Item 15 - Historic Property Preservation Agreements

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HRCA No. 2021-21, HRC 2021-21, HPPA No. 2021-21 – W.D. Johnston House November 4, 2021 Page 3 1 8 0 8 Character-defining features of the W.D. Johnston House that should be preserved include, but may not be limited to: roof configuration, materials, and treatment (medium- pitched side gabled roof, enclosed soffits); massing and composition (two-story block design; symmetry); portico, brick exterior walls trimmed with wood; fenestration (entry door with elliptical fan and sidelights and original wood windows); architectural detailing (columns, frieze, balustrades, red brick detailing, and window shutters); brick entry pathway; and the one-story garage. The W.D. Johnston House qualifies for listing in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties under Criterion 1, for its exemplification of the distinguishing characteristics of the Georgian/Federal variant of a Colonial Revival style home. Additionally, the house has been categorized as “Key” because it has distinctive architectural style and quality and is a good example of Colonial Revival architecture. Mills Act Agreement Ordinance No. NS-2382 authorized the Historic Resources Commission to execute Historic Property Preservation Agreements (HPPA), commonly known as Mills Act agreements for eligible properties (Exhibit 2). To be eligible for the Mills Act, the property must be listed on the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties. The Historic Resources Commission Application and Historic Register Categorization actions proposed for this site authorize the listing of the property on the local register. The agreement provides monetary incentives to the property owner in the form of a property tax reduction in exchange for the owner’s voluntary commitment to maintain the property in a good state of repair as necessary to maintain its character and appearance. Once recorded, the agreement generates a different valuation method in determining the property’s assessed value, resulting in tax savings for the owner. Aside from the tax savings, the benefits include: Long term preservation of the property and visual improvement to the neighborhood Allows for a mechanism to provide for property rehabilitation Provides additional incentive for potential buyers to purchase historic structures Discourages inappropriate alterations to the property The property has no identified unauthorized modifications. Upon consideration of the application, it is recommended that the City enter into a Historic Property Preservation Agreement. Public Notification The subject site is located within the Floral Park Neighborhood Association. The president of this Neighborhood Association was notified by mail 10 days prior to this public hearing. In addition, the project site was posted with a notice advertising this public hearing, a notice was published in the Orange County Reporter and mailed notices were sent to all property owners within 500 feet of the project site. At the time of Historic Resources Commission 3 –3 11/4/2021