Council adopts resolution finding private residence a historic resource, directs additional environmental review (3–2)

Council considered a resolution responding to two appeals and a prior finding that an existing single‑family residence was a discretionary historic resource. A public commenter who reviewed the draft resolution asked council to continue the item, saying the draft did not reflect the public participation or consultants who had found the property historic and that the resolution’s final paragraph inserted directives that were not part of the council’s motion.

City staff and the city attorney explained that the council’s prior action found substantial evidence supporting the historic‑resource determination and directed staff to draft a resolution overturning the board approval with findings supporting denial of the project's categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (SQUA reference in the packet). Staff proposed redline revisions to clarify that the council’s basis for overturning the board approval was the historic‑resource finding and to direct additional environmental review or project revisions to comply with Secretary of the Interior standards, while clarifying the council was not reaching the merits of other project issues at this time.

After discussion, a council member moved to adopt the resolution with the assistant city attorney's redlines; another council member seconded. The council adopted the resolution by a 3–2 vote. The resolution directs that the applicant either complete additional environmental review addressing demolition and alternatives or revise the project and return to the council for a final decision; the council retained jurisdiction over the project.