Agenda packet — Orange City Council, September 22, 2026 (part 5 of 5)

3. Imminent Hazard Exception. If the Historical Resource has been determined by the City Building Official to pose an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare, based on substantial evidence, the Director or her/his designee may approve or deny the demolition request without Commission review. Such determinations must be supported by documentation from a qualified Structural Engineer as defined in Section 17.17.103 (Definitions).

4. Public Notification. All applications for a Certificate of Demolition require public notification. No later than ten (10) calendar business days prior to the hearing, the City shall issue a public hearing notice stating the date, time, and location of the Commission meeting and a brief description of the proposed demolition. Public notification shall be provided as follows:
a. Notice to Applicant and Nearby Owners/Occupants. Notice shall be provided to the applicant, all owners of real property within a 300‑foot radius of the subject parcel as shown on the County’s latest equalized assessment roll, and all legal occupants within the same radius.
b. Notice to Owners and Occupants of Historic District Properties. For demolition requests within a locally designated historic district or a district listed in the California Register, notice shall also be provided to all owners and legal occupants of properties within the district, in addition to the notification required in Subsection (a).

5. Commission Hearing and Action. The demolition request will be presented in a public hearing before the Commission. At the public hearing, the Commission shall review the application, staff report, and all evidence presented by the applicant, staff, and members of the public. The Commission shall determine whether the criteria for demolition approval have been met and may approve, deny, delay the demolition for a specified period, approve with conditions, or continue the application to obtain additional information necessary to consider the demolition request.

6. Appeal. If the Commission denies the demolition request, the owner or applicant may appeal the decision to the City Council by submitting a written appeal within ten calendar days of the Commission’s decision, in accordance with Section 17.17.125 (Appeals) of this Chapter.
917
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 34

7. Conditions Prior to Issuance of Certificate of Demolition. If a Certificate of Demolition is approved on any basis other than imminent hazard or economic hardship, the City shall not issue the Certificate until:
a. HABS/HAER Documentation has been completed by a qualified Architectural Historian, Historian, or Historic Architect as defined in this Chapter, documenting the Historical Resource and its setting; and
b. A Replacement Plan has been approved by the Commission. The replacement plan must comply with existing zoning, the General Plan, any applicable specific or neighborhood plan, and all applicable design guidelines. Vacant land or non use shall not constitute a valid replacement plan

8. Review of Replacement Plan. The Director shall evaluate the replacement plan for conformance with the Secretary’s Standards (as applicable) and City’s adopted historic preservation design standards and shall prepare a staff report with recommendations. a. Commission Action. The Commission shall review the replacement plan and may approve, deny, approve with conditions, or continue the matter with specific direction regarding additional information needed.
b. Appeal of Replacement Plan Decision. If the Commission denies the replacement plan, the owner or applicant may appeal the decision to the City Council within ten (10) days of the Commission’s action, pursuant to Section 17.17.125 (Appeals).

H. Mandatory Findings. The City shall not issue a Certificate of Demolition for a Historical Resource listed in the Register or Inventory unless all of the following findings can be made:

1. The 180- calendar day waiting period or other period as required by the Commission has expired, and all steps to explore alternatives to demolition, as described in Section

17.17.120 (Certificate of Demolition), have been explored to the Commission’s satisfaction;

2. Any deterioration of the Historical Resource is not the result of the failure of the owner to maintain the property in accordance with Section 17.17.113 (Duty to Maintain Register- and Inventory-Listed Historical Resources) of this Chapter;

3. As a condition of approval, all permits have been granted for the replacement structure;

4. CEQA analysis has been conducted, where applicable, and the owner has provided substantial evidence, as defined in CEQA (Public Resources Code § 21080(e)), demonstrating that no feasible alternative exists that would avoid a significant adverse impact to the Historical Resource.

17.17. 121 Proposed Demolition of Properties Forty-Five Years Old or Older. 918
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 35 Purpose. This section implements the Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation Element of the General Plan, which establishes the City’s commitment to identifying, preserving, and protecting potential and listed historic resources. To advance this goal, the General Plan calls for consideration of alternatives to demolition—such as compatible rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, new construction, and relocation—and requires that no alteration or demolition of properties listed on the Orange Register or Inventory proceed until those alternatives have been fully evaluated. This section carries out these goals and policies by establishing a review process for older properties that may qualify as Historical Resources.

A. Intent. The intent of this section is to prevent the inadvertent demolition of properties that may qualify as Historical Resources but have not yet been evaluated. This section requires the Director or her/his designee to determine whether a property proposed for demolition that is at least forty‑five (45) years old may meet national, state, or local criteria for designation, and to initiate a historic resources assessment when appropriate.

1. is not already listed in the Register or Inventory;

2. is not the subject of a pending landmark nomination for the Register, either individually or as a contributor to a historic district.

C. Exception, Properties within Recently Surveyed Areas. If the property proposed for demolition falls within an area of the City that was subject to a historic resource survey approved and adopted by the City Council within the last five (5) years, and the property was not identified as a potential Historical Resource, a historic resources assessment will not be required.

D. Eligibility Review Process.

1. Preparation of Historic Resources Evaluation (HRE). Upon receipt of an application to demolish a property subject to subsection H, the Director or her/his designee shall, within a reasonable time, obtain an intensive‑level Historic Resources Evaluation (HRE) prepared by a qualified Architectural Historian or Historian, as defined in Section 17.17.103 (Definitions), consistent with practices promulgated by the State Office of Historic Preservation.

2. Preliminary Determination by Director. Based on the substantial evidence provided in the HRE, the Director shall make a preliminary determination as to whether the property appears potentially eligible for federal, state, or local listing. The Director shall forward the HRE and the preliminary determination to the Commission for review and concurrence.

3. Notice to Property Owner. The Director shall notify the property owner in writing of the preliminary determination within a timely manner. 919
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 36

4. Commission Review and Determination. The Commission shall review the HRE and the Director’s preliminary determination at the next available meeting and determine whether the property appears potentially eligible for local, state, or federal listing; the meeting shall be noticed in accordance with City procedures for public hearings. a. If the Commission determines that the property is not eligible at the federal, state, or local level, the permit to demolish the property shall be issued without further restrictions under this Chapter.

If the Commission determines that the property may be eligible at any of these levels, the property shall be added to the Inventory, and the provisions of Section 17.17.120 (Certificate of Demolition) shall apply to the proposed demolition.

17.17. 121 Pre-Demolition Historical Resource ScreeningsDeterminations.

A. Purpose and Intent. This Section implements the Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation Element of the General Plan by establishing a streamlined review process when demolition is planned for of-age properties (45 years of age and older) meeting the criteria set in this Section. The intent is to prevent the inadvertent demolition of Historical Resources, to ensure that determinations of Historical Resource status are supported by substantial evidence, and to facilitate compliance with CEQA.

B. Applicability. If a permit is sought to demolish a property that was constructed at least 45 years prior to the date of application for demolition, the application shall be referred to the Director to make a preliminary determination as to whether the property meets national, state, or local criteria for designation. For purposes of this Section, “property” includes the primary building and any of-age secondary or accessory buildings or structures on the parcel. This Section shall apply provided that the property:

1. is not already listed in the Register or Inventory; and

2. is not the subject of a pending landmark nomination for the Register, either individually or as a contributor to a historic district.

C. Exceptions. This Section shall not apply to properties:

1. Previously determined ineligible through an intensive-level HRA prepared in the past five (5) years; or

2. Located within an area of the City subject to a Historical Resource survey approved and adopted by the City Council within the last five (5) years, provided the property was not assigned a survey status code indicating that it was not assessed because it is not visible from public view (including but not limited to a property behind mature landscaping or a wall or an accessory structure of building that is not otherwise visible).

D. Phased Process, Pre-Demolition Historical Resource Screenings Determinations Commented [dha1]: Added in response to OTPA/OLA request for addition to this section (by Robert Imboden, during 8/17 call) 920
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 37

1. Phase 1: Administrative Pre-Demolition Historical Resource Screening (Phase 1 Screening)
a. Requirements. Upon receipt of an application to demolish a property that is subject to this Section, the Director shall, within 30 days, a reasonable time, complete a Phase 1 Screening. This screening shall be prepared at the administrative level by the Director, in consultation with the City’s in-house or extension-of-staff preservation planner, or in consultation with a qualified Architectural Historian or Historian, as defined by this Chapter. The objective is to determine whether readily available information supports an affirmative finding of noneligibility according to applicable local, state, and federal significance criteria. b. Format. The findings for the Phase 1 Screening shall be documented on a form to be prepared by the Director.
c. Findings. A property may be found ineligible as a Historical Resource when readily available information demonstrates:
(1) Compromised historic integrity due to alterations;
(2) The lack of architectural distinction, identifiable style, or design value;
(3) No apparent association with significant persons, events or patterns of events, or sociocultural contexts or themes; or (4) No apparent relationship to any recognized significant historic context, theme, or property type.
d. If the Phase 1 Screening establishes, on the basis of substantial evidence, that the property appears ineligible as a Historical Resource, no further review will be required under this Chapter and the demolition permit may be issued. e. If evidence is insufficient to support an affirmative finding of non‑eligibility, a Phase 2 Screening shall be prepared. The Phase 2 Screening would be appropriate in situations such as (but not limited to) the following:
(1) The property’s retention of historic integrity is unclear or inconclusive, based on the lack of supporting evidence; (2) The property exhibits the elements or influences of a discernible or distinctive architectural style or method of construction that is exceptional, rare and/or unique and therefore potentially significant in the City;
(3) Evidence suggests a possible association with significant persons, events, patterns of events, or sociocultural contexts and themes; or
921
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 38 (4) An affirmative finding of non-eligibility could not be made, due to data gaps or insufficient information; therefore, additional research is required through Phase 2.

2. Phase 2: Consultant-Prepared Historical Resource Screening Assessment (Phase 2 ScreeningAssessment)
a. Requirements. The Phase 2 Screening Assessment shall be prepared by a qualified Architectural Historian or Historian. The scope shall remain flexible, to be determined by the Director in consultation with the City’s in-house or extension-of-staff preservation plannering staff, based on the specific data gaps, unresolved questions, or evidentiary needs identified during Phase 1. To streamline the process, the Director may tailor the Phase 2 Screening Assessment to the specific areas of research and analysis necessary to make a defensible determination. Depending on the data gaps identified, the Phase 2 Screening Assessment may include but not necessarily be limited to:
(1) A site visit, including photographic documentation of neighborhood context, existing conditions, features, and alterations over time;
(2) Supplemental archival research;
(3) Focused research to document and characterize the relevant historical contexts, themes, and associations for the property; previous preservation planning studies and documents will be used to the maximum extent practicable;
(4) Historic integrity analysis, examining the seven aspects of integrity defined by the National Park Service; and/or
(5) Any additional focused research necessary to resolve outstanding questions.
b. Format. The Phase 2 Screening Assessment shall be documented in a memorandum or report, in a format established by the Director in consultation with the City’s in-house or extension-of-staff preservation planner, summarizing:
(1) Methods and sources consulted;
(2) Photographic documentation;
(3) Architectural description and construction chronology; (4) Focused historic context section;
(5) Evaluation of potential significance under applicable criteria and, if needed, historic integrity analysis; and
922
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 39 (6) Recommendations regarding eligibility and next steps. c. Findings. If the Phase 2 Screening Assessment shows that the property is ineligible as a Historical Resource on the basis of substantial evidence, no further review under this Chapter is required and the demolition permit may be issued.

3. Director Determination. Upon completion of a Phase 2 ScreeningAssessment, the Director shall issue a written determination as to whether the property is eligible or ineligible as a Historical Resource under the criteria established in this Chapter. The Director’s determination shall be published on the City’s website and provided in writing to the property owner and to any party who has submitted a written request for notice regarding the property. The Director’s determination can be appealed directly to the Heritage Commission. The date of the Director’s written determination constitutes the official date for purposes of appeal. a. If the Director determines that a property may be eligible as a Historical Resource, based on a Phase 2 ScreeningAssessment, the determination shall be subject to appeal pursuant to Section 17.08.050. Following the conclusion of the appeals period, the property shall be added to the Inventory, and the provisions of Section 17.17.120 (Certificate of Demolition) shall apply to the proposed demolition.

4. Appeals. Any interested party may appeal the Director's decision in accordance with the appeals process established in OMC pursuant to the limitations and procedures in Orange Municipal Code § 17.08.050 (Appeals). All appeals brought under this Section shall be accompanied by a filing fee following a fee structure established by the City Council.

17.17.122 Work Hold Pending Designation.

A. Work Hold – Pending Historic Landmark Designation. Except as necessary to correct an unsafe or dangerous condition pursuant to Section 17.17.124 (Unsafe or Dangerous Conditions), no person shall carry out, or cause to be carried out, any activity requiring a Tier 1 Certificate of Appropriateness or Tier 2 Minor Design Review Clearance Certificate of Appropriateness on a proposed Historical Resource for which a landmark application has been filed until final action on the designation. An exception to the work hold applies to alterations demonstrated, through the project review process and criteria established in this Chapter, to comply with the Secretary’s Standards.

B. Work Hold – Pending Historic District Designation. Except as necessary to correct an unsafe or dangerous condition pursuant to Section 17.17.124 (Unsafe or Dangerous Conditions), no person shall carry out, or cause to be carried out, any activity requiring a Tier 1 Certificate of Appropriateness or Tier 2 Minor Design Review Clearance Certificate of Appropriateness on any property within the boundaries of a proposed historic district while an application for district designation is pending. An exception to the work hold applies to alterations demonstrated, through the project review process and criteria established in this Chapter, to comply with the Secretary’s Standards.

17.17.123 Certificate of Economic Hardship.
923
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 40 A. Purpose. The City recognizes that the provisions of this Chapter may, in limited circumstances, create an undue unusual and extreme economic hardship. This Section establishes the criteria and process by which property owners may demonstrate that enforcement of this ordinance will cause such hardship. The City Council may issue a Certificate of Economic Hardship to allow alteration or demolition of a Historical Resource listed in the Register or Inventory when denial of the request would impose an undue unusual and extreme economic hardship on the owner. A Certificate of Economic Hardship is a narrowly tailored exception intended to preserve the City’s ability to protect Historical Resources while ensuring compliance within constitutional limits. The Certificate of Economic Hardship shall be granted only when the applicant presents substantial evidence, in accordance with the requirements of this Section, demonstrating that enforcement of this ordinance would deprive them of earning a reasonable rate of return on the property or the ability to put the property to a reasonable, beneficial use.

A. Threshold. For income‑producing properties, an economic hardship shall be established when the applicant demonstrates that a reasonable rate of return, as determined by the Director based on a pro forma analysis prepared by a qualified professional, cannot be obtained from the property in its current condition or if rehabilitated in accordance with this Chapter. For non‑income‑producing properties, an economic hardship shall be established when the applicant demonstrates that, without approval of the proposed alteration or demolition, the owner would be deprived of all reasonable, beneficial use of or return from the property. In cases involving proposed demolition, the Commission must additionally find, based on substantial evidence, that the Historical Resource cannot be rehabilitated or reused in a manner that would allow for a reasonable, beneficial use of or return from the property. In evaluating a claim of economic hardship, the City shall consider whether any feasible preservation alternatives exist that would allow for a reasonable, beneficial use of or return from the property.

B. Applications. An application for a Certificate of Economic Hardship shall be subject to a pro forma evaluation completed for the City by a qualified economic professional selected from a list of qualified economic professionals to be maintained by the City. The application shall be made on the prescribed a form prescribed by the City. The application and shall include the following information, unless the Director makes the written determination, based on expert opinion, that specific items such information is are not required to evaluate the application:

1. The estimated market value of the property in its current condition, with supporting documentation;

2. The estimated market value of the property following the proposed alteration or demolition, with supporting documentation;

3. Itemized estimates of the costs associated with the proposed alteration or demolition;

4. For proposed demolition, the estimated market value of the property after rehabilitation for continued use, and an estimate from a qualified Historic Architect as defined in Section 17.17.103 (Definitions) regarding the economic feasibility of rehabilitation or reuse; 924
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 41

5. A rehabilitation report from a qualified Structural Engineer or Historic Architect, as defined in Section 17.17.103 (Definitions), addressing the structural condition of the property and feasibility and cost estimates of stabilization and rehabilitation;

6. For income producing properties, documentation of annual gross income, operating and maintenance expenses, depreciation deductions, annual cash flow after debt service, current appraisals, assessed valuations, and real estate taxes;

7. Remaining balance on any mortgage or other financing secured by the property and annual debt service, if any, for the previous two years.

8. All appraisals obtained by the owner or applicant within the previous two years in connection with the purchase, financing, or ownership of the property;

9. If the property was purchased within the previous 36 months, the purchase price, date of purchase, the identity of the seller, any relationship between the parties, and the terms of any financing;

10. Any listing of the property for sale or rent within the previous two years, including asking prices and offers received;

11. Any additional information the Director reasonably determines is necessary to evaluate whether the property may yield a reasonable use or return.

C. Commission Review and City Council Hearing. The Commission shall review all applications for a Certificate of Economic Hardship through a public hearing and shall forward a written recommendation to the City Council. The City Council shall hold a public hearing on the application and may approve c or deny the application following the close of the hearing. The Council hearing may be held concurrently with any related site redevelopment applications.

D. Findings. The City Council shall approve a Certificate of Economic Hardship only if it finds, based on substantial evidence in the record, including the pro forma evaluation required by this Chapter and the Commission’s recommendation, that all of the following conditions are met:

1. Denial of the application would deprive the owner of a reasonable economic return on the property or would otherwise preclude all reasonable use of the property.

2. Sale or rental of the property is not financially feasible, taking into account the cost of holding the property for uses permitted in the applicable zoning district.

3. Adaptive reuse or rehabilitation of the property is not feasible, whether due to structural limitations, physical constraints, or economic infeasibility; this finding shall be supported by substantial evidence submitted by the applicant and by any additional analysis required by this Chapter;

4. The hardship to the property owner outweighs the benefit to the community of retaining the Historical Resource in its current condition, after considering whether any feasible 925
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 42 preservation alternatives exist; this finding shall be supported by substantial evidence submitted by the applicant and by any additional analysis required by this Chapter.

E. Approval.

1. Upon approval, copies of the Certificate of Economic Hardship shall be forwarded to the applicant.

2. A Certificate of Economic Hardship shall not become effective until the expiration of the appeal period established in this Chapter.

17.17.124 Unsafe or Dangerous Conditions.

A. Purpose. This Section implements the Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation Element of the General Plan, which directs the City to identify and preserve Historical Resources and to ensure that they are used, maintained, and rehabilitated in a manner consistent with established preservation standards. Consistent with these objectives, this Section ensures that unsafe or dangerous conditions are addressed in a way that protects public health and safety while preserving Historical Resources and making use of the flexibility provided by the California Historical Building Code.

B. Intent. The intent of this Section is to ensure that Historical Resources are not altered or demolished under the pretext of unsafe or dangerous conditions and that emergency actions are limited to the minimum necessary to protect public health and safety. This Section is intended to require the use of the California Historical Building Code to identify preservation‑sensitive alternatives, to ensure early notification to the Commission, and to provide an opportunity for stabilization, rehabilitation, relocation, documentation, or salvage whenever feasible. Emergency authority under this Section is to be exercised narrowly and only when supported by substantial evidence of an unsafe or dangerous condition.

C. Emergency Work Authorized. None of the provisions of this Section shall be construed to prevent construction, alteration, removal, demolition, or relocation necessary to correct an unsafe or dangerous condition of any structure or feature where the Building Official, based on a report from a Qualified Structural Engineer or other qualified professional, has determined that such condition exists and that the proposed work is necessary to correct it. Only the minimum work required to abate the unsafe or dangerous condition may be performed pursuant to this Section. All assessments shall utilize the California Historical Building Code and the Uniform Code for Building Conservation.

D. Notification. The Building Official shall inform the Director and the Commission prior to authorizing any work pursuant to this Section unless she/he determines that immediate action is required to correct the unsafe or dangerous condition. In such cases, the Building Official shall report her/his actions to the Director within 48 hours and to the Commission at its next regular meeting.

E. Commission Review for Work Not Requiring Immediate Correction. If work authorized by the Building Official pursuant to this Chapter is not immediately necessary to correct the unsafe or dangerous condition, the Commission may advise the Building Official of the historic 926
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 43 significance of the building and recommend a reasonable period of postponement for the purpose of arranging for rehabilitation, preservation, restoration, relocation, documentation, and/or salvage of the Historical Resource. “Salvage” means the recovery and preservation of significant architectural features, historic materials, or character-defining features of the Historical Resource prior to demolition or major alteration, for the purpose of reuse, archival retention, or interpretive display.CHBC

1. F. Time Limits. If no arrangements have been made for rehabilitation, relocation, or salvage within 60 calendar days of an order to abate a nuisance, or within a shorter period if determined necessary by the Building Official, the Building Official may proceed with the abatement action.

17.17.125 Appeals.

A. The owner of a property subject to review, or the applicant, or lessee if different than the owner, may appeal any decision by the Director or Commission under this Chapter pursuant to the limitations and procedures in Orange Municipal Code § 17.08.050 (Appeals). All appeals brought under this Section shall be accompanied by a filing fee following a fee structure established by the City Council.

17.17.126 Preservation Incentives.

A. Purpose. This Section implements the Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation Element of the General Plan, which establishes the City’s goal to expand incentives and education programs that support historic preservation. Consistent with the General Plan’s direction, this Section promotes the preservation, rehabilitation, and long‑term stewardship of Historical Resources by providing financial and regulatory incentives to encourage the maintenance and rehabilitation of historic properties.

B. Intent. The intent of this Section is to promote the preservation and continued use of Historical Resources by reducing financial and regulatory barriers. This Section is further intended to encourage owners to pursue rehabilitation rather than demolition, to leverage state and federal preservation programs, and to support the City’s efforts to secure and distribute funding for preservation activities. Incentives established under this Section are intended to complement, not replace, the regulatory protections of this Chapter and to advance the City’s broader preservation, education, and community‑engagement goals.

C. Authority to Establish Incentives. The Commission may recommend and the City Council may, by resolution or ordinance, adopt preservation incentives to encourage the designation, preservation, maintenance, and rehabilitation of the City’s Historical Resources. Such incentives may include financial or regulatory benefits and shall be made available to owners of Historical Resources listed in the Orange Register, California Register of Historical Resources, and National Register of Historic Places. The Director shall administer all preservation incentives in accordance with procedures adopted by the City Council. 927
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 44 D. Mills Act Historic Property Contract Program. The City may enter into Mills Act Historic Property Contracts with owners of Historical Resources listed in the Orange Register, the California Register of Historical Resources, or the National Register of Historic Places, or designated as California Historic Landmarks or National Historic Landmarks. The Mills Act Program provides a reduction in property taxes in exchange for a commitment to complete specified repair, restoration, rehabilitation, and ongoing maintenance in accordance with the Secretary’s StandardsSecretary’s Standards and applicable City design standards. The state‑level enabling legislation for the Mills Act Program is contained in California Government Code Sections 50280–50290.

