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Fullerton Planning Commission designates four historic homes as local landmarks, forwards to council
Summary
The Fullerton Planning Commission unanimously approved four local landmark designations Feb. 11 — 401 Cannon Lane, 845 North Euclid Street, 545 West Fern Drive and 600 West Valley View Drive — and noted the properties may be eligible for Mills Act tax-contract applications. The decision can be appealed in writing within 10 working days.
The Fullerton Planning Commission voted to designate four residential properties as Fullerton local landmarks during its Feb. 11 meeting and forwarded the resolutions to the city council.
Planning staff presented the nominations for 401 Cannon Lane (the Bridgeford/Alma Anderson house), 845 North Euclid Street (a relocated Grove House also known as Hunter House), 545 West Fern Drive (a Spanish Colonial Revival house designed by Anna Geck), and 600 West Valley View Drive (an English Tudor residence once rented by Norton Simon). Staff told commissioners the properties qualify under criteria 3 and 7 of the Fullerton Municipal Code, and that the proposals are exempt from CEQA under section 15331.
"I'm proud to bring to you the request for designation of 4 properties as historic local landmarks," planning staff (Schafer) said at the start of the presentation, summarizing each property's construction date, architectural features and ownership history. Staff noted packet errata, including a corrected spelling for Bridgeford.
Ernie Kelsey of Fullerton Heritage urged the commission to approve the nominations, emphasizing the homes' pre-Depression provenance and their architectural significance. "These are 4 great examples that represent our history and our growth," Kelsey said, and urged the commission to forward the items to council.
Commissioners asked staff and Fullerton Heritage representatives about the criteria used, owner obligations and effects of designation on future changes to the properties. Staff said owners remain subject to city permit and design-review processes for changes that affect public-facing elements, and noted that designation can make a property eligible to apply for a Mills Act contract (a tax-benefit agreement) although approval and contract limits are decided by the city council.
A commission member read the procedural note on appeals before the vote: the commission's decision becomes final and effective 10 working days after the decision unless the decision is appealed in writing to the community and economic development department.
The commission moved and voted to approve all four nominations; the clerk recorded the roll call and the motion passed. Staff will transmit the adopted resolutions to the city council and property owners; interested parties have 10 working days to file an appeal.
Details in the staff packet list construction dates, historic owners, and architectural features for each nominated property; staff and Fullerton Heritage noted additional documentation in the agenda attachments if commissioners or members of the public seek expanded background.
