City of Santa Clara
Meeting Minutes
Historical & Landmarks Commission
FINAL
6:00 PM Hybrid Meeting
City Hall Council
Chambers/Virtual
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
02/06/2025
The City of Santa Clara is conducting the Historical and Landmarks Commission meeting in a hybrid manner (in-person and methods for the public to participate remotely) • Via Zoom:
o https://santaclaraca.zoom.us/j/97233262035 or
o Phone: 1 (669) 900-6833
Webinar ID: 972 3326 2035
Public Comments prior to meeting may be submitted via email to [email protected] no later than noon on the day of the meeting.
Clearly indicate the project address, meeting body, and meeting date in the email.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ZOOM WEBINAR:
Please follow the guidelines below when participating in a Zoom Webinar:
- The meeting will be recorded so you must choose 'continue' to accept and stay in the meeting.
- If there is an option to change the phone number to your name when you enter the meeting, please do so as your name will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak.
- Mute all other audio before speaking. Using multiple devices can cause an audio feedback. - Use the raise your hand feature in Zoom when you would like to speak on an item and lower when finished speaking. Press *9 to raise your hand if you are calling in by phone only. - Identify yourself by name before speaking on an item. - Unmute when called on to speak and mute when done speaking. If there is background noise coming from a participant, they will be muted by the host. Press *6 if you are participating by phone to unmute.
- If you no longer wish to stay in the meeting once your item has been heard, you may leave the meeting.
02/06/2025Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Leung called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m.
Commissioner Romano arrived late at 6:17 p.m. Commissioner Kirby arrived late at 6:23 p.m.
Commissioner Michael Celso , Commissioner Amy Kirby, Chair Patricia Leung, Commissioner Kathleen Romano, Commissioner Ed Stocks, Vice Chair Ana Vargas-Smith , and Commissioner Yvonne Inciarte
Present 7 -
CONSENT CALENDAR
1.A 24-1254 Historical and Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes of October 3, 2024
Recommendation: Approve the Historical and Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes of the October 3, 2024 Meeting.
The October 3, 2024 Meeting Minutes were continued to March 6, 2025 due to a quorum not present at the time the item was heard.
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None.
GENERAL BUSINESS
02/06/2025Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes
2. 24-1235 Consideration of a Historical Preservation Agreement (Mills Act Contract) (PLN24-00465) for 1435 Lexington Street.
Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Historical and Landmarks Commission find that the Mills Act Application and associated 10-Year Plan for restoration and maintenance accomplish the intent of preserving and maintaining the historical significance of the property; and therefore, recommend City Council approve of the City entering into a Mills Act Contract with the property owner, and the adoption of a 10-Year Restoration and Maintenance Plan associated with the Historical Preservation Agreement for the property located at 1435 Lexington Street.
Assistant Planner Alex Tellez provided the staff presentation. Chair Leung recused herself due to proximity of her residence.
Public Speaker:
Homeowner Jonathan Ye
A motion was made by Commissioner Celso, seconded by
Commissioner Stocks to close public hearing.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Stocks, Vice Chair Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Inciarte
4 -
Absent: Commissioner Kirby, and Commissioner Romano2 -
Recused: Chair Leung1 -
A motion was made by Commissioner Celso, seconded by
Commissioner Stocks, to approve this item and to expend funds to purchase a bronze plaque stating the year of construction.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Stocks, Vice Chair Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Inciarte
4 -
Absent: Commissioner Kirby, and Commissioner Romano2 -
Recused: Chair Leung1 -
02/06/2025Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes
3. 24-1142 PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of the Proposed Demolition of the Existing Single-Family Residence and Construction of a 2,446 Square-Foot Five-Bedroom, Three-Bathroom Two-Story Residence with an Attached Two Car Garage at 970 Poplar Street (PLN24-00600) located within 200 Feet of a Historic Resource.
Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Historical and Landmarks Commission find that the proposed project located at 970 Poplar Street will not destroy or have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of the HRI listed property within 200 feet at 410 Lafayette Way; that the demolition and proposed residence are compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and recommend approval of the Architectural Review.
Associate Planner Daniel Sobczak provided the staff presentation.
Public Speaker:
Homeowner Antonio Bunting
A motion was made by Commissioner Inciarte, seconded by Commissioner Celso to close public hearing.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Commissioner Stocks, Vice Chair
Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Inciarte
7 -
A motion was made by Commissioner Stocks, seconded by
Commissioner Inciarte to approve this item.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Commissioner Stocks, Vice Chair
Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Inciarte
7 -
02/06/2025Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes
4. 25-119 PUBLIC HEARING: Recommendation on the Proposed 627 Square-Foot First Floor Addition and a 1,276 Square-Foot Second Floor Addition to an Existing 1,958 Square-Foot Single-Story Residence Resulting in a 3,939 Square-Foot Four-Bedroom, Three-Bathroom Two-Story Residence with an Attached Three Car Garage at 807 Park Court (PLN24-00585) located within 200 Feet of a Historic Resource.
Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Historical and Landmarks Commission find that the proposed project located at 807 Park Court will not destroy or have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of the HRI listed property within 200 feet at 794 Park Court; that the proposed construction is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and recommend approval of the Architectural Review at the Development Review Hearing.
Assistant Planner Alex Tellez provided the staff presentation.
Public Speaker:
Homeowner Tony and Terra Vitarelli
A motion was made by Commissioner Kirby, seconded by
Commissioner Inciarte to close public hearing.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Commissioner Stocks, Vice Chair
Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Inciarte
7 -
A motion was made by Commissioner Romano, seconded by
Commissioner Inciarte to approve this item.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Commissioner Stocks, and Commissioner Inciarte
6 -
Nay: Vice Chair Vargas-Smith1 -
02/06/2025Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes
5. 25-121 PUBLIC HEARING: Recommendation on the New Construction of Nine Two-Story Townhomes with Attached Two-Car Garages at 4249 Cheeney Street (PLN2019-13847) located within 200 Feet of a Historic Resource.
Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Historical and Landmarks Commission find that the proposed project located at 4249 Cheeney Street will not destroy or have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of the HRI listed properties within 200 feet at 2086 Agnew Road and 4262 Davis Street; that the demolition and proposed residence are compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and recommend approval of the Architectural Review at the Development Review Hearing
Senior Planner Steve Le provided the staff presentation.
Public Speakers:
Homeowner Saul Flores
Natalie Forood
A motion was made by Commissioner Stocks, seconded by
Commissioner Inciarte to close public hearing.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Commissioner Stocks, Vice Chair
Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Inciarte
7 -
A motion was made by Commissioner Celso, seconded by
Commissioner Inciarte to approve this item, with recommendation to lighten the color scheme with less contrast.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Vice Chair Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Inciarte
5 -
Nay: Commissioner Kirby, and Commissioner Stocks2 -
6. 24-1255 Historical and Landmarks Commission Workplan Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Recommendation: There is no staff recommendation.
Principal Planner Rebecca Bustos provided the staff presentation.
STAFF REPORT
1. Training and Travel Request
02/06/2025Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes 2025 California Preservation Conference, Sacramento, CA, May 6 - May 10, 2025 Commissioner Inciarte, and Commissioner Kirby requested to attend the Conference. Commissioner Romano and Chair Leung were tentative.
A motion was made by Commissioner Romano, seconded by
Commissioner Kirby to expend funds for Commissioner
attendance at the conference.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Commissioner Stocks, Vice Chair
Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Inciarte
7 -
2. Budget Update
Commissioner Celso raised questions regarding if there was interest accumulating on the budget, and if it was replenished each year.
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
Subcommittee Reporting - 20 minutes
Board/Committee Lead/Alternate Santa Clara Arts and Historic Consortium Vargas-Smith / Romano Historic Preservation Society of Santa Clara Vargas-Smith / Leung Old Quad Residents Association Leung Development Review Hearing Romano /Vargas-Smith BART/ High Speed Rail/ VTA BRT Committee Vargas-Smith/ Leung El Camino Real Specific Plan Community Advisory Committee Leung Downtown Precise Plan Vargas-Smith/Stocks Santa Clara Station Area Task Force Leung/Stocks Park Court Neighborhood
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Vargas-Smith, seconded by Commissioner Stocks to adjourn the meeting at 9:12 p.m.
The next regular scheduled meeting is March 6, 2025.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Kirby, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Commissioner Stocks, Vice Chair
Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Inciarte
7 -
MEETING DISCLOSURES
02/06/2025Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes The time limit within which to commence any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City is governed by Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, unless a shorter limitation period is specified by any other provision. Under Section 1094.6, any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City must be filed no later than the 90th day following the date on which such decision becomes final. Any lawsuit or legal challenge, which is not filed within that 90-day period, will be barred. If a person wishes to challenge the nature of the above section in court, they may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the meeting described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Clara, at or prior to the meeting. In addition, judicial challenge may be limited or barred where the interested party has not sought and exhausted all available administrative remedies.
If a member of the public submits a speaker card for any agenda items, their name will appear in the Minutes. If no speaker card is submitted, the Minutes will reflect "Public Speaker."
In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the City of Santa Clara will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities, and will ensure that all existing facilities will be made accessible to the maximum extent feasible. The City of Santa Clara will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities including those with speech, hearing, or vision impairments so they can participate equally in the City’s programs, services, and activities. The City of Santa Clara will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities.
Agendas and other written materials distributed during a public meeting that are public record will be made available by the City in an appropriate alternative format.
Contact the City Clerk’s Office at 1 408-615-2220 with your request for an alternative format copy of the agenda or other written materials.
Individuals who require an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or any other disability-related modification of policies or procedures, or other accommodation, in order to participate in a program, service, or activity of the City of Santa Clara, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at 408-615-3000 as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.