1. Relationship to Previously Adopted Resolutions. The provisions of this Subsection shall govern the administration of the Mills Act Program and shall supersede any conflicting provisions of previously adopted resolutions.

2. Purpose. The purpose of the Mills Act Program is to provide a financial incentive through a potential reduction in property taxes in exchange for the preservation, rehabilitation, and long-term maintenance of Historical Resources. This program supports the City’s General Plan goal to provide incentives for historic preservation by encouraging long-term investment in the protection and stewardship of the City’s Historical Resources.

3. Intent. By enacting this Section, the City seeks to advance its historic preservation goals and promote the long term retention, rehabilitation, and stewardship of Orange’s Historical Resources. The Mills Act Program is intended to support investment in the preservation of properties that contribute to the architectural, cultural, and historical character of the City. These incentives are intended to prioritize projects that yield the highest preservation and public benefit and demonstrate a clear plan for ensuring that tax savings are reinvested in the longterm protection of the property.

4. Eligibility for Mills Act. Properties eligible to apply for the Mills Act shall include: (1) properties designated on the City of Orange Register, either individually or as contributors to designated historic districts and (2) properties designated on the NRHP or CRHR, or as California Historic Landmarks or National Historic Landmarks. This incentive shall be made available to qualifying properties that undergo (1) rehabilitation; (2) preservation/maintenance; or (3) restoration when such work is consistent with the Secretary’s StandardsSecretary’s Standards.

Eligible work includes, but is not limited to: (1) Preservation, repair, or restoration of character defining features; (2) Rehabilitation of Historical Resources that have been significantly altered over time; (3) Structural or seismic upgrades necessary to ensure the continued viability of the resource; (4) Work necessary to address deterioration, deferred maintenance, or life safety concerns; and (5) Restoration of missing or altered features based on documentary or physical evidence.

5. Administration of New Mills Act Contracts. The Mills Act Program shall be administered in accordance with the Mills Act Program Guidelines adopted by City Council Resolution (Resolution ###), 11720), or as amended.
928
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 45

6. Notice to State Agencies. The City shall provide written notice of the Contract to the California Office of Historic Preservation within one hundred eighty (180) days of execution, as required by state law.

7. Non-Renewal Procedures. The procedures for non-renewal by either the property owner or the City shall be as set forth in Government Code Section 50282(a), (b), and (c). Upon issuance of a Notice of Non-Renewal, the Contract shall remain in effect for the balance of the existing term, and no additional years shall be added.

8. Noncompliance and Cancellation. The contract shall state that the City may cancel the contract after a duly noticed public hearing if it determines that the owner is in noncompliance with the Mills Act Workplan and/or has breached the conditions of the contract.

Cancellation shall be conducted in accordance with state law. If the City cancels the contract, the owner shall pay a cancellation fee equal to twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) of the current fair market value of the property, as determined by the County Assessor without regard to the restrictions imposed by the contract.

9. Cancellation Without Penalty in Cases of Natural Disaster. The contract shall provide that the City may cancel the contract without imposing the cancellation fee if preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration becomes infeasible due to damage caused by natural disaster (including but not limited to earthquake, fire, or flood) in accordance with the provisions of Public Resources Code Section 5028.

E. Other Financial Preservation Incentives. In addition to the Mills Act Historic Property Contract pProgram, the following financial incentives may be made available to owners of Historical Resources listed in the Orange Register, California Register of Historical Resources, or the National Register of Historic Places in accordance with procedures adopted by City Council and/or established by the Director.

1. Preservation Easements. Preservation easements may be acquired by the City through donation or purchase and shall be held by the City or by a qualified state or local nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation. Such easements shall run with the land and shall include conditions necessary to preserve and maintain the Register-listed Historical Resource.

F. Regulatory Preservation Incentives. The following regulatory preservation incentives are available as specified below, to encourage the preservation and ongoing use of the City’s Historical Resources:

1. California Historical Building Code. The California Historic Building Code (Title 24, Part 8, California Administrative Code) shall guide upgrades and alterations to Historical Resources that are part of an adopted Register.

2. Exemption for Nonconforming Uses. On a case-by-case basis, a preexisting nonconforming use or site condition may be formally recognized as a permitted use or site condition at the discretion of the Director, if the exemption encourages the retention and ongoing viable use of a Historical Resource listed in the Register. 929
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 46

3. Reduction of Commercial Parking Requirements. At the discretion of the Director, commercial properties listed in the Register may be granted a reduction in parking requirements, to a maximum of 50 percent, based on the degree to which the historic character of the Historical Resource would be preserved, enhanced, or made more viable through the reduction in parking requirements. Parking reductions granted under this Subsection operate in addition to any parking reductions or prohibitions required under state law.

17.17.127 Application Filing Fees.

A. Adoption of Fee Schedule. The City Council shall by resolution adopt a schedule of fees, including potential fee waivers, for any application for designation, termination of a designation, for demolition permits, and for appeals pursuant to this Chapter.

17.17.128 Enforcement and Penalties.

A. Purpose. This Section implements the Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation Element of the General Plan, which establishes the City’s responsibility to identify and preserve potential and listed Historical Resources and to ensure that such resources are protected, maintained, and rehabilitated in accordance with the Secretary’s StandardsSecretary’s Standards.

The purpose of this Section is to provide clear and effective enforcement mechanisms to prevent the unauthorized alteration or demolition of Historical Resources and to ensure compliance with the requirements of this Chapter.

B. Intent. The intent of this Section is to deter violations, ensure timely correction of unauthorized work, and provide the City with the tools necessary to restore, stabilize, or otherwise mitigate damage to Historical Resources. Enforcement actions under this Section are intended to protect the public interest in the preservation of the City’s historic character.

C. General Enforcement Authority. Any person who violates a requirement of this Chapter, fails to comply with a condition of approval, or fails to obey an order issued by the City Council, Commission, or Director shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of the Orange Municipal Code. Violations of this Chapter are subject to all applicable civil, criminal, and administrative enforcement provisions of the Orange Municipal Code.

D. Nuisance Declaration. Any alteration or demolition of a Historical Resource in violation of this Chapter is hereby declared a public nuisance and may be abated by the City through any lawful means.

E. Moratorium on Development. In addition to all other remedies, the City shall have the authority to impose a temporary moratorium on the development of a property for a period not to exceed 60 months from the date the City becomes aware of any alteration or demolition in violation of this Chapter, unless the owner obtains permits to restore or reconstruct the property to its original condition prior to the violation and the work is consistent with the Secretary’s Standards. The purpose of the moratorium is to provide the City with an opportunity to study and determine appropriate mitigation measures for the alteration and/or removal of the Historical Resource, and to ensure measures are incorporated into any future development plans and approvals for the subject property. Mitigation measures, as determined by the Commission and/or 930
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 47 Director, shall be imposed as a condition of any subsequent permit for development of the subject property.

F. Injunctive Relief and Court‑Ordered Restoration. The City Attorney may bring a civil action to stop any violation of this Chapter and may request a court order requiring that any Historical Resource altered or demolished without approval be fully or partially restored, reconstructed, or replaced.

G. Administrative Restoration Orders. Any person who constructs, alters, removes, or demolishes a Historical Resource without required approval may be ordered by the City to restore the property to its appearance prior to the violation, to the extent such restoration is physically feasible, under the direction of the Director. This remedy is in addition to any civil or criminal penalties.

H. Civil Actions and Cumulative Remedies. Any violation of this Chapter may be enforced by civil action brought by the City. Remedies under this Chapter are cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies or penalties, whether civil or criminal. In any civil action, the City may seek one or more of the following:

1. A temporary or permanent injunction;

2. Recovery of the costs of investigation, inspection, monitoring, and enforcement, including reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

17.17.130 Identification, Documentation, and Management of Archaeological and Tribal Cultural Resources.

A. Purpose. This Section implements the Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation Element of the General Plan, which directs the City to preserve archaeological and cultural heritage through development and implementation of procedures to identify, document, evaluate, and manage prehistoric and historic archaeological resources and Tribal Cultural Resources. The purpose of this Section is to ensure that such resources are recognized early in the project review process; that archaeologically sensitive areas, such as Santiago Creek, receive appropriate consideration; and that significant resources are preserved in place whenever feasible, or otherwise curated and documented for public education and appreciation.

B. Intent. The intent of this Section is to protect archaeological and Tribal Cultural Resources by requiring early consultation, professional investigation, and appropriate mitigation during project review. This Section is further intended to ensure that resource identification is informed by the City’s Research Design and Sensitivity Assessment, that Tribal governments are meaningfully engaged in the treatment of Tribal Cultural Resources, and that any recovered materials are curated in accordance with professional standards. The procedures established in this Section are intended to complement CEQA requirements, support the City’s stewardship responsibilities, and promote a deeper public understanding of the many cultures that have shaped the City of Orange.

C. Scope and Applicability. Identification and documentation of archaeological and Tribal Resources shall be accomplished with consideration to the Cultural Resources and Historic 931
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 48 Preservation Element and related technical studies of the 2010 General Plan (including the 2006 Research Design and Sensitivity Assessment for the City of Orange and the historic contexts and Cultural Resources Sensitivity Maps therein, as it may be revised or superseded by a Cultural Resources Management Plan). Potential project impacts to those Cultural Resources that are significant archaeological and/or Tribal Cultural Resources shall be addressed during project review as described in this Section. This shall be accomplished through, as appropriate, 1) a desktop literature review, including records searches at the California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS) Information Center and the Native American Heritage Commission; the identification of potentially significant Cultural Resources (Phase I or Extended Phase I); the evaluation of those resources’ significance (Phase II); and, where necessary and indicated, the mitigation of substantial adverse impacts that cannot be avoided through preservation in place or data recovery (Phase III) or other creative mitigation measures, These records searches, reports, and mitigation measures shall be accomplished by Qualified Professionals as defined in Section

17.17.103 (Definitions) of this Chapter. The provisions of this policy shall apply to properties containing known archaeological or Tribal Cultural Resources or which are highly sensitive for the discovery of Cultural Resources meeting one of the following conditions:

1. Listed in the Register or Inventory;

2. Listed in the California Register of Historical Resources or in the National Register of Historic Places;

3. Determined by the Director or the State Historic Preservation Officer on the basis on an Extended Phase I or Phase II report prepared by a Qualified Professional Archaeologist or with Tribal consultation, as applicable, to be eligible for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources, the National Register of Historic Places, or the Register; or

4. Located in areas with a high potential for the presence of Cultural Resources. In order to make this determination, the City shall reference and update the most current Cultural Resource Sensitivity Maps and Research Design and Sensitivity Assessment Report maintained by the Community Development Department or associated with the General Plan Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation Element. The maps shall be updated regularly by City staff with GIS data submitted with Cultural Resources reports.

5. The provisions of this policy shall apply to all activities on the properties specified above, including but not limited to proposed new construction of structures or landscapes, expansions, additions, alterations, grading, excavation, trenching, and/or demolition, except as exempted from the provisions of this Section as described in Subsection E below.

D. Report Preparation.

1. All non-exempt development applications satisfying the above criteria shall be required to submit a Phase I or Extended Phase I Cultural Resources Report to the City as a part of their application. Applications for properties that contain potential Cultural Resources that have not been evaluated for significance and cannot be avoided or preserved in place and where project plans call for ground disturbance exceeding 18 inches in depth shall be required to submit a Phase II Cultural Resources evaluation report to the City as part of their application. The evaluation shall 932
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 49 examine the Cultural Resources under all local, California Register of Historical Resources, and National Register of Historic Places criteria of significance and consider possible association with a known Historical Resource or District, era of history, or under-represented cultural group identified in the Historic Context Statement or the Research Design and Sensitivity Assessment Report. A development application shall not be considered complete until said report(s) as required by this Chapter is submitted to the City.

2. If the Director determines that the proposed project could potentially affect a known or suspected cultural resource adjacent to the project site, then the applicant will be required to submit a Phase I Cultural Resources inventory report in order to determine whether the project has the potential to impact the Cultural Resource.

3. The requirement for a Phase II Report shall be waived if a Phase I or Extended Phase I Report either a) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Director that the proposed project has been redesigned to avoid impacts to, or preserves in place, Cultural Resources, or b) proposes mitigation acceptable to the Director for Cultural Resources potentially affected by the proposed project, regardless of historic significance, and such mitigation is made a condition for approval of the proposed project.

4. Cultural resources reports shall be the responsibility of the applicant. The reports shall be prepared by Qualified Professional Archaeologists as defined in Section 17.17.103 (Definitions) of this Chapter.

5. Cultural Resources Reports shall be prepared in a standard format: the California Office of Historic Preservation Archaeological Resource Management Reports (ARMR): Recommended Contents and Format. All Cultural Resources reports and appended resource records shall be filed with the local California Historical Resources Information System Information Center.

6. The report shall include a description and map indicating location of specific sites, features, and isolates analyzed within the report. The mapped location of archaeological sites and Tribal Cultural resources is confidential information, not to be released for public view. It is to be provided to the City as an appendix to the main report.

7. The City may prepare or commission the preparation of a citywide Cultural Resources Management Plan, in conjunction with a Qualified Professional Archaeologist, in order to update the City’s cultural resources sensitivity maps and to establish more specific requirements for identifying, recording, evaluating, and mitigating impacts to archaeological and Tribal Cultural resources, and for the preparation of Phase I, Extended Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III reports and associated documentation.

E. Exemptions. The following applications shall be exempt from the requirements for submitting reports:

1. Applications for a property for which a Phase I or Extended Phase I Cultural Resources inventory report has been accepted by the City within the last five years, provided that there were no significant errors in methodology or content as determined by the Director and that the application complies with any applicable mitigation requirements; 933
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 50

2. Projects that require a permit application that will not excavate deeper than 18 inches or excavate more than 50 cubic yards of earth, or those for which the Director, based on advice from a Qualified Professional Archaeologist, has determined in writing, that the sediments to be disturbed do not have the potential to yield artifacts or archaeological features;

3. Projects that are limited to repair and maintenance of existing facilities and/or utilities without ground disturbing activities that extend beyond the footprint of those facilities or utilities;

4. Projects located in areas not identified as high sensitivity on the Cultural Resources Sensitivity Maps;

5. Projects with ground-level additions totaling less than 10 percent of the existing habitable floor plan;

6. Projects that are redesigned to avoid or preserve in place potential or identified resources that are assumed to be significant, thus avoiding impacts;

7. Projects that are statutorily exempt from zoning codes, environmental review under CEQA, or the requirements of certain other local, state, or federal laws intended to streamline permitting and accelerate new housing development.

F. Review Process.

1. All development applications subject to the provisions of this Section shall be reviewed in the following manner in order to effectively identify and evaluate any Cultural Resources that exist on the project site and to mitigate substantial adverse changes to their significance.

2. The applicable preliminary report (Phase I or Extended Phase I) shall be submitted to the Director. The Director may take the following actions:
a. If the report finds and the Director concurs that no known significant Cultural Resources are present but there is a potential for the discovery of significant Cultural Resources within specific areas of the project during ground disturbance, and the proposed project plans include measures to avoid or preserve potential Cultural Resources in those defined areas, then the Director shall accept the Phase I report as submitted and deem the application complete. b. If the report finds and the Director concurs that no known significant Cultural Resources are present but there is a potential for the discovery of significant Cultural Resources without avoidance or preservation measures included in the proposed project application, the Director can request an Extended Phase I assessment to identify the presence or absence of Cultural Resources prior to deeming the application complete. If the applicant elects not to prepare an Extended Phase I report, then the Director shall require that the project comply with On-site Monitoring and Mitigation (see Subsection F below), to ensure that significant Cultural Resources are avoided, recovered or preserved in situ, as a condition of approval of the proposed project application. The Director can direct the City to retain the services of a separate Qualified Professional to provide an independent review of these findings 934
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 51 c. If the Phase I, or Extended Phase I Report identifies the presence of archaeological or Tribal Cultural Resources, and the resources cannot be avoided or preserved in place, the Director shall require preparation of a Phase II report prior to deeming the application complete. The application package shall then be submitted to the Commission for consideration.

3. The Commission, in reviewing the development proposal, shall evaluate the applicable Phase I and Phase II Reports and incorporate mitigation conditions for the project in order to avoid or preserve any known or identified significant Archaeological or Tribal Cultural Resources.

4. Any conditions or mitigation measures resulting from a Phase I or Phase II Report or other technical studies or reports, or as required by the Director or Commission shall be forwarded to the Building and Safety division of the Community Development Department and enforced in accordance with Section 21081.6 of the California Public Resource Code.

5. All decisions of the Director can be appealed to the Commission, and all decisions of the Commission can be appealed to the City Council in accordance with the City’s standard appeals process.

G. On-Site Monitoring and Mitigation (Archaeological/Tribal Cultural Resources).

1. When On-site Monitoring is required as a condition of approval of a development proposal, the project proponent shall provide the Community Development Department an executed consultant services contract with the individual responsible for supervising onsite archaeological monitoring, who shall be a Qualified Professional Archaeologist selected from approved list of qualified archaeologists to be maintained by the City.

2. In instances, due to known or expected existence of subsurface Tribal Cultural Resources or as an outcome of Tribal Cultural consultation, the consulting archaeologist or the Director may request that a Tribal Cultural Monitor be present on-site during grading operations. If so requested, a qualified Tribal Cultural Monitor shall be retained by the project applicant.

3. If unanticipated subsurface Cultural Resources are discovered at the site, the archaeologist shall take immediate steps to stop all construction activity within 25 feet of the cultural material. The Director shall be immediately informed of the situation. If it is determined by the Director in consultation with the Qualified Professional Archaeologist that the find is an isolated occurrence or that the remaining construction activity will not significantly impact the Cultural Resource, work shall be permitted to continue on the site. A report by the Qualified Archaeologist shall be submitted prior to the final inspection of the site, detailing the contents of the unearthed Cultural Resource.

4. In the event of an unanticipated discovery of Cultural Resources when neither an archaeologist nor Tribal Cultural Monitor is on site, the information is to be communicated to the Director at once. In the event that the discovery includes potential human remains, Section 7050.5 of the California Health and Safety Code and Section 5097.98 of the Public Resources Code shall be followed.
935
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 52

5. Should unanticipated Cultural Resources be encountered, work shall be halted or diverted from the vicinity of the discovery until the significance of the Cultural Resource can be determined by the Director in consultation with a Qualified Professional Archaeologist. A recommendation will be prepared by the qualified archaeologist indicating whether the find is potentially significant and the recommended course of action for its protection or further evaluation. The Director shall determine if the City should retain the services of a separate consulting archaeologist to provide an independent recommendation of site significance.

6. On the Director’s recommendation, reports relating to the discovery of significant Archaeological or Tribal Cultural Resources shall be referred to the Commission at their next available meeting and noticed in accordance with City procedures for public hearings.

Such notice shall also be sent to the property owner(s) of record and to other persons who have requested to be notified of such matters, or whom the Director determines may have an interest in the matter.

7. The Commission, after considering the contents, recommendations, and findings of the report, and after receiving and considering testimony by interested individuals or groups, may take the following actions:
a. Determine that the find is not significant and allow work to resume. b. Determine that additional testing is necessary to evaluate the significance of the find. If additional testing is determined necessary, similar procedures as defined in Section 17.17.130.F.4-5. shall be followed.
c. Determine that the proposed project will not significantly affect the Cultural Resource and that it can be documented and left in situ without compromising the integrity of the cultural resource.

8. If the Commission determination for either data recovery or protection in situ conflicts with currently approved plans, the item may be appealed to the City Council on an urgent basis. The decision of the City Council shall be considered final.

9. In the event that an unanticipated discovery of cultural material is made, all expenses related to work performed shall be reimbursed by the permit applicant.

10. Whether cultural material is discovered or not, all monitors (archaeologists and Tribal Cultural) shall submit a written summary of their services and observations to the Director.

11. Prior to the issuance of any permit or action to proceed for the demolition of a significant Cultural Resource, the owner may be required to allow for the removal of significant features. The owner shall make these features available to local historic interest or Tribal Cultural groups. The expense of the removal and storage of recovered features is to be borne by the historic interest or Tribal Cultural groups. The owner may also be required, as a mitigation measure for any proposed demolition or alteration of a Cultural Resource, to document the cultural resource through photographs and historic narrative. These records shall be submitted prior to final inspection and will become the property of the City.
936
Final Administrative Draft, v. 5 August 31, 2026
Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance, City of Orange, Orange County, California P a g e | 53 H. Consultation with California Tribal Cultural Groups

1. California Tribal Cultural tribes traditionally and culturally affiliated with Orange may have expertise concerning their Tribal Cultural resources, and consultation with these groups is a required element of compliance with CEQA (Section 21080.3.1 of the Public Resources Code).

17.17.131 Severability of Provisions.

Should any section or provision of this Chapter be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of this Chapter as a whole or any section thereof other than the section or provision specifically declared to be invalid. 937
City of Orange, CA

17.08.020. Reviewing Bodies.

There are five reviewing bodies established to administer the provisions of the zoning ordinance and general plan. These five reviewing bodies have authority to make decisions and/or recommendations for applications as outlined in Table 17.08.020:

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/OR5214 on 2026-07-28 Table 17.08.020
Type of Procedure, Permit or Hearing CDD DRHC ZA PC CC
Administrative Design Review X(1)
Administrative Adjustment Permit X
Alcohol Production Permit X
Conditional Use Permit A A(1) X(1) X(1) X(1)
Design Review - Historic X(1) A(3)/X(1) X(1)
Design Review - Non-Historic X(1)
Environmental Documentation A A(2) X(1) X(1)
General Plan Amendment A A(3) A X
Neighborhood Preservation Overlay
Applications
A/X(1) X(1)
Director Administrative
Interpretations
X
Demolition Permit - Historic AX X(1)_ XDemolition Permit - Non-Historic X(1) Reasonable Accommodation X(1)
Site Plan Review—Major A X(1) A(3) X(2)
Site Plan Review—Minor X
Sober Living Permit X
Temporary Use (Non-Recurring)
Permit
A X(1) A(3) X(1)
Temporary Use (Recurring) Permit X
Tentative Parcel Map X(1) X(1) X(1)
Tentative Tract Map A A X
Variance A A(13) X(1) X
Zone Change A A(3) A X
Zoning Ordinance Amendment A A X
ATTACHMENT 3
938
Key:

CDD = Community Development Director
DRHC = Design Review CommitteeHeritage Commission
ZA = Zoning Administrator
PC = Planning Commission
CC = City Council
A = Advisory
X = Final project determination
(1) (1) = Restricted to certain applications or properties that meet the Historic Thresholdas specified in Chapter 17.17
(2) The Heritage Commission shall serve in an advisory capacity for the review of environmental analysis pertaining to historical and cultural resources.
(3) In the case of land use entitlements involving historic resources as defined Chapter 17.17, the Heritage Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the Planning Commission and/or City Council for project design and/or other matters pertaining to historical and cultural resources.

