Historic preservation commission denies Mills Act contract for 3501 E. Huntington after staff finds solar work nonconforming

The Fresno Historic Preservation Commission voted 5-0 to deny a Mills Act historic property contract application for the Maria and J.B. Cella Home at 3501 East Huntington Boulevard after staff said recent roof and solar work did not conform to the rehabilitation standards the program requires.

Ashley Atkinson, assistant director for planning and development and the commission’s historic preservation staff, told commissioners that two permits were submitted for the work — a reroof permit and a solar permit — and that the reroof approval included a condition that replacement tiles be reinstalled 'like for like' and that the solar array be installed using a picture-frame method. Atkinson said the solar installation was completed Nov. 13 and 'does not conform to the Secretary of the Interior standards' and therefore staff recommended the hearing be held and the Mills Act application denied. 'We are recommending that you hold the hearing and deny the application for a Mills Act historical property contract for this property,' Atkinson said.

Neighbors who spoke at the continued hearing described the visible changes to the house’s red tile roof. Edward Medrano, who said he lives across the street and is a Mills Act contract holder himself, told the commission, 'There is more solar panel visible than there are red tiles.... This is the opposite of preservation.' Another neighbor, Tom Armstrong, raised a title issue and said a January 2025 grant deed transferred the property from an LLC to an individual and questioned whether the applicant entity listed in notices matches current ownership. Armstrong also said he learned of a separate planning application for an adult daycare at the address and raised concerns about parking and garbage associated with room rentals.

The applicant, represented at the hearing by KJ Huang with translation help, said the solar permit was applied for and approved and that workers would return to repair and reinstall tiles when weather permitted. 'About the solar panel, we already get permission from the government,' the applicant’s interpreter relayed; the applicant said photos and receipts were provided to staff and that repairs would be completed.

Deputy City Attorney Darcy Brown advised the commission that they must base their decision on the current condition of the resource and the proposed contract provisions. While the Mills Act can provide stronger preservation obligations than the local ordinance, Brown said designation and a contract would require the owner to bring the property into conformance with the Secretary of the Interior standards.

Commissioners debated whether the property, as it exists today, could satisfy the standards and whether there was adequate evidence that proposed remediation would restore the historic character. Chair moved to adopt staff's recommendation to deny the application at this time; the motion carried 5-0.

The denial leaves the owner able to make repairs and reapply. Staff noted reapplication after repairs and demonstration of conformance is possible in a future year, and Atkinson said the department will continue to follow up on compliance issues stemming from the permits and any outstanding code enforcement matters.

Next steps: The applicant may undertake repairs and present evidence of restoration that meets the Secretary of the Interior standards if they choose to reapply for Mills Act consideration in the future.