REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing: Action on a General Plan Amendment to Update the Historic Resource Inventory in Appendix 8.9 of the General Plan
Report
BACKGROUND
The City’s commitment to its architectural and archeological history is reflected in General Plan Goals and Policies that address the preservation and protection of resources with local, state and national significance. The Historic Resource Inventory (HRI) is a list of architecturally or historically significant resources maintained as Table 8.9-1 in Appendix 8.9 of the City’s General Plan. Staff is proposing a minor update to add 27 properties that were previously approved by the City Council to be listed in Table 8.9-1 in the Appendix 8.9 (the Historic Resource Inventory). This minor update to Appendix 8.9 requires a General Plan amendment.
The inventory does not include all the City’s historical and architectural resources, as many structures have never been surveyed. However, as buildings and other resources are evaluated, additional properties can be added to the inventory. Staff is now bringing forth such an update for Appendix 8.9. Updating the HRI is considered an amendment to the General Plan. Properties listed on the HRI are subject to additional permitting requirements, such as obtaining a Significant Property Alteration (SPA) permit when owners propose to renovate, remodel, or expand them.
Amendments to the City’s General Plan require consideration at a Planning Commission public hearing for a recommendation to the City Council for final consideration.
Planning Commission Meeting Summary and Action
At a publicly noticed meeting on January 14, 2026, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposed General Plan Amendment. The Planning Commission did not have any comments or concerns.
In two motions, the Planning Commission voted to determine that the project falls within the scope of the 2010-2035 General Plan Environmental Impact Report pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15168(c)(2) (5-0-0-2, Commissioners Bhatnagar and Biagini absent) and to recommend to the City Council to amend the General Plan to update the Historic Resource Inventory list in Appendix 8.9 of the General Plan.
DISCUSSION
This request is a minor update to add 27 previously approved historic properties by the City Council to Appendix 8.9 and the approval will allow consistency in the General Plan. As background, since adoption of the City’s General Plan in 2010, these 27 properties were added to the Historic Resource Inventory.
Designation of a property proposed for inclusion on the HRI may be initiated by the property owner, HLC or City Council. The owners of the 27 properties applied to be listed on the HRI. To be on the list, a property owner must meet the HRI designation criteria as outlined in the City’s Zoning Code Section 18.130.040. The Historical & Landmarks Commission evaluates all nominations and forwards a recommendation to the City Council for final consideration. All 27 of the properties were approved by City Council since 2010. Staff has been tracking these properties and is now bringing them forward as a General Plan amendment to list them in Table 8.9-1 of Appendix 8.9.
Staff has compiled all the properties approved by the City Council to be added to the Historic Resource Inventory and reviewed existing properties for accuracy. With the addition of the 27 properties, there are a total of 372 properties on the HRI. Out of the 372 properties, 128 properties have a Mills Act contract and five (5) properties are on the National Register.
The proposed General Plan Amendment to update the HRI is consistent with the following General Plan policies:
• 5.6.1-P2: Protect the historic integrity of designated historic properties and encourage adaptive reuse when necessary to promote preservation.
• 5.6.1-P10: Update and maintain the City’s list of Architecturally or Historically Significant Properties, and associated State Department of Parks and Recreation forms, as an Appendix to the General Plan.
The proposed General Plan Amendment will list new properties that have been added to the HRI by the City Council and update existing properties with more recent information (i.e. noting where new Mills Act Contracts apply to existing HRI properties, update Assessor’s Parcel Numbers, and update correct addresses). Attachments 2 and 3 show the clean version of the text changes and the redline version of the text changes, respectively.
Recommendation
Consistent with the General Plan and Planning Commission recommendation, staff recommends that City Council:
1) Determine that the project falls within the scope of the 2010-2035 General Plan Environmental Impact Report pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15168(c)(2).
2) Adopt a resolution to amend the General Plan to update the Historic Resource Inventory list in Appendix 8.9 of the General Plan.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City prepared the 2010-2035 General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) which was certified on November 10, 2010 (Resolution No. 10-7797). Both the 2010-2035 General Plan and the EIR indicated that additional properties would be added to the Historic Resource Inventory, and both reference General Plan Policy 5.6.1-P10 to accomplish this goal. Pursuant to Section 15168(c)(2) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the proposed General Plan Amendment is in furtherance of and within the scope of the 2010-2035 General Plan EIR adopted by City Council Resolution 10-7797. The proposed General Plan Amendment does not involve new significant effects beyond those analyzed in the 2010-2035 General Plan EIR.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 65352.3(a)(1), also known as Senate Bill (SB) 18 (2004), prior to any amendment of a city’s General Plan, the City shall contact California Native American tribes. The City utilizes a contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission for this purpose. SB 18 is meant to preserve or mitigate impacts to Native American places, features, and objects described in Sections 5097.9 and 5097.993 of the Public Resources Code that are located within the City’s jurisdiction. The proposed project would necessitate amendments to the City’s General Plan and is therefore subject to the requirements of SB 18. On September 16, 2025, the City mailed referral letters to Native American tribes advising them of the City’s intent to act on a General Plan Amendment. No comments were received from the tribes.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City for processing the request other than administrative time and expense for staff to draft this report and coordinate the environmental assessment.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
On September 16, 2025, pursuant to Government Code Section 65352(a), the City mailed referral letters to Native American tribes advising them of the City’s intent to act on a General Plan Amendment to update the Historic Resource Inventory list in Appendix 8.9 of the General Plan.
On December 24, 2025, pursuant to Government Code Section 65353 and 65355, a notice of public hearing was published in The Weekly, a newspaper of general circulation for the City, for the Planning Commission Hearing to be conducted on January 14, 2026, and for the City Council Hearing to be conducted on February 24, 2026.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Determine that the project falls within the scope of the 2010-2035 General Plan Environmental Impact Report pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15168(c)(2); and
2. Adopt a resolution to amend the General Plan to update the Historic Resource Inventory list in Appendix 8.9 of the General Plan.
Staff
Prepared by: Meha Patel, Associate Planner
Reviewed by: Afshan Hamid, Director, Community Development
Approved by: Jovan Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. City Council General Plan Amendment Resolution
2. General Plan Revised Appendix 8.9_Clean
3. General Plan Revised Appendix 8.9_Markup
4. Planning Commission Staff Report - Jan. 14, 2026