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Home My WebLink About2007-09-11- HSPB minutes CITY OF PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING Minutes of Meeting -Tuesday, September 11, 2007 Large Conference Room, City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92262 BOARD MEMBERS Present This Meeting Present Year-to-Date FY 2007-2008 Excused Absences To-Date Sidney Williams, Chair 0 2 1 Jade Nelson, Vice Chair X 2 1 John Williams X 3 0 Harold “Bud” Riley X 2 1 Brian Strahl Sheila Grattan Shelly Saunders X X X 3 3 3 0 0 0 STAFF PRESENT: Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Ken Lyon, Associate Planner Loretta Moffett, Administrative Assistant * * * * * 1. The HSPB regularly scheduled meeting was called to order at 8:19 a.m. on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 by Vice Chair Jade Nelson. Chair S. Williams was on vacation. 2. ROLL CALL: Present: J. Nelson, B. Strahl, J. Williams, S. Grattan, S. Saunders, and B. Riley Absent: Chair S. Williams – vacation Acting Chair Nelson called for an anniversary moment of silence to honor those who had fallen on September 11, 2001. 3. REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: This 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, September 6, 2007. NOTE: Audio Cassettes and DVDs of HSPB Meetings are available for review. Cassettes will be kept for six months only. DVDs of the meetings will be kept indefinitely. 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: (3 minutes) Staff Ken Lyon introduced Cindy Uken, the City’s new Public Information Coordinator, who explained that she will be attending various City meetings, writing press releases, and reporting weekly on the City news and events. This information will be distributed to the media, and emailed to board, commission, and committee members as well as all City staff. This is in addition to the news media who attends most of these meetings. Director Ewing reported that Katie Ruark from the Desert Sun is covering today’s HSPB meeting. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Corrected Minutes of July 10, 2007 Vote: M/S/C (B. Riley/J. Williams) to approve the July 10, 2007 Minutes as corrected and presented today - 6 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent, 0 Abstention. Historic Site Preservation Board Page 2 of 5 Minutes from the September 11, 2007 Meeting August 21, 2007 Special Meeting Minutes were corrected on page 5 under Maintenance of Historic Markers. VOTE: (S. Grattan/J. Williams) to approve the August 21, 2007 Special Meeting Minutes as corrected – 5 yes, 0 No, 1 Absent, 1 Abstention – Mr. Riley was not at the August 21 meeting. 6. REPORT FROM THE CHAIR: Acting Chair Nelson reported that the Riverside County District Attorney’s office will be holding training sessions for the Brown Act. The nearest location is Palm Desert on September 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. He urged members to attend. Staff Lyon advised that the City Attorney for Palm Springs will also be holding training on the Brown Act later this year and all boards, commissions, committees, and staff who work with them must attend if they have not already attended Brown Act training. Staff will advise when the date is set. Acting Chair Nelson commented that the house of Charles Eames, designer of pre-fab furniture in the 40, 50 & 60’s, in Pacific Palisades in Santa Monica has just been designated a national historic landmark by the Department of Interior and Park Services. The historic Little Red School House in Cathedral City may be relocated close to the Palm Springs Air Museum – negotiations are in process for this move. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: RE: Casa Cody.... John Williams excused himself prior to the public hearing on this item because he had received a contribution from the owner of Casa Cody toward his city council campaign. A. Case No. HSPB #69 – Casa Cody Inn Application for Class 1 Historic Site Designation Possible Action: Recommendation to Council for Historic Designation Staff explained the staff report and the new historic assessment report from the applicant (all provided in Board packets), and described building locations on the displayed drawings. