BILL ANALYSIS �
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| SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER |
| Senator Fran Pavley, Chair |
| 2013-2014 Regular Session |
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BILL NO: AB 2081 HEARING DATE: June 24, 2014
AUTHOR: Daly URGENCY: No
VERSION: May 13, 2014 CONSULTANT: Katharine Moore
DUAL REFERRAL: No FISCAL: Yes
SUBJECT: Agricultural historical resources.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
1.Existing law establishes the State Historical Resources
Commission (commission), the Department of Parks and
Recreation (department) and the California Register of
Historical Resources (register).
2.Existing law provides for two separation state registration
programs for historical resources: California Historical
Landmarks (landmarks) and California Point of Historical
Interest (points). Landmarks are of statewide significance
and points are of more local significance.
3.The commission holds public hearings to review applications to
the state registration programs. Applications must include
the written consent of the owner of the property. The
department's Office of Historical Preservation is responsible
for statewide administration of historic preservation programs
and staffs the commission.
4.The commission recommends registration and marking of
landmarks and points to the department's director. The
department is required to consider all recommendation for
registration made by the commission. After the department's
director designates a landmark or point, the resource is added
to the register.
5.The commission recommends to the department criteria and
standards for historical buildings, structures, places or
objects for registration as landmarks or points. These
include that the resource:
be the first, last, only or most significant
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historical property of its type in the region or locally,
be associated with an individual or group having a
profound influence on the state's history, or
be a prototype of, or an outstanding example of, a
period, style, architectural movement, or construction,
or is one of the more notable works or best surviving
work in a region of a pioneer architect, designer, or
master builder.
1.If a site is designated, registration will be recorded on the
property deed, and the site may additionally be eligible for
property tax reduction (Mills Act), be subject to the State
Historic Building Code, receive limited protection under the
California Environmental Quality Act if the property is
threatened by a project, and be eligible for a plaque noting
its historic status.
2.Vineyards currently identified as landmarks include the
Italian Swiss Colony, Buena Vista Winery and Vineyards,
Beringer Brothers Winery, Charles Krug Winery and Schramsberg,
among others. Elliston Vineyards, Clayton Vineyards and Glen
Oaks Vineyards are listed on the National and California
Registers of Historical Resources. Production may continue at
some of these historic vineyards, but may have ceased at
others.
3.According to the department, the commission has never rejected
a winery or vineyard that was nominated for inclusion.
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would clarify that a "place" eligible for designation
as a state historical landmark or point of historical interest
includes living and producing vineyards, orchards and groves.
Additionally, this bill would provide that these agricultural
historical resources could continue to be treated or modified
per "routine agricultural husbandry practices" such as
cultivation, pruning, replanting or removal, among others.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
According to the author, "Agriculture is a major industry for
the state. [?] Included among the state's agricultural legacy
are living things, including producing vineyards, orchards and
groves, which date back decades (and, in many instances, to the
19th Century). For example, California can still boast of a
number of living and producing winegrape vineyards that were
planted in the late 19th century through mid-20th century and
still make a significant contribution to the state's economy and
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reputation as a global wine growing region."
"These older vineyard are treasured survivors," he continues and
notes that they are resources for genetic material, and historic
vineyard cultivation practices which led to the development of
"uniquely Californian" wines.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
None received
COMMENTS
Added review and routine agricultural practices . Previous
analyses note concern that alterations to landmarks do, in
certain circumstances, warrant additional review prior to
approval. This bill specifically clarifies alterations possible
under "routine agricultural husbandry practices" in order to
address this concern.
Related Legislation
HR 9 (Daly, 2013) recognized the existence and values of the
state's historic vineyards (adopted by the Assembly)
ACR 15 (Chesbro, res. c. 20, 2013) and SCR 94 (Evans, res. c.
21, 2014) recognized April 2013 and April 2014, respectively, as
"California Wines: Down to Earth" months to recognize
sustainable practices by wineries and winegrape growers.
SUPPORT
None Received
OPPOSITION
None Received
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