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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · HISTORIC PRESERVATION TITLE AND CONTENTS
Historic Preservation Element — Title Page and Contents
9 pages
- Government
- Oakland, California
- Covers
- historic preservation title and contents
- Pages
- 9
- Verified
- 2026-08-22
- Source
- Government PDF ↗
Pages 1–9
ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT HISTORY
The Historic Preservation Element of the Oakland General Plan was adopted March 8, 1994 (Oakland City Council Resolution No. 70807 C.M.S.).
The following sections of the Element were amended July 21, 1998 (Oakland City Council Resolution No. 74403 C. M. S.): Policy 3.2 (city-owned properties), Policy 3.3 (city-assisted properties), Policy 3.5 (discretionary permit approvals), Policy 3.8 (definition of "Local Register of Historical Resources" and "Significant Effect" for environmental review purposes), Action 3.8.1 (environmental review regulations), and Appendix A: Definitions ("Character Defining Element", "Historical and Architectural Inventory", and "Local Register of Historical Resources").
CONTENTS
Directory of Goals, Objectives, Policies and Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
List of Tables and Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S-1
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 Historic Preservation Element Function and Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 Overview of Oakland's History and Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Chapter 2: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 Historic Preservation Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 The Benefits of Historic Preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 Existing Historic Preservation Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9 Existing Historic Preservation Program Deficiencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12 Historic Preservation Strategy and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Chapter 3: IDENTIFYING HISTORIC PROPERTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 Policy 1.1: Historical and Architectural Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 Policy 1.2: Potential Designated Historic Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4 Policy 1.3: Designated Historic Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Chapter 4: PRESERVATION INCENTIVES AND REGULATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Policy 2.1: Preservation Incentives and Regulations for Designated Historic Properties . 4-2 Policy 2.2: Landmark and Preservation District Eligibility Classifications . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3 Policy 2.3: Landmark and Preservation District Designation Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7 Policy 2.4: Landmark and Preservation District Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8 Demolition and Removal Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 Secretary of the Interior’s Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 Regulation Streamlining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17 Policy 2.5: Heritage Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 Policy 2.6: Preservation Incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
Chapter 5: HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ONGOING CITY ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1 Policy 3.1: Discretionary City Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1 Policy 3.2: City-Owned Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2 Policy 3.3: Designated Historic Property Status for Certain City-Assisted Properties . . . 5-3 Policy 3.4: City Acquisition for Historic Preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4 Policy 3.5: Discretionary Permit Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5 Policy 3.6: City-Sponsored or Assisted Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
(continued)
CONTENTS (continued)
Chapter 5: HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ONGOING CITY ACTIVITIES (continued) Policy 3.7: Property Relocation Rather Than Demolition ........................ 5-8 Policy 3.8: Definition of "Local Register of Historical Resources" and "Significant Effects" for Environmental Review Purposes ......................... 5-10 Policy 3.9: Consistency of Zoning with existing or eligible Preservation Districts . . . . 5-12 Policy 3.10: Earthquakes, Fires, and Other Emergencies ........................ 5-13 Policy 3.11: Seismic Retrofit and Other Building Safety Programs ................ 5-15 Policy 3.12: Substandard or Public Nuisance Properties ........................ 5-16 Policy 3.13: Security of Vacant Properties ................................... 5-20 Policy 3.14: Commercial Revitalization Programs ............................. 5-21 Policy 4.1: Archeological Resources ....................................... 5-22
Chapter 6: INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ................................... 6-1 Policy 5.1: Information and Education ................................... 6-1
Chapter 7: ACTION PROGRAM ............................................... 7-1
APPENDICES
Appendix A: DEFINITIONS .................................................... A-1
Appendix B: EXISTING PROPERTIES ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, OAKLAND LANDMARKS AND S-7 PRESERVATION DISTRICTS .................................... B-1
Appendix C: OAKLAND CULTURAL HERITAGE SURVEY EVALUATION SYSTEM ...... C-1
Appendix D: LANDMARKS PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINATION OF LANDMARK ELIGIBILITY ................ D-1
Appendix E: SUMMARY OF PROCEDURE FOR LANDMARKS PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD INITIATION OF LANDMARK OR S-7 ZONE DESIGNATION ....................... E-1
DIRECTORY OF
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND ACTIONS
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION ..................................................... 1-1
Chapter 2: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ........................................... 2-1
Goal 1 ................................................................... 2-2 Goal 2 ................................................................... 2-2
