The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce recently formed a task force to study the City’s proposed Historic Preservation Program Ordinance, gauge its impact on local businesses and potentially partner with other community groups.

"In general, this ordinance is good for the community, because it’s going to formalize the procedures that have been ongoing in the last 20 years, but the definitions can be too loosely interpreted," said Pierre Rademaker, owner of Rademaker Designs. "We must be sure that the new ordinance preserves our historic character without harming our city’s businesses.”

At the direction of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, Chamber staff will also request that the City’s Cultural Heritage Committee delay the approval of the proposed ordinance in order to allow broader business and community analysis and input. 

The Cultural Heritage Committee is responsible for researching, identifying and protecting historic buildings, archaeological sites and cultural features in the city of San Luis Obispo, and is responsible for the draft of the Historic Preservation Program Ordinance.

The Historic Preservation Program Ordinance, according to the City’s website, is supposed to promote the public health, safety and welfare through the identification, protection, enhancement and preservation of those properties, structures, sites, artifacts, and other cultural resources that represent distinctive elements of San Luis Obispo’s cultural, educational, social, economic, political and architectural history. 

"Some of the provisions in the draft of this ordinance, particularly the punitive provisions, are too loosely defined as well. We want people to know for certain if they’re in compliance or not," Rademaker said.   

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors met last Thursday morning, discussed and passed the above recommendations regarding the ordinance forwarded by the Economic Development Committee. This means that these are now Chamber positions and staff will be acting accordingly to implement them. 

The Cultural Heritage Committee meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, San Luis Obispo City Hall, 990 Palm St. 

For a closer look at the Historic Preservation Program Ordinance draft, click here.

For a closer look at the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines draft, click here.