I think you know that it's like a slight one that's not really a little bit more than just like the one that I think is something that's a very good thing.

It really lays it all out.

Yeah, it's um there's such a balance between like the giving unfortunately, uh first thing is not a nice it's very tricky.

We're still kind of like swirling with all these things concepts.

Yeah, I know, but and then it's just so interesting because it's really just a job of selling it.

Yeah, there's so much more detail to get into the many functions.

Oh yeah, yeah.

And it's just like the uh, like there was a lot of people, and so they ended up just improving the added.

It's still it's still.

So really what happened, it's just like making sure that you have to be doing it just to go all the way around.

That's what we're gonna have to do.

So there's a mural and stuff.

But that's like a big part of the uh, we're talking about the last and then you can get like a yeah, no, the implementation is uh and then we have to like tell like a running around.

So, if you have a size, yeah, you need to send it.

And then I know that uh, I don't know if that's it, and it's not even a study of starting.

Yeah, but that's how but also it's uh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's we've chatted and then uh because they're you know, there are same as well.

It's still very much like a certain project.

So, just the whole kind of thing.

Yeah, so anyways, a lot of projects, a lot of ideas, I don't know.

Yeah, we shouldn't.

I think that's something that's it.

Yeah, yeah.

No, I think it's a good one.

Okay, so no, we uh, yeah.

I want to hear how it's really.

I don't know.

I don't know if that's the idea.

No, they're not going to be more.

My watch just said, get ready for bed.

Um you can send words.

Yeah.

And you're second, right?

Christina texting me and she's like, don't forget Conor's second.

So awesome.

Yeah, those are things.

Where'd you park?

Just right.

Right here, like in the circle.

Where did you have to park it?

Library.

There was like I there were so many people circling working for parking.

I know, but it was I'll drive you there.

No, I don't want to try.

Oh, you have Reg.

Okay.

Well, she and I would she'd always pop part of the box, so probably locked my car together and then I drive her to box because it's a little bit more.

Yeah, so we had some planning commission meetings that went to like eleven eleven thirty.

Yeah.

Thankfully I never was out any of them.

So I went my dad had meetings, he would like get out sometimes at like midnight.

Oh, because your dad worked here.

Well, what did he do here?

He was on council.

Oh wow.

For a long time.

And I remember like some nights.

Like I'd fall asleep.

My mom would always like watching it all televised.

She'd always like to watch it and then fall up on the couch because I thought it was so cool.

When they were televised.

Really?

Yeah.

On local access?

Yeah, true.

I have no idea.

I don't think so.

Okay.

Interesting.

I don't know.

These are all the transportation commissioner.

I followed these.

Oh, um, no.

The woman is turned and the two men are either kids next.

Commissioner Hunter.

I'm calling out names.

Okay.

Do I have a script?

Is there a script?

I don't know if you have to do all that again.

I don't know.

I probably do.

So do I have a separate script or do I go with the same script as last time?

Do I have a separate script?

Or can you just continue on that?

Do you have it?

Yeah, I mean, I are you are you bringing up the wall out of snacks and uh I'm all out of snacks.

Yeah, I can'm trying to go to dinner.

Oh, yeah, this is my dinner.

Oh no.

Oh, here's the cut off.

I don't think that's even healthier than a group must be great for.

It probably has actual nutrients there, too.

All right.

Um good evening, and thank you for joining our October 21st, 2025 special planning commission meeting.

As a reminder, items will be taken in order.

They are listed on the agenda.

Before we get started, I wanted to briefly glow our public comment procedures for the meeting for those who may be joining us for the first time.

Public comments on the approval of minutes, consent items, matters of commission commission interest and items not on the agenda, will be taken during item number two tonight.

Comments on other agenda items will be taken only when the item is called.

We're continuing to offer in-person remote options for a planning commission meetings.

However, due to continued recent restrictions during public comment at open meetings throughout our region and state, we're modified a public comment procedures.

The city welcomes public comments on topics within city's subject matter jurisdiction, and this can be provided in person during the meeting or by email ahead of the meeting.

At this time, we're temporarily suspending public comment provided by Zoom.

