Planning and Building Agency
www.santa-ana.gov/pb
Item # 13
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
October 20, 2026
TOPIC: Approval of Historic Property Preservation Agreements
AGENDA TITLE
Historic Property Preservation Agreements for the Properties Located at 1123 N. Lowell Street, 2339 N. Valencia Street, and 915 W. Riviera Drive
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute Mills Act agreements with the following property owners:
a. William Grant and Emily Ann Bettencourt, Co-Trustees of The WGB and EAB Family Trust, U/A dated December 19, 2024, for the property located 1123 N. Lowell Street (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX);
b. Carlos Bustamante, Trustee of The Bustamante Family Revocable Living Trust Dated 9-23-2020, for the property located at 2339 N. Valencia Street (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX); and
c. Claire Jackson, Trustee of The Claire Jackson Trust, Dated 8/16/2025, for the property located at 915 W. Riviera Drive (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX).
2. Determine that the proposed projects are exempt from further review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act as Categorical Exemption/Environmental Review Nos. 2026-057, 2026-059, and 2026-060 will be filed for the projects.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
On September 28, 2026, the Planning Commission (PC) recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute the Mills Act agreements listed in Table 1 on the following page with the identified property owners for historic structures in the City, subject to non-substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney. This action allows for the approval of Historic Property Preservation Agreements (HPPA/Mills Act Contract) which provide a property tax reduction whereby property owners agree to Approval of Historic Property Preservation Agreement
October 20, 2026
reinvest the tax savings towards the maintenance of the historic property. Additionally, the agreements prevent inappropriate alterations to the protected historic structures.
Table 1: Mills Act Agreements Approved by the Planning Commission (PC) Property Owner
Historic Property
Preservation
Agreement No.
Address/House Vote by PC
William Grant and Emily
Ann Bettencourt, CoTrustees of The WGB
and EAB Family Trust,
U/A dated December 19,
2024
2026-3 1123 N. Lowell Street
5:0:0:2 (Chair Ramos
and Commissioner
Oliva absent)
Carlos Bustamante,
Trustee of The
Bustamante Family
Revocable Living Trust
Dated 9-23-2020
2026-4 2339 N. Valencia Street
5:0:0:2 (Chair Ramos
and Commissioner
Oliva absent)
Claire Jackson, Trustee
of The Claire Jackson
Trust, Dated 8/16/2025
2026-5 915 W. Riviera Drive
5:0:0:2 (Chair Ramos
and Commissioner
Oliva absent)
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the proposed action is exempt from further review. Categorical Exemptions, Environmental Review Nos. 2026- 057, 2026-059 and 2026-060, will be filed for this project.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Historic Property Preservation Agreements will reduce the Property Tax revenue account 01102002-50011 to the City by an estimated $3,019 annually, as noted below, for a period of not less than ten years.
HPPA No. Address Estimate Exhibit No.
2026-3 1123 N. Lowell Street $670.89 1-2
2026-4 2339 N. Valencia Street $1,270.50 3-4
2026-5 915 W. Riviera Drive $1,077.70 5-6
Total: $3,019.09
EXHIBITS
1. Mills Act Agreement – 1123 N. Lowell Street
2. PC Staff Report – 1123 N. Lowell Street
3. Mills Act Agreement – 2339 N. Valencia Street
4. PC Staff Report – 2339 N. Valencia Street
5. Mills Act Agreement – 915 W. Riviera Drive
6. PC Staff Report – 915 W. Riviera Drive
Approval of Historic Property Preservation Agreement
October 20, 2026
Submitted By: Ali Pezeshkpour, AICP, Executive Director of the Planning and Building Agency
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager