City of Santa Clara
Meeting Minutes
Historical & Landmarks Commission
6:00 PM Hybrid Meeting
City Hall Council
Chambers/Virtual
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
06/04/2026
The City of Santa Clara is conducting the Historical and Landmarks Commission Hearing meeting in a hybrid manner (in-person and method for the public to participate remotely) o Via Zoom:
o https://santaclaraca.zoom.us/j/97233262035 or
o Phone: 1 (669) 900-6833
Meeting ID: 972 3326 2035
How to Submit Written Public Comment Before Historical and Landmarks Commission Meeting:
By email to [email protected] by 12 p.m. the day of the meeting.
Those emails will be forwarded to Staff and will be uploaded to the Historical and Landmarks Commission Agenda as supplemental meeting material. Emails received after 12:00 P.M. cutoff time up through the end of the meeting will form part of the meeting record. Please identify the Agenda Item Number in the subject line of your email.
Note: Emails received as public comment will not be read aloud during the meeting.
Agendas, Staff Reports and some associated documents for Historical and Landmarks Commission items may be viewed on the Internet at
https://santaclara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
All public records relating to an open session item on this agenda, which are not exempt from disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act, that are distributed to a majority of the legislative body will be available for public inspection at the Office of the City Clerk at Santa Clara City Hall, 1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050 at the same time that the public records are distributed or made available to the legislative body.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Leung called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
Commissioner Inciarte arrived at 6:05 p.m.
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Historical & Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes 06/04/2026 Commissioner Michael Celso , Commissioner Yvonne Inciarte, Chair Patricia Leung, Commissioner Kathleen Romano, Vice Chair Ed Stocks, Commissioner Ana Vargas-Smith , and Commissioner Kaushal Varshney
Present 7 -
CONSENT CALENDAR
1.A 26-616 Historical and Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes of May 7, 2026 Recommendation: Approve the Historical and Landmarks Commission Meeting Minutes of the May 7, 2026 Meeting.
A motion was made by Commissioner Romano, seconded by
Commissioner Inciarte, to approve staff recommendation. Vice Chair Stocks, Commissioner Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Varshney abstained because they were absent from the May, 7, 2026, Historical and Landmarks Commission Meeting.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Inciarte, Chair Leung, and Commissioner Romano
4 -
Abstained: Vice Chair Stocks, Commissioner Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Varshney
3 -
1.B 26-572 Historical and Landmarks Commission Workplan Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Recommendation: There is no staff recommendation.
A motion was made by Commissioner Celso, seconded by
Commissioner Stocks, to approve staff recommendation.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Inciarte, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Vice Chair Stocks, Commissioner
Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Varshney
7 -
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None.
GENERAL BUSINESS
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2. 26-516 Public Hearing: Consideration of a Historical Preservation Agreement (Mills Act Contract) (File No. PLN26-00042) for 1261 Jackson Street Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Historical and Landmarks Commission determine the project to be exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Section 15331 of the CEQA Guidelines (Class 31 - Historical Resource Restoration / Rehabilitation) and find that the Mills Act Application and associated 10-Year Plan for restoration and maintenance accomplishes the intent of preserving and maintaining the historical significance of the property; and therefore, recommends City Council approval of a Mills Act Contract, and the adoption of a 10-Year Restoration and Maintenance Plan associated with the Historical Preservation Agreement for the property located at 1261 Jackson Street.
Assistant Planner Summer Foss provided the staff presentation.
Xi Yang (Applicant) spoke about the project.
Public Comments: None.
A motion was made by Commissioner Celso, seconded by
Commissioner Romano, to close the public hearing.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Inciarte, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Vice Chair Stocks, Commissioner
Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Varshney
7 -
A motion was made by Commissioner Varshney, seconded by Commissioner Inciarte, to approve staff recommendation and the expenditure of funds to purchase a bronze plaque stating the year of construction circa 1898.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Inciarte, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Vice Chair Stocks, Commissioner
Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Varshney
7 -
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3. 26-593 Public Hearing: Recommendation on the Architectural Review (PLN24-00521) for Demolition of the Existing 1,198 Square Foot One-Story Residence and the Construction of a New 3,817 Square Foot Two-Story Residence at 4435 Fillmore Street Located Within 200 Feet of Two Historic Resource Inventory Properties. CEQA Status: Exempt from CEQA per Section 15332 - In-Fill Development Projects. (Continued from May 7, 2026, Historical and Landmarks Commission Meeting).
Recommendation: Recommend that the Historical and Landmarks Commission find that the proposed project located at 4435 Fillmore Street will not destroy or have significant adverse effect on the integrity of the HRI listed properties within 200 feet of the subject property; that the proposed construction is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and recommend approval of the Architectural Review at the Development Review Hearing.
Associate Planner Meha Patel provided the staff presentation.
GM Solaiman (Applicant) and Daniel Warren (Applicant's
Representative) spoke about the project.
Public Comments: None.
A motion was made by Commissioner Celso, seconded by
Commissioner Varshney, to approve staff recommendation.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Chair Leung, Vice Chair Stocks, and Commissioner Varshney
4 -
Nay: 2 - Commissioner Inciarte, and Commissioner Romano Abstained: 1 - Commissioner Vargas-Smith
4. 26-454 Election of Historical and Landmarks Commission Chair and Vice Chair Recommendation: There is no staff recommendation.
Vice Chair Stocks nominated Chair Leung for Chair. Chair Leung accepted the nomination.
Commissioner Celso nominated Vice Chair Stocks for Vice Chair. Vice Chair Stocks accepted the nomination.
Chair Leung made a motion to approve Chair Leung as Chair, and Vice Chair Stocks as Vice Chair.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Inciarte, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Vice Chair Stocks, Commissioner
Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Varshney
7 -
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STAFF REPORT
Staff provided an update on the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Historic Preservation Ordinance Update.
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
No updates on this item.
26-688 Vice Chair Stocks' Presentations
Subcommittee Reporting - 20 Minutes
No updates on this item.
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
Commissioners provided updates on various items, meetings, and groups that they are assigned to.
Vice Chair Stocks provided a presentation regarding his attendance at the recent California Preservation Foundation Conference.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Vargas-Smith, seconded by Commissioner Celso, to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
Aye: Commissioner Celso, Commissioner Inciarte, Chair Leung, Commissioner Romano, Vice Chair Stocks, Commissioner
Vargas-Smith, and Commissioner Varshney
7 -
The next regular scheduled meeting is on September 6, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, and via Zoom.
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MEETING DISCLOSURES
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.
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