ਸੰਪੱਤੀ ਦੇ ਮਾਲਕ ਦੁਆਰਾ FMC 12-1706 ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ Mills Act ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ ਸੰਪੱਤੀ ਇਕਰਾਰ ਨਾਮੇ ਦਾਖਲ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਦਾ ਵਿਚਾਰ: 1. Melba Apartments 745 East Home Avenue (APN 451-045-11) ਤੇ, Wilson Island Historic District ਵਿੱਚ ਸਥਿਤ

REPORT TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION October 26, 2026 FROM: JENNIFER K. CLARK, AICP, Director Planning and Development Department BY: ASHLEY ATKINSON, AICP, Assistant Director Planning and Development Department SUBJECT ..Title Consideration of request by property owner to enter into a Mills Act historical property contract pursuant to FMC 12-1706 for: Melba Apartments located at 745 East Home Avenue (APN 451-045-11), in the Wilson Island Historic District ..Body EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The property owner has submitted an application and draft work plan, and confirmed that they wish to enter into a Mills Act historical property contract. Staff has reviewed the application and determined that the property is a qualified historical property under FMC SEC. 12-1704 and that the submitted draft work plan meets the required contract provisions under FMC SEC.12-1705. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission hold a public hearing and authorize the Director of Development to execute a Mills Act historical property contract for the subject property, pursuant to FMC 12-1706. BACKGROUND In California, the Mills Act legislation allows local governments to enter into contracts with owners of qualified historic properties providing that in exchange for the restoration and maintenance of these properties, owners receive a reduction in property taxes. Since the City of Fresno adopted the Mills Act Program, 35 properties have been enrolled. Three new applications were submitted for the Mills Act Program for the year 2026. The Melba Apartments building is located at 745 East Home Avenue (APN 451-045-11) in the Wilson Island Historic District. Within the larger 18-block Wilson’s North Fresno Tract is a smaller enclave of six residential blocks, known as the “Wilson Island,” which is bounded by North Echo Avenue on the west, East Carmen Avenue on the north, the northern side of East Floradora Avenue on the south and the back side of the commercial lots along North Wishon Avenue. This secluded neighborhood of wide lots was marketed to Fresno’s elite business community and remains one of Fresno’s most architecturally distinguished neighborhoods. The Melba Apartments, constructed in 1922, by G.C. Smith, is the only apartment complex within the district and has 8 units. The two-story building has a rectangular footprint and is stucco over frame construction. The façade is symmetrical with three ribbon windows consisting of casement windows on the second story and two on the first floor. All windows are slightly inset into a shallow arch and there is a horizontal cement coping band above the second story windows. Three rectangular vents with horizontal louvers are above this coping. The roof of the building is flat and has a slight overhang. The front entrance is inset into a flat arch with stairs leading to the second story. ANALYSIS According to FMC Sec. 12-1704, to be eligible for the Mills Act Program, properties must meet the following criteria: a) "Qualified historical property" for purposes of this article, means privately owned property within the City of Fresno, which is not exempt from property taxation, and which meets either of the following: 1) The property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places or located in a registered historic district, as defined in Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 2) The property is listed in any state, city, county, or city and county official register of historical or architecturally significant sites, places, or landmarks. b) "Qualified historical property" for the purposes of this article, does not include "Heritage Properties" as defined by Fresno Municipal Code Section 12-1603(n). The Melba Apartments located at 745 East Home Avenue (APN 451-045-11), are located within the Wilson Island Historic District, and thereby qualifies under FMC Sec. 12-1704(a)(1). FMC Section 12-1705 requires the owner of a property with a historical property contract under the Mills Act to preserve and, when necessary, restore and rehabilitate the property to conform to the rules and regulations of the Office of Historic Preservation of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and the State Historical Building Code. The draft work plan submitted by the owner commits the owner to conducting a series of projects to preserve the property and has been reviewed and confirmed by staff to meet the requirements of FMC Sec. 12-1705. Work shall be conducted according to the rules and regulations noted above, and the Department of Planning and Development shall be responsible for assuring performance of the contract including administration, extension, cancellation, and enforcement. FMC Section 12-1606, Duties and Powers of the Commission, provides that the Historic Preservation Commission shall evaluate, review and make recommendations on Mills Act Contracts, and hold a public hearing on each application for a historical property contract. After the hearing, the Commission shall recommend to the Director of the Department of Planning and Development that the application be denied, granted in whole or in part, or modified subject to such conditions as it deems appropriate. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS This is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). FRESNO MUNICIPAL CODE FINDINGS Based upon analysis of the application, staff concludes that the property is a qualified historical property under FMC Section 12-1704 and the submitted draft work plan meets the required contract provisions of FMC Section12-1705. CONCLUSION Based on the analysis of the application under the applicable sections of the Fresno Municipal Code, staff recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission hold a public hearing and authorize the Director of Planning & Development to execute a Mills Act historical property contract for the subject property. ATTACHMENTS Exhibit A – DPR Inventory Form & Designation Resolution Exhibit B – Public Hearing Notice & Radius Map Exhibit C – Draft Mills Act Contract