Our public comment procedures are as follows.

Public comments will be taken in person during the meeting or in advance via email to PC at Revocity.org.

In person speakers might must turn in their speaker cards to Ardmin or Staff Liaison of the Dais to be recognized to speak.

Please be sure to indicate the agenda item number you wish to speak on.

Comments that were emailed to PC at Redwood City Org by 5 p.m.

today may be read into the record by staff liaison and will be made part of the final meeting record.

Both in person and email comments are subject to three minute time limit.

I will now turn it over to staff for the roll call.

Commissioner Bott.

Present.

Commissioner Cornejo?

Here.

Commissioner Finch?

Here.

Commissioner Hunter?

Here.

Commissioner Robinson.

Here.

Vice Chair Koch?

Here.

And Chair Sinica Retz.

Here.

For the purposes of this meeting, I'm Sue Xine, the staff liaison and assistant community development director.

Other city staff attending are Rick Jarvis, consultant city attorney.

Ryan Kutchnick is online.

He's a senior planner.

James Dotson, also online, is our assistant planner.

Connor Hochleutner is assistant planner, and he's here with us in person.

And Jessica Goodall, Secretary, and meeting host.

Thank you, Miss Xline.

Um item number two.

At this time we will take public comments from the those joining us in person only.

You can join us in person, please fill out a speaker's card and bring it up to the staff.

Do we have any speakers on items not on the agenda?

No.

All right.

Thank you.

Were there any public comments received via email?

No, there were not.

All right.

If there's no objection, I will now close the public comment.

We're moving on to item number three, which is approval of minutes.

Um we had a September second meeting in 2025.

So is there a motion to approve the draft meeting minutes of September 20 September 2nd, 2025?

I'll move to approve the minutes.

Move by Commissioner Hunter.

Second.

Second by Commissioner Koch.

Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Commissioner Cornejo.

Yes.

Commissioner Finch?

Yes.

Commissioner Hunter.

Yes.

Commissioner Robinson.

Yes.

Vice Chair Koch.

Yes.

And Chair Suragaretz.

Yes.

The motion passes seven to zero.

All right.

The next item on the agenda is the consent calendar.

There are no items on tonight's consent calendar.

We will now move on to agenda item number five.

Number five, five A is a public hearing.

It's a request for Revo City Historic Landmark Designation and Historic Preservation Agreement, which is otherwise known as a Mills Act contract for the property located at 731 Edgewood Road.

Thank you, Chair Connor Sinegal Right.

Hello, and good evening, Commissioners, members of the public.

My name is James Dotson, and I'll be providing a presentation for the landmark designation and Mills act request at 731 Edgewood Road.

Next slide, please.

So the process is as follows.

Uh today we're covering step three or four, which will result in a recommendation to the city council.

Next slide, please.

Uh subject property was developed in 1936 and is located within the Edgewood Park neighborhood.

Consistent with the request for historic designation.

Next slide, please.

The report also provided the following list of contributing design elements and the corresponding photos.

It also concluded that even though the structure experienced some non-contributing additions over the years, the modifications do not compromise the historic characteristic of the structure as it generally retains a high level of integrity and is and is of its respective uh construction period.

For this reason, the structure.

Next slide, please.

It's a document.

For this reason, the structure has been determined to be eligible for historic designation under criteria C, which highlights the sentive characteristics of a particular architectural style and period.

Next slide, please.

Consistent with the MILSAC contract request, the applicant is proposing the following 10-year improvement plan, which has been included as attachment three in the agenda packet.

Additionally, this improvement plan comes with lived-in experience as the the owner or the applicant for this MILSAC contract has lived in this home for about 20 years now.

Next slide, please.

Based on this, staff is recommending that the planning commission having reviewed the historic evaluation and the proposed 10-year improvement plan.

Make a recommendation to city council.

For historic designation and MILSAC contract requests.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Dotson, for your presentation.

Are there any clarifying questions that the commission would like to ask staff?

Um I just have a quick question.

I'm wondering, are there any other examples of Monterey Revival style uh house within Redwood City?

Random question, but you may or may not know the answer.

