The applicant is responsible for application and processing costs for the nomination process. The historical designation and placement onto the County HRI would qualify 66 and 67 Stonecastle Court for a Mills Act contract. If 66 and 67 Stonecastle Court receive a Mills Act contract, there will be a reduction in the property taxes for the subject properties based on the calculations in the State Board of Equalization for use of assessing properties under the Mills Act.

At the request of property owners, on November 30, 2016, the County Historical Landmarks Advisory Committee (HLAC) unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors designate as historical structures, and include into the County's Historic Resources Inventory (HRI), specific buildings and structures of the former Rosebrook estate located at 66 and 67 Stonecastle Court in Alamo. The structures to be designated include the main Rosebrook House, the Guest House, the Garden House, the exterior stone walls, the outdoor kitchen, the pool and the pond. All of the buildings and structures to be designated were designed by the same architect, Carr Jones. Both properties were part of Subdivision 7154, Stonecastle Estates, which was recorded on November 25, 1997, resulting in twenty-five separate parcels with 66 Stonecastle Court designated as Lot 9 and 67 Stonecastle Court as Lot 10. The properties are located within a Single-family Residential, Low-Density (SL) General Plan Land Use designation, and a Single-Family Residential (R-20) Zoning District. Upon placement of the structures onto the HRI, the property owner will submit a request for a Mills Act contract for the property which would reduce the property taxes for the property in exchange for restoration and maintenance of the historic resource.   
  
Historic Evaluation  
  
As part of the application submittal to the HLAC the owners of 66 and 67 Stonecastle Court commissioned a Historic Background & Evaluation report dated June 30, 2016, prepared by the architectural historian Caitlin Harvey. According to the evaluation, the Rosebrook House, Guest House, Garden House, and outdoor structures were designed and built by local architect Carr Jones. The buildings are an exemplary example of Storybook Style architecture and are one of only six Carr designs left in the County. Also, Carr’s use of the Storybook Style is considered as historic architectural influence. The Historic Background & Evaluation report finds these reasons to coincide with the Historical Landmarks Advisory Committee (HLAC) evaluation criteria in evaluating applications for nomination to the County HRI.   
  
Various exterior and interior alterations have been made to the buildings over the years. Despite past alterations, the Storybook Style is still prevalent in the structures, and Carr’s signature design features define the overall properties as a Carr original. The attached Preservation and Rehabilitation report describes how the proposed alterations identified in the 10-year rehabilitation program will restore the original integrity of the buildings and structures. The proposed exterior and interior alterations will enhance the integrity of the architectural style, address anachronistic elements of previous remodels, and implement more period appropriate materials and finishes.  
  
Historic Landmarks Advisory Committee (HLAC) Recommendation  
  
At the HLAC meeting held on November 30, 2016, the HLAC unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors include the Rosebrook House, the Guest House, the Garden House, stone walls, outdoor kitchen area, pond and pool (66 and 67 Stonecastle Court, Alamo) in the HRI. Their recommendation is warranted because the buildings and structures were designed and built by a noted local architect. The buildings’ and structures’ Storybook Style is unique and contains defining elements original to the architect. The integrity of the buildings and structures remains intact. The previous alterations do not negatively impact the site’s architectural value, and the proposed alterations will further enhance the architectural integrity and preserve the resources.

If the buildings and structures of historical significance are not designated and placed onto the County HRI then the subject properties cannot qualify for a Mills Act contract. If the subject properties cannot be approved for a Mills Act contract the restoration, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the buildings’ and structures’ historical and architectural integrity would not be monitored and may not be maintained by current or future owners of the properties.