Planning and Building Agency
www.santa-ana.org/planning-and-building
Item # 23
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
May 7, 2024
TOPIC: Approval of Historic Property Preservation Agreements
AGENDA TITLE
Historic Property Preservation Agreements for the Properties Located at 925 N. Lowell Street, 801 N. Minter Street, and 944 W. Buffalo Avenue
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to execute the attached Mills Act agreements with the below-referenced property owners for the identified structure(s), subject to non- substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney (includes determination that the proposed projects are exempt from further review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act as Categorical Exemptions ER Nos. 2023- 121, 2023-131, and 2024-01 will be filed).
Table 1: Mills Act Agreements Approved by the Historic Resources Commission (HRC) Property Owner(s)
Historic Property
Preservation
Agreement No.
Address/House Vote & Date by HRC
Kelly S. Thomas and
Bethany S. Thomas,
Trustees of the Thomas
Living Trust Dated
March 28, 2022
(Agreement No. A-
2024-XXX)
2023-12 925 N. Lowell Street
7:0:0:1 (Commissioner
Cornelious absent) –
January 11, 2024
Arcelia Gutierrez
Velazco and Benjamin
Rodriguez (Agreement
No. A-2024-XXX)
2023-13 801 N. Minter Street
6:0:0:2 (Commissioners
Cornelious and
Escamilla absent) –
March 7, 2024
Daniel Robert and
Jessica Lee Neumann
(Agreement No. A-
2024-XXX)
2024-01 944 W. Buffalo Avenue
6:0:0:2 (Commissioners
Cornelious and
Escamilla absent) –
March 7, 2024
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
Approval of Historic Property Preservation Agreements
May 7, 2024
4 1
6 0
DISCUSSION
On January 11, 2024 and March 7, 2024, the Historic Resources Commission (HRC) recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute the Mills Act agreements listed in Table 1, above, with the identified property owners for historic structure(s) in the City, subject to non-substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney. This action allows for the approval of a Historic Property Preservation Agreement (Mills Act Contract) which provides a property tax reduction whereby property owners agree to reinvest the tax savings towards the maintenance of the historic property. Additionally, the agreement prevents inappropriate alterations to the protected historic structure(s).
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the proposed projects are exempt from further review. The following Categorical Exemptions will be filed for this project:
•ER No. 2023-121 (925 N. Lowell Street)
•ER No. 2023-131 (801 N. Minter Street)
•ER No. 2024-01 (944 W. Buffalo Avenue)
FISCAL IMPACT
The Historic Property Preservation Agreement will reduce the Property Tax revenue account 01102002-50011 to the City by an estimated $2,709.58 annually noted below, for a period of not less than ten years.
HPPA No. Address Estimate Exhibit No.
2023-12 925 N. Lowell Street $622.99 1-2
2023-13 801 N. Minter Street $1,073.00 3-4
2024-01 944 W. Buffalo Avenue $1,013.59 5-6
Total for All Properties: $2,709.58
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Mills Act Agreement – 925 N. Lowell Street
2. HRC Staff Report – 925 N. Lowell Street
3. Mills Act Agreement – 801 N. Minter Street
4. HRC Staff Report – 801 N. Minter Street
5. Mills Act Agreement – 944 W. Buffalo Avenue
6. HRC Staff Report – 944 W. Buffalo Avenue
Submitted By: Minh Thai, Executive Director of Planning and Building Agency Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, Acting City Manager