City Council
Meeting Time: 11-26-24 18:00
eComments Report
Meetings Meeting
Time
Agenda
Items
Comments Support Oppose Neutral
City Council 11-26-24
18:00
38 20 17 0 0
City Council
11-26-24 18:00
Agenda Name Comments Support Oppose Neutral
9.1. Public Hearing to consider introduction and First Reading of Ordinance No. 31-24 establishing Objective Design Standards for certain qualifying housing projects and finding of CEQA exemption. 12 12 0 0
10.2. Historic Property Preservation Agreements (Mills Act Contracts) for 17 qualified historic properties.
8 5 0 0
Agenda Item: eComments for 9.1. Public Hearing to consider introduction and First Reading of Ordinance No. 31-24 establishing Objective Design Standards for certain qualifying housing projects and finding of CEQA exemption.
Overall Sentiment
nicole erickson
Location:
Submitted At: 3:04pm 11-25-24
I support Staff and OTPA's recommendation to approve the Objective Design Standards as they have been presented.
Ryan Cavalier
Location:
Submitted At: 1:17pm 11-25-24
I support Staff and OTPA's recommendation to approve the Objective Design Standards as they have been presented.
Guest User
Location:
Submitted At: 12:26pm 11-25-24
I support STAFF and OTPA's recommendation to approve the Objective Design Standards as they have been presented.
Jeannette McClain
Location:
Submitted At: 11:31am 11-25-24
Support this item
Guest User
Location:
Submitted At: 10:56am 11-25-24
We support this ordinance
Guest User
Location:
Submitted At: 10:50am 11-25-24
I support the new Design Standards that will help protect our National Register Historic District and allow the city time to deal with other important issues.
Ben Kendall
Location:
Submitted At: 12:16pm 11-24-24
I support Staff and OTPA's recommendation to approve the Objective Design Standards as they have been presented.
Ben Kendall
Rosemarie Williams
Location:
Submitted At: 12:11pm 11-24-24
I support Staff and OTPA's recommendation to approve the Objective Design Standards as they have been presented.
Nancy MacDonald
Location:
Submitted At: 8:09pm 11-23-24
I support Staff and OTPA's recommendation to approve the Objective Design Standards as they have been presented.
Carrie Frisby
Location:
Submitted At: 9:38pm 11-22-24
I support Staff and OTPA's recommendation to approve the Objective Design Standards as they have been presented.
Guest User
Location:
Submitted At: 11:22am 11-22-24
I support Staff and OTPA's recommendation to approve the Objective Design Standards as they have been presented.
Christine Richters
Location:
Submitted At: 11:05am 11-22-24
I support Staff and OTPA’s recommendation to approve the Objective Design Standards as they have been presented.
Agenda Item: eComments for 10.2. Historic Property Preservation Agreements (Mills Act Contracts) for 17 qualified historic properties.
Overall Sentiment
Guest User
Location:
Submitted At: 5:59pm 11-26-24
Please bear in mind that there are also local businesses that would be effected with postponing / canceling / withdrawing these Mills Act applications. Like myself (owner of N Pine St), these applicants utilize architectural firms (DSEA), structural engineers (Y ahgi Shucri), and other contractors that are part of the local Orange small business eco-system. These are companies and people that are uniquely qualified and skilled to handle issues from dealing with city staff, permits, and historic home restoration. Without mentioning the legalities that come into play by changing this Mills Act process without a moratorium, the Mills Act and old towne also creates a unique sense of community in this city.
Dan Healy
Location:
Submitted At: 5:06pm 11-26-24
My name is Dan Healy and I own the property at North Center Street. The property is 105 years old and requires an inordinate amount of maintenance. I was excited about being approved for the Mills Act and was quite disappointed when I was told it was put on hold. My son and his wife currently live in the home and they have many improvements and plans for the future. Without the assistance of the Mills Act it will be very difficult for them. They love their house and especially love the character of the neighborhood and hope they can live here for a very long time. I would encourage the City Council to continue their support of the Mills Act and their support for Old Towne Orange.
Guest User
Location:
Submitted At: 4:12pm 11-26-24
To pull these projects out and put them on hold is to essentially state that the city is not allowing residents to use a program that the state law provides to residents because the city can't manage their own finances responsibly.