Objective 1: Identifying Properties Potentially Warranting Preservation ............ 2-13 Objective 2: Preservation Incentives and Regulations ............................ 2-13 Objective 3: Historic Preservation and Ongoing City Activities ................... 2-14 Objective 4: Archeological Resources ........................................... 2-14 Objective 5: Information and Education .......................................... 2-14
Chapter 3: IDENTIFYING HISTORIC PROPERTIES ............................... 3-1
Objective 1: Identifying Properties Potentially Warranting Preservation ........... 3-1 Policy 1.1: Historical and Architectural Inventory ............................... 3-1 Action 1.1.1: Complete the Reconnaissance Survey ............................. 3-3 Action 1.1.2: Long range plan for completing the Intensive Survey ............. 3-3 Action 1.1.3: Database, lists and maps of Reconnaissance and Intensive Survey results ......................... 3-3 Action 1.1.4: Process for updating the Surveys ............................... 3-4 Policy 1.2: Potential Designated Historic Properties .............................. 3-4 Action 1.2.1: List of Potential Designated Historic Properties ................ 3-4 Policy 1.3: Designated Historic Properties ....................................... 3-4
Chapter 4: PRESERVATION INCENTIVES AND REGULATIONS ........................ 4-1
Objective 2: Preservation Incentives and Regulations ........................... 4-1 Policy 2.1: Preservation incentives and regulations for Designated Historic Properties 4-2 Action 2.1.1: Amend zoning text to incorporate new preservation incentives and regulations ................................................. 4-2 Action 2.1.2: Redesignate existing Landmarks and Preservation Districts. Reclassify existing preservation study list properties as Heritage Properties .......................................... 4-3 Policy 2.2: Landmark and Preservation District eligibility classifications .......... 4-3 Action 2.2.1: Guidelines for determination of Preservation District eligibility ... 4-3 Policy 2.3: Landmark and Preservation District designation procedure ............. 4-7 Action 2.3.1: Criteria for designation of Landmarks over owner objections ..... 4-8
(continued)
Chapter 4: PRESERVATION INCENTIVES AND REGULATIONS (continued)
Policy 2.4: Landmark and Preservation District regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8 Action 2.4.1: Landmark and Preservation District design guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 Policy 2.5: Heritage Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 Policy 2.6: Preservation Incentives for Designated Historic Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24 Action 2.6.1: Mills Act contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25 Action 2.6.2: Conservation easements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25 Action 2.6.3: Transferable development rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-26 Action 2.6.4: Limit to Landmarks and Preservation Districts existing zoning provisions conditionally permitting additional uses in historic buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-27 Action 2.6.5: Broader range of conditionally permitted uses for Landmarks and Preservation Districts in certain zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-27 Action 2.6.6: City development assistance priority to historic preservation projects involving Designated Historic Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28 Action 2.6.7: Historic preservation revolving fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28 Action 2.6.8: Marks bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28 Action 2.6.9: Waivers and reductions of permit fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29 Action 2.6.10: Apply State Historical Building Code to Designated Historic Properties and other qualified historical buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29 Action 2.6.11: State Historical Building Code information sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30 Action 2.6.12: State Historical Building Code interpretations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
Chapter 5: HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ONGOING CITY ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Objective 3: Historic Preservation and Ongoing City Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1 Policy 3.1: Discretionary City actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2 Policy 3.2: City-owned properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2 Action 3.2.1: Designated Historic Property status for City-owned properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2 Action 3.2.2: Historic preservation management procedure for City-owned properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2 Policy 3.3: Designated Historic Property status for certain City-assisted properties . . 5-3 Action 3.3.1: City assistance contract provisions requiring Designated Historic Property status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3 Action 3.3.2: Definition of small-scale projects exempt from Policies 3.3 and 3.6 and Action 3.3.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
(continued)
Chapter 5: HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ONGOING CITY ACTIVITIES (continued)
| Policy 3.4: City acquisition for historic preservation | 5-4 |
| Action 3.4.1: Ordinance for acquisition by eminent domain | 5-4 |
| Action 3.4.2: Procedures and criteria for historic preservation property acquisitions | 5-4 |
| Policy 3.5: Discretionary permit approvals | 5-5 |
| Action 3.5.1: Design guidelines for discretionary permit approvals | 5-5 |
| Action 3.5.2: Standard conditions for discretionary permit approvals | 5-6 |
| Policy 3.6: City-sponsored or assisted projects | 5-6 |
| Action 3.6.1: Evaluation and selection procedures for City-sponsored or assisted projects | 5-7 |
| Action 3.6.2: Development and design assistance for City-assisted projects involving existing or Potential Designated Historic Properties | 5-7 |
| Policy 3.7: Property relocation rather than demolition | 5-8 |
