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Home My WebLink About22855 RESOLUTION NO. 22855 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 928 NORTH AVENIDA PALMAS ("CARY GRANT ESTATE") AS A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE, CASE NO. HSPB 75. WHEREAS, Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation of historic sites; and WHEREAS, the current property owner, Dr. Jane Cowles Smith, Trustee for the Jane Cowles Smith Family Trust, filed an application for Historic Site Designation; and WHEREAS, on June 8, 2010, the Historic Site Preservation Board conducted a public hearing in accordance with applicable law to consider designation of the "Cary Grant Estate" as a historic site, and considered said hearing to the meetings of July 13, 2010, August 10, 2010, and September 14, 2010; and WHEREAS, on September 14, 2010, the Historic Site Preservation Board adopted Resolution No. 75 to recommend to the City Council designation of the property located at 928 North Avenida Palmas ("Cary Grant Estate") as a Historic Site, Class 1; and WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs to consider designation of the property located at 928 North Avenida Palmas ("Cary Grant Estate") as a Historic Site, Class 1 was issued in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, on January 19, 2011, the City Council conducted a public hearing in accordance with applicable law to consider designation of the property located at 928 North Avenida Palmas ("Cary Grant Estate") as a Historic Site, Class 1; and WHEREAS, the designation of the property located at 928 North Avenida Palmas ("Cary Grant Estate") as a Historic Site, Class 1 shall further the purpose and intent of Palm Springs Municipal Code Chapter 8.05 and promotes the sensitive preservation of said site; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the designation of a historic site is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15331 for the preservation of historical resources; and WHEREAS, the City Council has carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence in connection with the designation, including but not limited to the staff report, application and historical research, all written and oral testimony presented. Resolution No. 22855 Page 2 THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALMS SPRINGS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Pursuant to CEQA, the City Council finds that the designation of the "Cary Grant Estate" as a Class 1 historic site is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15331 whereby this designation is for the preservation of a historical resource. SECTION 2. Pursuant to Section 8.05.020 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code, the City Council does hereby make the following findings regarding the property at 928 North Avenida Palmas ("Cary Grant Estate") to support designation as a Class 1 historic site: A. The property located at 928 North Avenida Palmas is associated with lives of persons who made meaningful contribution to national, state or local history, because several owners of this property have made meaningful contributions to national, state or local history. Dr. Jacob John Kocher was the City's first pharmacist and served as a director of several early civic organizations. Cary Grant was and remains one of the most legendary, world-renowned names in movie stardom and owned the estate for 18 years. Grant was named the second Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute. His popular films include "The Philadelphia Story," "An Affair to Remember," and "To Catch a Thief." His fame and architectural enlargement of the estate are important contributions. Actress Betsy Drake, the actor's wife at one time, also resided for several years at the estate. Frank Zane was well-known in the body-building industry, competed at the sport's highest levels, and won many titles. Dr. Jane Cowles Smith, a public health policy advocate, is a noted expert on the effects of pollution on rising disease levels. She has published widely on health and pain management issues, including her book "Informed Consent," which pioneered patient rights, and her book "Pain Relief," which led to the United States Congress accepting the "Pain Patient Bill of Rights." B. The property reflects or exemplifies a particular period of the national, state or local history, because the gated Estate's Spanish Colonial style recreates the rancho hacienda lifestyle of the early Californios and reflects the architectural design trends that defined luxury living in Palm Springs during the 1920's and 1930's. The Andalusian farm house influence represents the relaxed rural atmosphere familiar to the soldiers from the Spanish province of Andalusia, who were among the first adventurers to explore California. Resolution No. 22855 Page 3 C. The property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction, because the "Cary Grant Estate" possesses excellent architectural features common to a Spanish Colonial style house of the 1920's, expressed in a unique Andalusian-influenced farm house design with original hand-formed Gladding McBean barrel roof tiles, wide roof overhangs, thick white-washed stucco walls, wood mullioned windows of varying sizes, wooden shutters and original iron hardware and fixtures, including the "S" shutter holders. Exterior features, such as the courtyard, loggias, gardens and lush landscaping are all good examples of the style. This property retains most of the original character-defining materials and details; in some cases replacements have been made based on historic photographs. D. The property presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age; or that possesses high artistic value, because the designers of the original structures are not known. Renowned California architect Wallace Neff, a close personal friend of Cary Grant, designed a second-story addition to the garage as documented in Nef's book, "The Romance of Regional Architecture." Neff, who is recognized as developing the "California" style of architecture, was in demand during the era for important residential architecture including celebrity commissions, most notably Pickfair. SECTION 3. Based upon the foregoing, the City Council does hereby designate as a Class 1 Historic Site the property located at 928 North Avenida Palmas ("Cary Grant Estate"), subject to the following conditions: 1. The property owner shall permit the City to place at the site a historic marker noting the designation "Cary Grant Estate," but otherwise of the City's choosing. The marker shall be placed in a location visible from the public right-of-way. The owner shall maintain the marker in the location as installed and pay for the replacement cost if the marker is lost, stolen, or otherwise removed from the property. 2. All future modifications of the existing structures, as well as any new construction or any modifications to lighting, walls, fences and landscaping, other than routine maintenance, shall require Historical Site Preservation Board review, pursuant to Municipal Code Municipal Code Section 8.05.180. 3. All requirements of the Palm Springs Zoning Code shall be met. Resolution No. 22855 Page 4 SECTION 4. The City Clerk submit this Resolution to the Riverside County Recorder for recordation within 90 days of the effective date. SECTION 5. Any alterations or modifications to the exterior approved prior to the designation of this site by the City Council shall be deemed acceptable. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS THIS 197H DAY OF JANUARY, 2011. F DAVID H. READ MANAGER ATTEST: AMES THOMPSON, CITY CLERK CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS ) I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. 22855 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 19th day of January 2011, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmember Foat, Councilmember Hutcheson, Councilmember Mills, Mayor Pro Tern Weigel and Mayor Pougnet. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. AMES THOMPSON, CITY CLERK City of Palm Springs, California 0 I/z-,f ro t