NOTES:
(a) All items may be finally decided by the City Council upon appeal. (b) When more than one type of application is filed for a single project, the application requiring the highest level of approval shall dictate the review process for the entire group of applications.

The five reviewing bodies are established and described as follows:

A. City Council. The City Council is established through the incorporation of the City and has final review of all matters relating to planning and zoning.

B. Planning Commission. The Planning Commission is established through the provisions of Title 2, Chapter 2.64 of this code.

1. Purpose.
a. To make land use decisions in accordance with state law, that are consistent with City's general plan goals and policies as formally adopted by the City Council.
b. To provide technical and advisory assistance to the City Council regarding land use matters.
c. To assist in formulating development policy.
d. To make environmental assessments in accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provisions and the City's environmental review guidelines.
e. To encourage the preservation of cultural historic resources, while allowing for orderly and compatible development.

2. Powers and Duties. The Planning Commission shall have all the powers and duties of a Board of Adjustment pursuant to Section 65901 of the Government Code of the State in appropriate cases and, subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards. 939
a. Authority to hear and decide:
i.
ii.
iii.

Applications for conditional use permits with the exception of those made to the Zoning Administrator pursuant to Section 17.10.030(E); Applications for variances with the exception of those made to the Zoning Administrator pursuant to Section 17.10.040(D);
Applications for major site plan review;
iv. Applications for negative declarations and mitigated negative declarations;
v. Applications for design review for those projects requiring Planning Commission approval of a land use permit or environmental documentation (as described in the City's environmental review guidelines), including development projects within the Old Towne Historic District, and replacement structures in conjunction with demolition permits within the Old Towne Historic District. b. Authority to review and make recommendations to the City Council:
i.
ii.
iii.

Applications for zone changes and zone ordinance amendments; Applications for land divisions—tentative tract maps;
Applications for general plan amendments;
iv. Conditional use permit applications as listed in Section

17.10.030(D);
v. Environmental documentation including environmental impact reports (EIRs), negative declarations and mitigated negative declaration as described in the City's environmental review guidelines.
c.
d.

Authority to act upon an appeal of any order, requirement, permit, decision or determination made by an administrative or appointed official or body such as the Community Development Director, or Zoning Administrator in the administration or enforcement of this chapter.

In exercising the powers given by this chapter, the Planning Commission may, so long as such action is in conformity with the terms of this chapter, reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the order, requirement, decision or determination previously rendered by the Planning Commission.

3. Meetings.
a. The Planning Commission shall adopt rules necessary to the conduct of its affairs and in keeping with the provisions of this chapter. Meetings Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/OR5214 on 2026-07-28 940
City of Orange, CA
§ 17.08.020
b.
c.
§ 17.08.020
shall be held in accordance with Section 2.64.040 of this code at the call of the Chairperson and at such other times as the Commission may determine. All meetings shall be open to the public.

The Planning Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, or if absent or failing to vote indicating such fact, and shall keep records of its own examinations and other official action, all of which shall be a public record and be immediately filed in the office of the Community Development Department.

In the event of a tie vote, the matter upon which such vote is being cast shall fail, which shall have the effect of a denial or recommendation of denial, as appropriate. Alternatively, the Planning Commission may approve a "resolution of no decision" to the City Council. In the case of an appeal, a tie vote shall constitute a denial of the appeal, which shall have the effect of affirming in whole the determination of the lower body.

C. Zoning Administrator. The Zoning Administrator is appointed to perform certain duties as described below pursuant to the authority granted to municipalities by the State Planning Act. The City Manager shall appoint the Zoning Administrator and determine qualifications for the office.

1. Purpose.
a.
b.
c.

To provide a method by which minor adjustments from ordinance requirements may be permitted without the necessity of the delays incident to the setting of such matters for public hearing before the Planning Commission;
To relieve the Planning Commission from the performance of certain functions of a more routine nature which tend to divert this body from the planning and major zoning functions entrusted to the Commission by the Orange Municipal Code and the laws of the State; and
To provide more expedient service to the citizens of the City and to those persons desiring to develop projects within the City through the reduction of the time necessary to consider minor adjustments from ordinance requirements.

2. Powers and Duties. The Zoning Administrator shall have authority to grant administrative adjustment permits as provided for herein and to hear and grant applications for certain variances, conditional use permits and other matters more particularly specified in Chapter 17.10. The Zoning Administrator shall have the following additional duties and authority:
a.
b.

Authority to make a declaration as to what constitutes the front of a lot; Authority to permit the use of a mobile home for temporary office and/or storage use in commercial and industrial zones in accordance with policy 941
set forth in City Council Resolution No. 3252. This authority does not extend to temporary construction trailers;
c. Authority to approve nonrecurring temporary uses subject to the provisions of Section 17.10.035;
d.
e.

Authority to permit the production of alcohol as set forth in Section

17.30.070;
Decide upon administrative adjustments.

3. Meetings. The Zoning Administrator shall adopt rules and regulations to govern the procedures at public meetings within his or her jurisdiction and to set a time for such meetings. All public hearings shall be held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall and shall be open to the public.

D. Design Review CommitteeHeritage Commission. The Design ReviewHeritage Commission Committee is established to provide guidance on Historical Resource management and historic preservation matters in the City including identification, documentation, management, preservation, and registration of Historical Resources.uphold community aesthetics. Recognizing that the inclusion of specific aesthetic development standards is impracticable due to the variable nature of architectural concepts, construction materials and aesthetic goals from one time period to another and from one neighborhood to another, it is in the public interest to establish an authority for project review.

1. Purpose.
a. To review development projects involving historical and cultural resources, by considering the elements of site planning, architectural design, massing and scale, color palette, context, landscaping and signage to ensure that projects are compatible with surrounding development and community aesthetics;
b. To interpret and apply adopted design guidelines and standards; c. To assist in formulating design policy;

2. d. To encourage the preservation of historical and cultural historic resources, while allowing for orderly development.

Powers and Duties. When a matter or application meets the Historic Thresholdcriteria specified in Chapter 17.17., the Design Review CommitteeHeritage Commission shall have the authority to:
942
a
.
. b
.
. c
.
h.a. Make final determination on signs and sign programs in accordance with Chapter 17.36 of this codePrepare and maintain the Orange Register;
i.b. Make final determination on architectural and landscaping design matters for minor site plan review applications when referred by Community Development DirectorPrepare and maintain the Orange Inventory;
j.c. Recommend eligible Historical Resources for designation and approval of Neighborhood Character Areas;

1. d
.
d. Review and make recommendations to the Planning
Commission on architectural and landscaping design matters for all development projects and proposed demolitions requiring Planning Commission recommendation or
approval Except where an application is consolidated with a land use entitlement requiring Planning Commission or City Council review, approve or deny in whole, or in part, applications for the demolition, alteration or relocation of properties listed in the Register or Inventory, consistent with Chapter 17.17;
e. Except where an application is consolidated with a land use entitlement requiring Planning Commission or City Council review, approve or deny, in whole or in part, applications for the design of infill or new construction within historic districts listed in the Register or Inventory;
f. Review and provide advisory comments on decisions and documents prepared by the City or other public agencies when such decisions or documents may affect Historical Resources within the City including, but not limited to evaluations and environmental compliance studies prepared pursuant to federal and state laws such as CEQA;
g. Participate in, support, and promote public informational, educational, and interpretive programs relating to historic preservation;
h. Support and recommend efforts to protect, enhance, appreciate, and utilize properties of cultural, historical, architectural, community, or aesthetic importance that, though not designated as Historical Resources, are worthy of recognition;
i. Review Mills Act Contract applications and other preservation incentive program requests and submit recommendations to the City Council;
j. Provide recommendations to the Planning Commission, when requested by the Planning Commission or City staff, on zoning and General Plan amendments related to historic preservation goals and policies; and
k. Undertake any other responsibilities assigned by the City Council through resolution or other formal action related to historic resources.
l. Make final determination on design review of applications for 943 additional
bedrooms or
bathrooms
involving a
historical
additional
additional bedrooms or bathrooms involving a historic resource pursuant to Section 17.28.080.D.1.a.
.

3. Meetings.
a. The Design Review CommitteeHeritage Commission shall meet in regular session on dates and at times to be determined from time to time by resolution of the City Council. All meetings shall be open to the public, and provisions of the Brown Act shall apply.
b. Committee Commission members shall be compensated for each meeting as
determined by resolution of the City Council.
c. Four members shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote of the quorum present shall be required for all Committee Commission actions. Failure to achieve a majority vote of members present shall constitute a denial of the proposed action.

4. Membership.
a. The Design Review CommitteeHeritage Commission shall consist of seven members of the public. Committee Commission members shall be persons who, as a result of their training, knowledge and experience, are qualified to analyze and interpret architectural and site planning information, including, but not limited to, licensed landscape architects and architects, urban planners, engineers, and licensed general contractors. At least two four of the members shall have professional experience in urban planning, architectural history or historic preservation and shall have general knowledge of architectural styles prevalent in the Historic Districts. b. Appointed members of the Committee Commission shall live or work in the City and shall be appointed for four-year terms. c. Staff expertise in historic preservation and landscaping shall be available as a resource to the CommitteeCommission;

5. Officers/Terms of Office.
a.
b.

Officers shall consist of a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, both of whom shall be selected by the members of the CommitteeCommission.

The terms of office for each member of the Committee Commission shall continue to and include June 30th of the year in which the term shall expire, and
944
thereafter until a successor for the member whose term is expiring has been appointed.

6. Rules and Regulations. The Design Review CommitteeHeritage Commission shall adopt and amend, by the affirmative vote of three members, rules and regulations for the conduct of the Committee's Commission's business consistent with this chapter subject to approval by the City Council.

E. Community Development Director. The Community Development Director, in conjunction with a staff review committee designated by the City Manager, shall review development proposals in order to ensure that yards, open space, structures, parking, loading facilities, landscaping, streets and similar uses and the development of the land remain compatible with surrounding properties reflecting the highest quality of land planning and design.

1. Powers and Duties. The Community Development Director, after consultation with appropriate staff as determined by the Director, shall have the authority to:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.

Decide upon minor site plan applications;
Decide upon administrative design review applications as specified in Chapter 17.10;
Review and make recommendations to the Planning Commission on major site plans and other discretionary applications as specified in Chapter 17.10;
Consider minor modifications to previously approved site plans and determine whether such modifications are in substantial conformance with the approved plans;
Review and make recommendations to the City Planning Commission on environmental documentation and all duties defined in the City's environmental review guidelines;
Decide upon sober living permits;
Decide upon reasonable accommodation requests;
Decide upon temporary use (recurring) permits;
Decide upon the conformity of unlisted uses to the zoning district and similar uses pursuant to Section 17.13.070;
Decide upon applications to install walls and fences within five feet of one another pursuant to Section 17.12.070(A)(1)(a);
Decide upon Neighborhood Preservation Overlay District applications pursuant to Section 17.28.080(C);
Decide upon deviations from required number of parking spaces for 945
nonresidential land uses pursuant to Section 17.34.060; m.
n.

Decide upon parking requirements for uses not specified pursuant to Section 17.34.070;
Decide upon density bonus applications and review, approve and execute density bonus housing agreements, with concurrence of the City Attorney.

17.08.050 Appeals
A. Right of Appeal. Any action taken by the Community Development Director, or Zoning Administrator, or the Design Review Committee in the administration or enforcement of the provisions of this title may be appealed by any person aggrieved by said action or determination to the Planning Commission. Any decision of the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council. In the case of actions involving historical and cultural resources, such actions may be appealed to the Heritage Commission.

B. Appeal Stays Proceedings. Unless authorized by the Community Development Director, no permits related to the proceeding shall be issued during the pendency of the proceeding.

C. Form and Content of Notice of Appeal. The notice of appeal shall be in writing and shall be filed in the Planning Division upon forms provided by the City. An appeal from any action in the administration or enforcement of this chapter shall provide a statement of the facts in sufficient detail to enable the appeal body to understand the nature of the controversy and indicate specifically the alleged error or abuse of discretion to be evaluated by the appeal body.

D. Time for Filing. Any appeal shall be filed within seven business days after the hearing or action from which the appeal is made. Upon the filing of appeal, the Planning Division shall transmit a copy of the appeal to the body authorized to hear the appeal.

E. Hearing Date and Notice. Upon receipt of an appeal, the Planning Division shall receive the appeal and thereafter set a date for the matter to be heard by the applicable reviewing body and give notice of the date, time and place of the hearing to the applicant and appellant and public notice of the hearing as required in Section 17.08.040.

1. Hearing Date and Notice. Upon receipt of the notice of appeal, the Planning Division shall set a date for a Planning Commission or Heritage Commission hearing of the matter and give notice of the date, time and place of the hearing to the applicant and appellant. Further, the Planning Division shall give public notice of the hearing as required in Section 17.08.040 at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing. Prior to such hearing, the Planning Division shall transmit to the Planning Commission or Heritage Commission a report of the findings and at such hearing shall present all documents on file.

2. Authority of Planning Commission and Heritage Commission. The Planning Commission or Heritage Commission shall consider the record and such additional evidence as may be offered and may affirm, reverse or modify, in whole or in part, the action that was appealed. The Commission may also make or substitute additional decisions or determinations as it finds warranted under the provisions of this chapter.

The Planning Commission shall transmit a copy of the decision to the applicant, appellant, and the Planning Division. 946
F. Authority of Planning Commission, Heritage Commission and/or City Council. The Planning Commission and/or City Council shall consider the record and such additional information as may be offered and may affirm, reverse or modify, in whole or in part, the action that was appealed. The Planning Commission, Heritage Commission and/or City Council may also make or substitute additional decisions or determinations as it finds warranted under the provisions of this Title 17.

1. Hearing Date and Notice. Upon receipt of the notice of appeal, the City Clerk shall set a date for City Council hearing of the matter and give notice of the date, time and place of the hearing to the applicant, the appellant and the Planning Division. The City Clerk shall give public notice of the hearing as required in Section 17.08.040 at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing. Prior to such hearing, the Planning Division shall transmit to the City Clerk a report of the findings and at the City Council hearing shall present all documents on file.

2. Authority of City Council. The City Council shall consider the record and such additional evidence as may be offered and may affirm, reverse or modify, in whole or in part, the action that was appealed. The Council may also make or substitute additional decisions or determinations as it finds warranted under the provisions of this chapter. The City Council shall transmit a copy of the decision to the applicant, appellant, and the Planning Division.
947
948
RESOLUTION NO. PC 17-26
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLAI\NING COMMISSION OF

THE CITY OF ORANGE RECOMMENDING THE CITY

COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE
17 OF THE ORANGE MUNICIPAL CODE TO REPLACE
CHAPTER 17.I7, HISTORIC DISTRICTS, IN ITS
ENTIRETY WITH A NEW CHAPTER I7.I7 ENTITLED
IIISTORIC PRESERVATION AI\D CULTURAL

RESOURCES AND ASSOCIATED DEFINITIONS,

PROVISIONS, AND PROCEDURES TO

COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESS HISTORICAL,

CULTURAL AND TRIBAL RESOURCES, AND AMEND
SECTION 17.08 TO REPLACE THE DESIGN REVIEW

COMMITTEE WITII A HERITAGE COMMISSION AND

ESTABLISH ASSOCIATED PURVIEW
APPLICANT: CITY OF ORANGE
WHEREAS, the City of Orange is home to two National Register of Historic Places districts; thePlaza Historic District listed in 1982, and the Old Towne Orange Historic District, one of the largest historic districts in the western United States, listed in 1997; and WHEREAS, the City of Orange is home to three local historic districts, the Orange Eichler Historic Districts designated in 2018, as well as numerous inventoried historic properties located outside of designated historic districts that were constructed as scattered farmhouses across the community during its peak era as an agricultural community from the late-1800s through 1940; and
WHEREAS, the geographic area of the City of Orange was home to pre-historic life and Native American populations, with evidence of this presence having been documented through discoveries made through past studies of the City associated with development proposals and historic maps; and
WHEREAS, the City of Orange places a high priority in the stewardship of its historical and cultural resources as expressed in the 2010 General Plan Vision Statement, goals and policies of the Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation Element, and General Plan Implementation Program; and
WHEREAS, the long-standing Chapter 17.17, Historic Districts, of the Orange Municipal Code includes content that is narrowly focused on the procedures and criteria for establishing historic districts, and applicability of the Historic Building Code and Historic District Design Standards for Old Towne, and the Orange Eichler Historic Districts, rather than providing necessary comprehensive guidance pertaining to the historic inventory, and historic register, project review, demolition, relocation, Neighborhood Character Areas, economic hardship, and code violations; and
ATTACHMENT 4
949
WHEREAS, the purview of the City's Design Review Committee is presently focused on reviewing the design of projects and demolitions as specified in the Orange Municipal Code, the Historic Preservation Design Standards for Old Towne Orange, and the Orange Eichler Design Standards, creating a need to re-establishing the Design Review Committee as a Heritage Commission with expanded authority to encompass duties including, but not limited to, landmark and district designation, Mills Act contracts, review of sites involving archeological and Native American resources.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the subject ordinance, attached hereto as Attachment A, based on the following:

SECTION 1- FINDINGS
l. The proposed Ordinance implements the Vision Statement, goals and policies of the City of Orange General Plan Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation Element, and General Plan Implementation Plan by establishing comprehensive standards, procedures and requirements needed for the effective stewardship of the City's historic, Native American, and prehistoric resources by providing an enriched policies and procedures for identifuing and preserving historic buildings, sites, districts and tribal cultural resources, and providing a means of preserving neighborhood characters in areas of the city with cultural importance to the City.

SECTION 2.ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This ordinance is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061OX3) (Common Sense Exemption), because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment because it serves to protect historic and cultural resources from potential impacts, thus avoiding a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change on the environment.

ADOPTED this 17th day of August, 2026.

Isaiah Leslie
Planning Commission Chair
950
I hereby certifu that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the Planning Commission of the City of Orange at a regular meeting thereof held on the l7th day of August, 2026, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

Tucker, Maldonado, McCormack, Benson
Yazquez, Vejar, Leslie
None
Manager
951

EXHIBIT A
RESOLUTION NO. PCIT-26
DRAFT CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE XX.26 _

HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND

CULTURAL RESOURCES ORDINANCE
952
Agenda Item
Planning Commission
Item #: 8/17/2026 File #: 26-0395
TO: Chair and Members of the Planning Commission
THRU: Hayden Beckman, Planning Manager
FROM: Anna Pehoushek, Assistant Community Development Director

1. SUBJECT
Public Hearing to consider an ordinance amending the Orange Municipal Code to replace the content of Chapter 17.17 with new provisions addressing historic and cultural resources and update Chapter

17.08 to establish a new Heritage Commission and associated purview to replace the Design Review Committee, and finding of CEQA exemption.

2. SUMMARY
A draft Historic Preservation Ordinance has been prepared to comprehensively address the management of historic and cultural resources including properties and districts, as well as archaeological and tribal resources. The proposed Ordinance also establishes the structure and responsibilities of a Heritage Commission, the establishment of a City Historic Register and related criteria and processes for resource designation. Content also addresses demolition, relocation, property maintenance, and preservation incentives.

3. RECOMMENDED ACTION

1. Conduct and close the Public Hearing.

2. Adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 17-26 recommending the City Council adopt an Ordinance amending Title 17 of the Orange Municipal Code to replace Chapter 17.17, Historic Districts, in its entirety with a new Chapter 17.17 entitled Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources, and associated definitions, provisions, and procedures to comprehensively address historical, cultural and tribal resources, and amending section 17.08 to replace the Design Review Committee with a Heritage Commission and establish associated purview.

3. Find the ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.

4. PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Orange Municipal Code addresses historic resources in Chapter 17.17, Historic Districts (Attachment 4). The content of this Chapter is limited to the procedures and criteria for establishing historic districts. The Chapter also establishes the applicability of development and design standards for established historic districts including:
· Historic Preservation Design Standards for Old Towne Orange · Orange Eichler Design Standards
City of Orange Page 1 of 7 Printed on 8/13/2026
powered by Legistar™
ATTACHMENT 5
953
Item #: 8/17/2026 File #: 26-0395
· Secretary of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Rehabilitation · Southwest Project Area Design Standards (amended and no longer applicable) Furthermore, this section of the Code establishes the applicability of the State of California Historic Building Code to the alteration, rehabilitation, preservation, restoration or relocation of a cultural resource or structure within a historic district.

Given the high priority the City and community place on the responsible stewardship of historic resources and high volume of historic preservation activity in the Community Development Department, the present Code falls short in addressing policies and practices related to the full spectrum of topics that warrant attention in order to provide clear guidance to the public and provide staff with an adequate policy tools to effectively administer the program. Among the topics lacking in the existing Code include:
· Establishment of a Historic Register and related criteria · Process for listing and de-listing
· Process for designating local landmarks
· Expectations and penalties for building maintenance and alterations · Preservation incentives
· Guidance regarding building relocation
· Guidance regarding archaeological and Native American resources Importantly, the proposed ordinance has been crafted to satisfy the requirements set forth in the National Historic Preservation Act for the City of Orange to become a Certified Local Government (CLG). CLG status is common among many cities with significant concentrations of historic resources, and provides local government agencies with access to grant funding and technical assistance for preservation projects. While the City Council has contemplated the merits of Orange becoming a CLG, the City has lacked a historic preservation ordinance that meets the necessary components. Should the Council desire to pursue CLG status in the future, the ordinance would position the City for eligibility.

5. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The proposed Historic Preservation Ordinance replaces the existing content of Chapter 17.17 in its entirety with a comprehensive framework for addressing the City’s historic and cultural resource management needs. Specifically, the ordinance addresses the following:
· Establishment of a Heritage Commission
· Establishment of the Orange Register of Historic Resources · Criteria and procedures for designating local landmarks and historic districts and removal from Register
· Criteria and procedures for establishing Neighborhood Character Areas · Maintenance of historic resources
· Tiered levels of project review and related criteria and associated Certificate of City of Orange Page 2 of 7 Printed on 8/13/2026 powered by Legistar™954
Item #: 8/17/2026 File #: 26-0395
· Tiered levels of project review and related criteria and associated Certificate of Appropriateness findings
· Building demolition
· Building relocation
· Buildings older than 45 years not located in a historic district · Historic preservation incentives
· Economic hardship
· Identification, documentation and management of archaeological and Native American resources
· Application of the State of California Historic Building Code As a companion to the proposed ordinance, new procedures related to administration of the Mills Act Program have been developed that address:
· Property eligibility
· Application process and schedule
· Application evaluation criteria
· Annual cap on number of contracts
· Limitations on retroactive workplan items
· Interior work
· Reporting requirements
· Contract non-renewal procedures
The proposed ordinance also amends Section 17.08 of the Code to replace the Design Review Committee with a Heritage Commission and establish associated purview.

6. PROJECT ANALYSIS
The proposed ordinance provides a comprehensive set of policies and procedures to address the historic preservation and cultural resource management needs of the City and provides staff and the public with clear guidance related to the range of scenarios encountered with projects affecting historic resources, districts, and neighborhoods. Key content is presented below.

Definitions (17.103)
The proposed ordinance adds new definitions to the Code specific to historic preservation activities.

They are intended to provide clarity in Code interpretation and project review.

Heritage Commission (17.104)
The proposed ordinance establishes a Heritage Commission (Commission) that would serve a similar and expanded function of the present Design Review Committee. The authority and responsibilities City of Orange Page 3 of 7 Printed on 8/13/2026
powered by Legistar™955
Item #: 8/17/2026 File #: 26-0395
of the Commission would go beyond design and demolition review, and encompass:
· Recommendations to the City Council for the inclusion or removal of properties from the Historic Register
· Recommendations to the City Council for the designation and approval of Neighborhood Character Areas
· Review of Mills Act Contract applications
· Participation in, support, and promotion of public education related to historic preservation With adoption of the proposed ordinance, the Design Review Committee would be re-named the Heritage Commission. Eligibility to serve on the Commission includes:
· Expressed and/or demonstrated interest, experience, or knowledge of the cultural heritage history and/or architecture of the city
· City residents
· Individuals with a relevant professional practice based in/with a location in Orange · At least three members shall be professionals in the disciplines of architecture, history, historic preservation, anthropology, archeology, landscape architecture, urban planning, land economics, real estate, or a related discipline.

In addition to the new content addressing the Heritage Commission in Chapter 17.17, OMC Section

17.08 will also be amended to address the powers and duties of the Heritage Commission as represented in Attachment 2.

Historic Register (17.106)
The City has traditionally utilized its Historic Resources Inventory, developed through a series of windshield surveys conducted between 1982 and 2010 as its reference for historic properties. The Inventory recognizes all properties identified as “contributors” in the Old Towne Orange National Register of Historic Places record identified as historic resources. A “contributor” means a Historical Resource that is any building, structure, object, site, planning feature, sign, area, place, landscape, or natural feature within a historic district that contributes to the district’s historic, cultural, or architectural significance. The inventory also includes contributing properties located in the locally designated Orange Eichler Historic Districts. Also included in the Inventory are surveyed properties outside of historic districts and others where property owners initiated historic designation for purposes of Mills Act eligibility.

While the Inventory was adopted by City Council Resolution and has traditionally served as the basis for determining whether or not a property has historic architectural merit, it is not technically a “Register” in that there are no defined criteria or procedures for inclusion of a property, nor supporting documentation required.

The proposed ordinance distinguishes between an “inventory” of resources and a “register” and formally establishes the Orange Register of Historical Resources as the City’s authoritative list of properties that have been evaluated and found to meet local, state, and/or national significance criteria for designation, whether individually or as contributors to historic districts. Associated with the Register are criteria and procedures for listing, including formal action by the Heritage Commission.

At the inception of the Register, the ordinance proposes that all properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register be included, as well as contributors to City of Orange Page 4 of 7 Printed on 8/13/2026
powered by Legistar™956
Item #: 8/17/2026 File #: 26-0395
designated historic districts and individually designated properties.

Tiered Project Review (17.114)
The proposed ordinance fine-tunes the City’s current approach to project review. To provide project review in the context of a Commission public meeting for major alterations, the proposed ordinance offers a streamlined administrative review process for certain types of property alterations as described below.
· Tier 1- Review by Commission: Commission review would be required for Major Alterations including alteration, removal, or obstruction of character-defining architectural features, elevations and spaces, or additions over 120 sq. ft. in size that are visible from the public rightof-way. In the case of properties not visible from the public right-of-way, alterations to character-defining features visible from the front of the property would also be subject to Tier 1 review. Tier 1 review is comparable to the present process for project review for historic property review by the Design Review Committee. Project approval would constitute a Certificate of Appropriateness.
· Tier 2 - Administrative Review: Projects that do not involve and changes to, or removal of, character-defining features, including additions under 120 sq. ft. that are not visible from the public right-of-way would be eligible for Tier 2 administrative review. Tier 2 review is comparable to the present process for Minor Design Review for historic properties, but establishes refined eligibility criteria for administrative review. · Tier 3: The ordinance eliminates the present need for Minor Design Review related to ordinary maintenance and repair activities that do not involve a change of design, materials, or exterior appearance. Under the proposed ordinance, these activities would be exempt from a formal application review process. Tier 3 review streamlines and simplifies property maintenance activities for property owners and represents a significant reduction of staff time presently associated with the application of a Minor Design Review process for this type of work.

Demolition Review (17.120)
The proposed ordinance provides expanded content and requirements for building demolition including:
· Documentation of imminent hazards
· Current photos of the historic resource
· Documentation regarding the condition of the structure, cost of repair, rehabilitation, or stabilization
· Any other information necessary to evaluate the feasibility of alternatives to demolition In the case of a historic resource deemed not to be an imminent hazard, the proposed ordinance provides for a 180-day waiting period during which the Commission, Community Development Director, and property owner shall work together to explore alternatives to demolition.

The proposed ordinance also establishes a process for the review of proposed demolitions of structures that are at least 45 years old and may qualify as historic resources but may have not yet been evaluated in a survey.

City of Orange Page 5 of 7 Printed on 8/13/2026
powered by Legistar™957
Item #: 8/17/2026 File #: 26-0395
Economic Hardship (17.123)
The proposed ordinance provides an avenue for allowing alteration or demolition of a historic resource under limited circumstances when denial would impose an undue economic hardship on the owner. Justification in the form of documentation including such information as market value, cost of alteration/demolition, and cost of rehabilitation would serve as the basis for an economic hardship finding.

Incentives (17.126)
The proposed ordinance establishes preservation incentives to encourage the designation, preservation, maintenance and rehabilitation of the City’s historic resources. The Mills Act Program continues to be an incentive identified in the ordinance, with Program procedures established as a companion document to be incorporated by reference and adopted by resolution. Draft Program guidelines are provided in Attachment 3.

Other incentives identified in the proposed ordinance include preservation easements, and regulatory incentives including application of the California Historic Building Code, exemption for nonconforming uses, and reduction of commercial parking requirements beyond those accommodated by state law.

Enforcement and Penalties (17.128)
The proposed ordinance establishes strong penalties for Code violations, alteration or demolition without required review and failure to obey an order issued by the City. Specifically, penalties include:
· Up to a 5-year moratorium on the development of a property · Court-ordered restoration
· Administrative restoration order
· Civil action
Archaeological and Tribal Cultural Resources (17.129)
Given the pre-historic activity associated with Orange County, the known Native American presence in the early history of the city’s geographic area, and common knowledge of early settlement activity, sub-surface artifacts are likely to be encountered over time during the course of development activity throughout the City. The proposed ordinance addresses the management and protection of archaeological and Native American resources. It establishes earth disturbance thresholds and considerations for preparation of cultural resource reports, Commission authority for report consideration, requirements for on-site monitoring, and notification of the appropriate tribal representatives and/or cultural resource management agencies when appropriate.

7. AUTHORIZING GUIDELINES
Orange Municipal Code Section 17.08.020 authorizes the Planning Commission to review and make advisory recommendations to the City Council on Zoning Ordinance Amendments.

8. PUBLIC NOTICE
On July 29, 2026, a notice was published in the Orange City News newspaper for a public hearing before the Planning Commission on August 17, 2026.

City of Orange Page 6 of 7 Printed on 8/13/2026
powered by Legistar™958
Item #: 8/17/2026 File #: 26-0395
In addition to the required Public Hearing notification, staff conducted a joint study session with the Planning Commission and Design Review Committee on March 16, 2026, followed by a community workshop on March 25, 2026. Staff and the City’s consultant also met with representatives of the Old Towne Preservation Association (OTPA) and Orange Legacy Alliance (OLA) on February 17, July 23, and August 13, 2026, to discuss and review the contents of the proposed ordinance.

9. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 (Common Sense Exemption) because it serves to protect historic and cultural resources from potential impacts, thus avoiding a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change on the environment and is not a “project.” For this reason, no further CEQA documentation is required.

10. ADVISORY BOARD ACTION
Design Review Committee:

The DRC provided review and comment on the proposed ordinance on August 5, 2026. There was no formal action associated with their review and comment. The Design Review Committee provided comments and feedback on the definitions, the need to clarify aspects of the tiered review process and types of activities eligible for the different levels of review, content related to signage, building relocation, landscape features, duties of the Heritage Commission, economic hardship, applicability of the ordinance to resources outside of historic districts, and editorial corrections.

Revisions have been made to the proposed ordinance reflecting input received by the DRC as well as public comments made at the public meeting that largely reflected written comments received from OTPA and OLA. A redline version of the changes made is provided as Attachment 5. The ordinance contained in Attachment 1 represents the clean version of Attachment 5.

11. ATTACHMENTS · Attachment 1 Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 17-26 including Draft Historic Preservation Ordinance
· Attachment 2 Draft Amendment to Orange Municipal Code Section 17.08 (Redline) · Attachment 3 Draft Mills Act Program Guidelines
· Attachment 4 Orange Municipal Code Chapter 17.17 Historic Districts · Attachment 5 Working Draft Historic Preservation Ordinance presented at August 5, 2026 Design Review Committee meeting with redline changes
City of Orange Page 7 of 7 Printed on 8/13/2026
powered by Legistar™959
City of Orange
Planning Commission
August 17, 2026

MINUTES
The Planning Commission of the City of Orange, California convened on August 17, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in a Regular Meeting in the Council Chamber, 300 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, California.

1. OPENING/CALL TO ORDER
Chair Leslie called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.

1.1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner David Vazquez led the flag salute.

1.2 ROLL CALL

Present: Vazquez, Tucker, Maldonado, Vejar, McCormack, Leslie, and Benson

Absent: None

2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Public Speakers:

Pamela Kiwerski, Chloe Frechette, Billy Crowder, Faith Shimono, Maggie Susselman, Valerie Susselman, Jane Holiday Susselman, Donna Garcia, Nicole Fiore, Kevin Reyes and Natalie Chen spoke in support of efforts to keep the Holiday Skate Center open.

Rachel Rolnicki spoke in opposition to a proposed warehouse project on Glassell.

3. PUBLIC HEARINGS

3.1. Public Hearing to consider an ordinance amending the Orange Municipal Code to replace the content of Chapter 17.17 with new provisions addressing historic and cultural resources and update Chapter 17.08 to establish a new Heritage Commission and associated purview to replace the Design Review Committee, and finding of CEQA exemption.

Assistant Community Development Director, Anna Pehoushek presented a summary of the proposed Ordinance.

Staff responded to questions from Commissioners regarding the Heritage Commission, historic registration eligibility and designation, demolition permit request procedures, economic hardship process, unfunded mandates related to historic survey updates, National and State registered properties, Mills Act property procedures, and project review processes.

Page 1 of 3 ends

DRAFT
960
Planning Commission Minutes August 17, 2026
Chair Leslie opened the Public Hearing at 6:06 p.m.

Public Speakers:

Diana Zdenck spoke in favor of the proposed Ordinance.

Chair Leslie closed the public hearing at 6:08 p.m.

A motion was made by Commissioner Vejar, seconded by Commissioner Vazquez to:

1. Adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 17-26 recommending the City Council adopt an Ordinance amending Title 17 of the Orange Municipal Code to replace Chapter 17.17, Historic Districts, in its entirety with a new Chapter 17.17 entitled Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources, and associated definitions, provisions, and procedures to comprehensively address historical, cultural and tribal resources, and amending section 17.08 to replace the Design Review Committee with a Heritage Commission (HC) and establish associated purview incorporating the following recommendations:
-Additional language for economic hardship for single family homeowners -Increased petition threshold for creating a historic district to 60% -Update Mills Act inspection cycle timing to 5 years and work plan report submission to biannually
-Clarify project review authority for Heritage Commission and Planning Commission ensuring that Planning Commission retains land use purview; establish purpose and appellate procedures for Heritage Commission
-Designate infill projects in historic districts to be processed through the Planning Commission
-Streamline demolition screening, add administrative triage allowing staff to decide which projects need the intensive Historic Resource Assessment. -Reduce Heritage Commission members from 7 to 5 - with 3 qualified members as defined in the OMC

2. Find the ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.

A substitute motion was made by Commissioner Benson, seconded by Commissioner McCormack to keep the neighborhood petition threshold for creating a historic district at 51%.

The motion carried by the following vote:

Ayes: Tucker, Maldonado, McCormack, and Benson
Noes: Vazquez, Vejar, and Leslie

Absent: None
The Commission then voted on the remaining portions of the original motion previously made by Commissioner Vejar and seconded by Commissioner Vazquez to:

Page 2 of 3 ends

DRAFT
961
Planning Commission Minutes August 17, 2026
resources, and amending section 17.08 to replace the Design Review Committee with a Heritage Commission (HC) and establish associated purview incorporating the following recommendations:
-Additional language for economic hardship for single family homeowners -Update Mills Act inspection cycle timing to 5 years and work plan report submission to biannually
-Clarify project review authority for Heritage Commission and Planning Commission ensuring that Planning Commission retains land use purview; establish purpose and appellate procedures for Heritage Commission
-Designate infill projects in historic districts to be processed through the Planning Commission
-Streamline demolition screening, add administrative triage allowing staff to decide which projects need the intensive Historic Resource Assessment. -Reduce Heritage Commission members from 7 to 5 - with 3 qualified members as defined in the OMC

2. Find the ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.

The motion carried by the following vote:

Ayes: Vazquez, Tucker, Maldonado, Vejar, McCormack, Leslie, and Benson Noes: None

Absent: None

4. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Pursuant to OMC 2.64.040, the next Regular Planning Commission Meeting will be held on Thursday September 10, 2026 at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber. ____________________________
Hayden Beckman

Page 3 of 3 ends

DRAFT
962

CULTURAL RESOURCES

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
CR-20
Orange’s Public Library System
Orange’s Public Library was founded prior to incorporation in 1885, making it one of the oldest public libraries in Orange County. Postmaster Robert E. Tener donated his collection of about 300 books and ran the library as a private organization, using dues from the members to build and maintain the collection. The library itself was housed in the Post Office Building on South Glassell Street. It remained as a private organization until 1894 when it was turned over to the newly-formed City.

In 1905, the collection needed a new building and was granted a Carnegie building to house the library on the corner of Center Street and Chapman Avenue, where the Orange Public Library & History Center is located today. In 1961, the original Carnegie building was demolished and a 17,000 square foot building was erected, increasing in size to provide service to an anticipated population of 40,000.

An expanded Orange Public Library & History Center opened in 2007. At 45,000 square feet, the library building includes a Children's Library, Teen Zone, Homework Center and a History Center.

ISSUES, GOALS, AND POLICIES
The goals and policies of the Cultural Resources & Historic Preservation Element address five issues: (1) identifying and protecting historic resources, (2) protecting neighborhood character, (3) providing incentives and expanding education efforts for historic preservation, (4) recognizing and protecting archeological and cultural resources within the planning area, and (5) meeting life-long learning needs of residents through provision of library services.

Implementation programs related to these goals and policies are contained in the General Plan appendix.

Architecture and Community Character
One of the most distinguishing features of Orange is the community’s dedication to recognizing, acknowledging, and preserving its past. The NRHP-listed Old Towne Historic District is one of the largest historic districts in California, and provides a strong sense of place in the City and a unique identity within Orange County as a whole. The City recognizes that the architectural strength of Old Towne results from the contextual environment of historic structures, and further recognizes that in some cases, individual structures are best appreciated in a neighborhood context. The City also realizes that some individual structures worthy of protection may not be located within an intact historic neighborhood (for example, historic farmhouses located throughout the City or La Morenita market in El Modena).

Historic preservation in Old Towne has been a significant factor in the revitalization and economic vitality of downtown Orange, resulting in increased property values and low vacancy rates. Old Towne preservation serves as a model for other locations within the City.

Three mid-century modern Eichler Homes Tracts designated as local historic districts have a distinctive identity and sense of place of their own. As with Old Towne, these neighborhoods have enjoyed strong property values and stewardship, and further enrich the collection of ATTACHMENT 6 ATTACHMENT 7
963

CULTURAL RESOURCES

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
CR-21
historic resources in Orange. The City seeks to build upon the successes of Old Towne, the Eichler Homes Tracts, and the existing historic preservation program, to use new techniques and technologies to assist in historic preservation, and to prepare for a future wherein an increasing number of resources will qualify as potentially historic.

GOAL 1.0: Identify and preserve potential and listed historic resources, including buildings, structures, objects, sites, districts, and archaeological resources citywide.

Policy 1.1: Maintain an accessible inventory of designated and potential historic resources.

Policy 1.2: Promote community education and awareness of the significance of Orange’s potential and listed historic resources.

Policy 1.3: Provide long term assurance that potential and listed historic resources will be used, maintained, and rehabilitated in conformance with Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Preserving Historic Buildings (Secretary’s Standards).

Policy 1.4: Encourage alternatives to demolition such as architecturally-compatible rehabilitation, adaptive re-use, new construction, and relocation.

Policy 1.5: Require that no permit for alteration or demolition of properties identified in the Orange Historic Resources Inventory as potential historic resources shall be issued until alternatives to demolition have been duly considered.

Policy 1.6: Promote the preservation of cultural and historical resources controlled by governmental agencies, including those related to City, School District, and other agencies.

Preserving Historic Neighborhood Character
Historic preservation goes beyond protecting a select number of buildings. The overall goal of historic preservation is to link current residents to the City’s rich heritage, create a sense of place, and protect architectural context and diversity. Preservation efforts should enhance neighborhoods by rehabilitating individual structures and addressing neighborhood character in areas that are rich in history but that may not retain enough integrity to qualify as local, state, or national historic districts. While they may not have high integrity, these neighborhoods are culturally, historically, and architecturally significant and feature distinct physical and/or architectural characteristics.

GOAL 2.0 Identify and preserve neighborhoods that are culturally and historically significant but do not retain sufficient integrity for eligibility as a local, state, or national district.

Policy 2.1: Encourage identification and listing of Neighborhood Character Areas within the El Modena, Cypress Street Barrio, Railroad/Packinghouse Corridor, and Orange Park Acres neighborhoods.
964

CULTURAL RESOURCES

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
CR-22
Policy 2.2: Promote community and visitor awareness and education concerning the unique and special history and architecture found in Neighborhood Character Areas.

Policy 2.3: Ensure that those qualities that contribute to the historic character of designated Neighborhood Character Areas are retained through application of design guidelines consistent with the local context and key physical attributes of each neighborhood.

Incentives and Education
Historic resources throughout the City provide opportunities for both rehabilitation and adaptive reuse as commercial, residential, or office spaces. Encouragement and incentives to achieve long-term preservation and context-sensitive reuse of historic buildings will be provided through financial, planning, and zoning tools that assist property owners seeking to rehabilitate and preserve their homes and buildings. Many of these resources also provide opportunities to promote community awareness and support for historic preservation through public education.

GOAL 3.0: Provide incentives and expand education efforts for historic preservation.

Policy 3.1: Expand education efforts to facilitate and encourage historic preservation and recognition of the City’s historic resources.

Policy 3.2: Provide incentives to encourage and support historic preservation.

Policy 3.3: Actively seek funding for historic preservation activities.

Policy 3.4: Leverage recognition of the City’s historic preservation program, participate directly in federal and state historic preservation programs, and gain access to designated historic preservation funding.

Policy 3.5: Explore additional funding sources for maintenance and rehabilitation of historic resources.

Archaeological and Cultural Resources
Orange County is rich in human history, with a record of occupation by many cultures. The City recognizes the importance of preserving archaeological resources and making them accessible for educational purposes as a means of understanding our cultural heritage.

GOAL 4.0: Identify and preserve archaeological and cultural resources.

Policy 4.1: Identify, designate, and protect historically and culturally significant archaeological resources or sites.

Policy 4.2: Recognize the importance of Santiago Creek as an archaeological resource.

Policy 4.3: Encourage curation of any cultural resources and artifacts recovered in the City for public education and appreciation.
965

CULTURAL RESOURCES

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
CR-23
Policy 4.4: Celebrate the cultural history of the community by increasing community awareness through the design features of public projects and facilities such as parks, plazas, and community buildings.

Policy 4.5: Encourage private development to celebrate the cultural history of the community through project design.

Policy 4.6: Provide additional resources and promotion for the Orange Public Library Local History Collection.

Library Services
The Orange Public Library has been providing library services to residents since 1885. The Library has always played a central role in the development of civic life in Orange, and continues to do so today and in the future through its presence as both a formal and informal community gathering place. This role will become increasingly important as the population of Orange continues to grow and diversify.

GOAL 5.0: Meet the educational, cultural, civic, information, recreation, business, and life-long learning needs of residents through the provision of library resources.

Policy 5.1: Continue to expand, coordinate and modernize the City’s public library system, ensuring that it becomes the premier information and learning resource for the City to meet the needs of Orange’s growing and diverse population.

Policy 5.2: Support the strategies and recommendations of the Public Library Facilities Master Plan 2002-2020, and continue to explore new strategies that make the library accessible to all members of the community.

Policy 5.3: Work with the community to assess, select, organize, and maintain desired collections of library materials and information sources and make these materials available to the public free of charge to promote information literacy.

Policy 5.4: Promote collaborations among community groups, educational institutions and the Library to enhance sharing of information, resources and financial support for library facilities, services and programs.

Policy 5.5: Provide friendly and welcoming library facilities that support the creation of both formal and informal neighborhood commons.

CULTURAL RESOURCES & HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN
Orange has traditionally focused its historic preservation efforts primarily on Old Towne.

Since 1982, when the City of Orange undertook its first historic resources survey, enacted its first historic preservation element, and established the Old Towne Historic District through a zoning overlay, historic preservation has been a significant factor in the revitalization and economic vitality of Orange’s historic downtown. The current process of establishing an historic district is through a zoning overlay as outlined in the Zoning Ordinance; the City does 966

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-3
(1) Provide for a safe community.
(2) Be a fiscally healthy community.
(3) Enhance and promote the quality of life in the community. (4) Provide outstanding public service.
(5) Recognize, promote, and preserve Orange’s rich heritage.

