75B - PH - EIR 1584 SANTA CLARA - Laserfiche WebLink

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Final EIR No. 2011 -01, VA No. 2012 -04 & VTTM No. 2012 -02 February 10, 2014 Page 3 Project Background The subject site, known as the Sexlinger Farmhouse and Orchard, was occupied around 1914 when the Sexlinger Family first located to the property. The Sexlingers used this site as their residence and as a small ranch for oranges until approximately 1980. In 2006, the last of the Sexlinger Family vacated the property. In September 2007, the City received a proposal from Empire Homes to construct a 24 -unit, single - family residential project on the property. A draft environmental impact report (EIR) was prepared for this project; however, due to a major shift in the economy, the EIR was never released and the applicant withdrew their proposal in May 2008. In 2010, Tava Development submitted a new proposal for a 24 -unit single - family residential development similar to the Empire Homes project. In response, the consultant that prepared the previous EIR was selected to review and update the EIR document and make modifications as necessary. In October 2011, the draft EIR for the Tava Development was released for public review and comment. Due to significant concerns from the public regarding the document, specifically the Cultural Resources section, the document was revised to identify the property as potentially historically significant and eligible for listing on the City's historical register. In June 2012, the City Council held a public hearing and voted to list the property on the City's Register of Historical Properties as a Key property. In response, the property owners filed a Notice of Intent to Demolish on June 11, 2012, which initiated a 240 -day time period that prevented demolition of the structures and orange grove. Further, it required the Historic Resources Commission (HRC) to investigate feasible alternatives to the demolition. On June 24, 2012, the HRC appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate feasible alternatives. The Ad Hoc Committee considered various alternatives to demolition, including seeking private financial sources to purchase the site, publicizing the availability of the site and structure, exploring possible sites for the relocation of the building, suggesting that the City purchase the site, and a hybrid alternative that included the construction of 21 units along with the preservation of the Sexlinger residence and some orange trees. On January 24, 2013, the HRC received and filed the final report on the alternatives to the demolition of the site and adopted a resolution urging the City Council to purchase the Sexlinger site. The 240 -day waiting period ended on February 7, 2013, but a demolition permit was unable to be issued as the City Council had yet to certify the EIR and the appeal period had not commenced. This is not expected to occur until April 2014 at the earliest (Exhibits 8 and 9). On February 10, 2013, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed project. After receiving public testimony and holding extensive deliberations, the Commission's vote was 3:3, which resulted in an impasse. Per the Commissions by -laws, the Commission gave the applicant the option to either continue the item to a future meeting or move forward to the City Council with a recommendation of denial. The applicant elected to move the project forward to the City Council. 75B -5