REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing: Recommendation on a General Plan Amendment to Update the Historic Resource Inventory in Appendix 8.9 of the General Plan.
Report
BACKGROUND
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. 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. Additionally, changes over time to the property’s address, assessor’s parcel number, and being subject to a historic contract warrant updates to the HRI. Updating the HRI is considered an amendment to the General Plan. Amendments to the City’s General Plan require consideration during a public hearing at the Planning Commission for a recommendation to the City Council for final consideration.
DISCUSSION
Since adoption of the City’s General Plan in 2010, 27 properties have been added to the Historic Resource Inventory. 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. 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.
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.
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 Planning Commission 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 <mailto: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
Staff recommends the Planning Commission provide a recommendation of approval to the City Council to:
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 recommending the City Council 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: Alexander Abbe, Assistant City Attorney
Approved by: Lesley Xavier, Planning Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution Recommending Approval
2. General Plan Revised Appendix 8.9_Clean
3. General Plan Revised Appendix 8.9_Markup