Benicia Historic Preservation Review Commission will consider approving a use permit Thursday that would officially OK Carter Rankin’s business café’s operation in the Commanding Officer’s Quarters.

That building, now owned by the city, was built as the home of the commander of the former Army weapons base that predated the Civil War. It is a landmark in the Arsenal Historic District.

After the Army closed the Arsenal in 1964, the building housed a restaurant until a fire revealed code infractions. The building was closed for about 20 years until the city undertook its restoration and put the COQ on the market for lease.

Last year, the City Council approved leasing the property to Carter for 62 months with one five-year renewal option, Associate Planner Suzanne Thorsen wrote in a May 12 report to the HPRC. Carter said he intends to use the building as a public office with concierge business services for those who have home-based companies.

The HPRC also will hear recommendations for revising Mills Act contracts for 1025 West Second St.; 141 West F St.; and 171 West H St. Mills Act contracts allow owners of historic buildings to reduce their property taxes in exchange for complying with requirements to keep up those sites in historically appropriate ways.

At 1025 West Second St., owners Carla and Paula Chiotti are asking permission to remove front door and back fence requirements from their mandatory work plan, saying the wood door is consistent with doors of the home’s era and style, and that the back yard fence, covered with vines, doesn’t detract from the house’s historic character.

Jose Coelho is asking to modify his contract so that he need only install a stone retaining wall but not replace a wood picket fence at his house at 141 West F St.

Bill and Sue Venturelli said they want to replace a front window with a historically appropriate double-hung wood window; remodel the front and replace a wood retaining wall with historically appropriate concrete or stone features; and replace existing gutters.

The Historic Preservation Review Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Commission Room of City Hall, 250 East L St.

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