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Home My WebLink About2007-11-13- HSPB minutes CITY OF PALM SPRINGS HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING Minutes of Meeting -Tuesday, November 13, 2007 Council Chamber, 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 X 4 1 Jade Nelson, Vice Chair X 4 1 John Williams 0 4 1 Harold “Bud” Riley X 4 1 Brian Strahl Sheila Grattan Shelly Saunders X X X 5 5 5 0 0 0 STAFF PRESENT: Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Diane Bullock, Associate Planner Loretta Moffett, Administrative Assistant * * * * * 1. The HSPB regularly scheduled meeting was called to order at 8:19 a.m. on Tuesday, November 13, 2007. 2. ROLL CALL: Present: J. Nelson, B. Strahl, S. Grattan, S. Saunders, B. Riley, S. Williams. Absent: J. Williams 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, November 8, 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: N O N E 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: M/S/C (Riley/Nelson) to approve Minutes of the October 9, 2007 HSPB Meeting as presented – 6 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent, 0 Abstention 6. REPORT FROM THE CHAIR: Chair S. Williams congratulated Sheila Grattan and John Williams on a good campaign. The California Office of Historic Preservation held their meeting at City Hall November 8 and 9 and expressed their interest and offer of assistance to Palm Springs regarding future preservation issues. At the same time the National Historic Trust was in Palm Springs held their meeting and toured several historic sites in Palm Springs. Palm Springs is receiving national recognition for its historic architecture. The Architectural and Historic Tour provided by Robert Imber was worthwhile and educational. All Board members will be taking this same 3 - hour tour at various times. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: N O N E 8. CERTIFICATES OF APPROVAL: Historic Site Preservation Board Page 2 of 4 Minutes from the November 13, 2007 Meeting 8.A. Azul at 369 North Palm Canyon Drive (GTE Building Historic Site #26) Case 3.1277 - Application for modifications to the second floor back terrace Staff member Scott Taschner described the modifications and additions being applied for and indicated that staff feels this does not change the historic elements of the building. It was pointed out by the Board that new additions should not match or duplicate the historic structure and should look like a ‘new’ addition per the Secretary of Interior Standards. After discussion and review of the plans and materials by the Board, staff, and Azul’s representative, Board member B. Strahl moved to approve the application as presented with the exception of making the adjustment on the east façade of removing the window so as to not make it look exactly the same. Vice Chair Nelson seconded and the vote carried with 6 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent, 0 Abstention. 8.B. Case No. SP 07-025 Application by Coast Signs for Bank of America to replace and reface existing signs at 588 South Palm Canyon Drive. Designated HSPB Historic Site #52 on July 18, 2007 by the P.S. City Council Staff member Diane Bullock described the signage being applied for by the Bank of America to replace existing signage and add a new monument sign perpendicular to South Indian Canyon Drive and pointed out the dimensions of the signs as allowed by Code. Staff recommended that the HSPB grant a certificate of approval for the signage subject to the following conditions: (1) The monument sign is not approved; (2) The fascia main signs shall be reduced to 43.5 square feet; (3) The surface areas shall be restored to a first-class condition before mounting any new signage; and (4) The colors for the main sign text shall be limited to blue letters on the white stucco and white letters on the blue tile, excepting corporate logos. After discussion of signs, sizes, colors, materials, tiles, etc. with Steve Stallone, representative from Coast Signs, Chair S. Williams moved to approve a Certificate of Approval with the following conditions: (1) The monument sign is not approved per staff’s recommendations; (2) The fascia main signs be reduced to 43.5 square feet allowed by Code; (3) That the surface areas be repaired; (4) The South sign No. 1 not add any further holes in the blue tile fascia; and (5) The color of the main sign is limited to blue with white letters. Board member B. Strahl seconded the motion with the comment that if the logo portion of the south-facing sign, there is no tile behind it and the background is white. Maybe tile can be harvested from another less obvious location. Vote: M/S/C (S. Williams/B Strahl) to approve a Certificate of Approval as stated above - 6 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent, 0 Abstention. Historic Site Preservation Board Page 3 of 4 Minutes from the November 13, 2007 Meeting 9. OTHER BUSINESS: N O N E 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS: A. Subcommittee Report on Public Outreach – J. Nelson, B. Strahl, and S. Grattan A web site was discussed as an opportunity to expand preservation education, awareness, a marketing tool for future designations, interactive, attracting volunteers, etc. It’s important to plan now so that a budget can be established. Board member Grattan has written a draft a letter directed to local realtors (copy provided to members). Vice Chair Nelson drafted a letter to specific homeowners who have already expressed interest in having their homes designated. Board to review letters for discussion at the December meeting. B. Palm Springs Preservation Foundation – Jade Nelson The Foundation received a Resolution from the State Office of Historic Preservation recognizing their valiant efforts for preservation in Palm Springs over the past ten years. C. Palm Springs Modern Committee – Chair S. Williams reported they met last Saturday and discussed projects in process, the home tour next April, and Modernism Week. They also received a Resolution of the State Office of Historic Preservation commending them for their work. D. Palm Springs Historical Society – Sidney Williams The Annual Pioneer Picnic will be November 11 (Veterans Day) was a great success. Information about the Society can be obtained at PalmSpringsHistory@ aol.com or the Historical Society at 760-323-8297. F. Architecture and Design Council – Sidney Williams First lecture of the season is November 17 by award winning Jonathan Segal, an Architect/Developer from San Diego - $5 for ADC members, $10 for the general public. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at the Museum Box Office. A postcard listing all the upcoming lectures was distributed to members G. Budget & Work Program 2007/2008 – Staff Chair S. Williams reported that another aspect of the Work Program is to approach other local preservation organizations who might add to our budget - a draft letter asking for their support for historic markers, educational materials was provided as an example. Letter was read and members were asked for suggestions (copy provided at meeting). Board member Sheila Grattan moved to approve this letter written by Chair S. Williams. Board member B. Riley seconded, and the vote was 6 Yes, 0 No, 1 Absent, 0 Abstention to finalize the letter and send it to local preservation groups and organization. 11. STAFF & OTHER REPORTS: Staff member D. Bullock pointed out a couple of handouts (1) 2007 Workshop Series on the Mills Act; (2) New Public Hearing Schedule for 2008; (3) a copy of the booklet of Class 1 information published by the Preservation Foundation. Members can get information about the workshops on the sponsor’s web sites after the event has been held. Historic Site Preservation Board Page 4 of 4 Minutes from the November 13, 2007 Meeting 12. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS: Board member S. Saunders asked for the December Agenda to list a discussion regarding the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and how it relates to local standards and codes. Board member J. Nelson reported that the Dr. Scholl property owner recently applied for demolition permits, which were granted for fill-in of the pool and demolished the detached cabana kitchen and and tennis court, and razed all the vegetation on the entire site. The house is back on the market for sale at 211 East Morongo Road in the Tahquitz River neighborhood area. Board member S. Grattan suggested the Board line-up companies who specialize in matching and actual materials for tiles, signs, etc. so they can be given to those who want to restore their properties. The resource list should be on the future HSPB web site. Chair S. Williams advised there are preservation specialists in various locations and offered to talk with one of the LA firms. (Staff member Ken Lyon’s Note: The City cannot endorse or promote private businesses on its web site or by other means.) Board member B. Strahl advised that the Kaufman house is going to be auctioned at Sotheby’s. 13. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business it was moved and seconded to adjourn the HSPB meeting at 9:19 a.m. The next regular meeting of HSPB will be Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. in the large conference room at City Hall. Respectfully submitted, Diane Bullock, Associate Planner