HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-07-11- HSPB MinutesHISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
Primrose “C”, Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros,
Palm Springs, California 92262
www.palmspringsca.gov
MINUTES
Gary Johns, Chair
Dick Burkett, Vice Chair
Todd Hays
Bill La Voie
Linda Dixon
Dan Kiser
Vincent Marsh
Flinn Fagg, AICP, Director of Planning Services
Ken Lyon, RA, Associate Planner
Pursuant to the Government Code Section 54957.5(b)(2) the designated office for inspection of public records in connection
with the meeting is the Planning Department, City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way. Complete Agenda Packets are
available for public inspection at: City Hall, Planning Department. Agenda and staff reports are available on the City’s
website: www.palmspringsca.gov. If you would like additional information on any item appearing on this agenda, please
contact the Planning Department at (760) 323-8245.
It is the intention of the City of Palm Springs to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an
attendee or a participant at this meeting, or in meetings on a regular basis, you will need special assistance beyond what is
normally provided, the City will attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact the Planning
Department, (760) 323-8245, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting, to inform us of your particular needs and to determine if
accommodation is feasible.
CALL TO ORDER:
ROLL CALL: Chair Johns, Vice Chair Burkett, Member La Voie, Member Hays
Absent: Marsh, Kiser, Dixon. (Member Marsh joined the meeting at 9:10 a.m.)
REPORT OF THE POSTING OF AGENDA: The agenda for this meeting was posted for
public review at the City Hall bulletin board (west side of Council Chamber) and the Planning
Department counter in accordance with applicable law.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: The Historic Site Preservation Board will discuss the order of
the agenda, may amend the order, note abstentions and request Consent Calendar items be removed
from the consent calendar for discussion.
Tuesday,
July 11, 2017
9:00 AM
REGULAR MEETING
Historic Site Preservation Board Minutes
July 11, 2017
Page 2 of 6
M/S/C (La Voie / Burkett), to approve the agenda, (4-0-3, Kiser, Dixon, Marsh absent).
PUBLIC COMMENT: This time has been set aside for members of the public to address the
Historic Site Preservation Board on agenda items and items of general interest within the subject
matter jurisdiction of the Board. Although the Historic Site Preservation Board values your comments,
pursuant to the Brown Act, it generally cannot take any action on items not listed on the posted
agenda. There will be three (3) minutes assigned for each speaker. Testimony for Public Hearings
will be taken at the time of the hearing.
SEAN GAINES, representing Kevin & Jessica Vanderzanden, owners of 252 N Sunset Way,
spoke about item 4.A. requesting the HSPB to allow the demolition to proceed.
ERIC ROSENOW, representing Palm Springs Preservation Foundation recommended denial
of the demolition request on 252 Sunset Way.
JIM GAZAN, Board Chair of the Sunmor Neighborhood Organization, spoke in opposition of
the demolition request for 252 Sunset Way.
ALEX DETHIER, neighbor at 289 Sunset Way spoke in opposition of the proposed demolition.
He read several letters from neighbors who also wrote in opposition of the proposed
demolition.
CHARLES L’ AMORE spoke in opposition of the demolition of 252 Sunset Way.
JIM HARLAN, local architect, spoke in opposition of demolition of 252 Sunset Way.
CHRIS BALE, 2033 Belding spoke in opposition of demolition of 252 Sunset Way.
LEE WILSON, 233 N Monterrey spoke in opposition of demolition 252 Sunset Way.
KAREN TOBAH, realtor, noted realtors need the ability to provide disclosure to prospective
buyers on whether or not a demolition may take place.
JADE NELSON, representing PSModcom, spoke in opposition of demolition of 252 Sunset
Way. He noted its architect was Richard Leitch, who also designed Tierra Del Sol in Palm
Desert and spoke regarding the architectural integrity of the neighborhood.
ROB REINHARDT, neighbor, spoke in opposition of demolition of 252 Sunset Way.
RICK BERG, representing the Sunmor Neighborhood Organization spoke in opposition of
demolition of 252 Sunset Way.
Seeing no further speakers, the Chair closed public comment.
Historic Site Preservation Board Minutes
July 11, 2017
Page 3 of 6
1. CONSENT CALENDAR:
1.A. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: MAY 9, 2017 and JUNE 13, 2017 HSPB
MEETING.
M/S/C (Marsh / La Voie) to approve the Historic Site Preservation Board Minutes of
May 9, 2017 and June 13, 2017, (5-0-2, Dixon, Kiser absent).
2. PUBLIC HEARINGS: (none)
3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: (none)
4. NEW BUSINESS:
4.A. AN APPLICATION BY KEVIN VANDERZANDEN, OWNER, TO DEMOLISH
THE SINGLE FAMILY STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 252 NORTH SUNSET
WAY, A CLASS 3 HISTORIC SITE, ZONE R-1-C (CASE 3.4039 MAA) (KL)
Staff member Lyon summarized the staff report.
Chair Johns asked about requirements for noticing cases such as this. (Staff Lyon
explained the noticing requirements of the City Municipal Code.)
Member Burkett asked if a stay is placed today, would that trigger a public hearing?
(Mr. Lyon answered no, the action to stay would be the completion of the boards’
action.)
Member Hays asked for clarification on Sunmor and Enchanted Homes and if the
neighborhoods wish to seek historic district designation, the concern about having a
majority (2/3rds support from homeowners).
Staff member Lyon explained the areas shown in the Citywide Historic Resource
Survey for the potential area where a historic district might be established, but there is
no requirement dictating that a proposed historic district must follow the boundaries of
the underlying subdivision or tract.
Member Marsh asked if demolition permits are tied to new construction permits (Staff
member Lyon stated no, they are not tied). He asked about clarification of when public
hearings are noticed and what constitutes a public hearing.
