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HomeMy WebLinkAbout24697RESOLUTION NO. 24697 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING "THE DESERT HOLLY CONDOMINIUMS" LOCATED AT 2244 EAST TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY AS A HISTORIC DISTRICT SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS. THE PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL FINDS AND DETERMINES AS FOLLOWS: A. Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation of historic sites and districts. B. On March 14, 2019, the Desert Holly Homeowners Association filed an application with the City pursuant to Article III, Section 8.05.090 (Procedure and Criteria for Designation of Historic Districts) of the Palm Springs Municipal Code requesting historic district designation for Desert Holly Condominiums located at 2244 East Tahquitz Canyon Way. The application included a historic resources report ("the report") prepared by the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, dated March, 2019. C. In September, 2019, members of the Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) conducted site inspections of the proposed historic resource, accompanied by City staff. D. On October 8, 2019, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board ("HSPB") to consider Case HSPB #117 was held in accordance with applicable law. E. The HSPB carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including, but not limited to, the staff report and all written and oral testimony presented and voted 4-0-3 (Hough, La Voie, Rosenow absent) to recommend that the City Council designate the Desert Holly Condominium complex at 2244 East Tahquitz Way as a historic district. F. On January 9, 2020 a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs City Council was held in accordance with applicable law. At said hearing the City Council carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including but not limited to the staff report and all written and oral testimony presented. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS RESOLVES: SECTION 1: FINDINGS — PART 1CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC DISTRICTS. Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.05.090 (C), the City Council shall evaluate the application and make findings in conformance with the following criteria: Resolution No. 24697 Page 2 FINDINGS PART 1 — The proposed district exhibits exceptional historic significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below: The eight buildings that comprise the proposed Desert Holly Historic District collectively exhibit exceptional historic significance as a modest -scaled multi -family development typology that became popular in Palm Springs from the 1950's through the 1970's. The City Council collectively evaluated the eight buildings as follows: (Criterion 1) Is associated with events that have made a meaningful contribution to the nation, state or community; The report does not identify any significant events associated with the proposed Desert Holly Historic District. It does not qualify as a historic district under Criterion 1. (Criterion 2) Is associated with the lives of persons who made a meaningful contribution to national, state or local history; The report did not identify any persons associated with the buildings that comprise the proposed Desert Holly Historic District and thus it does not qualify as a historic district under Criterion 2. (Criterion 3) Reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national, state or local history; The proposed Desert Holly Historic District exemplifies the post WWII Modern period in the development of Palm Springs (1945 — 1969) because it is a significant example of a multi -family residential development type built in response to the growing population that included second home buyers and retirees seeking a "no maintenance" type of dwelling. It also is reflective of the period in Palm Springs in which Modern architecture was very popular for many building types, from residential to commercial and institutional. The eight buildings exemplify an architectural style for which the City has become internationally recognized. The proposed Desert Holly Historic District qualifies under Criterion 3. (Criterion 4) The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction; The report asserts that the proposed Desert Holly historic district is comprised of several buildings that collectively represent the small multi -family development type that was popular among both second home buyers and retirees seeking a simpler more easy -to - maintain dwelling type. The quality of construction of the buildings within the proposed district is of high quality — reflective of the type of construction found in more expensive custom-built homes. The report asserts the buildings in the proposed district are of "post and beam" construction; however extensive use of concrete block bearing wall construction and what Resolution No. 24697 Page 3 appears to be conventional "stick built" wood frame and stucco appears to be more the case. Regardless, the eight buildings do reflect the type of construction common during the post -World War II period and reflect a level of quality and craftsmanship more often found in custom-built home construction. As such the district qualifies under Criterion 4. (Criterion 5) The resource presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age, or that possesses high artistic value; The buildings and the site plan of the proposed Desert Holly historic district possesses high artistic value in the form, plan, and overall site development. A unique collection of buildings in terms of the angular geometry and sublime detailing, the proposed Desert Holly historic district qualifies under Criterion 5. (Criterion 6) The resource represents entity whose components may lack evaluating applications for designation which more than one entity exists; or a significant and distinguishable individual distinction, as used in of historic districts, for parcels on The eight buildings within the proposed Desert Holly historic district collectively are similar, but unique in their character (i.e. plan and development) and are significant in terms of the period of local history that they exemplify. The common open areas, parking, and landscape are somewhat lacking in distinction. Some of the components in the common areas, such as the 9-hole golf putting course