Minutes Historical Architectural Review Board – November 14, 2024 Page 1
MINUTES
HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD
SPECIAL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 14, 20204
CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chairperson McLauchlan called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Chairperson Adamson (arrived at 6:34 p.m.)
Vice Chairperson McLauchlan,
Board Members Govind, Jacobs and Kanady
Senior Planner James Willis introduced Naveen Govind as the newest member of the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB).
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: James Willis, Senior Planner
Joel Pullen, Planning Manager
Bronwen Lacey, Senior Deputy City Attorney
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Vice Chairperson McLauchlan moved to approved minutes from the regular meeting of September 5, 2024 and Board Member Kanady seconded. Motion carried. Chairperson
Adamson was not present for the vote and Board Member
Govind abstained.
DISCLOSURES: None
PUBLIC/ORAL
COMMUNICATIONS None
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
Item 1. 2024 CODE UPDATE – HOUSING ELEMENT IMPLEMENTATION – Citywide – PLN2025-00074 – To consider adoption of a resolution for objective design standards for historic homes to implement programs contained within the adopted Housing Element and an ordinance for an associated text amendment to the Historic Resources Chapter (FMC Chapter 18.175); and to consider exemptions for the proposed amendments 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, INFORMATIONAL 3
Minutes Historical Architectural Review Board – November 14, 2024 Page 2 General Plan, or Zoning), §15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies), and §15378 (Project).
Senior Planner James Willis gave a comprehensive presentation and responded to questions from the Board regarding CEQA exemptions, types of projects requiring HARB review, and housing stock, with assistance from Planning Manager Joel Pullen.
Chairperson Adamson opened the public hearing.
Stacy Kozakavich of Page & Turnbull, and Aaron Aknin of Good City Company spoke to the particulars of the proposed process, and responded to questions from the Board regarding the checklist of elements, side yard setbacks for ADU’s, projects outside the standard process, selection process for specific design styles, and the final review process.
Chairperson Adamson closed the public hearing.
Chairperson Adamson moved to approve recommendation to the City Council and Board Member Govind seconded.
IT WAS MOVED (ADAMSON/GOVIND) AND CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE (5-0-0-0-0) THAT THE HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD:
HELD PUBLIC HEARING;
AND
RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
FIND THAT THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PER, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061 REVIEW FOR
EXEMPTION, CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15183 PROJECTS CONSISTENT
WITH A COMMUNITY PLAN, GENERAL PLAN, OR ZONING, CEQA
GUIDELINES SECTION 15262 FEASIBILITY AND PLANNING STUDIES, AND CEQA GUIDELINES 15378 PROJECT, AND FIND THAT NO FURTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO CEQA
GUIDELINES SECTION 15183, AS THE PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
GENERAL PLAN, FOR WHICH AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EIR) (SCH#2010082060) WAS PREVIOUSLY PREPARED AND CERTIFIED; AND
FIND THAT THE PROPOSED ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT AND OBJECTIVE STANDARDS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE FREMONT GENERAL PLAN; AND
FIND THAT THE PROPOSED ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT AND OBJECTIVE
STANDARDS FURTHER THE PUBLIC INTEREST, CONVENIENCE, AND Minutes Historical Architectural Review Board – November 14, 2024 Page 3
GENERAL WELFARE OF THE CITY BY ENSURING CONSISTENCY
BETWEEN THE FMC AND THE CITY’S GENERAL PLAN, WITH STATE LAW,
AND PROVIDE FOR A STREAMLINING OF THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING
ELIGIBLE HISTORIC RESOURCES BY PROVIDING DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO CURRENT DEVELOPMENT
REGULATIONS, OBJECTIVE, EASY TO USE, FLEXIBLE AND EQUITABLE, AND ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF FREMONT RESIDENTS;
AND
INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 (PLANNING AND ZONING) ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT AS EXHIBIT B;
AND
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT AS EXHIBIT C, IMPLEMENTING PROGRAM 4 OF THE CITY’S 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT
TO IDENTIFY OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR MODIFYING ELIGIBLE
HISTORIC RESOURCES FOR SINGLE FAMILY AND TWO FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 5 – Adamson, Govind, Jacobs, Kanady, McLauchlan
NOES: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 0
RECUSE: 0
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Information from Board and Staff:
• Information from staff, as reported by Senior Planner James Willis. o The next HARB meeting is scheduled for December 5, 2024. • Information from Board: None
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
APPROVED BY:
James Willis, Secretary
Historical Architectural Review Board