HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-06-14- HPSB minutes
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CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING
Minutes of Regular Meeting -Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 8:15 a.m.
Large Conference Room, City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, California 92262
ROLL CALL
Present
This Meeting
Present
Yea-to-Date
FY 2004-2005
Excused Absences
To-Date
William “Bill” Scott, Chair X 11 0
James Hayton, Vice Chair X 9 2
John Williams X 9 2
Jim Isermann X 9 2
Sidney Williams X 10 1
Kenny Cassady X 7 2
STAFF PRESENT:
Jing Yeo, Principal Planner Loretta Moffett, Senior Secretary
* * * * *
Chairman Scott called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m.
* * * * * *
REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: The Revised Agenda was available and posted in accordance with
state and local procedures for public access at the City Hall exterior bulletin board and the Department of
Planning Services counter by 4:00 p.m., Thursday, June 9, 2005.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: NONE
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: M/S/C (Hayton/Isermann) 6 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent, 0 Abstentions) to approve the
May 10, 2005 Minutes as presented.
NOTE: Audio Cassettes and DVDs of the HSPB Meeting are available for review. Audio Cassettes will be
kept for six months and then discarded. DVDs of the meetings will be kept indefinitely. Minute format is
more action related and not verbatim.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Chairman Scott will report later in the meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING: N O N E
ARCHITECTURAL APPROVALS:
CASE 3.0619: COLONY PALMS HOTEL AT 572 NORTH PALM CANYON DRIVE FOR FINAL
REVIEW OF PLANS: HSPB APPROVED CONCEPTUAL PLANS AND THE PLANNING
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED THE PROJECT. Staff member Jing Yeo reported that the applicant and architect are in attendance to report to this
Board.
David Dixon from Pacifica Capital Group, a partner and project manager in the Colony Palms
project, reported that the demolition previously approved has been completed and entitlements are
in place.
Tim Campbell, Architect, reported no significant changes to the building since appearing before this
Board some time ago. Budget and plan checks have been covered, project is in good shape to
proceed. Colors and materials are exactly as presented earlier, they will be applying for a building
permit and are ready to start construction. The new addition will be built over the existing and the
first floor will be maintained with underpinnings of the existing foundation. The center restaurant
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building will be renovated per earlier plans, there is a significant amount of dry rot to replace. The
existing basement in that building will remain in tact and the mural will be preserved. Access to
basement is a non-conforming stairway, a secondary stairway access will be constructed on the
opposite side to comply with exiting requirements. There is no use planned for that area, but it will
be preserved for potential future use. All roof tiles will be removed and saved to re-use. New roof
tiles will be matched. The Stewart Williams’ architecture will be maintained with the addition of
windows along the west side, railings remain in tact. Currently making plan check corrections and
hope to have the building permit this week with construction starting immediately and expect several
months of construction. Final room count will be from 45 to 58 rooms.
CASE 3.2743 - APPLICATION BY RETREATS, INC. TO RENOVATE THE TIKI SPA AT 1910
SOUTH CAMINO REAL, ZONE R2, SECTION 26: Staff member Alex Meyerhoff reported that this property is not a designated or listed property, was
built in 1964, and is deemed to be of local significance and recognized as “Desert Polynesia”. The
applicant and staff are presenting the proposed renovation to let HSP Board and community know
what is being proposed. The Tiki Spa has been closed for about 18 months, some preliminary
renovation has been done to determine the state and quality of the buildings. There were two
elements in the proposed renovation that concerned staff: (1) elimination of two A-frame structures
which staff feels is significant to the style of the architecture; and (2), replacement of the remnants of
the wood shakes with a slate roof. Applicant and property owner are now aware of the importance
of the buildings, staff has provided details of the Desert Polynesia style and applicant/owners are in
the process of revising their submittal to essentially leave all roof lines in place and replace with a
fireproof wood shake roof, based on the availability of that material. The property had fallen into
disrepair over the years and the recent exploratory work determined that the walls are still in fairly
good shape, so the intent is to renovate, restore, and operate the property as a hotel. There is no
expansion, additional square footage or rooms proposed, but will re-landscape, and repair the roof.
Haven’t been able to identify the original architect.
Board Members expressed various concerns - maintain the Tiki style, roof lines, renovate, and
restore. They further complimented staff, applicant, and owners in recognizing the significance of
this property and even though it is not currently listed on the Historic Resources Survey of 2004, it is
important to the City of Palm Springs because of it’s “Desert Polynesia style.”
