Webinar: Historic Districts & the Legal Implications to Owners
Attorney Daniel Freedman, Partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP, covers what happens to Owners & Communities AFTER they are in historic districts.
Available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/3jciO_TlBLE
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
A small group of people are driving for a Historical Designation on approximately 450 homes in the Baywood neighborhood of San Mateo. Many of the owners affected aren't aware of the effort and if they don't act, this designation will be made to their property potentially as soon as Fall 2024.
WHAT COULD THIS MEAN TO YOU?
A committee that may not value the same things as you (more eco-friendly, more space for evolving family, etc.), that doesn't have the same urgency as you and certainly isn't as vested in your property as you, may decide, after you've spent money to architect a solution that meets City Building Codes, that your changes aren't, "maintaining the character of the neigborhood".
AM I AFFECTED?
The homes being initially being targeted by the San Mateo Heritage Alliance (formed in 2022) are in the lower Baywood area depicted in this map.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
Inaction = Approval
Unfortunately, these actions will become the plan by default if the affected Baywood Homeowners don't take action.
Petition by
San Mateo Heritage
Alliance
Evaluation by State Office
by OHP
WE ARE HERE
Opportunity
to Stop! *
Notification
Letters Sent
to Owners
by SHRC
Critical
45 Day
Window
to Act! **
Historic House /
Historic
District
Designation
Objection Letters must be received before 'listing'
- From Owners (and Partial Owners)
- By >= 51% of Owners to overturn the district designation
- National Listing 'usually' takes place 45 days after nomination from the State
SMHA has nominated Baywood Homes the State Office of Historic Preservation
*OPPORTUNITY TO STOP!
WHEN: NOW
1) Complete a Digital Objection Letter and eSign
We've confirmed that the OHP is accepting eSigned Objection Letters!
Need more info on how this works? Learn more HERE.
2) Object via Email to the Baywood Neighborhood Association (BNA)
Any Baywood Neighbor should express their objections. Sample email below.
To: baywoodneighborhood@gmail.com
Subject: I object to Baywood Historic Designation
Dear BNA Board Members,
I object to your efforts to designate Baywood as a Historic District.
- Do not promote the historic designation as a recommendation of the association.- Do not use any contributions I have made to BNA, a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit, toward this separate historic designation effort.- Absolutely DO NOT use any contributions I have made to BNA to pay for historical consultants to develop counter-assessments to those requested by the City from Owners as part of their individual remodeling projects.
Regards,
Your Full Name
Your Street Address
OPTIONAL:
Below are a some statements that you can leverage in your email if you so desire.
- I donated to BNA to support things that bring us together not tear our community apart.
- I donated to BNA to support community improvements not to increase my maintenance costs, remodeling costs or make my home more challenging to sell.
OPTIONAL: If you have friends on the board, cc them or email them directly.
Baywood Neighborhood Association (BNA) Board:
Michael Nash, President - Roger Oser, Vice President - Lisa Diaz Nash, Vice President - Roger Dewes, Treasurer - Doug Goldberg, Secretary - Mark Grieco, Former President - Scott Long, Parks Captain - Teresa Rose, Islands Captain - Margaret Nieman, Baywood HistorianAdditionally, you may want to limit any additional amounts you pay beyond the $35 annual dues.
3) Email Lisa Diaz-Nash and all City Council Members and voice your objections.
Anyone in San Mateo (especially voters!) should express their objections. Sample email below.To: ldiaznash@cityofsanmateo.org, rhedges@cityofsanmateo.org, rnewsom@cityofsanmateo.org, alee@cityofsanmateo.org, aloraine@cityofsanmateo.orgSubject: I object to Baywood Historic Designation
Dear San Mateo City Council,
I oppose the efforts of the San Mateo Heritage Alliance to nominate and the Baywood Neighborhood Association to promote my property for Historic Consideration. Please do everything in your power to prevent this from happening.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Street Address
4) Email the San Mateo Heritage Alliance and let them know your concerns.info@smheritage.org
Suggested:
- Any individual homeowner can nominate themselves for historical designation. Why are you trying to force historical designation onto homeowners that purchased their homes without it?
- If the San Mateo Heritage Alliance is interested in making more homes historic, why doesn't it rather help owners who want to do so, by paying for the increased costs?
If you have friends on that board, you may want to contact them directly (see below)
San Mateo Heritage Alliance:Laurie Hietter, President, Baywood - Keith Weber, Vice President, Aragon - Laurie Watanuki, Central - Dianne Whitaker, Secretary, North Central - Lisa Vande Voorde, Beresford-Hillsdale - Ruthmary Cradler, San Mateo Park - Shirley Melnicoe, Baywood - Thomas Morgan II, Treasurer, Sunnybrae
** CRITICAL WINDOW TO ACT!
WHEN: When the State Historical Resources Commission nominates Baywood to the National Register.
Write the Objection Letter to the State Historical Resources Commission
State Historic Preservation Officer
Office of Historic Preservation
1725 23rd Street, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95816-7100
IF this time comes, you will need to send a timely response to the letter from the government and tell them that you do not want to have your home designated as within a Historical District.