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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RES 2013-29RESOLUTION NO. 2013-29 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT APPROVING LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR PALM DESERT COMMUNITY CHURCH (CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING PALM DESERT), LOCATED AT 45-630 PORTOLA AVE, AS A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK CASE NO. CRPC 13-02 WHEREAS, on April 30, 2013, the Cultural Resource Preservation Committee conducted a public hearing to consider initiation of Landmark Designation of the Palm Desert Community Church (Center for Spiritual Living Palm Desert), located at 45-630 Portola Ave, Assessor's Parcel No. 625-172-004, as a historic landmark pursuant to Section 29.40 of the Palm Desert Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee has considered all of the evidence submitted into the administrative record which includes, but not limited to: 1. Agenda reports were prepared by the Department of Building and Safety. 2. Staff presentation at the meeting held on April 30, 2013 before the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee. 3. The City of Palm Desert, Cultural Resources Ordinance No. 1168, and all other applicable regulations and codes. 4. Public comments, both written and oral, received and/or submitted at or prior to the meeting, supporting and/or opposing the applicant's request. 5. Testimony and/or comments from the applicant and its representatives submitted to the City in both written and oral form at or prior to the meeting. 6. All related documents received and/or submitted at or prior to the meeting. WHEREAS, based on the forgoing evidence, the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee finds that: 1. A request for Landmark Designation for the Palm Desert Community Church (Center for Spiritual Living Palm Desert), located at 45-630 Portola Ave, was made on March 27, 2012, to designate as an historical landmark. 2. Notice of the April 30, 2013, Cultural Resources Preservation Committee meeting was posted in the Desert Sun and at City Hall. 3. Notice of the April 30, 2013 Cultural Resources Preservation Committee was provided to the affected property owner as shown on the latest Riverside County assessment role. Owner was notified by telephone and by first class mail. 4. Notice of the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee meeting included the notice requirements set forth in Califomia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). WHEREAS, based on the Cultural Resources Ordinance 1168, the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee concludes the following: 1. Palm Deserts' character and history are reflected in its cultural, historical, and architectural heritage, and 2. Palm Deserts' historical foundations should be preserved as living parts of the community life and development in order to foster an understanding of the City's past so that future generations may have a genuine opportunity to appreciate, enjoy, and understand Palm Deserts' heritage, and 3. The Cultural Resources Preservation Committee has reviewed this site and determined it to be historically significant and could contribute to the economic and cultural revival of the City. Resolution No. 9011-79 Page 2 of 3 WHEREAS, in view of all the evidence and based on the forgoing designation criterion, the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee concludes as follows: The Palm Desert Community Church (Center for Spiritual Living Palm Desert), located at 45-630 Portola Ave, meets the following designation criterion as contained in the City's Cultural Resources Ordinance, and is hereby worthy of preservation and designation as a Local Historic Landmark. A. "Exemplifies or reflects special elements of cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, architectural, or natural history"; E. "Reflects distinctive examples of community planning or significant development patterns, including those associated with different eras of settlement and growth, agriculture, or transportation." A ground -breaking ceremony was held at the Portola Ave. site on February 6, 1950. Architect Barry Frost's plans were approved by the congregation on March 12, 1950, with Clarence Beck of Indio, the builder. Carl Henderson became the chairman of the building committee, and the congregation set to work in earnest to provide a roof for "the house that Mac would build." They had a venison supper at $10 a plate, and they had a church auction. Cliff Henderson donated a Palomino pony to swell the funds. It was sold for $500, given back to the church and sold again, netting in the end $1000. A young boy who had agonizingly watched the back -and -forth sale of the pony, and whose obvious desire for it was not lost on its final owner, ended up by having the pony presented to him as a gift. In April of 1950, during the construction of the church, General Jimmy Doolittle, a high school classmate of Col. Cliff Henderson, and his Tokyo Raiders, 38 in all, were invited to Palm Desert to celebrate their fifth reunion. They were entertained by Bob Hope and Edgar Bergan during their weekend stay. On Sunday moming they all attended the half - completed church and listened to a sermon as they contemplated the vast desert within the wall -less building. Among them was Corporal Jacob D. Deshazar, one of the flyers in the Tokyo raid, downed and captured in Japanese -controlled China. In solitary confinement for three years, he found Christ and, after the war, returned to Japan to preach the Gospel. An engraved comerstone was put in place at the N/W comer of the native -stone bell tower on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1950, following the Thursday service, two years after the very first service. The whole community was invited. A metal container held early photographs, the Holy Bible, copies of legal documents, a roster of charter and present members and officers, and current issues of the Desert Sun. The soloist this day had also been the soloist at the laying of the cornerstone of the Palm Springs Community Church in 1935. Page 2 of 3 Resolution No. 2013-29 Page 3 of 3 The Center for Spiritual Living Palm Desert is now located in the enlarged, yet easily - recognizable original structure on the Portola Ave. site. (Parcel No. 625-172-004-3) NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT DOES HEREBY DESIGNATE THE PALM DESERT COMMUNITY CHURCH (CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING PALM DESERT), LOCATED AT 45-630 PORTOLA AVE, AS A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Palm Desert, California at its regular meeting held this 23rd day of May , 2013, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: BENSON, SPIEGEL, TANNER, WEBER, and HARNIK NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ATTEST: ' HELLE D. KLASSE , CITY CLE 9AG4 L. N C. HARNIK, MAYOR CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA Page 3 of 3