Maybe Mr.

Babbitt may know.

Yes or no?

Oh okay.

Well we'll we'll hear from Mr.

Babbitt in a moment.

Uh any other questions for the staff?

Oh, Commissioner Bott?

Yeah.

Um, sorry, this is the first time a Mills Act uh contract has come before me when I was on the commission.

So just a general clarifying question.

So the terms of a Mills Act contract are that the property owner um will get a designation um of a historic landmark and a property tax discount.

And in return, do we expect them to do certain work on the project?

Like is this a contract where we are asking them to do specific items or just we generally say please maintain this property?

So they would.

Well, I hear myself alcohol, sorry.

They would uh propose a plan for 10 years worth of improvements and um if you go back to slide the previous slide, I believe.

So this is the plan that they propose.

Uh we review and you know, based on the historic report, um, ensure that these particular items um correspond with the um elements of the historic report.

Um, and this is what is being proposed in return for the Mills acts are as a result of the request for the Mills Act contract.

So these are the improvements that is and they're proposed by the applicant.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Butt.

Um, if there are no other um questions, um, I guess there is a presentation.

Oh, there's no applicant presentation for this item.

Um sorry, I'm then we will move uh on to uh public hearing.

So I will open the public hearing at this time.

We will take public comments from those joining us in person only.

If you have joined us in person, please fill up speakers' card.

I have one so far.

Do we have any more?

No.

All right.

I call on Glenn Babbitt to speak on item five.

A we have three minutes to speak.

Thank you.

Good evening again, Commissioners.

For the record, my name is Glenn Babbitt, longtime Redwood City resident and member of the Historic Resources Advisory Committee.

Although I'm not representing them this evening, just spouting off about my own opinion on this.

Um the uh property style, I would like to comment on.

It's not only significant, which would qualify it for a landmark status, but it is not currently, to my knowledge, in the Redwood City landmark inventory.

Bingo, good question from the chair.

Um, I think it is important that this style be represented though, because it is important in our history.

It was not an uncommon style, and uh there is a county landmark in this style.

Um, I'm glad to add it to the inventory if only for the uh Pokemon theory of collect them all.

One member of our committee is talking about some kind of a uh a uh scavenger hunt, maybe in the future, and so this will play a role.

Um regarding the uh schedule of improvements.

Uh the committee, my committee did have some uh small advice that I'm glad to see was incorporated, and uh that's always gratifying that we contribute just a bit that way.

Um so I do hope that you'll make a positive recommendation to the uh city council on this application.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Babbitt.

Uh, we always appreciate your comments.

Um, were there any public comments received by email?

There were none.

There were none.

Okay.

Um, if there's no objection, I will now close the public hearing uh and I will open the meeting for committee discussion.

Mr.

Dotson, could you please put the slide on the schedule improvements?

Should be slide four of the presentation.

You can go ahead.

Actually, not no more.

Two more.

Oh, I have something to say.

Oh.

No forward.

Sorry.

Probably slide six.

Next one.

There we go.

All right.

Seeing that not much discussion is happening.

I just wanted to one back.

Um, I wanted to say that yeah, this is a very handsome building, at least from the street side.

Uh it does look distinct, and I'm happy to uh see it incorporate into our historic inventory.

Uh, I particularly like that, I guess, as one of the items on the improvement plant.

Uh, there is a city arborist inspecting and pruning original oak tree, which was a budding the property and probably planted if uh at the time of planting, but most likely even beforehand, uh, which I very much support using natural um elements as supporting structures to the built structure uh as part of our uh historic preservation.

Um so that's my short comment.

Short comment.

Um any other comments by the commissioners.

Seeing none, I would entertain a motion.

Uh Commissioner Hunter.

So I agree this is a beautiful property.

Uh and I'm glad that it's the gonna be the first one in the city with uh this this style.

Um and also as I went by and looked at it, uh it's a magnificent oak tree in the uh in the front yard.

So that is uh a nice addition to it.

Uh anyway, I will uh make a motion.

Um let's see.

I don't resolution.

Will that be showed uh it was up on the screen?