and shuffleboard court that have been removed. The restoration / reconstruction of these features would strengthen the historic integrity of the common areas, however the proposed district as a whole can be deemed significant and noteworthy despite the loss of these site features. Thus the proposed district also qualifies under Criterion 6. (Criterion 7) The resource has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to national, state or local history or prehistory. No information has been provided in the historic resources report on any pre -historic significance of the site. SECTION 2: FINDINGS PART 2: COMPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED DISTRICT - CONTRIBUTING AND NON-CONTRIBUTING SITES The HSPB reviewed the proposed historic district for conformance with the findings in Part 2 of Zoning Code Section 8.05.190 (C) and made the following findings: FINDINGS PART 2 — The proposed district: (a) Contains contributing resources on a majority of the sites within the proposed district which individually meet the criteria and findings outlined in Part 1 above, (b) Resolution No. 24697 Page 4 Includes non-contributing properties or vacant parcels only to the extent necessary to establish appropriate, logical, or convenient boundaries. a. The evaluation of buildings that individually meet the criteria and findings for contributing resources include Buildings 1 through 8. This represents all the buildings in the proposed historic district. The boundaries of the Desert Holly historic district are proposed as follows: East Tahquitz Canyon Way on the south, North Sunset Way on the east, a property line 180 feet north of the property line along East Tahquitz Canyon Way, and a property line 218.37 feet west of the property line along North Sunset Way. b. The evaluation of buildings and features that are non-contributing resources are as follows: 1. The parking areas. 2. The common area landscape. SECTION 3: DEFINING HISTORIC CHARACTERISTICS In considering a recommendation for historic resource designation it is important to distinguish those physical elements that are original or from the period of significance that contribute to the resource's historic significance from alterations, additions or features that were added at a later time that may be sympathetic to the original character, but which may create a false sense of historicity. Distinguishing original character -defining features from non -original elements aids the HSPB when it is tasked with evaluating future alterations to any of the historic resources in the proposed historic district. The eight buildings in the proposed Desert Holly historic district share design characteristics. They were all constructed at the same time with the same materials and details. Therefore the physical character defining historic features that are listed below apply to all eight buildings.' 1. Exposed 8" x 8" x 16" concrete masonry units with contrasting grout color. 2. The projecting roof eaves and the 30-degree tilted fascia boards. 3. Wood slab front doors with octagonal decorative elements 4. The round fireplace chimney flues and "pancake" spark arresters. 5. The mature saguaro cacti puncturing the roof plane of unit Building #2. 6. The original block letter sign on painted pegboard on Building #2. (The sign should be repainted to match the original paint scheme of light colored letters on a black or dark grey background. 7. The acute angles of the structures in plan (non -right angle). 8. The tapered beams at the eave overhangs. 9. The original front door wall sconce light fixtures (mostly in storage at this time). ' Note that there is no mention in the report as to what were the original colors of the Desert Holly; currently it is painted with creme white walls and dark grey / black fascias. Resolution No. 24697 Page 5 10.The shape of the swimming pool.2 The non-contributing features include the following: 1. The swimming pool (changed by bldg. permit B35271). 2. The aluminum patio covers on units 4, 9, 10, and 11. 3. The parking areas. 4. The common area landscape. 5. The screen doors. SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The proposed historic resource designation is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical changes to the environment, directly or indirectly. SECTION 5: CONDITIONS THAT APPLY TO CLASS 1 HISTORIC DISTRICTS. According to Section 8.05 of the Municipal Code, the following shall apply to a Class 1 Historic Resource: 1. An archival file shall be maintained on the property by the City. 2. It may be qualified as `historic' at the federal, state, and/or county level. 3. The structures/sites within the proposed historic district may not be modified without following the procedures outlined in Municipal Code Section 8.05.120 "Demolition, Alteration or New Construction within a Historic District — Certificate of Appropriateness". 4. A marker explaining the historic nature of the district may be installed at the perimeter of the proposed district in a location viewable from the public way. 5. Compliance with all rules and regulations for Historic Sites and Historic Districts under Chapter 8.05 of the Municipal Code shall be required. 6. The City Clerk shall submit the Council Resolution to the County recorder for recordation within 90 days of the effective date of the Council's resolution. The recordation shall apply to those assessor parcel numbers for the fourteen dwelling units located within the eight contributing buildings. Based upon the foregoing, the City Council hereby designates the Desert Holly Condominiums as a historic district (HSPB #117 / HD-7). 2 The shape of the pool is noted as a contributing design characteristic, however the pool itself has been upgraded and modified. Future infrastructure improvements at the pool should be allowed as long as the shape of the pool is retained. Resolution No. 24697 Page 6 ADOPTED THIS 9T" DAY OF JANUARY, 2020. David H. Ready, City er ATTEST- A'nfhony J. City Clerk CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS) I, ANTHONY J. MEJIA, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. 24697 is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on the 91h day of January, 2020, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Garner, Middleton, Woods, Mayor Pro Tern Holstege, and Mayor Kors NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Palm Springs, California, this % day of c� Zc) nthony ia, M City Clerk'