduct a comprehensive survey of historical resources within the boundaries of the City;
- Hear and decide applications for Certificates of Appropriateness and applications for Certificates of Economic Hardship;
- Hear and make recommendations to the City Council regarding applications for designations of historic landmarks, landscapes and districts; applications for placement of landmarks or districts on the National Register of Historical Places or the California Register of Historical Resources; and applications for Mills Act contracts; and
- Maintain a local register of designated historic landmarks, landscapes and districts.
Historic Preservation Commission Membership (CMC 2.30.020)
- The commission shall consist of six (6) members. The five (5) voting members shall be lawful residents of the city and electors during their respective terms of office. The sixth member shall be an ex-officio, nonvoting member and a member of the Calabasas-Las Virgenes Historical Society and is not required to be a resident of the city. The Board of Directors of the Calabasas-Las Virgenes Historical Society shall nominate the nonvoting member, which nomination shall be subject to city council confirmation.
- Commissioners nominated by individual city councilmembers shall have terms lasting for the lesser of two (2) years or until the expiration of the term of the councilmember who nominated him or her. The ex-officio, non-voting member shall have a term lasting two (2) years. Notwithstanding the expiration of a term, a commissioner or alternate shall continue until his or her successor has been appointed.
- If a vacancy occurs other than by expiration of a term, a new commissioner shall be appointed in the manner set forth above and shall serve the unexpired portion of the term.
- Required Qualifications. All members should have a demonstrated interest in Calabasas' historical, architectural and cultural heritage and have special interest, knowledge, or training in fields closely related to historic preservation. Such fields include architecture, history, landscape architecture, architectural history, planning, archaeology, urban design, geography, real estate, law, finance, building trades or related areas.
- Desired Qualifications.
- If possible, the city council shall appoint at least two (2) members to the commission who are professionals in the fields or disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, history, architectural history, urban planning, American studies, geography, archaeology, or other historic preservation-related disciplines to the extent that such professionals are available in the community.
Historic Preservation Resource Links
Policies and Procedures for Review and Acceptance of Monuments, Memorials, Markers and Plaques
Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation & Guidelines on Sustainability (2013)
Old Town Calabasas Master Plan
City of Calabasas Historic Context Statement
City of Calabasas Historic Landmarks