John Williams and Jim Isermann volunteered to act as a sub-committee of this HSP Board and work
with staff and the applicant/owners.
AGENDA ITEM #1: OVERVIEW OF ORCHID TREE INN REDEVELOPMENT Staff member Jing Yeo reported Members Hayton and Scott met with staff and owners for a
walk-thru of the property and today’s overview is an update, the Board is not asked for any action,
but comments, ideas, questions, etc. are welcomed. All Board members were sent a copy of the
historic assessment of the Orchid Tree Inn dated April 2005.
Matt Fisher, with Palisades Development Group, explained that his group is a Santa Monica real
estate and development group specializing in urban development, mixed-use, and adaptive re-use
projects. The Orchid Tree project is very special with significant historic values and Jan Ostashay
of PCR Services was hired to do a thorough historic resource assessment before anything was done
on or to the property. This report clearly showed that preservation aspects would be entailed along
with new construction. A Santa Monica architectural firm has been hired because of their adaptive
re-use expertise.
Jan Ostashay of PCR Services detailed the project’s seven (7) properties. There were reviewed at
the local, state, and federal levels and it was determined that the Albert Frey building and the
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bungalow/motel courts were of the most historic significance. The Orchid Tree Inn Motel complex is
a bungalow court comprised of about ten (10) buildings. The Albert Frey apartment complex is a
two-story modern structure. To the west side there is a Craftsman bungalow, to the north there is a
one and one-half story apartment complex built in the late 1940's. The lot to the north on Cahuilla is
a small duplex of Spanish Colonial style built in the late 1920's. In the northwest corner is what
used to be called The Desert House Motel, built in about 1941. The complex above the Frey
building off Belardo at the north end of the property is a four-unit apartment complex built around
1938. The property owner kept buying lots and complexes thru the 1970's, and there are now
approximately 45 units. Photos of each of the buildings surveyed are shown in the booklet, many of
them taken when the buildings were in their original state.
Member John Williams questioned the Craftsman Bungalow being dismissed as not significant
noting that there have been changes, but no real changes to the “footprint”, and asked if this
bungalow is considered for renovation or to be retained as part of the project?
Ms. Ostashay reported an addition to the back and some of the exterior walls have been changed.
The arroyo stone is an addition and is faux stone. Key elements to that building are a nice stone
chimney and inside mantel, but overall, it’s integrity has been modified substantially with faux
materials. The existing front porch is not original, and the original screened-in back porch has been
entirely enclosed with only a portion of it now being screened.
Chairman Scott and Member Isermann did a walk-thru and indicated that when really viewing the
building, it is obvious why this bungalow is not a representative example.
Matt Fischer explained the assessment revealed a real challenge to retain it in the overall project. It
could be maintained in photographs or other archival details, but based on it’s location. This is a
2-plus acre unique mixed-use project at 261 South Belardo Road. The proposal is to preserve the
Albert Frey and Bungalow Court historic structures. These will be operated as hotel use. The
second acre will be new construction comprised of an 8-plex, a 16-plex for 24 residential condo of
for-sale units, a subterranean parking garage under this section, and some ground level parking.
New construction height limit is 24 ft. so underground parking is a requirement. The interior of the
11 bungalow court units will be renovated and used as hotel rooms with two of the units being
connected to accommodate a larger group/family. The exteriors are in good condition without a
great deal of work.
The Albert Frey building is the former Premiere Apartments that were moved to the present location
in the 70's. This building will be restored with a 1,000 sq. ft. commercial bar space added with two
hotel units on the ground level and seven units on the second level.
The 8-plex units will be simple and efficient with end units being two-story townhomes, interior units
will all be two-bedroom, two-bath flats. Every unit will have its own private outdoor space via the
entry and rear patio with a small spa. Current plans include upstair units with small spas on the
decks accessed by small, exterior stairways from the ground level.
The 16-plex will be similar with townhomes on the end and interior flats. Architecture of the new
construction will be very “clean-line” contemporary style tied into the other structures by the
landscaping and courtyards. Off the entry areas will be a small stairwell to the top units and ground
level entries to the ground units. There are two pools, one earmarked for hotel use and one for the
condo use.
Board concerns were discussed and applicant/owners agreed to be sensitive to historic preservation
and to having a mixed-use project that is compatible within the project and to surrounding properties.
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A neighborhood meeting is planned before the project goes into construction. Board Members
asked to see the elevations, final plans for the bar area, and commented that the “curved screens”
on the original Frey building were lost in prior modifications and hopes they can be brought back
during the restoration.
