Planning Department Assistance

Tim Kelley Consulting can assist you in navigating the Planning Department requirements for your project, including historical, environmental, and project reviews, and is available for ongoing consultations and meetings.

Bay Area and Statewide Services

CEQA Planning Documents – Historic Resource Evaluations – California DPR Forms

Historical resources, which may include buildings, sites, objects, districts or structures, are protected as part of the environment under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Local governments are required to determine whether a resource is in fact a resource and whether a proposed project would cause a "substantial adverse change" to the resource.

The CEQA Guidelines provide that a project that demolishes or alters those physical characteristics of an historical resource that convey its historical significance (i.e., its character-defining features) can be considered to materially impair the resource's significance.

We can both help clients determine if a building is an historic resource (typically through an HRE) and, if it is, help them determine whether the proposed project will fall under the acceptable guidelines for avoiding substantial adverse change.

A Historic Resource Evaluation will determine whether the property has been previously evaluated and whether the property is a potential resource using the California Register Criteria. It will evaluate how the existing building fits within its neighbor context and, if the building is determined to be a resource, will discuss how the project will impact both the existing structure and its surrounds and what mitigating measures might be taken. If specific city or county planning departments require this documentation on CA DPR forms or local templates, those forms will be provided as well.

TKC is familiar with the requirements of State Bill SB330 and will provide appropriate documentation in compliance with that law.

San Francisco Services

Historic Resource Review Application

The San Francisco Planning Department uses the Historic Resources Review (HRR) to review the history of a building and make a determination about its historic status. Because of our experience, TKC can conduct the research quickly and accurately for you.