Item 13 - Historic Property Preservation Agreement

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HRCA No. 2024-11, HRC No. 2024-09, HPPA No. 2024-13 — Halsell House (2424 N. Oakmont Avenue) January 29, 2026 Page 5 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 • A mechanism to provide for property rehabilitation • Incentives for potential buyers to purchase historic structures • Discouraging 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 subject to a completion of future improvements as described in an attached Work Plan. Overall, future improvements (Work Plan) proposed by the homeowner during the initial ten years of the Mills Act Agreement include the following: 1) trim and maintain landscaping as necessary to maintain a view of the primary (east) fagade from the public right-of-way, including the large trees adjacent to the east elevation; 2) repair or replace damaged rain gutter on the east fagade of the detached garage; 3) replace non -original metal roll -up garage door with a garage door of stylistically appropriate material, subject to Planning Division staff approval; 4) assess condition of windows and window trim throughout the property and repair or replace in -kind, as necessary with Planning Division staff approval; 5) assess condition of wall cladding throughout the property and repair or replace in -kind as necessary with Planning Division staff approval; and 6) assess condition of roofs of residence and ancillary buildings and re -roof in -kind as necessary with Planning Division staff approval. Staff will ensure that the proposed work will be done sensitively and will maintain the property's character -defining features as part of the Mills Act Agreement for this property. As part of the Mills Act approval process, staff will work with the applicant to ensure that a bronze plaque is installed honoring and recognizing the structure. The plaque will include the historic name, address, year built, and local historic register designation.