These Strategic Plan goals are integrated throughout the General Plan policies, and are reflected in the Implementation Plan programs and specifications. Therefore, the Strategic Plan goals are also reflected in the individual department work plans and the City Budget.

IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS
General Plan implementation programs are organized into the following five subsections corresponding to various areas and levels of City responsibility:

I. Plans, Permits, Procedures, Agreements, and Ordinances Administered by the City II. Physical Improvements and Capital Projects
III. Conditions or Requirements Placed Upon Applicants during Development Review IV. Planning and Outreach Initiatives
V. Coordination with Other Agencies and Organizations
Each implementation program relates directly to one or more of the General Plan policies, drawn from various elements. For each program, the related General Plan policies are listed, along with the responsible agencies or City departments, the recommended time frame, and the likely funding source.

The implementation programs are intended for use as the basis for preparing the Annual Report to the City Council on the status of the City’s progress in implementing the General Plan, as described in Section 65400 of the Government Code. Because many of the individual actions and programs also act as mitigation for environmental impacts resulting from planned development in accordance with the General Plan, the Annual Report can also provide a means of monitoring application of the mitigation measures as required by Public Resources Code Section 21081.6. To ensure continued consistency and usefulness, the programs should be updated concurrent with the City’s annual budget process and whenever the General Plan is amended or updated.

Implementation programs corresponding to the goals and policies set forth in the Housing Element are listed within the Housing Element, rather than within this Appendix.

I. Plans, Permits, Procedures, Agreements, and
Ordinances Administered by the City
Program I-1 Zoning Code Update
The City will perform focused amendments to the Zoning Code in order to revise and/or establish new zoning standards to implement policies in the Land Use, Noise, Urban Design, ATTACHMENT 8
967

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-4
REV. GPA NO. 2024-0002 (1/14/25)
REV. GPA NO. 2014-0001 (12/2015)
REV. GPA NO. 2010-0001 (8/10/10)
and Cultural Resources & Historic Preservation Elements. All future updates to the Zoning Code will include an active public participation process. Until such time as the City ultimately performs a comprehensive Zoning Ordinance update, all new development shall comply with the standards set forth in the current Zoning Code, or the standards established through a development agreement or specific plan for a particular development project.

The City will update design standards for the Southwest Redevelopment Project Area, and develop new streetscape standards to implement its mixed-use land use objectives. The zoning code revisions will designate buffer zones and transitional areas to minimize land use incompatibilities between single-family residential areas and intensified commercial operations and mixed-use development. The Zoning Code revisions do not specify changes regarding noise in mixed-use areas; however, Implementation Program I-30, “Noise Ordinance,” seeks to minimize the effect of noise generated from industrial land uses on adjacent land uses.

Specific revisions to the Zoning Code will be completed to address:
▪ Maximizing the amount of pervious surfaces in new and infill developments; ▪ Integration of complementary uses in support of a safe community environment; ▪ A designation process for cultural resources to be listed on the city’s Local Register of Historic Resources, to include a broad range of historic resources including separate or individual buildings, structures, objects, and sites, as well as districts and archaeological resources;
▪ A process for review of projects related to historic resources outside of the Old Towne Historic District.
▪ Adaptive reuse of potential and listed historic resources—the city will consider provisions for including neighborhood character areas (NCAs) as a zoning overlay, and the following planning areas may be considered for this zoning revision: El Modena, Cypress Street Barrio, and the Railroad/Packinghouse Corridor;
▪ Development interface with Santiago Creek, the Santa Ana River, and other open space areas;
▪ Incorporation of sustainable development principles, such as the adoption of resource conservation measures for building codes and standards, and specifications for multimodal transportation; ▪ Preparation of development standards that address National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department, Police Department, Public Works Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Updated by December 2030
968

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-14
REV. GPA NO. 2024-0002 (1/14/25)
REV. GPA NO. 2014-0001 (12/2015)
REV. GPA NO. 2010-0001 (8/10/10)
Land Use: 1.2, 1.7
Natural Resources: 5.1, 5.2
Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 5.2
Public Safety: 2.4
Economic Development: 2.2, 2.3
Program I-16 Certified Local Government Status
Apply to the Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) for inclusion in the Certified Local Government (CLG) program. Successful application includes meeting several requirements:
▪ Enact appropriate historic preservation regulations through an adopted historic preservation ordinance.
▪ Establish a qualified historic preservation review commission. ▪ Maintain a system for the survey and inventory of historic properties. ▪ Provide for adequate public participation in the historic preservation program. ▪ Satisfactorily perform the responsibilities delegated to the Certified Local Government.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Application submitted by 2025
Related Policies:

Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 3.1, 3.3, 3.4 Program I-17 Local Historic Register
Create the City of Orange Register of Historic Resources (Historic Register), which will serve as the local register of historical resources under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Automatically include all resources previously designated, listed, or determined eligible for listing within the National Register of Historic Places or California Register. ▪ Establish a process for handling voluntary requests for listing in the Historic Register.

Support coordination with property owners of potential historic resources identified on the Orange Inventory, so that such potential historic resources can more readily be listed in the Historic Register.
▪ Establish a process for listing in the Historic Register those buildings, structures, objects, sites, or districts that meet the criteria.
969

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-15
▪ Establish procedures to remove historic resources from the Historic Register. ▪ Establish procedures for listing archaeological resources in the Historic Register. Employ appropriate criteria for evaluating potential significance of such archaeological resources as historical resources or unique archaeological resources under CEQA. Encourage voluntary listing of eligible archaeological resources.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Register established by 2025, maintenance ongoing Related Policies:

Land Use: 5.5
Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 Program I-18 Eichler Historic Districts
Pursue historic landmark district designation for three Eichler tracts. Notify property owners in three Eichler tracts—Fairhaven, Fairhills, and Fairmeadow—of the intent to list each of the three tracts separately as local historic districts. Follow established procedures for Historic Register listing of each. Develop design standards and project review processed for Eichler Historic Districts.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Landmark Districts established by 2015
Related Policies:

Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.4
Program I-19 Historic, Cultural, and Archaeological
Resources Survey
Continue to maintain an accessible and periodically updated inventory of potential historic resources. All surveyed properties will be included in the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources (Orange Inventory), and the Orange Inventory will be a valuable planning tool to be used in evaluating possible impacts a proposed project might have on previously evaluated potential and identified historic resources. Surveys and survey updates may be conducted by City staff, historic preservation professionals, and/or representatives of local preservation organizations.

Properties that have attained 45 years of age and are located within a designated historic district or Neighborhood Character Area (NCA) shall be subject to survey and assessment by a qualified architectural historian prior to issuance of any permit for alteration or demolition. 970

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-16
REV. GPA NO. 2024-0002 (1/14/25)
REV. GPA NO. 2014-0001 (12/2015)
REV. GPA NO. 2010-0001 (8/10/10)
Survey other areas where potential for historic resources may exist.

Identify smaller character areas that contain concentrations of potential or listed historic resources that reflect a unique sense of time and place.

Use the Orange Inventory to identify potential historic resources for purposes of CEQA, National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) review of proposed projects. Only if potential historic resources in the Orange Inventory are listed in or eligible for listing in the California Register for CEQA or the National Register for the NHPA and NEPA shall they have a presumption of significance pursuant to CEQA Section 21084.1 and be treated as historical resources under CEQA.

Potential historic resources identified in the Orange Inventory may be listed in the Historic Register if they meet criteria for listing in the California Register. The City’s Historic Resources Inventory may be regularly updated by the Planning Division to reflect corrections and modifications to the associated database and survey forms without the need to bring those changes to the Planning Commission for adoption.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 4.6 Urban Design: 5.4
Program I-20 Historic Preservation Incentives
Actively pursue grants, loans, and other incentives to encourage historic preservation.

Consider implementing conservation easements.

Develop a revolving loan program for maintenance and rehabilitation work, consistent with design standards, on listed historic resources and on resources that are contributors to listed historic districts.

Develop a voluntary conservation easement program to preserve listed historic resources and contributors to listed historic districts. Provide a potential tax benefit to property owners. Establish a partnership with local preservation organizations to accept, hold, and manage conservation easements on historic resources. Enable Mills Act contracts for additional designated historic districts.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:
971

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-17
Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.4, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 Urban Design: 5.4
Economic Development: 1.2, 5.3
Program I-21 Commemorative Plaque Program
Explore establishing a commemorative plaque program to allow public recognition of properties listed on the Historic Register. Develop and administer standards and guidelines for properties eligible for the commemorative plaque program.

Agency/Department: Community organizations in coordination with the Community Development Department
Funding Source: Private contributions
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 2.2, 3.1
Program I-22 Historic Context Statement and Survey
Periodically update the Historic Context Statement prepared in tandem with the General Plan Update to add recent historic events.

Officially recognize the recently completed historical and archaeological resources survey prepared in tandem with the updated General Plan. Update and maintain the inventory using the City’s Geographic Information System (GIS).

Agency/Department: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.1, 1.3, 1.6, 3.1
Program I-23 Neighborhood Character Areas
Designate El Modena, Cypress Street Barrio, the Railroad/Packinghouse Corridor, and Orange Park Acres as Neighborhood Character Areas (NCAs) by establishing an NCA overlay zone and appropriate standards and regulations in the Zoning Code.

Develop and administer design guidelines appropriate to each designated NCA.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department, City Council Funding Source: General Fund
972

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-18
REV. GPA NO. 2024-0002 (1/14/25)
REV. GPA NO. 2014-0001 (12/2015)
REV. GPA NO. 2010-0001 (8/10/10)
Time Frame: Complete by 2025
Related Policies:

Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3
Program I-24 Community Character Design Elements
Update design guidelines to incorporate the elements of community design character that reflect Orange’s historic and cultural background. Require new development to incorporate the elements of the community’s character and design into its projects. Determine how to retrofit the existing commercial, industrial, institutional, and mixed-use areas to include the community character elements. Community character elements can include but are not limited to architectural style, landscape style, streetscape, and signage.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Urban Design: 3.2, 3.3, 4.5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.6
Program I-25 Green Space Incentives
Seek and develop appropriate incentives for project applicants and developers that provide public access to private green spaces in new, infill, and existing development projects. Work to establish neighborhood identity through the use of green spaces.

Establish a program to transfer to the City, through land exchanges, purchases, or long-term no-fee leases, land that is not currently in productive use, such as derelict land, tax delinquent land, surplus road and highway rights-of-way, and other land located adjacent to existing open spaces, waterways, or trails.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department, Community Services Department
Funding Source: General Fund, grants, bond funding
Time Frame: Complete by 2016
Related Policies:

Land Use: 2.3, 2.8, 6.3, 6.4
Natural Resources: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 6.6, 7.1, 7.5
Urban Design: 3.5, 4.5
973

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-30
REV. GPA NO. 2024-0002 (1/14/25)
REV. GPA NO. 2014-0001 (12/2015)
REV. GPA NO. 2010-0001 (8/10/10)
III. Conditions or Requirements Placed upon Applicants
during Development Review
Program III-1 California Environmental Quality Act
Comply with all provisions of CEQA. In addition to thresholds that may be established or adopted by the City in the future, use the following thresholds and procedures for CEQA analysis of proposed projects, consistent with policies adopted within the General Plan:
▪ Circulation & Mobility
o In accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.3, the City shall utilize vehicle miles traveled (VMT), to measure transportation impacts. o A project would result in a significant project-generated VMT impact if the baseline and/or cumulative project-generated VMT per service population exceeds the City of Orange General Plan Buildout VMT per service population. o The project’s effect on VMT would be considered significant if it resulted in baseline and/or cumulative link-level boundary citywide VMT per service population increases under the plus project condition compared to the no project condition. ▪ Parks and Recreation
o The City shall require dedication of parkland at a rate of 3.0 acres per 1,000 anticipated residents or payment of in-lieu fees for new residential projects. ▪ Noise
o The City shall apply the noise standards specified in Tables N-3 and N-4 of the Noise Element to proposed projects analyzed under CEQA.
o In addition to the foregoing, an increase in ambient noise levels is assumed to be a significant noise impact if a proposed project causes ambient noise levels to exceed the following:
▪ Where the existing ambient noise level is less than 65 dBA, a project related permanent increase in ambient noise levels of 5 dBA CNEL or greater. ▪ Where the existing ambient noise level is greater than 65 dBA, a project related permanent increase in ambient noise levels of 3 dBA CNEL or greater. ▪ Historic and Cultural Resources
o “Historical resource” for the purposes of CEQA shall mean “historic district” in the case of a contributor to a historic district.
o Historic resources listed in the Historic Register shall have a presumption of significance pursuant to CEQA Section 21084.1 and shall be treated as historical resources under CEQA.
974

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-31
o The historical significance of an archaeological historic resource is evaluated using the criteria of Public Resources Code Section 5024.1 and Section 15064.5 et seq. of the state CEQA Guidelines.

All future development proposals shall be reviewed by the City for potential regional and local air quality impacts per CEQA. If potential impacts are identified, mitigation will be required to reduce the impact to a level less than significant, where technically and economically feasible.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department, Public Works Department, Community Services Department
Funding Source: General Fund, development fees
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Circulation & Mobility: 1.1, 1.2
Natural Resources: 2.2, 2.8, 5.6
Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.1, 1.3
Noise: 1.4
Growth Management: 1.1, 2.1
Program III–2 Site Development Review
Comply with all City procedures in the review of proposed development projects, and use the site plan review process to ensure that applicable General Plan policies and City standards and regulations are applied to proposals for specific development projects.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department, Public Works Department, Police Department, Fire Department,
Community Services Department
Funding Source: Development fees
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Land Use: 1.6, 1.7, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 3.1, 3.4, 4.3, 4.5, 6.1, 6.2, 6.9, 6.10, 6.12 Circulation & Mobility: 1.1, 1.7, 5.1, 5.2
Natural Resources 1.3, 2.3, 2.6, 2.13, 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7,

6.6, 7.5
Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 Public Safety: 1.1, 2.5, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 4.2, 4.3, 6.2, 7.2, 7.3,

7.4, 9.1
Noise: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 Urban Design: 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3.4, 3.5, 6.1
Infrastructure: 1.4, 1.5
975

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-32
REV. GPA NO. 2024-0002 (1/14/25)
REV. GPA NO. 2014-0001 (12/2015)
REV. GPA NO. 2010-0001 (8/10/10)
Program III-3 Commission/Committee Review
Orange has several commissions and one committee whose purpose is to advise and assist the City Council in dealing with issues related to each commission’s or committee’s area of concern. The commissions and committee gather pertinent information, hear arguments, weigh values, and make recommendations to the Council. Several of the commissions also have some administrative powers.

The City will continue to use the commission/committee structure to inform the public decision-making process.

The City will also consider expanding the authority of the Design Review Committee and Community Development Department’s staff to administer the Orange Historic Resources Inventory, Historic Register listings, and design review procedures for projects involving architectural and archaeological resources.

Agency/Department: City Council, Community Development Department, Community Services Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Land Use: 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 3.1, 3.2, 4.5, 5.5, 5.8, 5.9, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4,

6.7, 6.11, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3
Circulation & Mobility: 1.3, 2.3, 3.2, 4.1, 6.1
Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 4.5, 4.6
Urban Design: 1.1, 6.1
Public Safety: 1.1, 3.5, 4.3, 7.4
Economic Development: 1.2, 2.5, 3.3, 4.5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 Program III-4 Traffic Impact Analyses
Require preparation of traffic impact analyses for new discretionary development projects.

A traffic impact analysis which includes VMT assessment shall be required for a proposed project that does not satisfy the project screening criteria. For projects that increase V/C by

0.01 or more on affected roadway segments or intersections experiencing LOS E or LOS F conditions without the proposed project, traffic impact analyses must propose binding reduction strategies to be incorporated within the project.

Continue to update guidelines for the preparation of traffic impact analyses to reflect local conditions and industry standards.

Agency/Department: Public Works Department
Funding Source: Development fees
Time Frame: Ongoing
976

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-36
REV. GPA NO. 2024-0002 (1/14/25)
REV. GPA NO. 2014-0001 (12/2015)
REV. GPA NO. 2010-0001 (8/10/10)
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Public Safety: 3.4, 3.7, 4.4, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 6.10, 6.11 Program III-9 Geologic Hazard Assessments
Pursuant to state law, geologic and/or geotechnical studies are required for proposed new development projects located in areas identified as susceptible to landslides and liquefaction and binding mitigation strategies must be adopted. Compliance with the recommendations set forth in site-specific geologic and/or geotechnical studies will be made a condition of approval for new development. In addition, the City may require applicants to incorporate measures to stabilize and maintain slopes on a site-by-site basis, such as proper planting, irrigation, retaining walls, and benching.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department, Public Works Department
Funding Source: Development fees
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Land Use: 6.9, 6.10
Public Safety: 1.1
Program III-10 Cultural Resources Inventories
Require cultural resources inventories of all new development projects in areas identified with medium or high potential for archeological, paleontological, or cultural resources based on resource sensitivity maps prepared in conjunction with the General Plan.

Where a preliminary site survey finds medium to high potential for substantial archaeological remains, the City shall require a mitigation plan to protect the resource before issuance of permits. Mitigation may include:
▪ Ensuring that a qualified archaeologist is present during initial grading or trenching (monitoring),
▪ Redesigning the project to avoid archaeological resources (this is considered the strongest tool for preserving archaeological resources), ▪ Capping the site with a layer of fill, and/or
▪ Excavating and removing the archaeological resources (recovery) and implementing curation in an appropriate facility under the direction of a qualified archaeologist (interpretation).
977

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-37
Alert applicants for permits within early settlement areas to the potential sensitivity. If an archaeological inventory survey is required, the final stage is the preparation of a professional report detailing the findings and recommendations of the records search and field survey. The final report containing site forms, site significance, and mitigation measures should be submitted immediately to the Community Development Department. All information regarding site locations, Native American human remains, and associated funerary objects should be in a separate confidential addendum, and not be made available for public disclosure.

If significant archaeological resources are discovered during construction or grading activities, such activities shall cease in the immediate area of the find until a qualified archaeologist can determine the significance of the resource and recommend alternative mitigation. The final written report should be submitted to the appropriate regional archaeological Information Center within three months after work has been completed. The City shall ensure that project applicants contact the Native American Heritage Commission for a Sacred Lands File Check and a list of appropriate Native American contacts for consultation concerning the project site and to assist in crafting the mitigation measures.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Development fees
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Land Use: 6.11
Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 4.1, 4.5
Program III-11 Green Building, Energy Conservation,
and Sustainable Development
The City strongly encourages new development and major renovation projects to employ green building techniques and materials. Encourage proposed development projects throughout the City to use Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards developed by the U.S. Green Building Council or a similar third-party verified program.

Encourage building orientations and landscaping that enhance natural lighting and sun exposure. Prepare guidelines for sustainable development to encourage incorporation of these practices in new development. These guidelines will include measures to maximize soil permeability to address related stormwater and surface-water runoff issues.

Require compliance with state Title 24 building construction standards and Energy Star conservation standards for all development projects.

Prepare and adopt an ordinance that requires and/or provides incentives for: (1) specified new residential development to comply with a specified green building program or show that its development provides comparable effectiveness to such a program; and (2) specified non-residential development of a specified size comply with a specified green building 978

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-39
Natural Resources: 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
Program III-14 Archaeological Resources Management
Report (ARMR Preservation Bulletin)
Establish the Archaeological Resources Management Report (ARMR Preservation Bulletin) as the standard report format for all documentation and accept reports only from registered professional archaeologists knowledgeable in Native American cultures and/or historical archaeology (qualified archaeologists).

Agency/Department: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Development fees
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 4.1
Program III-15 Historic Resources Design Review
Continue to use the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Reconstructing Historic Buildings as a basis for design review and incorporate them by reference into the Historic Preservation Design Standards for Old Towne and Orange Eichler Design Standards. and other historic preservation design standards. Any approved demolition permit for historic resources listed in the City’s Historic Register will be automatically subject to a delay of 180 days before the permit for demolition may be issued. The property owner will strive to develop alternatives to demolition that will preserve the historic resources.

The Design Review Committee or Historic Preservation Commission at such time such a commission is established, shall serve as the review body for projects involving historic resources.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department, City Council Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 2.3, 3.2 Program III-16: Public Access to Santiago Creek and
Santa Ana River Public Interface
Ensure that new development does not preclude access to Santiago Creek and the Santa Ana River and associated trails. Development review should ensure that commercial and retail development in these areas support public access.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department
979

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-56
REV. GPA NO. 2024-0002 (1/14/25)
REV. GPA NO. 2014-0001 (12/2015)
REV. GPA NO. 2010-0001 (8/10/10)
Agency/Department: Community Development Department, Fire Department Funding Source: General Fund, development fees
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Land Use: 6.4, 6.11, 7.3
Natural Resources: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
Public Safety: 3.1, 3.3
Program V-13 Open Space Preservation Organizations and
Agencies
Continue to work with local and regional open space preservation organizations and with federal and state agencies to identify and conserve urban open space and protect lands accessible for public use. Pursue grants and other resources to plan for open space preservation and, as appropriate, purchase properties to be included in the open space system. Use conservation easements where feasible as part of the City’s open space acquisition program.

Agency/Department: City Manager’s Office, Community Development Department, Community Services Department
Funding Source: Grants
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Land Use: 6.4, 6.11
Natural Resources: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 5.7
Program V-14 Orange Chamber of Commerce
Continue to work with the Orange Chamber of Commerce in promoting the local economy.

The Chamber provides a variety of programs promoting economic development in Orange.

Agency/Department: Economic Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Land Use: 3.2, 5.3, 8.2
Economic Development: 3.2, 3.3, 5.2
Program V-15 Federal and State Historic Preservation
Programs
The City will continue to support efforts by California’s OHP to administer federal and statemandated historic preservation programs in California, including the following:
980

IMPLEMENTATION

ORANGE GENERAL PLAN
IMP-57
▪ California Historical Landmarks
▪ California Points of Historical Interest
▪ California Register of Historical Resources
▪ National Register of Historic Places
▪ Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
▪ CEQA
The Mills Act is another preservation tool created by the California Legislature, enabling cities to enter into historical property agreements with owners of qualifying properties that result in reductions to the owners’ property taxes. The agreements provide a benefit that ensures preservation and guarantees authentic rehabilitations and a high level of maintenance of historic resources. The City will continue to offer the Mills Act program to private property owners, will expand the program to include newly designated historic resources, and publicize its availability. In compliance with state legislation, the City will inspect Mills Act properties prior to contract approval and once every five years thereafter.

Agency/Department: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund, Mills Act fees, development fees Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Land Use: 1.5, 6.11
Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 2.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 Program V-16 Community History and Preservation
Organizations
Develop partnerships with local history and preservation organizations to prepare Historic Context Statement updates, undertake new surveys, and update surveys. Partner with local history and preservation organizations to develop a citywide interpretive program, including signs, plaques, exhibits, and other similar elements, to increase awareness of the City’s history and its historic resources
Agency/Department: Community Development Department, Library Services Department
Funding Source: General Fund, grants
Time Frame: Ongoing
Related Policies:

Cultural Resources &
Historic Preservation: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 3.1, 3.4, 5.5 Program V-17 Orange County Airport Land Use Commission
Continue to work with the Orange County Airport Land Use Commission to increase safety and reduce noise associated with aircraft overflights and helicopter operations within the City by achieving the following objectives:
981

2.0 Executive Summary

Page 2 ends

POTENTIAL

IMPACTS MITIGATION MEASURES

LEVEL OF

SIGNIFICANCE

AFTER MITIGATION
Habitat Conservation Plans/Natural Community Conservation Plans As development in and adjacent to existing natural areas located in the urbanized portion of the City continues, direct and indirect impacts to natural areas interface planning could occur.

5.4-5. Support compliance with the Central Orange County NCCP/HCP. Participate in any future update to the NCCP/HCP. Coordinate with the Fire Department and related agencies to ensure consideration of NCCP habitat areas when planning fuel modification zones. (Implementation Program V-132; Responsible Party – Community Development Department, Fire Department; Timeframe – Ongoing)

5.4-6 Continue to work with local and regional open space preservation organizations and state and federal agencies to identify and conserve urban open space and protect lands accessible for public use. Pursue grants and other resources to plan for open space preservation and, as appropriate, purchase properties to be included in the open space system. Use conservation easements where feasible as part of the City’s open space acquisition program. (Implementation Program V-1413; Responsible Party – City Manager’s Office, Community Development Department, Community Services Department; Timeframe – Ongoing) Less than significant

5.5 CULTURAL RESOURCES Historic Resources Historic resources could be vulnerable to unchecked development activities and infrastructure or other public works improvements, and could result in damage to or demolition of historic resources.

5.5-1 Comply with all provisions of CEQA. In addition to thresholds that may be established or adopted by the City in the future, use the following thresholds and/or procedures for CEQA analysis of proposed projects, consistent with policies adopted within the General Plan:  Historic and Cultural Resources o “Historical resource” for the purposes of CEQA shall mean “historic district” in the case of a contributor to a historic district. o Historic resources listed in the City’s Historic Register shall have a presumption of significance pursuant to CEQA Statute §21084.1 and shall be treated as historical resources under CEQA.

Less than significant
ATTACHMENT 9
982

2.0 Executive Summary
City of Orange General Plan Program EIR Page 2-27 08110170.02_Orange_GP_EIR_-_Chapter_2.0_ES.doc 6/16/2010

POTENTIAL

IMPACTS MITIGATION MEASURES

LEVEL OF

SIGNIFICANCE

AFTER MITIGATION
o The historical significance of an archaeological historic resource is evaluated using the criteria of Public Resource Code §5024.1 and CEQA Guidelines, §15064.5 et seq. (Implementation Program III-1; Responsible Party – Community Development Department, Community Services Department; Timeframe – Ongoing)

5.5-2 Apply to the OHP for inclusion in the CLG program. Successful application includes several requirements:  Enact appropriate historic preservation regulations through an adopted historic preservation ordinance.
 Establish an adequate and qualified historic preservation review commission.  Maintain a system for the survey and inventory of historic properties.  Provide for adequate public participation in the historic preservation program.  Satisfactorily perform the responsibilities delegated to the CLG. (Implementation Program I-16; Responsible Party – Community Development Department; Timeframe – Application completed by 20121)

5.5-3 Create the Historic Register, which will serve as the local register of historical resources under CEQA. Automatically include all resources previously designated, listed, or determined eligible for listing within the NRHP or California Register.  Establish a process for handling voluntary requests for listing in the Historic Register. Support coordination with property owners of potential historic resources identified in the Orange Inventory, so that such potential historic resources can more readily be listed in the Historic Register. 983

2.0 Executive Summary

Page 2 ends

POTENTIAL

IMPACTS MITIGATION MEASURES

LEVEL OF

SIGNIFICANCE

AFTER MITIGATION
 Establish a process for listing in the Historic Register those buildings, structures, objects, sites, or districts that meet the criteria.  Establish procedures to remove historic resources from the Historic Register.  Establish procedures for listing archaeological resources in the Historic Register. Employ appropriate criteria for evaluating potential significance of such archaeological resources as historical resources or unique archaeological resources under CEQA. Encourage voluntary listing of eligible archaeological resources. (Implementation Program I-17; Responsible Party – Community Development Department; Timeframe – Register established by 20112, maintenance ongoing)

5.5-4 Pursue historic landmark district designation for three Eichler Homes tracts. Notify property owners in three Eichler tracts— including Fairhaven, Fairhills, and Fairmeadow— of the intent to list each of the three tracts separately as local historic districts. F and follow established procedures for Historic Register listing of each.h. (Implementation Program I-18; Responsible Party – Community Development Department; Timeframe – Landmark Districts established by 20134)

5.5-5 Continue to maintain an accessible and periodically updated inventory of potential resources. All surveyed properties will be included in the Orange Inventory, and the Orange Inventory will be a valuable planning tool to be used in evaluating possible impacts a proposed project might have on previously evaluated potential and identified historic resources. Surveys and survey updates may be conducted by qualified preservation professionals in accordance with Secretary of Interior Standards criteria. Properties that have attained 45 years of age and are located within a designated historic district or NCA shall be subject to survey prior to issuance of any permit for alteration or demolition. 984

2.0 Executive Summary
City of Orange General Plan Program EIR Page 2-29 08110170.02_Orange_GP_EIR_-_Chapter_2.0_ES.doc 6/16/2010

POTENTIAL

IMPACTS MITIGATION MEASURES

LEVEL OF

SIGNIFICANCE

AFTER MITIGATION
Survey other areas where potential for historic resources may exist. Identify smaller character areas where concentrations of potential or listed historic resources reflect unique senses of time and place. Use the Orange Inventory to identify potential historic resources for purposes of CEQA, NHPA, and NEPA review of proposed projects. Only if potential historic resources in the Orange Inventory are listed in or eligible for listing in the California Register for CEQA or the NRHP for the NHPA and NEPA shall they have a presumption of significance pursuant to CEQA Statute §21084.1 and be treated as historical resources under CEQA. Potential historic resources identified in the Orange Inventory may be listed in the Historic Register if they meet criteria for listing in the California Register. The City’s Historic Resources Inventory may be regularly updated by the Planning Division to reflect corrections and modifications to the associated database and survey forms without the need to bring those changes to the Planning Commission for adoption.(Implementation Program I-19; Responsible Party – Community Development Department; Timeframe – Adopt by 2014)

5.5-6 Actively pursue grants, loans, and other incentives to encourage historic preservation. Consider implementing conservation easements. Develop a revolving loan program for maintenance and rehabilitation work, consistent with design standards, on listed historic resources and on resources that are contributors to listed historic districts. Develop a voluntary conservation easement program to preserve listed historic resources and contributors to listed historic districts. Provide a potential tax benefit to property owners. Establish a partnership with local preservation organizations to accept, hold, and manage conservation easements on historic resources. 985

2.0 Executive Summary

Page 2 ends

POTENTIAL

IMPACTS MITIGATION MEASURES

LEVEL OF

SIGNIFICANCE

AFTER MITIGATION
(Implementation Program I-20; Responsible Party – Community Development Department; Timeframe – Ongoing)

5.5-7 Explore establishing a commemorative plaque program to allow public recognition of properties listed in the Historic Register. Develop and administer standards and guidelines for properties eligible for the commemorative plaque program. (Implementation Program I-21; Responsible Party – Community organizations in coordination with the Community Development Department; Timeframe – Ongoing)

5.5-8 Officially recognize the Historic Context Statement prepared in tandem with the General Plan Update. Periodically update the Statement to add recent historical events. Officially recognize the recent completed historical and archaeological resources survey prepared in tandem with the updated General Plan. Update and maintain the inventory using the City’s GIS. (Implementation Program I-22; Responsible Party – Community Development Department; Timeframe – Ongoing)

5.5-9 Designate El Modena, Cypress Street Barrio, and the Railroad/Packinghouse Corridor, and Orange Park Acres as NCAs by establishing an NCA overlay zone and appropriate standards and regulations in the Zoning Code. Develop and administer design guidelines appropriate to each designated NCA. (Implementation Program I-23; Responsible Party – Community Development Department, City Council; Timeframe – Complete by 20156)

5.5-12 Continue to use the Secretary’s Standards as a basis for design review. Update the City’s Demolition Ordinance to include that any approved demolition permit for listed historic resources shall be automatically subject to a delay before the permit 986

2.0 Executive Summary
City of Orange General Plan Program EIR Page 2-31 08110170.02_Orange_GP_EIR_-_Chapter_2.0_ES.doc 6/16/2010

POTENTIAL

IMPACTS MITIGATION MEASURES

LEVEL OF

SIGNIFICANCE

AFTER MITIGATION
for demolition may be issued. The property owner will strive to develop alternatives to demolition that will preserve the historic resources. The Community Development Director shall appoint a City of Orange Preservation Officer (Preservation Officer). In lieu of such appointment, the Director shall serve as Preservation Officer. (Implementation Program III-15; Responsible Party – Community Development Department, City Council; Timeframe – Ongoing)

5.5-13 The City will continue to support efforts by California’s OHP to administer federal and state-mandated historic preservation programs in California, including the following:  California Historical Landmarks;  California Points of Historical Interest;  California Register of Historical Resources;  National Register of Historic Places;  Secretary of Interior Standards; and  CEQA. The Mills Act is another preservation tool created by the California legislature, enabling cities to enter into historical property agreements with owners of qualifying properties that result in reductions to the owners’ property taxes. The agreements provide a benefit that ensures preservation and guarantees authentic rehabilitations and a high level of maintenance of historic resources. The City will continue to encourage use of the Mills Act provisions by private property owners. (Implementation Program V-156; Responsible Party – Community Development Department; Timeframe – Ongoing)

5.5-14 Develop partnerships with local history and preservation organizations to prepare Historic Context Statement updates, undertake new surveys, and update surveys. Partner with local history and preservation organizations to develop a citywide 987

2.0 Executive Summary

Page 2 ends

POTENTIAL

IMPACTS MITIGATION MEASURES

LEVEL OF

SIGNIFICANCE

AFTER MITIGATION
interpretive program, including signs, plaques, exhibits, and other similar elements, to increase awareness of the City’s history and its historic resources. (Implementation Program V-176; Responsible Party – Community Development Department, Library Services Department; Timeframe – Ongoing) Archaeological Resources Paleontological Resources, and Disturbance of Human Remains Development pursuant to the proposed General Plan has the potential to impact known or unknown archaeological and paleontological resources. Specifically, the development of residential or urban land uses, roads, and infrastructure (e.g., storm water, wastewater, or domestic/recycled water lines) may impact buried archaeological and paleontological resources, including human remains, located throughout undeveloped portions of the planning area. There is also potential for unknown and previously undisturbed archaeological, paleontological, and human remains to be found within the developed areas of the planning area, such as the land use focus areas, as redevelopment activities occur.

See mitigation measure 5.5-1 above and the following: 5.5-10 Require cultural resources inventories of all new development projects in areas identified with medium or high potential for archaeological or cultural resources. Where a preliminary site survey finds medium to high potential for substantial archaeological remains, the City shall require a mitigation plan to protect the resource before issuance of permits. Mitigation may include:  Ensuring that a qualified archaeologist is present during initial grading or trenching (monitoring);
 Redesigning the project to avoid archaeological resources (this is considered the strongest tool for preserving archaeological resources);  Capping the site with a layer of fill; and/or  Excavating and removing the archaeological resources (recovery) and implementing curation in an appropriate facility under the direction of a qualified archaeologist (interpretation).

Alert applicants for permits within early settlement areas to the potential sensitivity. If significant archaeological resources are discovered during construction or grading activities, such activities shall cease in the immediate area of the find until a qualified archaeologist can determine the significance of the resource and recommend alternative mitigation.

Less than significant
988

!"#"!"!$
ATTACHMENT 10 989
Agenda Item
Orange City Council
Item #: 9.1. 9/22/2026 File #: 26-0543
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Jarad Hildenbrand, City Manager
FROM: Russell Bunim, Community Development Director

1. SUBJECT
Proposed Mills Act Program Guidelines

2. SUMMARY
Staff is proposing updated Mills Act Program Guidelines to improve program administration, establish clear application and evaluation criteria, strengthen monitoring and compliance, align program workload with available resources, and better manage the fiscal impacts associated with Mills Act contracts while continuing to support preservation of the City’s historic resources.

3. RECOMMENDED ACTION

1. Adopt Resolution No. 11720, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Orange approving Mills Act Program Guidelines.

2. Provide direction regarding whether the City Council would like staff to return with additional policy options concerning existing and future Mills Act contracts.

4. FISCAL IMPACT
Adoption of the proposed Mills Act Program Guidelines does not require an immediate General Fund appropriation. Mills Act contracts can result in reduced property tax revenue to the City as a result of the special property tax valuation provided under State law. The amount of the reduction varies by property and is determined through valuation by the Orange County Assessor.

The proposed annual limit on new contracts is intended to better manage the long-term fiscal impact of the program as well as the staff and consultant resources required for application review, inspections, monitoring, and contract administration.

5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 3: Enhance Quality of Life Through City Services
Objective 3.1: Mills Act Audit
Goal 6: Ensure the Preservation of Historic Resources

6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
The Mills Act is a State-authorized historic preservation incentive that allows a local government to enter into a contract with the owner of a qualified historic property. In exchange for the property owner’s commitment to preserve, rehabilitate, and maintain the historic property in accordance with applicable preservation standards, the property becomes eligible for a special method of property tax City of Orange Page 1 of 4 Printed on 9/17/2026
powered by Legistar™990
Item #: 9.1. 9/22/2026 File #: 26-0543
applicable preservation standards, the property becomes eligible for a special method of property tax valuation administered by the County Assessor that may result in reduced property taxes.

Enacted by the California Legislature in 1972, the Mills Act allows cities and counties to establish programs tailored to local historic preservation priorities. The City of Orange established its Mills Act Program in 1998.

Mills Act contracts have an initial ten-year term and automatically extend by one year annually unless either the property owner or the City provides timely notice of nonrenewal. Following nonrenewal, the contract remains in effect for the balance of its remaining term.

Cancellation is distinct from nonrenewal. State law allows a local agency to cancel a contract based upon specified findings of noncompliance, including breach of contract, deterioration of the historic property, or failure to complete required rehabilitation. Cancellation requires notice and a public hearing and results in a cancellation fee established by State law.

Mills Act contracts also require ongoing monitoring of participating properties, including regular reporting and periodic inspections to evaluate compliance with the terms of the contract and progress on required rehabilitation and maintenance work.

City of Orange Mills Act Program
There are presently 419 properties with active Mills Act contracts in Orange. Under the City’s current program, there is no annual limit on the number of new contracts. Under the existing program, a property may be eligible for a Mills Act contract if it is:
· A contributor to the Old Towne Orange National Register Historic District; · A contributor to the Old Towne Orange or Orange Eichler Local Historic Districts; · Separately listed or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or the California Register of Historical Resources; or
· An individually surveyed historic property outside of a historic district.

Each Mills Act contract includes a Rehabilitation and Maintenance Plan identifying work necessary to support the long-term preservation of the property. Proposed work must comply with applicable City historic preservation standards and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Applications are reviewed by staff to evaluate property eligibility, existing conditions, proposed rehabilitation work, and consistency with historic preservation standards. Staff and/or the City’s historic preservation consultant conducts a site inspection and works with the applicant to refine the Rehabilitation and Maintenance Plan as appropriate. Following execution of a contract, participating properties are subject to ongoing reporting requirements and periodic inspections to evaluate compliance.

Mills Act Program Reform
Over the past decade, changes to the Mills Act Program, growth in the number of participating properties, and reductions in dedicated historic preservation staffing have created challenges for effective program administration.

In 2018, the City removed its previous annual limit of 20 contracts in conjunction with the establishment of the Orange Eichler Historic Districts. Program participation increased significantly City of Orange Page 2 of 4 Printed on 9/17/2026
powered by Legistar™991
Item #: 9.1. 9/22/2026 File #: 26-0543
establishment of the Orange Eichler Historic Districts. Program participation increased significantly thereafter. The City subsequently experienced the loss of dedicated full-time historic preservation planning staff, while the number of contracts requiring ongoing monitoring and administration continued to increase.

The City Council has also requested additional information regarding the fiscal impact of the program, staff resources devoted to program administration, and compliance by existing contract holders. In November 2024, the City Council temporarily suspended acceptance of new Mills Act applications while the program was under review. The suspension provided an opportunity to evaluate the existing program, identify administrative and compliance challenges, and develop recommended reforms for Council consideration.

The proposed program reforms are intended to establish a sustainable administrative structure that balances the City's historic preservation objectives with available staff resources, appropriate oversight of existing contracts, and consideration of the fiscal impact associated with new contracts.

Proposed Mills Act Program Procedures
The Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Ordinance being considered separately by the City Council on September 22, 2026, would establish a Heritage Commission and authorize the Commission to review Mills Act applications and make recommendations to the City Council.

The proposed Mills Act Program Guidelines establish additional evaluation criteria addressing:
· Relationship between anticipated property tax savings and proposed preservation investment; · Preservation need; and
· Public benefit.

The Guidelines also propose limiting the number of new Mills Act contracts approved each year to eight. The proposed limit reflects the staff and consultant resources necessary to evaluate applications, inspect properties, administer contracts, review annual reporting, and perform ongoing inspections throughout the life of each contract.

The Guidelines also establish procedures addressing application processing and scheduling, treatment of previously completed work, eligible interior improvements, reporting requirements, compliance monitoring, and contract nonrenewal.

Future Policy Considerations
The proposed Guidelines are intended to provide a more sustainable framework for administering new and existing Mills Act contracts. Enhanced monitoring will also provide the City with better information regarding compliance and allow the City to pursue remedies available under individual contracts and State law when warranted.

Several broader policy issues concerning the Mills Act Program have also been raised during previous City Council discussions. These issues are not necessary to implement the proposed Guidelines but could be evaluated separately if directed by the City Council. They include:

City of Orange Page 3 of 4 Printed on 9/17/2026
powered by Legistar™992
Item #: 9.1. 9/22/2026 File #: 26-0543
· Establishing an overall limit on the number of active Mills Act contracts; · Developing a policy regarding City-initiated nonrenewal of existing contracts; · Establishing an owner-occupancy requirement for future residential Mills Act contracts; · Limiting the number of properties for which a single owner may receive Mills Act contracts; and · Establishing additional eligibility standards for properties owned by limited liability companies or other entities.

Because some of these options may affect existing contractual rights or raise legal, administrative, and fiscal considerations, staff recommends that any additional changes affecting existing contracts be evaluated separately in consultation with the City Attorney.

If directed by the City Council, staff can return with policy alternatives and an analysis of the legal, fiscal, and administrative implications of these additional measures.

7. ATTACHMENT
· Resolution No. 11720
City of Orange Page 4 of 4 Printed on 9/17/2026
powered by Legistar™993
Agenda Item
Orange City Council
Item #: 9.1. 9/22/2026 File #: 26-0543
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Jarad Hildenbrand, City Manager
FROM: Russell Bunim, Community Development Director

1. SUBJECT
Proposed Mills Act Program Guidelines

3. RECOMMENDED ACTION

1. Adopt Resolution No. 11720, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Orange approving Mills Act Program Guidelines.

2. Provide direction regarding whether the City Council would like staff to return with additional policy options concerning existing and future Mills Act contracts.

5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 3: Enhance Quality of Life Through City Services
Objective 3.1: Mills Act Audit
Goal 6: Ensure the Preservation of Historic Resources

6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
The Mills Act is a State-authorized historic preservation incentive that allows a local government to enter into a contract with the owner of a qualified historic property. In exchange for the property owner’s commitment to preserve, rehabilitate, and maintain the historic property in accordance with applicable preservation standards, the property becomes eligible for a special method of property tax City of Orange Page 1 of 4 Printed on 9/17/2026
powered by Legistar™994
Item #: 9.1. 9/22/2026 File #: 26-0543
applicable preservation standards, the property becomes eligible for a special method of property tax valuation administered by the County Assessor that may result in reduced property taxes.

In 2018, the City removed its previous annual limit of 20 contracts in conjunction with the establishment of the Orange Eichler Historic Districts. Program participation increased significantly City of Orange Page 2 of 4 Printed on 9/17/2026
powered by Legistar™995
Item #: 9.1. 9/22/2026 File #: 26-0543
establishment of the Orange Eichler Historic Districts. Program participation increased significantly thereafter. The City subsequently experienced the loss of dedicated full-time historic preservation planning staff, while the number of contracts requiring ongoing monitoring and administration continued to increase.

City of Orange Page 3 of 4 Printed on 9/17/2026
powered by Legistar™996
Item #: 9.1. 9/22/2026 File #: 26-0543
· Establishing an overall limit on the number of active Mills Act contracts; · Developing a policy regarding City-initiated nonrenewal of existing contracts; · Establishing an owner-occupancy requirement for future residential Mills Act contracts; · Limiting the number of properties for which a single owner may receive Mills Act contracts; and · Establishing additional eligibility standards for properties owned by limited liability companies or other entities.

If directed by the City Council, staff can return with policy alternatives and an analysis of the legal, fiscal, and administrative implications of these additional measures.

