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San Jose Ca.Gov
File #: ROGC 25-370    Version: 1
Type: Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations and Approvals Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 11/13/2025 In control: Joint Meeting for the Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole
On agenda: 11/19/2025 Final action:
Title: Historic Preservation Ordinance Reform. (Mahan, Foley, Tordillos, Mulcahy, and Cohen)
Attachments: 1. Memorandum from Mayor, Foley, Tordillos, Mulcahy, Cohen

...Title

Historic Preservation Ordinance Reform. (Mahan, Foley, Tordillos, Mulcahy, and Cohen)

...Recommendations

1.  Direct the City Manager to return to City Council by March 2026 with options and analysis for the following:

                     a) Establish an enhanced outreach program for property owners of properties on the Historic Resources Inventory to inform them of relevant historic preservation regulations, including the San José Historic Preservation Ordinance.

                     b) Establish an amnesty program for unpermitted construction on structures in the historic resources inventory that do not create health and safety hazards.

                     c) Provide a legal framework for certain structures on the historic inventory to be demolished or removed from the inventory where substandard structures exist and/or where the historic features of the structure are no longer evident.

                     d) Modernize historic preservation regulations to allow for installation of windows and other building elements that support the City’s climate, wildfire, safety, and energy efficiency goals.

2.  Conduct analysis on the above in consultation with stakeholders including the Developers Roundtable, the Japantown Community Congress, and the Preservation Action Council of San Jose (PacSJ).