Questions raised over the possible historic status of a Burlingame house halted its pending sale and resulted in additional costs for the owners primarily because the city does not have an ordinance for such situations — a conversation the Planning Commission will begin Monday.

A property over 50 years old is not on its own historic, but could be. Under the California Environmental Quality Act, a building that is at least 50 years old is a potentially historic property.

The home that prompted the city review is 1540 Newlands Ave., owned by Rawson Hobart.

It was put up for sale and promptly sold after the family invested money and time staging, storing possessions and temporarily living in another residence. Then in September, Vice Mayor Cathy Baylock, who lives on Newlands Avenue, was alerted to plans by the buyer to demolish the property. Knowing there were historic documents on the home, she felt obligated to file the public documents with the city. Questions about the property’s historic nature would require the city to do a historic resource evaluation and environmental review.

That information was relayed to the interested buyer, who promptly pulled out of the deal. A review found no historic value for the property, but left the family searching once again for a buyer and unsure what the delay will end up costing them.

Hobart is hopeful a solution will be found so no other family endures the surprise they have. And that is the goal of the city review which begins with the Planning Commission.

Planning Commissioner Michael Brownrigg, who won election to the City Council Tuesday, noted the commission still has a lot to learn, but needs to get the policy right. Requiring a review for every house over 50 years seemed unnecessary and expensive to Brownrigg. Creating guidelines regarding what kind of changes should constitute a review or should not be allowed is one way to go, he said, again adding much still needs to be learned.

Monday’s meeting will not only include a breakdown on what happened and why it happened, but will also include a presentation by attorney Anna Shimko, who is an expert in real estate, land use and environmental law, said Community Development Director Bill Meeker.

Meeker noted there were a number of possible methods that could be used like evaluating properties in a given area to decide if it is a historic district or a city-wide evaluation.

Simply doing a historic index on its own will not be enough, Hobart said. It could be a portion of the solution, but there should be a process and guidelines so property owners and the city know what to expect, he said. Doing so would protect property owners and the city, Hobart added.

Baylock has long been a proponent of a voluntary historic list. Such a document would provide tax incentives to those who want to restore and maintain historic buildings, she said.

How to address historic properties is not a new issue in Burlingame. In June 2008, a draft inventory of small details and buildings put together as part of the Downtown Specific Plan caused a rift between those hoping to maintain the historic nuances and property owners who felt blindsided by the requirements such a denotation brought with it.

A special study session was held to allow all sides to air grievances but no decision regarding the list has since been made.

At the same meeting, the commission will vote to amend a permit from a limited to full service food establishment at 1199 Broadway No. 1, previously the home of Broadway Bakery and Cafe. The commission will study a possible permit for a massage establishment at 1340 Bayshore Highway, currently vacant office space.

The commission meets 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 at City Hall, 501 Primrose Road.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.