| Action 3.7.1: Property relocation procedures and design guidelines for all projects | 5-9 |
| Action 3.7.2: Property relocation procedures for City-sponsored or assisted projects | 5-9 |
| Action 3.7.3: Building relocation assistance program | 5-9 |
| Action 3.7.4: Building relocation permit regulations | 5-10 |
| Policy 3.8: Definition of "Local Register of Historical Resources" and "significant effects" for environmental review purposes | 5-10 |
| Action 3.8.1: Include historic preservation impacts in City's Environmental Review Regulations | 5-11 |
| Policy 3.9: Consistency of zoning with existing or eligible Preservation Districts | 5-12 |
| Action 3.9.1: Zoning study and possible zoning text changes to promote consistency with existing or eligible Preservation Districts | 5-12 |
| Policy 3.10: Earthquakes, fires or other emergencies | 5-13 |
| Action 3.10.1: Review and possible amendment of emergency response documents | 5-13 |
| Policy 3.11: Seismic retrofit and other building safety programs | 5-15 |
| Action 3.11.1: Review building codes and other documents related to building safety | 5-15 |
| Action 3.11.2: Design guidelines for building safety programs | 5-16 |
| Policy 3.12: Substandard or public nuisance properties | 5-16 |
| Action 3.12.1: Housing Code procedures and notices | 5-17 |
| Action 3.12.2: Incentives for returning vacant properties to service | 5-17 |
| Action 3.12.3: Earlier property acquisitions | 5-18 |
| Action 3.12.4: Additional property acquisition and third-party transfer methods | 5-18 |
| Action 3.12.5: Repair by City with liens | 5-19 |
| Action 3.12.6: Substandard and public nuisance abatement procedures and criteria | 5-19 |
(continued)
Chapter 5: HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ONGOING CITY ACTIVITIES (continued) Policy 3.13: Security of vacant properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20 Action 3.13.1: Review existing security procedures and methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20 Policy 3.14: Commercial revitalization programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21 Action 3.14.1: Historic preservation commercial revitalization project identification and promotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21 Action 3.14.2: California Main Street projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Objective 4: Archeological Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22 Policy 4.1: Archeological resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22 Action 4.1.1: Archeological sensitivity study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23 Action 4.1.2: Archeological protection criteria and procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Chapter 6: INFORMATION AND EDUCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 Objective 5: Information and Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 Policy 5.1: Information and education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 Action 5.1.1: Marker program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 Action 5.1.2: Present Landmark certificates at City Council meetings . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 Action 5.1.3: Preservation District certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 Action 5.1.4: Heritage Property certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 Action 5.1.5: Dissemination of Historical and Architectural Inventory . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 Action 5.1.6: Walking tours and guidebooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 Action 5.1.7: Improving historic preservation information availability within City departments; possible Historic Preservation Coordinator 6-4 Action 5.1.8: Design assistance and referral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 Action 5.1.9: Preservation trade fairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 Action 5.1.10: Rehabilitation training and apprenticeship programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 Action 5.1.11: Oakland history and architecture curriculum in the public schools . . 6-5 Action 5.1.12: City records management and archives program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5 Action 5.1.13: Rehabilitation publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6 Action 5.1.14: Design and construction bookstore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Chapter 7: ACTION PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
TABLES
| Table 2-1: | Definition of Property Types Listed in Historic Preservation Goal 2 | 2-4 |
| Table 3-1: | Historical and Architectural Inventory Rating System (Incorporated by reference into Policy 1.1) | 3-2 |
| Table 4-1: | Demolition and Removal Regulations for Landmarks and Preservation Districts (Incorporated by reference into Policy 2.4) | 4-10 |
| Table 4-2: | Alteration and New Construction Regulations for Landmarks and Preservation Districts (Incorporated by reference into Policy 2.4) | 4-12 |
| Table 4-3: | Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties | 4-14 |
| Table 4-4: | Heritage Property Eligibility Criteria and Designation Procedure (Incorporated by reference into Policy 2.5) | 4-19 |
| Table 4-5: | Heritage Property Regulations (Incorporated by reference into Policy 2.5) | 4-20 |
| Table 7-1: | Historic Preservation Element Action Program | 7-2 |
| Table 7-2: | Priority Group Assignments for Historic Preservation Element Actions Listed By Action Numbers | 7-7 |
FIGURES
| Figure 1-1: | Oakland Annexations 1852 - 1956 | 1-3 |
| Figure 2-1: | Properties on the National Register of Historic Places | 2-10A |
| Figure 2-2: | Existing Oakland Landmarks and S-7 Preservation Districts | 2-10B |
| Figure 2-3: | Areas of Primary or Secondary Importance and Properties Appearing Individually Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places According to the Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey or Similar Methodology | 2-10C |
| Figure 2-4: | Preliminary Citywide Historical and Architectural Inventory -- Selected Areas of Primary or Secondary Importance | 2-10D |
| Figure 3-1: | Selected Areas With High Concentrations of Potential Designated Historic Properties | 3-6 |
F-HP82s 04TABLS.HP3
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