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Frank Tysen, owner of Casa Cody and Applicant, asked the Board to approve his application for Historic Class 1 designation. He reported that several people have been interested in buying the property, but the property is not currently in escrow. Mr. Tysen wants to be sure the property can be profitably operated by a new owner which may necessitate additional units being constructed on the site. The property is currently for sale. Roxanne Ploss, Palm Springs Resident, urged the Board to approve the entire project as a Class 1 Historic Site. Discussion: Board member Grattan stated that Charlie Chaplin’s staying and impromptu entertaining there with Lawrence Tibbitts, Metropolitan Opera star, should have been shown in the report so that information is not lost. Staff member Lyon read a letter from Marcia Scharfen, President of RK Miller Investment Corp and Palm Springs property owner, supporting the designation of the Casa Cody to a Class 1 Historic Site (copy attached). Historic Site Preservation Board Page 3 of 5 Minutes from the September 11, 2007 Meeting There was lengthy Board discussion and questions of Mr. Tysen, Owner and Applicant, who asked that limited additional unit density be made possible on the properties. Deed restrictions to limit future density were discussed as a possible mechanism for the owner to consider. Board member Riley moved that the Casa Cody Inn and property be designated as follows: (1) HSPB 59A – 141 South Cahuilla Road “The Winter House” - Designate the exterior only of the Winter House and the McCallum era stone wall as Class 1 Historic Site #59A and add the defining characteristics as shown on page 16 of the Staff Report: “The entire stone wall and the exterior clay tile roof, the smooth stucco exterior walls, the exposed wood timbers of the porch structure, and the wood shutters of the Winter House.” It was seconded by Board member Grattan. Discussion: Acting Chair Nelson felt Recommendation Option #2 of the Staff Report (page 15) is more appropriate for the site, and feels Option 2 provides more site protection. VOTE ON MOTION HSPB #59A ABOVE: M/S/C (Riley/Grattan) as stated in (1) above – 5 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent, 0 Abstentions. (2) HSPB 59B – 175 South Cahuilla Road “The Casa Cody Hotel” – Designate the entire stone wall and exterior only of the Casa Cody Hotel (Inn) as Class 1 Historic Site #59B and the defining characteristics as shown on page 16 of the Staff Report: The clay tile roof, the smooth stucco exterior walls, and the exposed wood timbers of the original porch structure only of the Casa Cody. Designate the Olympic Cottage and The Apache Lodge as Class 2. Seconded by Board member Saunders. Discussion: None VOTE: M/S/C (Riley/ Saunders) as stated in HSPB #59B (2) above – 5 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent, 0 Abstentions. (3) HSPB 59C – 300 West Arenas Road “The Adobe House” – Designate as Class 1 Historic Site #59C the Adobe House, and the defining characteristics as shown on page 16 of the Staff Report: “the original adobe walls and wood shutters only, excluding the clay roof tiles, roof, and porch structure – they are not original. Designate as Class 2 Historic the south portion of the El Ricon Hotel and Apartments.” Seconded by Board member Strahl. Discussion: Acting Chair Nelson asked why the clay roof tiles and structure are excluded. Staff advised that the clay roof tiles, the wood beams that hold it up, and the porch columns are not original. The building was originally built with a corrugated steel roof and the porch columns that exist today are steel. Staff also pointed out that there is no reference to the irrigation ditch. Acting Chair Nelson amended the motion to include the McCallum era irrigation ditch. Board member Strahl seconded the amendment, and Board member Riley accepted the amendment to his motion. VOTE: M/S/C (Riley/Strahl) as stated in HSPB #59C (3) above stated and as amended– 5 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent, 0 Abstentions. (4) Board member Grattan moved to ask the City Council to initiate a Zone Change for the Casa Cody site to lower density residential. Board member Riley seconded this motion. Frank Tysen, owner and applicant, asked if this would allow ten additional units to be built at some future time. In order to make it feasible for future owners, there needs to be flexibility to allow more units if they so chose. He stated that he would rather work through a deed restriction on the property. Historic Site Preservation Board Page 4 of 5 Minutes from the September 11, 2007 Meeting Director Ewing explained that if the current zoning and general plan land use density would allow ten more units, then this Board is asking the Council to put a lower unit maximum on the property - it appears that about 44-45 units are allowed on this site by the current zoning. The owner may wish to put their own deed restrictions on the property. The motion would actually ask the City Council to initiate the process of re-zoning the site to change the zone from R-3 to some other lower-density residential zone. If the Council takes this up, they would initiate it, it would go to the Planning Commission for public hearing, and then to City Council for public hearing before final action. Board member Grattan asked if there would be any reason for the Council to follow through if Mr. Tysen provided a deed restriction in the meantime that would satisfy this aspect? Director Ewing suggested that