CC SR 20220920 03 - Hatano Farm Status UpdateUSE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 09/20/2022
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive a status report on the historic designation of
Hatano Farm.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file a status report on the historic designation of Hatano Farm; and
(2) Authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of support and consent as the property owner
for the nomination of Hatano Farm as a California Point of Historical Interest and
for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager
REVIEWED BY: Same as Above
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Draft support letter for Nomination of Hatano Farm as a California Point of
Historical Interest and the California Register of Historical Resources (page A-1)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
On April 19, 2022, as part of a discussion of the future repurposing of the Hatano Farm
Area at Upper Point Vicente, the City Council directed Staff to pursue, among other things,
historic designation of the site at the state and national levels.
This evening, Staff is presenting a status update on these efforts and to authorize
consenting and sending a letter in support of the City’s historic designation nomination.
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RANCHO PALOS VERDES
Historic Designation Status Update
On August 12, 2022, the City submitted its application for Hatano Farm to be considered
for the National Register of Historic Places to the National Park Service - California Office
of Historic Preservation.
On September 7, 2022, Staff was informed by the City’s historic nomination consultant,
Historic Resources Group, that the City should instead consider proceeding with the
California Point of Historical Interest designation, as, upon further research, the Hatano
Farm may not meet all the requirements for the National Register of Historic Places.
Below are the requirements to this designation:
• Age and Integrity: Is the property old enough to be considered historic (generally
at least 50 years old), and does it still look much the way it did in the p ast?
• Significance: Is the property associated with events, activities, or developments
that were important in the past? With the lives of people who were important in the
past? With significant architectural history, landscape history, or engineering
achievements? Does it have the potential to yield information through
archeological investigation about our past?
Hatano Farm likely does not meet the Age and Integrity requirement because not all of
its significant features are at least 50 years old. Specifically, the property doesn’t have
buildings, structures, or objects (tractors aside) which would qualify the property to be
listed at the National Register.
As a result, Staff is now nominating the Hatano Farm for designation as both a California
Point of Historical Interest (recognition) and for listing on the California Register of
Historical Resources (protection under the California Environmental Quality Act).
Descriptions of both programs are included below. The criteria under which Staff will
nominate Hatano Farm are in bold:
California Point of Historical Interest
The California Point of Historical Interest Program was established in 1965 to
accommodate an increased interest in recognizing local historic properties not able to
meet the restrictive criteria of the State Historical Landmarks program. The criteria for the
California Points of Historical Interest are the same as those that govern the Landmark
program but are directed to local (city or county) areas. California Points of Historical
Interest do not have direct regulatory protection but are eligible for official landmark
plaques and highway directional signs. To be eligible for designation as a Point of
Historical Interest, a resource must meet at least one of the following criteria:
1. The first, last, only, or most significant of its type within the local geographic
region (City or County).
2. Associated with an individual or group having a profound influence on the
history of the local area.
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3. A prototype of, or an outstanding example of, a period, style, architectural
movement or construction or is one of the more notable works or the best surviving
work in the local region of a pioneer architect, designer or master builder.
The application for the California Point of Historical Interest Program requires that as the
Hatano Farm property owner, the City must include a letter of support in the application
and provide consent as the property owner for the nomination. Staff has prepared a draft
letter for the City Council’s consideration (Attachment A).
California Register of Historical Resources
The California Register of Historical Resources is an authoritative guide in California used
by state and local agencies, private groups, and citizens to identify the state's historical
resources. The California Register was established in 1998, with eligibility criteria based
upon National Register criteria. The criteria for listing in the California Register are:
1. Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the
broad patterns of local or regional history or the cultural heritage of
California or the United States.
2. Associated with the lives of persons important to loca l, California or national
history.
3. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region or method of
construction or represents the work of a master or possesses high artistic values.
4. Has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the prehistory or
history of the local area, California or the nation.
Historic Designation Hearing
The soonest State Historical Resources Commission meeting at which the City’s
nomination could be considered is scheduled for January 21, 2023. Staff intends to submit
the application by the end of this month to ensure it is considered as an agenda item for
this meeting.
Additional Letters of Support
Staff received confirmation from Assemblymember Muratsuchi’s office of his intent to
send a letter of support to the State Historic Preservation Office. Staff will also request
letters of support from Rep. Ted Lieu, U.S. Senators Feinstein and Padilla, State Senator
Allen, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hahn . In addition, Staff is requesting letters
from Caroline Hatano (granddaughter of James Hatano) and Monique Sugimoto, Archivist
and Adult Services Librarian with the Palos Verdes Library District.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Following direction from the City Council given on June 7, 2022, Staff continues to
develop a license agreement with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
(PVPLC) to potentially repurpose the site as a native plant farm managed by PVPLC.
Although Staff intended to bring an agreement to the City Council for consideration before
the termination of Hatano Farm operator Mr. Martin Martinez’s lease on August 16, 2022,
more time is needed to develop and vet the provisions of the license agreement . This is
due to the complex nature of the agreement and the involvement of numerous agencies
as a result of the various restrictions and encumbrances over the site. These agencies
include the Wildlife Agencies (California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service), and the National Park Service (NPS). Review by the Wildlife
Agencies and NPS is critical to ensure the agreement complies with the City’s Natural
Communities Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP), the Palos
Verdes Nature Preserve Public Use Master Plan (PUMP), and the Program of Utilization.
At this time, the agreement is tentatively scheduled for City Council consideration on
October 18, 2022.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council receive and file a status report on the historic
designation of Hatano Farm; and authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of support and
consent as the property owner for the nomination of Hatano Farm as a California Point of
Historical Interest and for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendations, the following alternative actions are available
for the City Council's consideration:
1. Identify revised language to add to the letter.
2. Do not authorize the Mayor to sign the letter.
3. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
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September 20, 2022
State Historic Preservation Officer Julianne Polanco Via Email
California Office of Historic Preservation
1725 23rd Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95816
SUBJECT: Support for Nomination of Hatano Farm as a California Point of Historical
Interest and the California Register of Historical Resources
Dear State Historic Preservation Officer Polanco:
The City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes writes, as the property owner, its support
and provides written consent for the nomination of Hatano Farm in Rancho Palos Verdes,
California, as a California Point of Historical Interest and for listing in the California
Register of Historical Resources. The City also requests a plaque for the Hatano Farm, pending
approval, and provides permission for the plaque to be displayed on City property.
Hatano Farm exhibits exceptional importance as a rare cultural landscape associated with the
Japanese American farming tradition on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Hatano Farm is an
important example of a long-running Japanese American flower farm and was the last farm-
related property associated with the Hatano family. Although the farm is no longer in operation,
it is imperative that its historic significance be recognized to honor its history on the Palos
Verdes Peninsula and the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Over the years, and especially in the past 10 months, our constituents have repeatedly
expressed a strong desire to preserve the legacy of Hatano Farm, as it is the last tie to the
history of Japanese American farming on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Obtaining designation
will help ensure we can honor that history and keep that tradition alive for future generations.
Thank you for your time and consideration. The City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
supports and consents to the nomination of Hatano Farm in Rancho Palos Verdes as a
California Point of Historical Interest and for listing in the California Register of Historical
Resources.
Sincerely,
David L. Bradley
Mayor, City of Rancho Palos Verdes
cc: Rancho Palos Verdes City Council and City Manager
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