7. ATTACHMENT
· Resolution No. 11720
City of Orange Page 4 of 4 Printed on 9/17/2026
powered by Legistar™997
RESOLUTION NO. 11720

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF

THE CITY OF ORANGE APPROVING MILLS

ACT PROGRAM GUIDELINES
WHEREAS, the State of California established the Mills Act Program in 1972 as contained in Government Code Sections 50280-50290 as a historic preservation incentive, granting participating cities and counties the authority to enter into contracts with owners of qualified historic properties for property tax relief as provided for in Article 1.9, Sections 439 through 439.4, of the California Revenue and Taxation Code; and WHEREAS, the Mills Act Program implements the Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation Element of the General Plan, which establishes the City’s goal to offer incentives that support historic preservation by providing a financial incentive to encourage the maintenance and rehabilitation of historic properties; and
WHEREAS, the Mills Act Program is identified as a Preservation Incentive offered by the City in Chapter 17.17 of the Orange Municipal Code to promote the preservation and continued use of Historical Resources by reducing the financial burden associated with property taxes in order to encourage owners to pursue maintenance and rehabilitation activities; and WHEREAS, the Mills Act Program Guidelines are intended to provide the City with procedures for application, selection, and awarding of Mills Act Contracts and associated program administration; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission conducted a duly advertised public hearing on August 17, 2026, at which time interested persons had an opportunity to testify either in support of or in opposition to the proposed Mills Act Program Guidelines and recommends approval thereof.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Orange approve the subject Mills Act Program Guidelines, shown as Attachment 1, attached hereto, based on the following finding:

SECTION 1- FINDING
The Mills Act Program Guidelines are consistent with the goals and policies stated within the City’s General Plan Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation Element and General Plan Implementation Plan in that they establish a process through which property owners may participate in the Mills Act Program as identified in Chapter 17.17 of the Orange Municipal Code and receive a financial incentive in the form of property tax reduction that promotes the preservation, rehabilitation, and long‑term stewardship of historic resources, enabling the savings to be put toward maintenance activities.
998
2 SECTION 2-ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed Mills Act Program Guidelines are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 (Common Sense Exemption) because it serves to protect historic resources by providing a financial incentive for building rehabilitation and repair, thus protecting historic resources, thus avoiding a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. For this reason, no further CEQA documentation is required.

ADOPTED this day of , 2026
Daniel R. Slater, Mayor, City of Orange
ATTEST:

Pamela Coleman, City Clerk, City of Orange
APPROVED AS TO FORM:

Nathalie Adourian, City Attorney, City of Orange

STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss.

CITY OF ORANGE )
I, PAMELA COLEMAN, City Clerk of the City of Orange, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted by the City Council of the City of Orange at a regular meeting thereof held on the day of , 2026 by the following vote:

AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:

NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:

ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:

Pamela Coleman, City Clerk, City of Orange
999
CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 11720
ATTACHMENT 1

MILLS ACT PROGRAM GUIDELINES
Adopted __________, 2026
The City of Orange Heritage Commission shall be responsible for reviewing Mills Act applications and recommending to the City Council those applications that best meet the criteria and priorities established in this Chapter. The Commission shall prepare and transmit a written report to the City Council summarizing its evaluation and recommendations. Each application shall be accompanied by the following items:

1. City of Orange Mills Act Application Form

2. Application fee established in the City’s Master Fee Schedule

3. Legal description of property

4. Mills Act Workplan identifying the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and/or maintenance tasks proposed for the property. The workplan shall include a description of each task, estimated costs for each work item, an anticipated timeline for completion, and overview of the recommended treatment plan to facilitate compliance with the Secretary’s Standards and applicable City design guidelines and standards.

5. Financial Analysis showing that the total estimated cost of the workplan is reasonably proportional to the projected property tax savings over the initial ten-year term of the contract.

6. Photographic overview of the property, documenting existing conditions, characterdefining features, and those areas slated for inclusion on the Mills Act Workplan.

I. Steps and Schedule for Review of Applications
To ensure orderly processing, adequate staff review, and timely Council consideration, the Mills Act application cycle shall proceed according to the following phased process:
1000
2 Step 1, Letter of Intent and Pre-Application Inspection (Ongoing) Prior to submitting the full Mills Act application, the property owner shall provide a brief Letter of Intent describing the property’s designation status, the owner’s interest in pursuing a Mills Act Contract, and a general outline of the proposed workplan items and need for the Mills Act. On the basis of this Letter of Intent, the City shall complete a preliminary eligibility screening to confirm that the property meets the basic eligibility requirements of this subsection. Following submittal of the Letter of Intent, the City shall conduct an initial inspection as part of the eligibility screening. The applicant or authorized representative must be present for the inspection. Preliminary eligibility screening may occur on an ongoing basis prior to application submittal.

Step 2, Application Intake Period (January 1 – April 30) The City shall accept Mills Act applications annually between January 1 and April 30.

Applications submitted after April 30 shall be deferred to the next year’s cycle.

Step 3, Staff Review Period (May 1 – June 30)
Between May 1 and June 30, staff shall review applications for completeness and eligibility; conduct site inspections as needed; apply the adopted evaluation criteria; and prepare staff summaries and scoring sheets for Commission review.

Step 4, Commission Review and Recommendation (July 1 – August 31) Between July 1 and August 31, the Commission shall: Review eligible applications and staff evaluations; Apply the adopted scoring and ranking criteria; Hold one or more public meetings to consider applications; Forward a ranked list of recommended applications to the City Council. The number of recommended applications shall not exceed the annual cap established by the City Council.

Step 5, City Council Consideration (September 1 – October 31) Between September 1 and October 31, the City Council shall: Consider the Commission’s recommendations; Approve, modify, or deny applications; Authorize execution of Mills Act contracts.

Step 6, Contract Execution and Recording (November 1 - December 31) All Mills Act contracts approved by the City Council must be executed and recorded no later than December 31 of the same calendar year. Following City Council approval, the property owner shall be responsible for executing, notarizing, and recording the Mills Act contract with the County Recorder. The City shall provide the owner with the final contract for signature within ten (10) business days of Council approval. The owner shall obtain all required signatures and notarizations and shall record the fully executed contract with the County Recorder no later than December 31 of the same calendar year. The owner shall provide the City with a copy of the recorded contract within ten (10) business days of recordation. Failure to record the contract by December 31 may result in deferral of the contract to the following year’s cycle.
1001
3 II. Criteria for Evaluating Applications
In evaluating the merits of each application for a Mills Act Contract, the City shall apply the following criteria. These criteria are intended to prioritize applications that yield the highest preservation benefit, address the most urgent needs, and ensure that tax savings are reinvested in the long-term protection of the Historical Resource.

A. Balance of Tax Savings and Investment
The estimated property tax benefit over the initial ten (10) years of the Contract should be reasonably balanced by the applicant’s proposed financial investment in the Historical Resource during the same period. Applications clearly demonstrating a commitment to reinvesting tax savings into substantial preservation work shall receive priority consideration.

B. Public Benefit
The proposed Mills Act Workplan should demonstrate a public benefit by addressing the preservation, rehabilitation, or exceptional maintenance needs of the property. Applications will be assessed and prioritized to the extent that they would:
(1) Rehabilitate, preserve, or restore character‑defining features, including features that have been altered or deteriorated over time; (2) Provide a comprehensive, prioritized scope of work that addresses the property as a whole rather than isolated improvements; (3) Include necessary structural reinforcement, seismic upgrades, or stabilization measures that protect the long‑term viability of the resource; (4) Include systems upgrades (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, life‑safety) necessary to ensure the viable continued use and preservation of the property; and (5) Address urgent preservation needs, including deterioration, deferred maintenance, or conditions that threaten the integrity of the resource.

C. Preservation Need
In determining the relative merit of applications, the City and Commission shall consider: (1) The extent of rehabilitation or restoration needed, with priority given to properties requiring significant work to preserve historic integrity; (2) The vulnerability of the resource, including structural deficiencies, seismic risks, or threatened character‑defining features; (3) The historic significance of the property; (4) Whether the proposed work will result in a substantial enhancement of a surrounding historic district or neighborhood; and (5) Whether the applicant proposes to use qualified preservation professionals to prepare or implement the Mills Act Workplan.

III. Limitations on Eligibility
The following limitations apply to all applications for Mills Act Contracts. These provisions are intended to ensure that tax benefits are directed toward meaningful preservation outcomes and that the program is administered equitably and efficiently:
1002
4 A. Cap on Approvals
To ensure that the program remains fiscally sustainable and administratively manageable, the number of new Mills Act Contracts approved each year may be limited. Unless otherwise established by resolution of the City Council, no more than eight (8) new Contracts shall be approved in any calendar year. The City Council may award fewer than the maximum number based on the relative merit of applications and available staff resources. The Director shall have the discretion to allow additional applications beyond the cap for properties requiring urgent and/or exceptional interventions to stabilize the property.

B. Limits on the Inclusion of Retroactive Workplan Items A Mills Act contract shall not apply to maintenance or alteration work that was completed or started prior to contract approval, unless the applicant demonstrates that: the completed work was necessary to address an immediate threat to public health or safety; or the work was required due to involuntary damage or destruction caused by fire, natural disaster, or other casualty; and the work was performed in a manner consistent with the Secretary’s Standards, on the basis of substantial evidence and the expert opinion of a qualified historic preservation professional as defined by this Chapter.

C. Routine Maintenance
Routine maintenance including, but not limited to, fence repair, trimming of trees or shrubs for purposes other than eliminating a threat to the historic structure, HVAC repair, and minor plumbing repairs shall not qualify as eligible work under a Mills Act Contract, except in cases where: (1) the property is a Historical Resource of exceptional or unique significance; and (2) the maintenance requirements are unusually extensive or financially burdensome due to the property’s age, materials, or construction; and (3) the work is necessary to preserve character‑defining features and/or to prevent further deterioration.

D. Interior Work
Interior work may be included in a Mills Act Contract only when it meets either of the following conditions: (1) The work involves character‑defining interior features identified and documented in the property’s landmark designation or (2) Subsequent research and expert opinion has identified interior character-defining features worthy of inclusion in the Mills Act Workplan; Interior remodeling unrelated to historic features, cosmetic upgrades, or alterations that diminish historic integrity shall not be eligible.
1003
5 IV. Required Contract Provisions
Each Mills Act Historic Property Contract shall include the provisions required by California Government Code Sections 50281 and 50282, together with the following terms necessary to ensure compliance with state law and the preservation objectives of this Chapter.

A. Contract Terms
The contract shall have a minimum term of ten (10) years. On each anniversary date of the Contract, or on such other annual date as specified in the Contract, one (1) additional year shall automatically be added to the term unless a Notice of Non‑Renewal has been filed in accordance with state law and this Chapter. The contract rights and obligations are binding upon all successive owners of the property during the life of the contract.

B. Preservation Standards
The contract shall require that all preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and maintenance work performed under the contract conform to the: (1) Secretary’s Standards; (2) State Historical Building Code; (3) Applicable guidance of the California Office of Historic Preservation; and (4) Applicable City of Orange Historic Preservation Design Standards and design guidelines.

C. Inspections
The property owner shall permit periodic examination of the premises by the City, as necessary, to verify compliance with the Mills Act Workplan and contract. Prior to approval of a new contract, the City shall conduct an inspection of the property.

The City shall conduct inspections at least once every five (5) years to determine continued compliance with the contract and the approved Mills Act Workplan. The property owner shall provide any information requested by the City to verify compliance. Inspection costs shall be borne by the property owner.

V. Reporting Requirements. The property owner shall submit reports to the City in accordance with the reporting schedule specified in the Mills Act Workplan and contract, on an annual basis, to demonstrate compliance with the Mills Act Workplan and progress toward completion of the preservation, rehabilitation, and maintenance tasks. The City may require more frequent reporting as necessary to ensure compliance.

VI. Notice to State Agencies. The City shall provide written notice of the Contract to the California Office of Historic Preservation within one hundred eighty (180) days of execution, as required by state law.
1004
Agenda Item
Orange City Council
Item #: 9.2. 9/22/2026 File #: 26-0500
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Jarad Hildenbrand, City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cash, Public Works Director

1. SUBJECT
Implementation of permit parking on portions of Almond Avenue and Washington Avenue within Permit Parking Opportunity Area No. 6

2. SUMMARY
Staff received two requests for permit parking in Permit Parking Opportunity Area #6. Both requests were processed in accordance with the City’s Neighborhood Permit Parking Program, adequately supported by the affected property owners, and approved by the City Traffic Commission.

3. RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt Resolution No. 11718. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Orange adopting a revised master resolution of designated permit parking areas and established permit parking opportunity areas within the City of Orange.

4. FISCAL IMPACT
None.

5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 5: Improve Infrastructure, Mobility, and Technology

6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
The City’s Neighborhood Permit Parking Program (NPPP) provides a mechanism for protecting residential streets from external parking overflow when certain criteria are satisfied. To streamline the permit parking application process in certain highly parked areas, the City Council established seven Permit Parking Opportunity Areas (PPOA’s). PPOA’s are subject to different criteria and procedures.

Specifically, the application fee and parking occupancy study are waived, and the required neighborhood support level is reduced from 75% to 55%.

Opportunity Area #6, in which Almond Avenue and Washington Avenue are contained, was created in conjunction with the Old Towne Paid Parking Program, to address the potential of parking demand spillover.

City of Orange Page 1 of 2 Printed on 9/17/2026
powered by Legistar™1005
Item #: 9.2. 9/22/2026 File #: 26-0500
Permit Parking on Almond Avenue and Washington Avenue
Staff received separate written requests to implement permit parking on the affected segments of Almond Avenue and Washington Avenue. After reviewing the streets and neighborhoods, staff confirmed that both Almond Avenue and Washington Avenue met the objectives and criteria of the City’s NPPP for permit parking consideration and mailed petitions to affected property owners.

The results of the petition process for Almond Avenue indicate that 100% of property owners are in favor of permit parking, 0% are opposed, and 0% did not respond. The results of the petition process for Washington Avenue indicate that 72% of property owners are in favor of permit parking, 14% are opposed, and 14% did not respond. Because the property owner support on both streets met the 55% stipulated in the NPPP, staff supports, and the City Traffic Commission recommends implementation of permit parking.

If approved, permit parking does not supersede other parking restrictions such as street sweeping.

Participation in the permit parking program is voluntary. However, once implemented, any vehicle parking on the street without a permit is subject to citation.

7. ATTACHMENTS
· Attachment 1 Resolution No. 11718
· Attachment 2 Neighborhood Permit Parking Opportunity Area #6 · Attachment 3 Activation Map Permit Parking Opportunity Area #6 (Almond Avenue) · Attachment 4 Activation Map Permit Parking Opportunity Area #6 (Washington Avenue) · Attachment 5 City Traffic Commission Staff Report August 12, 2026 (Almond Avenue) · Attachment 6 City Traffic Commission Staff Report August 12, 2026 (Washington Avenue)
· Attachment 7 Minute Excerpt of August 12, 2026, City Traffic Commission Meeting · Attachment 8 Notification Letter
City of Orange Page 2 of 2 Printed on 9/17/2026
powered by Legistar™1006
Agenda Item
Orange City Council
Item #: 9.2. 9/22/2026 File #: 26-0500
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Jarad Hildenbrand, City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cash, Public Works Director

1. SUBJECT
Implementation of permit parking on portions of Almond Avenue and Washington Avenue within Permit Parking Opportunity Area No. 6

4. FISCAL IMPACT
None.

5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 5: Improve Infrastructure, Mobility, and Technology

Specifically, the application fee and parking occupancy study are waived, and the required neighborhood support level is reduced from 75% to 55%.

City of Orange Page 1 of 2 Printed on 9/17/2026
powered by Legistar™1007
Item #: 9.2. 9/22/2026 File #: 26-0500
Permit Parking on Almond Avenue and Washington Avenue
Staff received separate written requests to implement permit parking on the affected segments of Almond Avenue and Washington Avenue. After reviewing the streets and neighborhoods, staff confirmed that both Almond Avenue and Washington Avenue met the objectives and criteria of the City’s NPPP for permit parking consideration and mailed petitions to affected property owners.

If approved, permit parking does not supersede other parking restrictions such as street sweeping.

Participation in the permit parking program is voluntary. However, once implemented, any vehicle parking on the street without a permit is subject to citation.

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE

CITY OF ORANGE ADOPTING A REVISED MASTER

RESOLUTION OF DESIGNATED PERMIT PARKING

AREAS AND ESTABLISHED PERMIT PARKING

OPPORTUNITY AREAS WITHIN THE CITY OF
ORANGE
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 22507, local authorities may generally prohibit or restrict the stopping, parking, or standing of vehicles on certain streets or highways, or portions thereof, during all or certain hours of the day; and WHEREAS, local authorities may also include a designation of certain streets upon which preferential parking privileges are established with a permit or permits that exempt them from the prohibition or restriction of the ordinance or resolution; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority provided by the California Vehicle Code, the City Council of the City of Orange codified Chapter 10.30 of the Orange Municipal Code generally establishing parking requirements for the City of Orange; and WHEREAS, Sections 10.30.010 and 10.30.020 specifically establishes the Neighborhood Parking Permit Program designating portions of certain public streets for permit-parking and explicitly authorizes the City Council of the City of Orange to add, remove or modify designated areas within the Neighborhood Parking Permit Program by resolution; and WHEREAS, the creation of a “Master Resolution” containing all the permit parking areas in a single document eliminates the need to potentially revise multiple resolutions when an area is added, deleted, or modified within the Neighborhood Parking Permit Program; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Orange most recently adopted said Master Resolution on April 28, 2026 (Resolution No. 11667), containing a list of all permit parking areas within the City; and
WHEREAS, staff now recommends activating additional streets in the Neighborhood Permit Parking Program Opportunity Area “6”; and
WHEREAS, accordingly, the City Council desires to rescind Resolution No. 11667 and replace it with a revised Resolution;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Orange does resolve as follows:

SECTION I:

That Resolution No. 11667, adopted April 28, 2026, is hereby rescinded, effective immediately upon the date of the adoption of Resolution No. 11718. 1009
2 SECTION II:

The following streets be activated in the Neighborhood Permit Parking Program Opportunity Area “6”:

South Side of Almond Avenue from Olive Street to Glassell Street.

Both sides of Washington Avenue from Grand Street to Center Street.

SECTION III:

That the Master Resolution of Permit Parking Area for the Neighborhood Permit Parking Program attached hereto as Exhibits “A” through “I” are hereby adopted.

ADOPTED this day of , 2026
Daniel R. Slater, Mayor, City of Orange
ATTEST:

Pamela Coleman, City Clerk, City of Orange
APPROVED AS TO FORM:

Natalie Adourian, City Attorney, City of Orange
1010
3 STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss.

AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:

NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:

ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:

Pamela Coleman, City Clerk, City of Orange
1011
Exhibit A

Page 1 of 7 ends

EXHIBIT A
The following areas are all areas that have been designated by the City Council for inclusion in the Neighborhood Permit Parking Program and are subject to Chapter 10.30 of the Orange Municipal Code. Any additions or deletions to the Neighborhood Permit Parking Program shall be made by amending this Master Resolution.

CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD PERMIT PARKING AREA “A”

1. Both sides of Center St. from Walnut Ave. to the southern terminus of Center St. adjacent to residential land uses.

2. Both sides of Cleveland St. from Palm Ave. to Sycamore Ave.

3. East side of Cypress St. from Maple Ave. to the southern property line of 171 North Cypress St.

4. Both sides of Cypress St. from Walnut Ave. to Sycamore Ave.

5. Both sides of Everett Pl. from Shaffer St. to Glassell St.

6. Both sides of Glassell St. from Walnut Ave. to Rose Ave.

7. East side of Grand St. from the southern property line of 127 N Grand Street to the northern property line of 147 North Grand St.

8. Both sides of Grand St. from Palm Ave. to the southern property line of 183 N Grand St. adjacent to residential land uses.

9. Both sides of Grand St. from Mayfair Ave. to Walnut Ave. adjacent to residential land uses.

10. Both sides of Harwood St. from Palm Ave. to the northern terminus of Harwood St.

11. Both sides of Jefferson Ave. from Harwood St. to Shaffer St.

12. East side of Lemon St. from Maple Ave. to the southern property line of 149 North Lemon St.

13. Both sides of Lemon St. from Palm Ave. to Walnut Ave. adjacent to residential land uses.

14. Both sides of Maple Ave. from Cleveland St. to Orange St. adjacent to residential land uses.

15. North side of Maple Ave. from Olive St. to the eastern property line of 115 East Maple Ave.

16. Both sides of Mayfair Ave. from Shaffer St. to Glassell St.

17. Both sides of Olive St. from Maple Ave. to the northern terminus of Olive St. adjacent to residential land uses.

18. Both sides of Olive St. from Sycamore Ave. to Walnut Ave.

19. Both sides of Orange St. from Maple Ave. to Palm Ave. adjacent to residential land uses.

20. Both sides of Orange St. from Walnut Ave. to the northern terminus of Orange St.

21. Both sides of Palm Ave. from Harwood St. to Glassell St. adjacent to residential land uses.

22. North side of Palm Ave. from Pine St. to Harwood St.

23. Both sides of Rose Ave. from Glassell St. to Grand St.

24. Both sides of Shaffer St. from Chapman Ave. to Walnut Ave. adjacent to residential land uses.

25. West side of Shaffer St. from Walnut Ave. to the northern property line of 516 North Shaffer St.

26. Both sides of Sycamore Ave. from Cambridge St. to Center St.

27. North side of Sycamore Ave. from Glassell St. to the western property line of 317 West Sycamore Ave. adjacent to residential land uses.

28. South side of Sycamore Ave. from the western property line of 314 West Sycamore Ave. to Lemon St.

29. Both sides of Walnut Ave. from Cambridge St. to Center St. adjacent to residential land uses. 1012
Exhibit A

Page 2 of 8 ends

AREA “B”

1. Both sides of Adams Ave. from Glassell St. to Grand St.

2. Both sides of Hoover Ave. from Glassell St. to Grand St.

3. Both sides of Quincy Ave. from Glassell St. to Grand St.

4. Both sides of Wilson Ave. from Glassell St. to Grand St.

AREA “C”

1. Both sides of Compton Ave. from Manchester Ave. to Lewis St.

2. East side of Lewis St. from the northerly property line at 4035 Compton Ave. to the southern property line of 119 N. Lewis St.