Director Fagg clarified differences in processing individual sites versus districts, noting
when there are tracts of similar homes, a district nomination may be appropriate.
Chair Johns asked about the listed square footage of the subject home and whether
there are other larger than average homes in the vicinity of the subject home.
Member La Voie spoke about the information in the draft Citywide Historic Resources
Survey and the appropriateness of the potential district.
Historic Site Preservation Board Minutes
July 11, 2017
Page 4 of 6
Staff and the board discussed the maximum timing of a stay and what actions of the
City would need to take place to approve a potential historic district application by the
City Council. (120 day stay plus one 60 day extension is the limit of the stay action that
the Board may impose.)
M/S/C (La Voie / Hays) to stay the demolition for 120 days to allow the neighborhood
organization to coordinate and submit a historic district nomination, (5-0-2, Kiser,
Dixon absent).
5. DISCUSSIONS:
5.A. UPDATE ON HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEYS
• HSPB #10 – Oasis Hotel Dining Room, (121-129 S. Palm Canyon Drive),
• HSPB #108 – Steve McQueen Residence (2303 Southridge Drive),
• HSPB #109 – Crocker–Citizens National Bank (1711 E. Palm Canyon).
Staff provided updates on the City’s professional services consultants working on each
of the cases. Scheduling for each of the firms to visit Palm Springs and their respective
sites will be established shortly.
5.B. CORNELIA WHITE HOUSE STABILIZATON UPDATE (Staff)
Staff member Laurie advised the board of the services of a structural consultant to
further evaluate and develop plans and specifications for obtaining actual construct
cost estimates for the stabilization of the structure. The City is working with D.W
Johnston (contractor) on pricing and review of the scope.
Staff will be back in September for a full update.
5.C. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER DAIS MILLWORK RENOVATION & A/V.
Staff member Laurie summarized the process on the project and introduced interior
design consultant Jeff Jurasky who explained the color and materials which were
reviewed by the board.
Mr. Jurasky noted the concept is to recreate the mid-century feeling that the original
City Council dais had. He noted the slight radius on the edges of the millwork was
reflective of the original white birch millwork designed by Albert Frey.
Mr. Jurasky explained that the color is dyed, not stained, to allow the wood grain to
show more vividly. He explained the new “second surface” which sits on top of the
basic “table top” of the millwork to conceal the computer systems and wiring. He
explained the plastic laminate which is proposed for the desk top surface for greater
durability.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS:
Member Hays asked about an update on the status of the Cork n Bottle Building.
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July 11, 2017
Page 5 of 6
Staff Lyon noted the building was in process of a purchase agreement with a private
developer. The developer is also the entity working on a larger mixed use hotel project
encompassing the Cork n Bottle as well as several adjacent sites.
Member Hays asked about the status of the Orchid Tree project. Director Fagg noted the
developer is through the Planning entitlement process and should be starting the submittal of
the building permits.
Member Burkett asked about the Crocker Bank Building professional services consultant and
the time remaining in the stay of demolition to get the project to the City Council for a decision.
(noted above).
Member Burkett discussed proposed revisions in the historic preservation ordinance and
mentioned a handout titled “Top 10 Myths of Historic Preservation” and requested staff
distribute it to the other HSPB members and in the fall to initiate outreach with the Realtor’s
community on basics of historic preservation relative to marketing properties.
Member Burkett noted the current National Trust for Historic Preservation magazine had
articles about Neutra.
Member Burkett suggested future discussion or study session on proposed changes in the
ordinances regarding demolition.
Director Fagg note the City is waiting for the Tribe to establish its policy and regulatory
position relative to processing historic resources on the ACBCI reservation before making
changes in the City’s ordinances. Issues of demolition, public hearings, and other current
topics can be integrated at that time.
Chair Johns asked about the Cork n Bottle building and the pending re-development project
relative to the AAC meeting review of the project and the AAC’s comments desiring to
integrate more of the Cork n Bottle Building, rather than just the façade.
Chair Johns asked further about the public hearing policies and requirements, noting the
turnout by the public for today’s meeting was impressive, yet many heard about it through
social media and neighborhood contacts. He opined that demolitions were as important as a
decision to designate a property as “historic” and encouraged that Staff keep the issue of
notification on demolitions “on the front burner” for possible ordinance revisions.
Member La Voie debriefed the Board on a recent dialogue he had with the City Council
regarding outreach to the community on pro’s and con’s of historic districts. Outreach is
needed to neighborhood organizations on “What it means to be a historic district”.
Chair Johns noted at last year’s board member interviews he was invited by the Council to
attend and observe and was unable to do so this year because he was only given roughly two
hour notice of the interviews and was unable to attend. He asked for more advance notice to
be able to attend.
Historic Site Preservation Board Minutes
July 11, 2017
Page 6 of 6
Mr. Marsh asked about the Racquet Club Class 1 recommendation from the HSPB. Director
Fagg noted the HSPB public hearing had to be re-noticed for September because of address
errors in the county database for the owner.
STAFF COMMENTS:
Director Fagg noted the downtown park meeting was July 20th at 6pm at the Convention
Center and the Board had submitted a letter to the City Council to incorporate certain historic
elements from the former Desert Inn (that used to be on the site of the park) into the park
design.
Scheduling of election of board officers will be at the September HSPB meeting.
Chair Johns mentioned an individual from Rios Clemente Architects contacted him about
finding where the Desert Inn gates were being stored that the Board recommended be
integrated in to the new park design.
Staff member Lyon noted materials and information would be presented at the September
meeting for the Board to develop their annual work plan for the 17/18 work year.
ADJOURNMENT: The Historic Site Preservation Board will adjourn to its regularly scheduled
meeting on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 9:00 A.M, in the Large Conference Room at City
Hall.