Cottonwood General Plan 2025 11. HISTORIC PRESERVATION A. INTRODUCTION Historic preservation is an optimistic and inspiring field of interest intent on improving present and future quality of life awareness through the appreciation of our built and cultural heritage. Historic preservation is architectural history, community planning, historical research and surveys, oral history, archaeology, economic revitalization, and more. It relates directly to quality of life, sense of place and cultural identity. Historic preservation is about preserving, documenting, and incorporating the significant elements of the past into the present and future life of the community. The General Plan’s Historic Preservation Element examines historic preservation issues in the city and establishes goals and objectives intended to help accomplish these goals. Related goals and objectives act as guidelines for property owners, developers, and businesses, as well as City Staff, the Historic Preservation Commission, the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council when considering historic preservation issues within the city. Preservation of buildings and structures in their original condition with the original intended use can be seen as the ideal expression of historic preservation. However, uses change over time so how a building is used may need to adapt to these changing circumstances to be viable. When there is pressure for change, an analysis of alternative treatments should be considered to determine the appropriate approach to allow alterations without losing the essential historic character of the structure. Repair, reuse or relocation of structures should be considered instead of demolition. Rehabilitation, which includes alterations to a structure, may also be considered where necessary to allow a building use to meet contemporary needs and interests. Any activities which change or alter the physical appearance or characteristics of historic properties should be thoroughly documented before and after with photography and other related documentation. Cottonwood is proud of its heritage and strives to recognize and celebrate that heritage through preservation of the historical resources that remind the community of its social, cultural, historical, economic, educational, religious, and architectural heritage. B. LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS A Historic Preservation element is not required as part of the General Plan. However, due to local interest, related City programs and identified needs, the City has developed a historic preservation strategy that provides a review of existing conditions along with goals and objectives to guide future decisions on these matters. Related legislative authorities for historic preservation include the following: National Preservation Act of 1966 The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (16 U.S.C. §470 et. seq.) declared historic preservation to be a legitimate government function and established the basis for Federal leadership. The NHPA gave authority to the National Register of Historic Places, which recognizes historic properties of national, state and local significance. Cottonwood Ordinance Number 566. Approved August 3, 2010, by the Cottonwood City Council. Chapter 2.108 added to the Cottonwood Municipal Code establishing the Historic Preservation Commission. Cottonwood Ordinance Number 596. Approved June 18, 2013, by the Cottonwood City Council, amending the Cottonwood Zoning Ordinance by adding a new Section 310, “Historic Preservation Ordinance.” 11-1 Cottonwood General Plan 2025 C. KEY ISSUES 1. Comprehensive Program. A comprehensive program for historic preservation creates a legitimate framework for identifying, documenting and preserving historic resources in the community, including buildings, structures and sites. In addition to the technical and legal aspects of the program, there needs to be equal emphasis on ongoing education and awareness programs to promote the value of preservation. Historic preservation needs to be an integrated part of the municipal decision making process in order to effectively preserve the city’s historic districts and resources. There are many decisions on many topics that can directly or indirectly impact historic resources. Those decisions should be made with thorough knowledge of the values and benefits of those historic resources. Coordination of efforts is necessary to protect the community heritage and complement city redevelopment and revitalization efforts. 2. Regulatory Tools. An effective program for preservation needs to consider establishing a common framework to guide decisions, including mandatory regulations, as well as incentive-based and voluntary programs. The balance of these approaches needs the support and understanding of property owners and affected businesses in order to be fully functional. Where such procedures are seen as protecting and enhancing the individual investment, there is potential for support. The effectiveness of the historic preservation program is advanced where there is greater awareness of the goals and benefits of historic preservation by the general public, elected officials, boards, commissions and city staff. 3. Implementation. Preservation of buildings and neighborhoods can be a complex and challenging undertaking. Conditions and context are in a state of constant change and the forces of change bear down on the use of buildings in terms of evolving economies, types of uses, and personal and cultural interests. Knowing how best to respond to external pressures for change while protecting the historic resources requires a considerable degree of technical knowledge in design, construction and related legal issues, as well as procedural and administrative functions. 4. Education and Awareness. Ongoing education and outreach programs to build awareness of the values and benefits of historic preservation are a key part of a comprehensive program. 5. Archeological Preservation. In addition, prehistoric archaeological resources need to be recognized and protected for their importance in defining the history of the first inhabitants of this region. Such sites are of special concern to Native American groups with particular attention to the Yavapai Apache Nation. All such properties, sites or artifacts identified or discovered within the city need to be treated according to the highest standards of respect and according to the best practices, as well as all applicable state and federal laws. 6. Incentives and Benefits. A key goal is to promote awareness of State and Federal tax incentive programs that are currently available for property owners of individually listed historic properties and contributing properties within historic districts. Various programs benefit residential or income-producing properties. These attractive financial incentive programs provide encouragement for eligible properties to consider being listed in the National Register or for forming new Historic Districts. 11-2 Cottonwood General Plan 2025 7. Community Pride and Identity. Historic preservation is an important concept that helps define personal and cultural identity, as well as provides the city with a unique sense of place and contributes to strong economic value. City marketing efforts should highlight the historic character of Cottonwood as a key aspect of promotional efforts. D. TREATMENTS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION Identifying the appropriate treatment for Historic Preservation is one of the first steps when considering any work on historic properties or within historic districts. The appropriate treatment will depend on the existing circumstances and what is being proposed. The federal program for historic preservation, under the guidance of the National Park Service, identifies four types of treatments for historic preservation: Preservation, Restoration, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation. 1. PRESERVATION. Preservation focuses on maintenance and repair of existing historic materials and retention of a property's form as it has evolved over time. It is the act or process of applying measures necessary to sustain the existing form, integrity, and materials of an historic property. Work, including preliminary measures to protect and stabilize the property, generally focuses upon the ongoing maintenance and repair of historic materials and features rather than extensive replacement and new construction. New exterior additions are not within the scope of this treatment; however, the limited and sensitive upgrading of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and other code-required work to make properties functional is appropriate within a preservation project. 2. RESTORATION. Restoration depicts a property at a particular period of time in its history, while removing evidence of other periods. This is the act or process of accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a property as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal of features from other periods in its history and reconstruction of missing features from the restoration period. The limited and sensitive upgrading of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and other code-required work to make properties functional is appropriate within a restoration project. 3. RECONSTRUCTION. Reconstruction re-creates vanished or non-surviving portions of a property for interpretive purposes. Reconstruction is the act or process of depicting, by means of new construction, the form, features, and detailing of a non-surviving site, landscape, building,