Uh I will uh recommend adoption of resolution 2506 recommending that the city council designate the residents at 731 Edgewood Road, a Redwood City Historic Landmark, and to approve the historic preservation agreement.

Second, I'll second the motion.

To follow protocol, uh I guess is there, sorry, what do we do?

Discussion uh on the motion, uh any other comments.

Uh Commissioner Butt.

Yeah, I was just waiting until the motion is on the floor to make comments, but I agree that this is a unique style that I don't believe I've seen much in Redwood City, and it captures an area that has long passed in our history, but uh is very important to preserve.

So I would support this motion.

Thank you, Commissioner Butt.

Um, any other comments about the motion.

Um I do have a one quick I guess question or a comment.

Uh previously we have had some structures come that had uh significant portions of this of the building be brick.

Uh and there was questions about seismic um I guess stability and and whether retrofitting is required.

Uh I'm curious whether it was brought up during the HRAC committee or any other uh part, given that the first floor is surrounded by brick.

I'm not sure if it's veneer or actually brick is structurally holding up the building, whether this is something that should be um included in the improvement plan or at least checked into.

Sorry, I think we hear the last one.

Oh yeah, um previously we've had um buildings that were considered for for um historic preservation, and they were fully bricked buildings uh that had brick as the structural support material that unless reinforced are historically susceptible to major damage during earthquake.

Uh and at that time I think we have brought uh at least an evaluation of the property by a seismic retrofitting engineer or something like that that would be at least ensure long-term survivability of these historic resources for a city.

So I'm curious in this particular case, given it's it's only on the first floor, and I wasn't sure if it's just veneer or is a structural component, whether that's something to look into, uh, or um we can approve the motion as is uh and then have uh the staff work with the homeowner to uh address that issue.

Or that question, sorry.

Um it didn't come up during the HRC meeting.

Um, there are some points in here where he's checking the integrity of the structure um during his uh 10-year improvement plan.

Um so in 2027, um, and then in 2029, and in addition to the the tree being um uh checked as well, so not specifically a seismic retrofitting study was requested or is being proposed.

Um but I think that's something.

Yeah, it may not be needed.

I mean, if it's a wood frame structure uh with brick veneera, presumably it's it's uh more resistant to to uh to damage due to seismic activity.

Um so anyway, um just bringing it up.

Um all right.

Um any other um questions or comments on the motion on the floor.

Seeing none, I guess I will have staff do the roll call vote.

Commissioner Bond, yes.

Commissioner Cornejo, yes.

Commissioner Finch?

Yes, Commissioner Hunter.

Yes, Commissioner Robinson, yes, Vice Chair Koch, yes, and Chair Sonogaratz.

Yes, the motion passes seven to zero.

Great.

Uh congratulations uh to the applicant.

Uh we are quickly moving on to.

I think this is supposed to be 5B.

Um, it is a request for Redwood City Historic Climate Designation and Historic Preservation Agreement, also known as Mills Act contract for the property located at 839 Boulevard.

Um we have Connor.

Um Hoshe Lutner will give a presentation on the item.

Did I say that right?

Uh it's Ho Kleitner.

Oh, there we go.

Hoch Lutner.

There we go.

The floor is yours.

Please go ahead.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Uh, Planning commission, um, members in the audience.

It's a pleasure to be here today.

Um, this is my first time being in front of you guys, so nice to meet you all.

Um this is a landmark designation and Mills Act Contract request for 839 Blandford Boulevard.

Next slide.

This is step three of the four-step process as part of the designation and contract request.

So you'll be making a recommendation to the city council.

Next slide.

This house was built in 1939.

It was built as part of a group of homes throughout the Bay Area for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition.

One of the houses here in Redwood City and number of others are on the peninsula as well.

It's recognized as a exquisite example of colonial revival architectural style.

It's U-shaped footprint following the curved street frontages.

It has brick veneer, hipped roof, brick landscape elements, a recessed rear porch with wood elements, wood box aureal windows that flank the rear porch, and perforated brick window near the entrance.

Next slide, please.

Next slide, please.

If you have not watched the HRAC meeting, the applicant gave an excellent presentation on his 10-year plan.

They've actually lived in the house for a number of years, renting it from the uh the previous owners, and then purchased it in 2021.

Um they were given the first right to purchase the house, so they obviously love the house.

Uh they've raising their family in it.

There are a number of trees that are also on the site that are um were built or sorry, planted at the time that the house was built.

So they do have a lot of mature trees on site.

You can see from the pictures that are included in the 10-year plan and the um historic resources review that are included as part of the agenda packet that they have taken loving care of this house.

Um they really do enjoy living there and they like having this beautiful house that is uh part of the neighborhood that everybody likes.

Um of the questions that I uh heard you ask earlier was about the brickwork.

Um they are planning on repointing the brickwork as needed in 2028.

Um, they will also do that closer toward um the end of the 10-year plan as needed.

It's just brick veneer, so it's not anything structural to worry about.

Um, but they are planning on doing um replacing the remainder of the knob and tube wiring that's in the house.

Um they want to bring it up to code, they've got kids that live there, so they want something that's a little bit safer.

Um they also plan on um upgrading the garden.

They've already done a lot of the work to bring the garden back to life.

Uh it looks very, very nice now.

Um, they also plan on remodeling some of the interior of the house to bring it up to a little bit more modern standards, but they plan on retaining all of the historic character features of the house.

Uh next slide, please.

Uh so as you can see, they have developed a very extensive 10-year plan as part of this request.

Next slide, please.

Uh so this would be a recommendation uh that you would make to the city council for 839 Blandford, uh, to make it a historic designation and approve their mills contract request.

And I'm happy to answer any clarifying questions that you might have.

Uh the applicant does not have a uh presentation.

They did give an extensive one to the Historic Resources Committee.

Um, thank you.

Um, yeah, great.

Um, and thank you, Mr.

Um Hocklitner, for uh the presentation, and I will open it up for the commission to ask any clarifying questions.

Um Commissioner Robinson.

Uh yes, question.

Um this is the the this one you list A, B, C, and D, the four criteria under our municipal code for it to qualify.

And you noted that it, you know, it qualifies under C, uh, distinctive characteristics.

But um was there any consideration to also qualifying it uh under B as being identified with persons or events in uh local state or national history, given that you've noted uh that it was uh demonstration home for the Golden Gate International Exposition, since we don't have those very often.

Uh and I'm I'm only saying this to emphasize you know that sometimes it's questionable whether a home should be Mills Act qualified or not, and you know, this is something that is an additional unique characteristic.

Uh I don't think that that was uh the the overriding factor in the decision of going with C over B.

Um I do think that you know it being a group of a small group of houses.

I think they only did like 10 houses throughout the Bay Area, and uh three or four of them are on the peninsula, and then a number of others are in the East Bay.

So I don't know if that's uh if they gave much thought to that.

So I can't answer that.

Well, I think it can be I mean we uh a home can qualify under more than one characteristic, and it just adds emphasis to the fact that it you know merits compliance with the Mills Act.

Um so um yeah, I was surprised that it was mentioned, and I was trying to understand what what the what the highlighting here means so that uh we've identified now that I see it in your slide, it we've uh just attributed um C, but I I would suggest that that would also uh under Mills Act um whether you know the definition of significant can have interpretation, but um you know we don't have a lot of these, and we have one right here in Redwood City, so it's kind of adds interest to the home itself.

Um, but that's my only clarifying question.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner uh Robinson.

Uh I do have a quick clarifying question.

When was the international exposition?

I'm aware of the Pan American uh International Exposition in 1915 that built all these grey structures in San Francisco, but uh I'm curious.

This is uh this is a separate.

Yeah, so this was the 1939 um Golden Gate exhibition.

So this was when they built Treasure Island.

Um they were celebrating the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge.

And so it was just kind of a um like new model homes, how to um I mean, all the exhibitions are really just to show you what's coming in the future, you know, to give you an idea of what's what's ahead of you.

So yeah, this was this was uh a very big one.

Perfect.

Okay, thank you.

Uh Commissioner Finch.

Um yeah, I I I I mean to me at the um the 10-year maintenance plan uh looks uh incredible or very extensive.

Um and I just it does it kind of feels like they've maybe gone a bit above and beyond here, which is which is great.

I was just wondering on the wording of the contract.

If they say they're gonna do all of this stuff, and say maybe one year they miss one of the items or they you know, or just because it is such an extensive plan, um, maybe finances or something doesn't uh quite come together for some of the improvements.

Uh, you know, but they've made a very good effort and they started off with a very extensive plan.

Um will they still be held uh like liable in that case?

So I believe that they are required.

We as a city uh check in on them, I think at the five-year mark to make sure that they're doing what they said they're supposed to do and they're kind of on track for that.

Um I don't know if there is any penalizing for not doing everything that's on the list, but um, we expect them to do the majority of the items on these lists you know, as part of the contract.

Okay, okay.

Uh gotcha, thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Finch.

Commissioner Bott.

Um, yeah, I mean, my question was almost the exact same as Commissioner Finch's, um, where I looked at this list and I was like, wow, they have signed themselves up for law over the next 10 years.

Um, so I I guess as a question of staff on this, like, how often do we do these like five-year checks as mentioned and determine something is not in compliance uh with Mills Act and what what are the what are the measures we take then?

I'm I'm gonna see if Ryan Kuchnik, who is our um HRAC liaison, can he's online if he can jump in.

But while while he's getting online, I'll also note that there is yearly self-reporting that they have to do as well.

So, in addition to the five-year um inspection that Connor mentioned, there's also a yearly uh self-report that we send out and say, Hey, what are you what are you doing and are you complying, and this is what you said you're gonna do, and they report that back in as one more check, but I'll let um Ryan see if he can jump in on the rest of your question.

Uh hi everyone.

Uh Ryan Kuchnik, senior planner liaison today through IC.

I I was gonna go ahead and state that same um measure that we have in terms of self-reporting.

Um, so it is an annual report that we're actually being or we're going to be sending out very soon for this past year.

Um we also have that five-year inspection, so we're checking in on each of these contracts and whether they're keeping up.

Um, we're actually gonna be going back to council to report on on how those are going uh very soon in our in December.

Um, but in terms of uh, you know, making sure that they do comply.

Uh we check in on these yearly self-like uh Sue mentioned, the annual reports.

Um, and if there is a concern, we check in with the applicant and whether they've um completed them up to what the agreement says.

Now, in terms of the actual uh agreement, whether uh they can change out you know items or come back to us, um, they can certainly approach us.

They are obligated as a contract to comply with whatever was adopted in terms of the agreement.

Um, we can work with them in terms of uh moving items, but it's not not something that happens often, and we would you know we'd have to uh see how significant of a change that would be in um, you know, we may you know recommend further guidance from the HRAC on that, but that hasn't happened.

That hasn't happened before, just to clarify as right.

We I I'm not as far as I know, since I've been on that hasn't, I know that um you know there is uh the question has been asked, and that's how we've approached it in terms of whether they want to do it, um, that we could have you know follow that process, but it's not been something that in my experience we've done.

Okay, so I I guess council can make a determination at a later point if it once you come back to them about what this report about, like, is this in compliance or not?

Yeah, they want to change something out or something that be if it's something significant and it's it's not in the letter of the contract, we would want to take that back quote.

Okay, um thank you, Commissioner But um Commissioner Finch.

Sorry, nothing else.

Do you have a question?

Oh, we yeah, I mean, we we'll have a comment uh section as well, but if you feel like you can speak now as well, Commissioner Robinson.

Yeah, I mean, I'm gonna go back on just suggest that you would also add item B as how this one qualifies because as more and more homes were to come to us and just solely qualify on one basis.

Um folks may start to you know say, hey, that's that's too many.

But um I would say we've seen so many homes torn down and rebuilt.

Um, that uh Mills Act is not just about you know the tax uh abatement that the homeowner receives, it's about um the city being able to keep this resource in its inventory for you know a period of time.

Many of these homes could the homeowner could easily tear it down, and then we would lose this, you know, even though it's a tidbit of our history that we happen to have an exposition home for the 1939 World's Fair right here in our community.

Um we would lose that.

And we've seen this happening all over Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and I can just tell you, you know, where my mother lives on King Street.

I can, you know, I'm almost I can almost count on a full hand the amount of teardowns and rebuilds now.

Um so um this plays a key role in preservation of unique types of architecture in our community, and in many cases, stories.

Like this one has a little tidbit of history, but I I think it's actually very interesting.

So thank you.

That's why I would support this.

Yeah, thank you, Commissioner Robinson.

Um along those lines.

I mean, the the research that went into, of course, finding this designation uh as historic by whatever um part C or number three or whichever it may be.

Does that document live somewhere that's accessible?

Like if the public wanted to find out a story behind it.

I know we speak previously we spoke about you know plaques and giving uh the people opportunity to learn more about a property from the sidewalkers that pass by, but you know, it's a work in progress.

Um but if they wanted to find out uh either we're a virtual tour otherwise, like the work that went into finding all this historical background.

Uh, is that accessible to the wider public?

Uh either on a city website or I don't know if it's part of the the record as as a resolution itself.

I mean, I think it'll live forever online in our you know, agenda packets and stuff like that.

I don't know if there is a separate designation or repository that we have, but I will say that this the applicant specifically purchased this house after they had been living in it for a number of years, and they they even brought in they have framed photos of newspaper articles that they brought in.

So, you know, they're very interested in the history of this house.

They've already, prior to applying for this, yeah, already have spent uh a considerable amount of money, you know, making the house as beautiful as it can be.

It was originally white when they purchased it.

They had the whole front sandblasted back to its original brick.

So, you know, they're I think that their interest in this house is very high.

But I agree with you, they should have this information out there.

Right.

I I do not doubt that motivation, I'm just curious in terms of having that work accessible.

Since someone went through all the effort to, you know, collect that information and synthesize it to have it there.

Uh, but anyway, so random question.

Uh Commissioner Hunter.

Yeah, uh, sure.

Just to um I don't know if this answers your question, but uh the historical evaluation is in our package.

Um, and that includes evaluation under California register criterion three, which is of course I understand the material exists.

Um, just after tomorrow when this goes, you know, the council approves it, doesn't disappear into ether or someone wants to find out, you know, the the needy-gritty details of the backstories of the history or the you know all the other parts that were included in the packet.

Okay, gotcha.

That was the question.

So okay.

Um, I I can just add that it to his point it will be available um through the council planning commission and historic resource commissions um kind of archives, which are if you haven't searched them, they're they're not that difficult to search, actually.

It's a pretty good search function.

So if you put your property in there, you can you know kind of find all that um pretty easily.

Perfect.

Thank you so much, Miss X-line.

Uh, any other clarifying questions?

Uh seeing none, I will now open public hearing at this time.

We'll take public comments from those joining us in person only.

Um I do have one speaker card, and of course we have our favorite commenter, Glenn Babbitt.

Please, the des is yours.

We have three minutes to speak on this item.

Well, I'm still me.

I'm still from Redwood City.

I haven't been dismissed from my committee yet.

Um this property has been on our uh our target list for a long time, uh well before I was on the committee.

Um I don't know if anyone remembers the Ken Rolandelli days, but this is very early on, one of his targets.

So I urge this commission to not let this one get away.

Umor, I uh couldn't agree more with his assessment that the owner's passion for this property is is tangible.

He brought show and tell for his presentation to our committee.

He brought the newspaper clippings that showed what a big deal this was.

Um it almost felt as if uh Redwood City was the last to recognize the importance of this property that we hadn't gotten it on our list yet.

Uh so I hope we can uh rectify that as soon as can be.

When that happens, I do hope that one of the items on my committee's uh work plan, the uh plaque program will uh be cranking up soon.

Um and part of that uh recognition program, I do assume will be um background information on the properties represented by these plaques, and so um to answer those concerns.

I don't see just a physical plaque stuck on the house, but there will be the backup for why did the city do this that will make that information more accessible.

Um the only uh Mills' contract uh release that I'm aware of was that one of our properties uh had such extensive fire damage that uh the contract no longer made sense.

The property actually could not be saved, and the process that they went through was similar to having the Mills Act uh contract approved.

They started with my committee.

Can we get out of this contract?

Because we basically don't have this property anymore.

It has ceased to exist.

Um, and it came to the planning commission and was recommended to the city council to release from contracts.

So the contracts can certainly be ended.

Uh it's my understanding that they can be fine-tuned too.

If a structural engineer discovers a problem that was not evident, it's possible to rearrange the order of uh items, um, change priority, that sort of thing.

So um the city is open to working with the property owners uh within reason and um uh through a process of accountability to make sure that the request is valid.

So thank you for your time.

Oh, yeah, I uh hope you make a positive recommendation to city council.

Thanks.

Thank you, Mr.

Babbitt, for your comments.

Um were there any public comments received by email?

No, there were not.

Okay, um if there's no objection, I will now close the public hearing.

Uh and I will open the meeting for committee discussion.

All right, I mean, having heard everyone uh already speak on this particular matter, I do also support um including this into our historic resources.

Um I do think that all the improvements are great, especially the nominative wiring.

I have lived in a house, been nominated wiring, and it is a hazard.

Uh and actually one cannot get insurance um on a house that has novel two virus, so it's very much important to uh fix that up.

And for asbestos removal, I think one not speak more.

Um, all right.

Uh Commissioner Bott.

Uh yeah.

Um this one's actually just a stone's toss away from the last one we looked at.

Um but I I also um am in favor of approving this application for historical um designation.

Um I I am less convinced on the case as the last one, but I see in that the homeowner and many people have attested in public comment and our own staff that this homeowner is very interested in the historical preservation and is willing to go above and beyond.

So I'm more than happy to allow this through.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Uh Commissioner Butt.

Uh Commissioner Finch.

Uh yes, I I'm I'm just uh slightly concerned about the extensive amount of um improvements that they're suggesting.

And I just because I don't want to see the applicant punished for you know only completing most of the things on their ambitious plan.

Um but if the applicant believes that they can complete all this, I am happy to approve.

Thank you, Commissioner Finch.

Um any other comments uh or motions on the floor.

I will entertain a motion if there is one.

Okay.

Yes, um, I'd like to motion to adopt the resolution 2507 recommending that the city council designate the residents at 839 Blandford Boulevard, uh Redwood City Historic Landmark and to approve the historic preservation agreement.

Thank you, Commissioner Butt.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Commissioner Hunter's seconds.

Um is there any discussion on the motion on the floor?

Anyone would like to make a comment.

Okay.

Um seeing none, I will uh let the staff do the roll call vote.

Commissioner Bott.

Yes.

Commissioner Cornejo, yes.

Commissioner Finch.

Yes.

Commissioner Hunter?

Yes.

Commissioner Robinson?

Yes.

Vice Chair Koch.

Yes.

And Chair Sona Goratz.

Yes.

The motion passes seven to zero.

Wonderful.

Congratulations to the applicant.

Um, we're moving on to item number six, matters of committee interest.

We have planning commission liaison updates.

Um yeah, just to kind of give you a little bit of a heads up on the next couple meetings.

Um, we are confirmed for the special meeting on November 4th, so thank you for um accommodating that.

That um we will have um, trying to remember how many items.

I think there are three items on that evening, um, a couple mills act, and then um the uh 1548 maple um development agreement extension is planned.

The um proposing to cancel the November 18th meeting at this time.

Um, I am not I'm not gonna officially cancel it just quite yet, just in case something slips off of our November 4th um time frame.

So um that is really all I have for now.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Otherwise, thank you.

Commissioner Robinson, questions?

Uh just you know, for quorum purposes on November 4th.

I I will make every effort to participate virtually, but I'll be in our nation's capital discussing uh housing policy with the National Association.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Robinson.

Um are there any other commission updates from the commissioners?

Okay, if no, we're moving to item number seven adjournment that concludes our meetings for tonight's agenda.

The next special meeting commission special special planning commission meeting is scheduled for November 4th, 2025.