Minutes Historical Architectural Review Board – April 6, 2023 Page 1
MINUTES
HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD
REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 6, 2023
CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Jacobs called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Chairperson Jacobs
Board Members Cain, Kanady and McLauchlan
ABSENT: Vice Chairperson Adamson
STAFF PRESENT: Wayland Li, Principal Planner
Bronwen Lacey, Senior Deputy City Attorney
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Board Member McLauchlan moved to approve minutes from the regular meeting of September 1, 2022 and Board Member Cain seconded. The motion was carried by all present.
Board Member McLauchlan then moved to approve minutes
from the regular meeting of January 5, 2023 and Board
Member Kanady seconded. The motion was carried by all
present.
DISCLOSURES: Board Member McLauchlan visited the site for Item 1 (PLN2023-00129), and walked the property, as well as in and around the building on both levels.
Board Member Kanady stated that she is very familiar with the building/project site for Item 1 (PLN2023 -00129). Ms. Kanady said that she had visited the site on a paid photography assignment from the Washington Township Museum of Local History last year . She also met with an d visited one of the women who lived there.
Board Member Cain visited the site for Item 1 (PLN2023 - 00129), walked around the property, and observed other
buildings on site.
Chairperson Jacobs visited the site for Item 1 (PLN2023 - 00129), and walked the property, as well as in and around the building on both levels.
Minutes Historical Architectural Review Board – April 6, 2023 Page 2
PUBLIC/ORAL
COMMUNICATIONS Kelly Abreu commented on the infrequency of the East Bay Regional Park District Committee meetings and suggested they be abolished . He then commented on the neighborhood of Mission San Jose, stating that it was degenerating and degrading due to local businesses closing, citing 7 -Eleven, Mc Ivors Hardware, Bank of America, and Mission Burger, as examples; which he correlated to the lack of housing density.
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
Item 1. THE OLD SCHOOL – MILLS ACT CONTRACT – 43551 Mission Boulevard – (PLN2023-00129) – To consider an application, before the Historical Architectural Review Board, for a Mills Act Historical Property Contract for “The Mission Elementary School” (former Mission Elementary School and City Hall) located at 43551 Mission Boulevard in the Mission San Jose Community Plan Area; and to consider an exemption from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), each on a separate and independent basis, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15061 (Review for Exemption), §15183 (Projects Consistent with a Community Plan, General Plan, or Zoning), and §15378 (Project).
Principal Planner Wayland Li introduced the item and gave a brief presentation. Mr.
Li then responded to questions from the Board regarding the contract renewal frequency and process, and how current tenants in the buildings surrounding the Old School would be affected.
Chairperson Jacobs opened the public hearing and invited the applicant to speak.
Terry Wang, representing Robson Homes, gave a brief presentation and responded to questions from the Board concerning the current tenants, and maintenance of the historic resource and property.
Chairperson Jacobs invited public comments.
Peter Perlegos spoke in favor the project . He commented on the value that the Old School presents to the community , and advocated for private owners to continually reinvest in their buildings to keep the frontage of Mission San Jose alive and well. Mr.
Perlegos also commented on the need for denser residential housing in order to sustain active businesses in Mission San Jose.
Kelly Abreu stated that all his children had attended Mission Elementary School, and then commented on the need for higher density residential units in Mission San Jose.
Terry Wang had no rebuttal to comments, but did respond to additional questions from the Board regarding the list of maintenance items noted in the staff report, page 4.
Minutes Historical Architectural Review Board – April 6, 2023 Page 3 Chairperson Jacobs closed the public hearing on this item.
Board Member McLauchlan moved to adopt staff recommendation and Board Member Cain seconded.
IT WAS MOVED ( MCLAUCHLAN/CAIN) AND CARRIED BY THE
FOLLOWING VOTE ( 4-0-0-1-0) THAT THE HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD:
HELD PUBLIC HEARING;
AND
FOUND THAT THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES §15061, §15183, AND §15378;
AND
FOUND THAT THE PROPOSED MILLS ACT CONTRACT (PLN2023-00129), AS
SHOWN IN EXHIBIT C, IS CONSISTENT WITH AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE CITY OF FREMONT’S GENERAL PLAN GOALS AND POLICIES FOR
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND THE PROVISIONS OF FREMONT
MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 18.175, THE HISTORIC RESOURCES
ORDINANCE;
AND
RECOMMENDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY
MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO A MILLS ACT CONTRACT FOR
THE OLD SCHOOL BASED ON THE FINDINGS AND SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN EXHIBIT B.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4 – Cain, Jacobs, Kanady, McLauchlan
NOES: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 – Adamson
RECUSE: 0
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Information from Commission and Staff:
• Information from staff, as reported by Principal Planner Wayland Li:
o Elections for Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for 2023 were postponed from the January meeting until all members of the Board were present. Mr. Li proposed that elections take place next meeting, regardless of full attendance, to which there were no objections. o Per the request of this Board, hardcopies of project plans will be mailed out via USPS beginning with the next scheduled meeting.
Minutes Historical Architectural Review Board – April 6, 2023 Page 4 o Training for Board Members will soon be scheduled. Board Members were encouraged to provide topics of interest.
• Information from Commission: None
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
APPROVED BY:
Wayland Li, Secretary
Historical Architectural Review Board