the Board hold this for 30 days to allow time for Mr. Tysen to bring back to HSPB whatever agreements/deed restrictions he has prepared. VOTE: M/S/C (Grattan/Riley) to approve the motion (4) stated above and to allow Mr. Tysen 30 days to come back to HSPB with his proposed deed restrictions – 4 Yes, 1 No (Saunders), 2 Absent, 0 Abstentions. Board member J. Williams returned to the meeting at 10:00 a.m. 8. CERTIFICATES OF APPROVAL: N O N E 9. OTHER BUSINESS: N O N E 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS: A. Subcommittee Report of Historic Districts – J. Williams, B. Riley, and S. Williams No report. Acting Chair Nelson noted that on the Work Plan “Las Palmas” should be identified as “Old Las Palmas” and “Tuscany” should be identified as “Little Tuscany”. He recommended “Sunmor Estates” as another potential Historic District (they have expressed interest) and “Mesa”. He asked for a detailed report from the Subcommittee at the next meeting. B. Subcommittee Report on Public Outreach – J. Nelson, B. Strahl, and S. Grattan Mr. Lyon handed out a draft “Public Outreach and Education Work Plan 07-08” and described the contents: Short-Term, Long-Term, and Ongoing Work Items (attached for reference). Board member Grattan moved to approve this Work Plan. Board member Saunders seconded the motion. Discussion: Some Board members felt this Plan is too aggressive Plan and were concerned about being able to accomplish all the items. It was explained that this is a “laundry list” of what HSPB can do on an ongoing basis – even into the next fiscal year(s). VOTE: M/S/C (Grattan/Saunders) moved to approve the motion as stated above -6 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent, 0 Abstentions. C. Palm Springs Preservation Foundation – Jade Nelson The Foundation will hold a Members’ Reception Sunday, September 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Willows Historic Inn at 12 West Tahquitz Canyon Way. The “Palm Springs Re-imagined” event Historic Site Preservation Board Page 5 of 5 Minutes from the September 11, 2007 Meeting will be November 11. A new slate of officers has been elected. For more information, go to the web site: www.pspf.com. D. Palm Springs Modern Committee – John Williams - No report E. Architecture and Design Council – Sidney Williams Acting Chair Nelson reported that ADC will host a special event Sat., October 6 at the home of Julius Schulman celebrating his 97th birthday - $350 per person. Call Emily at the P.S. Art Museum for tickets. ADC will be featuring the new book “Julius Schulman - Palm Springs” in conjunction with the Exhibition February 15 to May 4, 2008. F. Budget & Work Program Priorities 2007/2008 – Staff Summary of items discussed at last meeting was in the Board packet. This Work Plan identifies nine items that HSPB agreed to focus on within the $7,000 budget approved by Council (refer to 8-21-07 Memo in packet). Board asked for the Budget and Work Plans to be given to them well in advance of the fiscal year so everything can be reviewed and approved prior to the new fiscal year. Prioritize six new properties for historic research and potential designation to Class 1 Sites. Members are to bring or email their list of six properties to the next meeting or to Ken Lyon, and Board will merge the lists and prioritize the top six of the combined lists. Staff advised members to look at all buildings in Palm Springs that are potentially historic. These may come from the 200 survey properties, the list of 53, or properties members may be aware of that are not on any list. 12. STAFF & OTHER REPORTS: Staff gave information about the Carnell Building, 196 North Palm Canyon Drive, built in 1936 and designated February 6, 1985 as a Class 2 Historic Site, # 11. The Horizon Hotel has applied to add structures to the site. It went to AAC September 10 and they recommended it for Restudy. It is not a designated historic site. The Council approved a Mills Act Agreement # A5544 on the Wexler/Steel home of Brian McGuire at 3125 North Sunny View Drive on September 5, 2007, and approved the Class 2 Historic designation of The Potter Clinic at 1000 North Palm Canyon Drive. The owners are interested in demolition of that building. The Class 1 Historic Site recommendation of Dr. Scholl’s residence will go before council September 19, 2007. 13. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS: Board member Riley passed out two articles of historic preservation interest. 14. ADJOURNMENT: Acting Chair Nelson moved for adjournment, seconded by Board member Saunders, and the meeting was adjourned at 10:37 a.m. The next regular meeting of HSPB will be Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 8:15 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Ken Lyon, Associate Planner Attachments: 1. Marcia Scharfen letter supporting Casa Cody 2. September Draft of Public Outreach & Education Work Plan