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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Historic Preservation Committee - Sept. 26, 2005 CITY OF PALM DESERT HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 Administrative Conference Room I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Jan Holmlund called the meeting of the Historic Preservation Committee to order at 10:05 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Jan Holmlund Kim Housken Kent Routh Jim West Bonnie Bowie Bob Pitchford Also Present: Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety Richard Twedt, Public Arts Manager Hal Rover, President Historical Society Phil Drell, Planning Director Don Graybill Mary Clark, Recording Secretary III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Committee Member Jim West moved to approve the minutes of the August 29, 2005 as presented. It was seconded by Committee Member Bonnie Bowie and unanimously approved 5-0. IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS A. CHAIR REPORT – Jan Holmlund 1. 73487 Grapevine Street – Chair Jan Holmlund said that she had been contacted by Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety, to let the Committee know that a demolition permit had been applied for to remove the foundation of the home at 73487 Grapevine Street, which had been in a fire earlier in the year. This home is listed as #39 on the Unofficial Current Investigation Site Listing. Committee Member Bob Pitchford took pictures of the property and said that there is very little of Walter White left. The guesthouse has been C:\\Users\\nmartin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\14423 (2)_937944\\14423 (2).doc 1 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 modified and the other guesthouse doesn’t look like a Walter White structure. He indicated the slab of the original house is left with traces of flagstone flooring and some masonry stonewalls. He said that it is sad in a way, but does not see that the slab is worth saving. Chair Jan Holmlund said she would like to ask the Committee for a motion as to whether the demolition should take place and should a site sign be erected on the site. After discussion, the following motion was made. Action: Committee Member Jim West moved that the Committee approve the moving ahead with the demolition of the slab. Committee Member Kent Routh seconded the motion. It passed unanimously 5-0. Committee Member Jim West suggested that members of the Committee maintain a close relationship with the existing owners with regard to plaguing. Phil Drell, Planning Director, suggested to the Committee that they provide guidance to individuals, who may have purchased or own structures listed on the unofficial site list, with information on how to tear off and restore their structures. In addition, Mr. Drell asked the Committee to consider procedurally how sites on the list are going to be handled to assure historic value. He indicated that one method is to buy an architectural easement. Chair Jan Holmlund indicated that the Committee is in the process of rewriting their ordinance and asked Mr. Drell if he would assist with that process. Mr. Drell said that he would be willing to review the document. 2. Chair Jan Holmlund read a letter to the editor from Rose Carter, Palm Desert in the September 6, 2005 Desert Sun newspaper who is not in favor of the remodeling of the Monsoon building. Jim West suggested that Committee Members Kim Housken and Bonnie Bowie research what is taking place at that building. The article was given to Bonnie Bowie. 3. Chair Jan Holmlund discussed the September 9, 2005 article in the Desert Sun, regarding the new City of Palm Desert Visitor’s Center. She visited the building and was impressed with the architecture. 4. Chair Jan Holmlund read an article from July 24, 2005, Press Enterprise, regarding Tombstone Arizona facing the loss of their landmark status. 5. Chair Jan Holmlund reminded the Committee of the Riverside County rd Historical Commission 3 Annual Symposium & Cultural Heritage Celebration on October 29, 2005. She said that the City of Palm Desert Historic Preservation Committee has been approached to provide panel C:\\Users\\nmartin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\14423 (2)_937944\\14423 (2).doc 2 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 speakers at the Symposium, and that she would agreed to be a speaker and Jim West had also been asked to speak. 6. Chair Jan Holmlund addressed a topic that she found on the Internet at the National Trust Forum regarding preservation ordinances in gated communities. She asked the Committee to think about gated communities and how the City of Palm Desert would approach that issue. 7. Chair Jan Holmlund reminded the Committee of The Preserve American Initiative and said more information can be found at www.preserveamerica.com. She felt the Preserve America Presidential awards would be a goal for the Committee for next year. 8. Chair Jan Holmlund let the Committee know about the Historic Preservation Committee library now available in the City of Palm Desert Building and Safety Department. A library list was provided to each Committee member and books and pamphlets are available for check out. B. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT – Committee Member Jim West 1. Committee Member Jim West provided a copy of an article on Desert Modernism, which provides some background on desert architecture. In addition, he pointed out that in the City of Palm Desert there is a variety of architecture. Mr. West said he felt that part of the Committee’s mission is to become better educated in these areas and this article is good to give to others. 2. Committee Member Jim West reviewed the Unofficial Current Investigation Site Listing dated September 21, 2005, as follows: Item #29 – J. Russell Salon which is going through a façade enhancement and that they are doing a very good job and should be recognized by the Committee at the end of the project. Item #57 – 74111 Covered Wagon Trail is being renovated and instead of matching the wood on the outside stucco is being added; therefore, the Committee might want to consider removing this house from the list. Item #58 -- 73301 Pinyon Street -- asked the Committee to go by and look at this house. It is an example of another Palm Desert architect and the home has been there a long time. Items #61 – 73265 Tamarisk and #62 – Ronald Williams House – were reviewed and discussed. Item #63 – Henderson Office Building -- Jan Holmlund has been researching this property. Mr. West indicated that the first ten (10) items on the list are getting closer to having complete information; however some are missing photos, architect of record, drawings, etc. Don Graybill was asked to C:\\Users\\nmartin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\14423 (2)_937944\\14423 (2).doc 3 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 visit the Historical Society and review the photos on file for the first 10 sites on the list. Mr. Graybill agreed to do the research. Mr. West recommended that the Committee look at each site individually, and by the next meeting individual houses would be ready to vote on one at a time. Action: Committee Member Kent Routh moved that the Unofficial Investigation Site Listing be approved as an Official Investigation Site Listing with all ten (10) properties being agreed upon. Committee Member Bonnie Bowie seconded the motion. It passed unanimously 5-0. 3. Committee Member Jim West said that a date has been set for the film “Visions of Utopia” on Thursday, February 23, 2006, 6:00 p.m. at the Annenberg Theatre. Mr. West said a trailer for this film was shown on the east coast recently and it included Committee Member Kim Housken talking about growing up in the Schindler house. 4. Committee Member Jim West indicated that he has a contact name at the College of the Desert who has building and maintenance prints and he can now research and review the site plans and prints. Mr. West also has the name of the architecture coordinator and there is an architecture club on the campus so if there is a task that involves students there might be a possibility of using students. C. INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORT 1. Committee Member Bob Pitchford showed the Committee a piece of framing wood from a Cliff May house that is being remodeled. The wood was stamped to show it was a protected framing system. 2. Committee Member Bonnie Bowie reported that Item #60 48220 Painted Canyon – has had many major changes to it and there might be other properties in Cahuilla Hills that might be more representative. Don Graybill indicated that he had photos of that property and that the current owner has photos and a painting of what the property looked like before it was torn down. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Richard Twedt, Public Arts Manager, said that a review of the historic properties has been done for the Palm Desert tour book, and he wants to meet with Hal Rover, President Historical Society, for another review. Mr. Twedt indicated that they need to go out to bid and then it will be decided how many sites would be listed in the final copy of the tour book. Mr. Twedt thought that a final edit would take place sometime in January or February. He said that the property owners for these properties have been contacted to ask for permission to include their properties in the book. C:\\Users\\nmartin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\14423 (2)_937944\\14423 (2).doc 4 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 B. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety, said that the City Council accepted the resignation of Rhonda Rockwell at their September 22, 2005 meeting. There are applications on file and the deadline for new applications is November 10, 2005. Then the City Council will appoint a new member. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Chair Jan Holmlund commented that many of the Walter White plans are archived at the University of Santa Barbara. She said that Bob Pitchford, Architect and Committee Member, is familiar with these homes and she would like for Amir to consider funding a trip for Bob Pitchford to go to Santa Barbara to do the research and make the necessary copies. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety, agreed to pay for the trip for Bob Pitchford to go to the University of Santa Barbara to do research. He indicated we could provide funds for mileage, lodging, and cash advance for copies. Action: Committee Member Jim West moved that we send Bob Pitchford to the University of Santa Barbara to research the Walter White materials that are on file there and Rudolph Schindler materials that are on file there related to Palm Desert. Committee Member Kent Routh seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved 5-0. B. Chair Jan Holmlund asked who pays for the plaguing of historical buildings because she would like to see the Committee work on a design for the plaque. Committee Member Jim West commented that he felt that the owner should not have to pay at all. The cost of plaques was discussed and it was estimated that they could be around $300-$500 each. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety, pointed out that the current ordinance indicates that the design of the plaque needs to be approved by the City Council. He suggested that once the Committee has several items for discussion that a study session be set up with the City Council and ask for their feedback. It was suggested that Amir Hamidzadeh, Richard Twedt, Bob Pitchford and Jim West work on a committee for plaguing. Amir also suggested that a Council member be invited to a regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Committee. Action: Chair Jan Holmlund moved that the design of the plaque be approved by the Historic Preservation Committee and the City Council and that once the plaque is designed that the City provide those plaques to the properties to be marked. Committee Member Kent Routh seconded the motion. It passed unanimously 5-0. C:\\Users\\nmartin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\14423 (2)_937944\\14423 (2).doc 5 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 C. Chair Jan Holmlund said that there is a Subcommittee of Bonnie Bowie, Kim Housken, and Jan Holmlund to work on the ordinance; however, she feels they are going to need a consultant to help with writing the ordinance. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety, suggested that the Subcommittee prepare the rough draft and then Phil Drell, Planning Director and himself would review it. He thought a consultant could be contacted to review the final copy. D. Chair Jan Holmlund said that she sees a need for an Administrative Subcommittee that includes the Chair, Vice Chair, and one other person to be determined by the Chair to address items like ordinances and other administrative matters. Action: Committee Member Kent Routh moved that a subcommittee be created for administrative and ordinances purposes. Committee Member Bonnie Bowie seconded the motion. It passed unanimously 5-0. Jan Holmlund volunteered to serve on this new subcommittee with the new Chair and Vice Chair. She asked if Bonnie Bowie would be willing to assist and Committee Member Bowie agreed. E. Amir Hamidzadeh, Director of Building and Safety, let the Committee know that there is a digital camera available in the Department, which can be used by the Committee. He also asked the Committee if they could try to keep their meetings to two hours. It was suggested that if there are items that are not agenda related then they could be taken care of in a workshop either before or after the meeting. Mr. Hamidzadeh also let the Committee know that there is a video on the history of Palm Desert called “Decades of Development 1910-1998.” He said he would get a copy for the Committee. F. Election of Officers: Action: Chair Jan Holmlund moved that the Vice Chair become Chair for the next year. Committee Member Bonnie Bowie seconded the motion. It passed unanimously 5-0. Kent Routh agreed and is the new Chair for the Historic Preservation Committee. Action: Kent Routh moved to elect Kim Housken as Vice Chair. Jim West seconded the motion. It passed unanimously 5-0. Kim Housken agreed to this nomination in a previous discussion with Jan Holmlund and is the new Vice Chair for the Historic Preservation Committee. Kent Routh complimented Jan Holmlund on a job well done for the past year and all of the progress that has been made as a Committee. Jan thanked the Committee for all of their hard work and all of the research and progress that has been made. She also thanked the Department for their support. Ms. C:\\Users\\nmartin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\14423 (2)_937944\\14423 (2).doc 6 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Minutes SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 Holmlund indicated she would be making a report to the City Council on the progress over the past year. VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Hal Rover, President, Historical Society, said that he is following the Planning Commission agendas. VIII. CONFIRM NEXT MEETING DATE AND ADJOURN The Historic Preservation Committee’s next meeting is Monday, October 31, 2005, 10:00 a.m. in the City of Palm Desert Administrative Conference Room. Chair Jan Holmlund adjourned the meeting at 12:45 p.m. C:\\Users\\nmartin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\14423 (2)_937944\\14423 (2).doc 7