This is not just reprehensible it's essentially illegal and I would be willing to bet that some land use attorney would be interested in hearing this case....
Guest User
Location:
Submitted At: 3:00pm 11-26-24
I am a local business owner and have worked in the Orange Plaza and supported the City of Orange for 20 years.
The Mills Act has been a powerful tool that preserves the historical identity and culture that we know so well as our Historic Downtown. This is also why I have continued, over many years, to keep my place of business in this rich hub of beauty. It's critical that these homeowners are allowed these property tax reductions in order to maintain the historical integrity of their homes, especially since the City has strict guidelines and committees that demand this. If the Mills Act is not granted, materials and design methods will be flawed and subpar, leading to a degradation of the historical culture of Orange. Local business owners also benefit from the specialty work needed to maintain & restore these homes and they will suffer as well. It is not right to make these homeowners and local businesses, who are the true heart & soul of our city's structural culture, be penalized for the mismanagement of funds to date.
Please approve these Mills Act Applications!
Guest User
Location:
Submitted At: 2:09pm 11-26-24
I fully support the approval of these Mills Act applications. Owning and preserving a historic home is a significant financial commitment—one I understand firsthand, as we own a 130-year-old home in Old Orange. Without the savings provided by the Mills Act, we might not have the same level of motivation or ability to maintain our home to the high standards it deserves.
The pride of ownership among homeowners in Old Towne is evident, and it’s crucial to ensure that legacy continues. This unique neighborhood is not only a source of community pride but also a draw for tourists, which directly supports local businesses. By committing to maintain and improve their historic properties, these homeowners are investing in the future of our neighborhood and preserving its distinctive charm for generations to come.
Jerrica Knight
Location:
Submitted At: 1:52pm 11-26-24
We purchased our home in 2022 with the expectation of qualifying for the Mills Act. Given the high cost of the property and the significant expenses involved in maintaining an older home, it is essential for us to receive approval for the Mills Act, for which we applied in good faith. The material requirements in the Old Towne Design Guidelines, such as wood siding and wood windows, are more costly than standard alternatives, leading to higher maintenance expenses for homeowners like us compared to others. These historic properties are integral to the character and identity of our city, and using builder-grade materials would greatly reduce their value over time.
Our application was submitted well before the Orange budget crisis became publicly known, and at the time, we had a reasonable expectation of approval, which would have allowed us to continue improving our home and, in turn, contribute to the enhancement of the city. I know that all of the other homeowners agree with me when I say I support the approval of these Mills Act applications! Ben Kendall
Location:
Submitted At: 1:27pm 11-26-24
I support the approval of these Mills Act applications. These homeowners filled out their applications and paid the fee, all in good faith. I don't remember one council meeting in the last 20 years when a Mills Act application was rejected and don't feel it's fair to penalize these people due to the city's mismanagement of funds.
Guest User
Location:
Submitted At: 9:23pm 11-25-24
My name is Steve Shearn and I am the owner of E Maple Ave. I purchased the property in October of 2022 so my daughter Jerrica Knight and son-in-law Michael Knight could live in it with their two daughters and I could have a place to stay when I visit. Michael and Jerrica are landscape architects by trade and historic preservationists by choice. They own and have renovated the William Ord Hart home located at 167 N Little Main St for which they secured a Mills Act designation.
When I purchased the Maple property, I knew that Michael and Jerrica were uniquely qualified for a project of this nature. I also understood the investment required to preserve, rehabilitate and maintain a home in this historic neighborhood. The property tax savings of the Mills Act significantly influenced my decision to purchase the property. Without the Mils Act property tax savings it is very hard to justify the cost associated with the purchase of a historic home that is required to meet the standards Orange sets for it's historic district.
There was no question about the viability of the Mills Act when I purchased the home. There was no question about the viability of the Mills Act when I submitted my application. To my knowledge, Orange has approved prior Mills Act applications (that have met all requirements) without objection. I was surprised the applications under consideration were not approved at the last City Council meeting. It seems that a homeowner who submitted a Mills Act application under the guidelines then in effect, should have good faith reliance that Orange will honor those terms. I respectfully request the City Council approve the Mills Act applications that were submitted under the current guidelines.