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.
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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:
Tucker, Maldonado, McCormack, and BensonAyes:
Vazquez, Vejar, and LeslieNoes:
NoneAbsent:
The Commission then voted on the remaining portions of the original motion previously made by Commissioner Vejar and 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
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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:
Vazquez, Tucker, Maldonado, Vejar, McCormack, Leslie, and BensonAyes:
NoneNoes:
NoneAbsent:
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
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