Planning and Building Agency
www.santa-ana.org/pb
Item # 13
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
November 4, 2025
TOPIC: Approval of Historic Property Preservation Agreements
AGENDA TITLE
Historic Property Preservation Agreements for the Properties Located at 1412 N. Louise Street, 2402 N. Riverside Drive, 2556 N. Valencia Street, 433 W. Santa Clara Avenue, and 2520 N. Valencia Street
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to execute the attached Mills Act agreements with the below- referenced property owners for the identified structure(s) (Agreement Nos. A-2025-XXX, A-2025-XXX, A-2025-XXX, A-2025-XXX, and A-2025-XXX). [Includes determination that the proposed projects are exempt from further review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act as Categorical Exemption(s)/Environmental Review Nos. 2025-69, 2025-70, 2025-72, 2025-75, 2025-78 will be filed for the project.] Table 1: Mills Act Agreements Approved by the Historic Resources Commission (HRC) Property Owner(s)
Historic Property
Preservation
Agreement No.
Address/House Vote by HRC
Ricardo Diaz and Rebeca
Diaz, husband and wife
as joint tenants
2025-09 1412 N. Louise Street
5:0:0:3 (Commissioners
Shipp, Rincon, and
Vice Chair Christy
absent)
Steven E. Meese and
Joelle K. Meese,
husband and wife as joint
tenants
2025-07 2402 N. Riverside Drive
5:0:0:3 (Commissioners
Shipp, Rincon, and
Vice Chair Christy
absent)
Stephen Anthony
Gorgone and Crishon
Maria Preja, husband and
wife, as
Trustees of The Stephen
Anthony Gorgone And
Crishon Maria Preja
Revocable Living
Trust Dated July 5, 2022
2025-08 2556 N. Valencia Drive
4:0:1:3 (Commissioner
Almendral abstaining;
Commissioners Shipp,
Rincon, and Vice Chair
Christy absent)
Approval of Historic Property Preservation Agreements
November 4, 2025
5 3
7 6
Property Owner(s)
Historic Property
Preservation
Agreement No.
Address/House Vote by HRC
E. Thomas Chappell, an
Unmarried Man 2025-10 433 W. Santa Clara
Avenue
5:0:0:3 (Commissioners
Shipp, Rincon, and
Vice Chair Christy
absent)
DLKC Investments, LLC 2025-06 2520 N. Valencia Street
4:0:1:3 (Commissioner
Almendral abstaining;
Commissioners Shipp,
Rincon, and Vice Chair
Christy absent)
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
On September 23, 2025, 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 (HPPA/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. 2025-72 (1412 N. Louise Street)
ER No. 2025-70 (2402 N. Riverside Drive)
ER No. 2025-69 (2556 N. Valencia Street)
ER No. 2025-78 (433 W. Santa Clara Avenue)
ER No. 2025-75 (2520 N. Valencia Street)
FISCAL IMPACT
The Historic Property Preservation Agreements will reduce the Property Tax revenue account 01102002-50011 to the City by an estimated $4,627.79 annually noted below, for a period of not less than ten years.
HPPA No. Address Estimate Exhibit No.
2025-09 1412 N. Louise Street $773.05 1-2
2025-07 2402 N. Riverside Drive $347.84 3-4
2025-08 2556 N. Valencia Drive $914.78 5-6
2025-10 433 W. Santa Clara Avenue $1,590.13 7-8
2025-06 2520 N. Valencia Street $1,000.99 9-10
Total for All Properties: $4,627.79
Approval of Historic Property Preservation Agreements
November 4, 2025
5 3
7 6
EXHIBITS
1. Mills Act Agreement – 1412 N. Louise Street
2. HRC Staff Report – 1412 N. Louise Street
3. Mills Act Agreement – 2402 N. Riverside Drive
4. HRC Staff Report – 2402 N. Riverside Drive
5. Mills Act Agreement – 2556 N. Valencia Street
6. HRC Staff Report – 2556 N. Valencia Street
7. Mills Act Agreement – 433 W. Santa Clara Avenue
8. HRC Staff Report – 433 W. Santa Clara Avenue
9. Mills Act Agreement – 2520 N. Valencia Street
10.HRC Staff Report – 2520 N. Valencia Street
Submitted By: Ali Pezeshkpour, AICP, Executive Director, Planning and Building Agency
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager