The Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC) held a regular meeting on December 9, 2025, at 11:00 AM. The meeting was called to order by Chair Royer, with commissioners present: Cohen, Camuso, Bainawal, Arnold, Kogora (newly sworn in), and Chair Royer. Commissioner Galandari was absent. The primary agenda item was a planning referral for the Valley Title Project (PD25-013), a large mixed-use development at 300 South 1st Street and 345 South 2nd Street, seeking HLC comments on historic adjacency design standards. The commission also received updates on code enforcement, the historic preservation ordinance, and the Five Wounds Trail/Coyote Creek trestle.
because they didn't even they didn't even consider that hello everybody welcome to the historic landmarks commission meeting following roll call during summary hearing procedure we will review how the public may provide comment during today's session i do want to take a moment to introduce our new commissioner jimmy kogora welcome just was sworn in just this morning so thank you for joining us okay so commissioner kogora thank you uh commissioner cohen present commissioner camuso present commissioner bainawal present commissioner arnold arnold present uh commissioner Galandari is not here tonight and and Chair Royer I am here. The procedure for this hearing is as follows. After the staff report, applicants and appellants may make a five-minute presentation. I'll be a stickler on time as we have several agenda items tonight. If you wish to speak on an item, complete a card and place it in the speaker card box or bring your card up to up here to Historic Preservation Officer Peake Edwards. When I receive your speaker card, I'll call you forward. Each speaker will be given up to two minutes for public testimony, and speakers using a translator will have up to four minutes. At the discretion of the chair, the time allotted to each speaker may be changed depending on the number of items on the agenda, number of speakers, and other factors. Speakers using a translator will have double the time allotted. After the public testimony, the applicant may make closing remarks for up to an additional five minutes. Historic Landmarks Commissioners may ask questions of the speakers, response to commissioner questions will not reduce the speaker's time allowance. The public hearing will then be closed, and the Historic Landmarks Commission will take action on the item. The commission may request staff to respond to the public testimony, ask staff questions, and discuss the item. If a commissioner would like a topic to be added to be addressed under one of the good welfare items, please contact planning staff in advance of the commission meeting. All public records relating to an open session item on this agenda, which are not exempt from disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act, that are distributed to a majority of the legislative body will be available for public by emailing planning support staff at sanjoseca.gov at the time that the public records are distributed or made available to the legislative body. Before we begin, I want to remind the Historic Landmarks Commission members and members of the public to follow our code of conduct at meetings. This includes commenting on specific agenda items only and addressing the full body. Public speakers will not engage in a conversation with the commissioners or staff. All members of the Historic Landmarks Commission, staff, and public are expected to refrain from abusive language. Repeated failure to comply with the code of conduct, which will disturb, disrupt, or impede the orderly conduct of this meeting, may result in removal from the meeting. This meeting of the Historic Landmarks Commission will now come to order. Item one is deferrals. We have no items under deferrals. Number two is the consent calendar. Again, no items. Number three, public hearings. Again, no items. So that takes us to item four, planning referrals and 4a is pd25-013 historic landmarks commission referral for the valley title project pd25-013 under san jose municipal code section 20.70.110 section c project manager zachary johnson and we nin and staff recommendations are to provide comments to staff on the Valley Title Project ED250-013 located at 300 South 1st Street and 345 South 2nd Street under San Jose Municipal Code Section 20.70.110C. Thank you. Excuse me, Chair Royer. Dana Peake, Historic Preservation Officer, I'm presenting on behalf of the Project Manager, Zach Johnson. The item before you this evening is the Valley Title Project, file number PD 25-13 at 300 South 1st Street and 245 South 2nd Street. Comments are requested under municipal code 220.70.110C, which require new structures exceeding 150 feet and a floor area of 6-1, which are constructed within 100 feet of a city landmark or contributing structure in a landmark district to be reviewed by HLC prior to consideration or approval of the development permit for new construction. The project site is located on a 2.84 gross acre site on the northwest corner of the block bounded by East San Carlos Street to the north,