3. West side of Manchester Ave. from Sheringham Ave. to Compton Ave.

4. North side of Sheringham Ave. from Manchester Ave. to Windgap Dr.

5. South sides of Sheringham Ave. from Woodridge Cr. to Windgap Dr.

6. Both sides of Sunningdale Cr. from Compton Ave. south to include the cul-de-sac.

7. Both sides of Windgap Dr. from Compton Ave. south to include the cul-de-sac.

8. West side of Woodridge Cr. from Sheringham Ave. south to include the cul-de-sac.

9. East side of Woodridge Cr. from the northerly property line of 119 N. Woodridge Cr. south to include the cul-de-sac.

AREA “D”

1. Both sides of Dunas St. from Maple Ave. north to include the cul-de-sac.

2. Both sides of Maple Ave. from Prospect St. to Olympia Way.

3. Both sides of Olympia Way from Maple Ave. to Spring St.

4. Both sides of Shasta St. from Maple Ave. north to include the cul-de-sac.

5. Both sides of Vine Ave. from Olympia Way to its western terminus.

6. Both sides of First St. from Chapman Ave. north to include the cul-de-sac.

7. Both sides of Pearl Ave. from First St. to McPherson Rd.

8. East side of McPherson Rd. from 131 to 133 N. McPherson Rd.

AREA “E”

1. West side of Elm St. south of Sycamore Ave. to include the cul-de-sac.

AREA “F”
Permit Parking between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

1. Both sides of Almond Ave. from Prospect St. to Violet Ln.

2. Both sides of Kathleen St. from Chapman Ave. to Palmyra Ave.

3. Both sides of Palmyra Ave. from Craig Dr. to Prospect St.

4. East side of Prospect St. from Almond Ave. to Palmyra Ave.

5. Both sides of Violet Ln. from Almond Ave. to Palmyra Ave. 1013
Exhibit A

Page 3 of 7 ends

AREA “G”
Permit Parking between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

1. Both sides of Euclid Ave. from James St. to Seranado St.

2. Both sides of James St. from Sycamore Ave. to Euclid Ave.

3. Both sides of Palm Ave. from Swidler St. to Seranado St.

4. Both sides of Sycamore Ave. from Swidler St. to Seranado St.

5. Both sides of Seranado St. from Spring St. to Walnut Ave.

6. Both sides of Silverleaf Ave. from Thomas St. to Seranado St.

7. Both sides of Spring St. from Swidler St. to Seranado St.

8. Both sides of Swidler St. from Spring St. to Walnut Ave.

9. Both sides of Thomas St. from Sycamore Ave. to Silverleaf Ave.

10. Both sides of Walnut Ave. from Swidler St. to Seranado St.

AREA “H”

1. Both sides of Shaffer St. beginning 390 feet north of Katella Ave. and ending at Trenton Ave. (R-1 zoned single-family residences only.)
AREA “I”

1. Both sides of Almond Ave. from Prospect St. to Dunas St.

2. Both sides of Century Ave. from James St. to Thomas St.

3. Both sides of Craig Dr. 100 feet south of Roberta Dr. to Prospect St.

4. Both sides of Dunas St. from Palmyra Ave. to Almond Ave.

5. Both sides of James St. from Century Dr. to La Veta Ave.

6. North side of La Veta Ave. from Prospect St. to Dunas St.

7. Both sides of Merelet Ln. from Craig Dr. to include the cul-de-sac.

8. Both sides of Olympia Way from Palmyra Ave. to Almond Ave.

9. North side of Palmyra Ave. from Prospect St. to Thomas St.

10. Both sides of Ruth Pl. easterly of James St.

11. Both sides of Ruth Pl. from Prospect St. to Olympia Way.

12. Both sides of Shasta St. from Palmyra Ave. to Almond Ave.

13. Both sides of Thomas St. from Century Dr. to Palmyra Ave.

AREA “J”

1. Both sides of Binnacle Ave. from Jetty Dr. to its easterly terminus.

2. North side of Chapman Ave. from Jetty Dr. to 4537 W. Chapman Ave.

3. North side of Chapman Ave. frontage road from Jetty Dr. to cul-de-sac.

4. Both sides of Grant Pl. from Chapman Ave. northerly to include the cul-de-sac.

5. Both sides of Jetty Dr. from Chapman Ave. to Sirius Ave.

6. West side of Lewis St. from Sirius Ave. to Simmons Ave.

7. South side of Simmons Ave. from Lewis St. to Spinnaker St.

8. Both sides of Sirius Ave. from Lewis St. to Jetty Dr.

9. Both sides of Spinnaker St. from Binnacle Ave. to Simmons Ave. 1014
Exhibit A

Page 4 of 7 ends

10. Both sides of Stay Court easterly of Jetty Dr.

11. Both sides of Tiller Ave. from Lewis St. to Spinnaker St.

AREA “K”

1. Both sides of the 2700 block of E. Bennett Ave.

2. Both sides of the 2700 block of E. Killingsworth Ave.

3. Both sides of the 100-200 blocks of N. Malena Dr.

4. Both sides of the 2700 block of E. Sherman Ave.

5. Both sides of the 100-200 blocks of N. Wheeler St.

AREA “L”

1. Both sides of Jacaranda Ave. from Morgan St. to Mallard St.

2. Both sides of Juniper Ave. from Morgan St. to Mallard St.

3. Both sides of Mallard St. from Collins Ave. northerly to 985 N. Mallard St.

4. Both sides of Morgan St. from Collins Ave. northerly to 986 N. Morgan St.

AREA “M”

1. Both sides of Citrus St. from Almond Ave. to the southerly commercial property lines south of Chapman Ave.

AREA “N”

1. West side of Bedford Rd. from La Veta Ave. to Bronson Ave.

AREA “O”

1. North side of Spring St. from Hewes St. to Earlham St.

AREA “P”

1. Both sides of the 1000 block of Gardner Dr.

2. Both sides of the 1000 block of Greengrove St.

3. Both sides of Monroe Ave. from California St. to Lincoln St.

4. Both sides of Quincy Ave. from California St. to Lincoln St.

5. Both sides of Lincoln St. between Adams Ave. and Wilson Ave. including the cul-de-sac.

6. West side of Lincoln St. from 990 N. Lincoln St. to Adams Ave.

7. East side of Lincoln St. from 1073 N. Lincoln St. to Adams Ave.

8. Both sides of Adams Ave. between Lincoln St. and California St.

AREA “Q”

1. Both sides of the 8500 block of Biscayne Way.

2. Both sides of the 8500 block of Deershire Ct.

3. Both sides of the 200 block of Fairfield Ln.

4. Both sides of the 200 block of Firenza Way.

5. Both sides of the 8500 block of Heatherview Ln.
1015
Exhibit A

Page 5 of 8 ends

AREA “R”

1. Both sides of San Luis Dr. from 7821 (north side) to Santa Cruz Ave., and from 7816 (south side) to the beginning of 8132.

2. 8102 and 8110 Santa Cruz Ave. (south side).

3. Both sides of Santa Maria St. between San Luis Dr. and Santa Cruz Ave.

AREA “S”

1. Both sides of Poplar St. between Maple Ave. and the cul-de-sac.

2. North side of Maple Ave. between Stevens St. and 1949 W. Maple Ave.

3. South side of Maple Ave. from Stevens St. to 2010 W. Maple Ave.

4. Both sides of Eckhoff St. between 130-283 N. Eckhoff St.

AREA “T”

1. Both sides of Cully Dr. from the westerly property lines of 861 and 864 W. Cully Dr. to the cul-de-sac.

2. Four spaces on the east side of Eckhoff St. from the southerly limit to W. Arbor Way (approximately 110 feet).

3. Five spaces on the east side of Eckhoff St. from 45 feet north of W. Arbor Way end of curb return to Maple Ave. (approximately 140 feet. It allows one parking space to remain in the permit parking program just north of the driveway at 2037 W. Arbor Way for visibility).

4. Three spaces on the east side of Eckhoff St. north of Willow Ave. to the northerly limit (approximately 70 feet).

5. Two spaces on the east side of Eckhoff St. from the existing red curb north of Maple Ave. to the driveway south of 206 N. Eckhoff St.

AREA “U”

1. Both sides of Waverly St. from the northerly property lines of 133 and 138 S. Waverly St. to Almond Ave.

AREA “V”

1. The south side of E. Rose Ave. from 1932/1934 to N. Highland St.

2. Both sides of N. Highland St. from E. Rose Ave. to E. Barkley Ave.

3. Both sides of E. Mayfair Ave. from 1740 E. Mayfair Ave. to N. Highland St.

4. The south side of E. Lomita Ave. from 1734/1736 to N. Highland St.

5. The north side of E. Lomita Ave. from 1901 to N. Highland St.

6. Both sides of E. Barkley Ave. from the cul-de-sac to N. Highland St.

7. Both sides of the cul-de-sacs of N. Victoria Dr., N. Russell Dr., and N. Shirley Dr., north of E.

Mayfair Ave.
1016
Exhibit A

Page 6 of 8 ends

AREA “W”

1. Both sides of Madison Ave. from Wayfield St. to the cul-de-sac.

2. Both sides of Orange Grove Ave. from Wayfield St. to the westerly property lines of 1743/1744

3. E. Orange Grove Ave.

4. East side Wayfield St. between Orange Grove Ave. and the southerly property lines of 550/555 Wayfield St.

5. West side of Wayfield St. between Orange Grove Ave. and Madison Ave.

AREA “X”

1. South side of Collins Ave. from Hart St. to 2842 E. Collins Ave.

AREA “Y”

1. Both sides N. Citrus St. from Walnut Ave. to W. Sycamore Ave.

AREA “Z”

1. Both sides of Sycamore Ave. from Rancho Santiago Blvd. to Richard St.

2. Both sides Rancho Santiago Blvd. from the south city limits to Silverleaf Ave.

3. Both sides of Silverleaf Ave. from Rancho Santiago Blvd. to Richard St.

4. Both sides of Christine St. from Silverleaf Ave. to Sycamore Ave.

5. Both sides of Richard St. from Silverleaf Ave. to Sycamore Ave.

AREA “AA”

1. Both sides of Ryals Ln. from the West City limit to Bob White Way.

2. East side of Bob White Way between Ryals and Partridge Ln.

3. Both sides of the 200 Block of Renee St.

4. Both sides of Avenida Palmar, from west City limits to N. Thora St.

5. Both sides of Sandpiper Circle.

AREA “AB”

1. Both sides of Mallard Street, from 985 N. Mallard St. to Jackson Ave.

AREA “AC”

1. Both sides of Via Lardo Avenue from Hewes Street to easterly terminus.

AREA “AD”

1. East side of Swidler Place from Chapman Avenue to Almond Avenue.

2. Both sides of Almond Avenue from Swidler Place to Olympia Way. 1017
Exhibit A

Page 7 of 8 ends

AREA “AE”

1. The east side of Parker Street from the southerly property line of 125 N. Parker Street to Maple Avenue.

2. The west side of Paker Street from the southerly property line of 122 N. Parker Street to Maple Avenue.

3. The west side of Pixley Street from the southerly property line of 128 N. Pixley Street to Maple Avenue.

AREA “AF”

1. Both sides of Fairmont Way from La Veta Avenue to Delia Lane.

OPPORTUNITY AREA “1”

1. Both sides of Lilac Ln. from Culver Ave. to Orchard Ave.

2. Both sides of Plum Ln. from Culver Ave. to Orchard Ave.

3. Both sides of Orchard Ave. from Flower St. to the easterly terminus of the street.

4. Both sides of Bedford Rd. between Culver Ave. and La Veta Ave.

5. Both sides of Devon Rd. between Palmyra Ave. and Culver Ave. (permit parking between the hours 4:00p.m. and 9:00a.m.)

6. Both sides of Crest Rd. between Palmyra Ave. and Culver Ave.

OPPORTUNITY AREA “2”

1. Both sides of Fairway Dr. from Cambridge St. to Tustin St.

2. Both sides of Young Cir. south of Fairway Dr.

3. Both sides of Greenview Dr. south of Fairway Dr.

OPPORTUNITY AREA “3”

1. Wayfield St. between Palm Ave. and Walnut Ave.

2. Palm Ave. between Park Ln. and Wayfield St.

3. Park Ln. between Dana Pl. and Palm Ave.

4. Wayfield Cr. south of Palm Ave.

5. Both sides of Mount Vernon Ave. between Wayfield St. and Le May Ct.

6. Both sides of Park Ln. between Mount Vernon Ave. and Sycamore Ave.

7. Both sides of Martha Ave. east of Park Ln.

8. Both sides of Sycamore Ave. between Wayfield St. and Highland St.

9. Both sides of Highland St. between Sycamore Ave. and south terminus.

10. Both sides of Wayfield St. from Chapman Ave. north to include the cul-de-sac.

OPPORTUNITY AREA “4”

1. Both sides of Trenton Ave. from the westerly property lines of 331 E. Trenton Ave. and 1482 N.

Grant St. to Shaffer St.
1018
Exhibit A

Page 8 of 8 ends

2. Both sides of Trenton Ave., from Shaffer St to Cleveland St.

3. Both sides of Grant St. from Trenton Ave. to the cul-de sac.

OPPORTUNITY AREA “5”

1. Both sides of Greengrove St. from Meats Ave. to the southern terminus.

2. Both sides of Del Mar Ave. from Cambridge St. to Greengrove St.

3. South side of Meats Ave., from Cambridge St. to Greengrove St.

OPPORTUNITY AREA “6”

1. Both sides of Olive Street from Almond Avenue to Palmyra Avenue.

2. South Side of Almond Avenue from Olive Street to Glassell Street.

3. Both sides of Washington Avenue from Grand Street to Center Street. 1019
Exhibit B

Page 1 of 2 ends

EXHIBIT B
The following are descriptions of preemptively established permit parking opportunity areas approved by the City Council and are subject to Chapter 10.30 of the Orange Municipal Code. Any additions or deletions to the Neighborhood Permit Parking Program shall be made by amending this Master Resolution.

CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD PERMIT PARKING OPPORTUNITY AREA “A”
Generally bounded by Lomita Avenue to the north, Cypress Street to the west, Chapman Avenue to the south, and Cambridge Street to the east, as shown in Exhibit C.

OPPORTUNITY AREA “1”
To the north, Opportunity Area “1” is comprised of the area bounded by Sycamore Avenue. To the west, Opportunity Area “1” is comprised of the area bounded by, but does not include, the 57 Freeway.

To the south, Opportunity Area “1” is comprised of the area bounded by, but does not include, the 22 Freeway from the 57 Freeway to Bedford Road, and La Veta Avenue from Bedford Road to Main Street. To the east, Opportunity Area “1” is comprised of the area bounded by, and inclusive of, the east side of Bedford Road from the 22 Freeway to La Veta Avenue; and bounded by, but does not include, Main Street from La Veta Avenue to Sycamore Avenue.

OPPORTUNITY AREA “2”
To the north, Opportunity Area “2” is comprised of the area bounded by, but does not include, the Santiago Creek Bike Trail. To the west, Opportunity Area “2” is comprised of the area bounded by, but does not include, Cambridge Street. To the south, Opportunity Area “2” is comprised of the area bounded by, but does not include, the 22 Freeway. To the east, Opportunity Area “2” is comprised of the area bounded by, but does not include, Tustin Street.

OPPORTUNITY AREA “3”
To the north, Opportunity Area “3” is comprised of the area bounded by, but does not include, the Walnut Avenue. To the west, Opportunity Area “3” is comprised of the area bounded by, and inclusive of, Wayfield Street from Walnut Avenue to Palm Avenue and Wayfield Street from Chapman Avenue to the northern terminus of Wayfield Street. To the south, Opportunity Area “2” is comprised of the area bounded by, but does not include, Chapman Avenue. To the east, Opportunity Area “2” is comprised of the area bounded by, but does not include, the 55 Freeway and Le May Court.

OPPORTUNITY AREA “4”
To the north, Opportunity Area “4” is comprised of the area bounded by, and inclusive of, Trenton Avenue. To the west, Opportunity Area “4” is comprised of the area bounded by the western property line of 331 East Trenton Avenue. To the south, Opportunity Area “4” is comprised of the area bounded by the prolongation of the southern property line of 1411 North Shaffer Street and 1412 North Shaffer Street. To the east, Opportunity Area “4” is comprised of the area bounded by, but does not include, Cambridge Street.
1020
Exhibit B

Page 2 of 2 ends

OPPORTUNITY AREA “5”
To the north, Opportunity Area “5” is comprised of the area bounded by, and inclusive of, the south side of Meats Avenue. To the west, Opportunity Area “5” is comprised of the area bounded by, but does not include, Cambridge Street. To the south, Opportunity Area “5” is comprised of the area bounded by, and inclusive of, Del Mar Avenue and the southern terminus of Greengrove Street. To the east, Opportunity Area “5” is comprised of the area bounded by, and inclusive of, Greengrove Street.

OPPORTUNITY AREA “6”
Opportunity Area “6” is generally bounded by Almond Avenue to the north, Cypress Street to the west, Palmyra Avenue to the south, and Shaffer Street to the east, as shown in Exhibit I. 1021
Exhibit B

Page 1 of 2 ends

CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE:

Insert Exhibits C thru I (a separate PDF) when this
resolution is finalized and printed to PDF.
(delete this page)
1022
Permit Parking Olive St Subject Area
ATTACHMENT 2
Eligible for Permit Permit Required
1023
9/3/2026
Source: City of Orange (2024)
.

ALMOND AVE
O
L
I
V
E
ST

GLASSELL ST
Legend

CITY OF ORANGE

ACTIVATION MAP
Permit Parking Almond Ave
ATTACHMENT 3
Petition Area Proposed Permit Parking Area Not Eligible for Permits (Non-residential) Old Towne Orange Paid Parking 1024
9/3/2026
Source: City of Orange (2024)
.

WASHINGTON AVE

GRAND ST

CENTER ST
Legend

CITY OF ORANGE

ACTIVATION MAP
Permit Parking Washington Ave
ATTACHMENT 4
Petition Area Proposed Permit Parking Area
1025
Agenda Item
City Traffic Commission
Item #: 4.3 8/12/2026 File #: 26-0448
TO: Chair and Members of the City Traffic Commission
THRU: Larry Tay, Deputy Public Works Director/Traffic Engineer FROM: Jose A La Torre, Transportation Analyst

1. SUBJECT
Request for permit parking on the south side of Almond Avenue from Olive Street to Glassell Street

2. SUMMARY
A request for permit parking on Almond Avenue, located within Permit Parking Opportunity Area "6", was made and evaluated in accordance with the City’s Neighborhood Permit Parking Program. The request meets the intent and minimum requirements of the Permit Parking Program.

3. RECOMMENDED ACTION

1. Approve the implementation of permit parking along residential frontages on the south side of Almond Avenue from Olive Street to Glassell Street.

2. Forward to the City Council for final action.

4. FISCAL IMPACT
None. Implementation involves minimal staff time and minimal expenditures that have already been approved in the City’s operating budget.

5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 5: Improve Infrastructure, Mobility, and Technology.

6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
Background:

A property owner on the affected block of Almond Avenue submitted a request to implement permit parking. The subject street is outlined and shown on the attached Area Map. In accordance with the City’s Neighborhood Permit Parking Program (NPPP), staff performed an initial screening of the study area to determine the following:

1. Whether the street is eligible for permit parking; and

2. If so, does said street lie within a City-defined permit parking opportunity area with a streamlined implementation procedure.

The NPPP provides a mechanism for protecting residential streets from external parking overflow when certain criteria are satisfied. To streamline the permit parking application process in certain highly parked areas, the City Council established seven Permit Parking Opportunity Areas (PPOA’s).

City of Orange Page 1 of 2 Printed on 8/6/2026
powered by Legistar™
ATTACHMENT 5 1026
Item #: 4.3 8/12/2026 File #: 26-0448
highly parked areas, the City Council established seven Permit Parking Opportunity Areas (PPOA’s).

PPOA’s are subject to different criteria and procedures. Specifically, the application fee and parking occupancy study are waived, and the required neighborhood support level is reduced from 75% to 55%.

Opportunity Area #6, in which Almond Avenue is contained, was created in conjunction with the Old Towne Paid Parking Program to address protentional of parking demand spillover.

Since Almond Avenue qualifies for permit parking and is in a designated PPOA, a parking occupancy study was not required. However, the proposal must receive sufficient support from property owners before a permit parking recommendation can be made. The petition results are outlined below.

Petition Results:

A petition letter, along with a list of permit parking advantages and disadvantages, was provided by the Traffic Division to each property owner on the street. The table below shows the results of the neighborhood polling.

Affected Street Household in Favor Household
Opposed
Unreturned
Almond Avenue 2 100% 0 0% 0 0%
The results of the petition process indicated that Almond Avenue exceeds the required minimum 55% of property owners in favor of the permit parking program.

Findings:

Since the level of stakeholder support meets the minimum requirements under the City’s NPPP, permit parking is recommended.

It should be kept in mind that any vehicle parking in a designated parking-by-permit area without a permit is subject to citation. Parking permits do not supersede the street sweeping restrictions in the neighborhood.

7. ATTACHMENTS
· Letter of Request
· Vicinity Map
· Area Map
· Site Sketch & Petition Area Map
· Notification Letter
City of Orange Page 2 of 2 Printed on 8/6/2026
powered by Legistar™1027
Agenda Item
City Traffic Commission
Item #: 4.2 8/12/2026 File #: 26-0447
TO: Chair and Members of the City Traffic Commission
THRU: Larry Tay, Deputy Public Works Director/Traffic Engineer FROM: Jose A La Torre, Transportation Analyst

1. SUBJECT
Request for permit parking on both sides of Washington Avenue from Grand Street to Center Street

2. SUMMARY
A request for permit parking on Washington Avenue, located within Permit Parking Opportunity Area "6", was made and evaluated in accordance with the City’s Neighborhood Permit Parking Program.

The request meets the intent and minimum requirements of the Permit Parking Program.

3. RECOMMENDED ACTION

1. Approve the implementation of permit parking along residential frontages on both sides of Washington Avenue from Grand Street to Center Street.

2. Forward to the City Council for final action.

4. FISCAL IMPACT
None. Implementation involves minimal staff time and minimal expenditures that have already been approved in the City’s operating budget.

5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 5: Improve Infrastructure, Mobility, and Technology.

6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
Background:

A property owner on the affected block of Washington Avenue submitted a request to implement permit parking. The subject street is outlined and shown on the attached Area Map. In accordance with the City’s Neighborhood Permit Parking Program (NPPP), staff performed an initial screening of the study area to determine the following:

1. Whether the street is eligible for permit parking; and

2. If so, does said street lie within a City-defined permit parking opportunity area with a streamlined implementation procedure.

City of Orange Page 1 of 2 Printed on 8/6/2026
powered by Legistar™
ATTACHMENT 6 1028
Item #: 4.2 8/12/2026 File #: 26-0447
highly parked areas, the City Council established seven Permit Parking Opportunity Areas (PPOA’s).

Opportunity Area #6, in which Washington Avenue is contained, was created in conjunction with the Old Towne Paid Parking Program to address protentional of parking demand spillover.

Since Washington Avenue qualifies for permit parking and is in a designated PPOA, a parking occupancy survey was not conducted. However, the proposal must receive sufficient support from property owners before a permit parking recommendation can be made. The petition results are outlined below.

Petition Results:

Affected Street Household in Favor Household
Opposed
Unreturned
Washington
Avenue
5 72% 1 14% 1 14%
The results of the petition process indicated that Washington Avenue exceeds the required minimum 55% of property owners in favor of the permit parking program.

Findings:

Since the level of stakeholder support meets the minimum requirements under the City’s NPPP, permit parking is recommended.

EXCERPT OF DRAFT MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ORANGE TRAFFIC COMMISSION HELD ON AUGUST 12, 2026
This document was created prior to minutes approval by the Commission, for the purpose of enabling staff to execute recommended actions.

ATTACHMENT 7 1030
The minutes will be considered at the next regular meeting of the Traffic Commission on October 14, 2026.

Orange City CouncilSeptember 22, 2026

Orange City Council
September 22, 2026