Staff Member Jing Yeo explained that the Board’s role on this project is similar to that of the Colony
Palms and Racquet Club - - conceptual review and comments on pre-apps, relationship of new
construction to existing, plans brought back as they process, etc.
AGENDA ITEMS #2: APPROVAL OF MILLS ACT CONTRACT FOR 300 EAST MOLINO ROAD,
HSPB SITE #42 - WEXLER/STEEL HOME: Board Member Isermann excused himself explaining that he lives next door to the applicant.
Staff member Jing Yeo explained that the owners could not attend today, are recent purchasers of
the property, entered into the contract with the City of Palm Springs, and they fully understand the
provisions of the Mills Act contract requirements.
M/S/C (S. Williams/J.Williams) 5 Yes (Cassady, Scott, Hayton, S.Williams, J. Williams), 0 No, 0
Absent, 1 Abstention (Isermann) to approve the application as submitted.
Mr. Isermann rejoined the meeting.
AGENDA ITEM #3: MEDIA OUTREACH SUB-COMMITTEE UPDATE-BOARD MEMBER JOHN
WILLIAMS Member J. Williams will be attending several neighborhood associations meetings within the next
few weeks to discuss how this Board functions, will discuss the ordinance, Class 1 and 2 sites, what
Class 3 represents, and the survey of 2004. Will report back as more meetings are attended.
Survey samples and Architectural Guides were offered to show and/or to sell to meeting attendees.
AGENDA ITEM #4: HISTORIC SITE PLAQUE SURVEY UPDATED - STAFF Staff member Jing Yeo reported that five (5) plaques have been received, photos of the new plaques
were passed around, and two samples were on display from the new company being used. Staff
will start working with Ms. Joey English for the plaque at 272 Camino Buena Vista, Historic Site
Designation #48. Board members were given color photos of plaque samples for their Board books
along with a list of plaque locations and visibility for potential use when speaking with property
owners who may be interested in designating their properties.
AGENDA ITEM #5: DISCUSSION OF CITY’S HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE (Chapter
8.05 PSMC), DUTIES, ACTIVITIES, ETC. Nothing to report.
AGENDA ITEM #6: PALM SPRINGS PRESERVATION FOUNDATION - BOARD MEMBER
SIDNEY WILLIAMS. The Foundation is preparing the schedule for next year, November 12, 2005 will be the Annual
Preservation Tour, and the subject will be E. Stewart Williams’ Architecture.
AGENDA ITEM #7: PALM SPRINGS HISTORICAL SOCIETY - MEMBER JIM HAYTON Nothing to report.
AGENDA ITEM #8: PALM SPRINGS MODERN COMMITTEE - MEMBER JOHN WILLIAMS
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The Modern Committee May 21 meeting was a tour of historical sites in downtown Palm Springs that
started at the Oasis Tower, The Plaza, Spa Hotel, and the plaza where Zelda’s is located. Pete
Moruzzi conducted the tour. There are no meetings this summer.
AGENDA ITEM #9: ARCHITECTURAL & DESIGN COUNCIL-P.S. ART MUSEUM - MEMBER
ISERMANN The last lecture was May 21 . There is no regular program for the summer, but may have a tour of
Idyllwild, and will report at the next meeting.
BOARD AND STAFF REPORTS: Chairman Scott suggested a special work study on the guidelines published by the federal and state
government about renovation and restoration of historic structures prompted by an earlier question
from Board Member S. Williams. Perhaps the Board could get someone for consulting that would be
separate from a Board meeting and could be done this Fall. Board members felt this would be a
good idea.
Chairman Scott reported that the General Plan Steering Committee are now meeting twice monthly,
there is a web site called www.PSPlan.org, and asked members to advise their committees and
organizations. The Downtown Urban Design group, within the General Plan Steering Committee, is
working with the consultant on urban design ideas, several draft plans have been proposed, and the
final plan is underway.
Staff member Jing Yeo advised that the consultants are in the process of final touches to this draft,
which will be presented at the June 30 meeting. It will then go back to the General Plan Steering
Committee, and on to Planning Commission, and City Council, where it will be adopted as an interim
policy document subject to refinement.
Chairman Scott also advised that interviews are underway for the three positions available on this
Board, but no recommendations have been made by the City Council as yet.
Board member Kenny Cassady is moving out of town and may not be able to attend the July
meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9.27 a.m. Next meeting is July 12,
2005 at 8:15 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Loretta Moffett
Recording Secretary