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1996 09 19 HPC Minutes MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall Session Room 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA September 19, 1996 3:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order at 3:07 P.M. by Chairman Millis, who led the flag salute. B. ROLL CALL I. Chairman Millis requested the roll caI1: Present: Commissioners DeMersman, Puente, Woodard, Wright, and Chairman Millis. 2. Staff present: Planning Manager Christine di Iorio and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. II. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA: Confirmed III. PUBLIC COMMENT: None IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. There being no corrections to the Minutes of August IS, 1996, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Woodard/Wright to approve the minutes as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Starli~ht Dunes I. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. There being no questions, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners DeMersmanlWright to approve the report as submitted. Unanimously approved. Historical Preservation Commission August 22. 1996 B. Lapiz Ener~v Archaeolo\!v Report I. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Commissioner Woodard asked staff how a site was determined. Staff explained that when an area is found with an accumlation of artifacts it is identified as a site. 3. Chairman Millis asked staff to define what full recovery meant. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio explained that it was when a monitor goes to a site and does a grid pattern of excavation until nothing is found. 4. There being no further discussion it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Puente to approve the report as submitted. Unanimously approved. C. Terracina Apartments Archaeolo~y Report I. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Commissioner Woodard asked what the duties of a monitor were. Staff explained that the educated opinion of the archaeologist determined what studies would be conducted on the site. Discussion followed regarding how the archaeologist makes his determinations. Staff explained that the archaeology reports are now being required at the time of submittal instead of when building permits are issued. 3. It was moved and seconded by Commissioner PuentelDeMersman to accept the report as submitted. Unanimously approved. D. CLG Certificate Workshop Update 1. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Commissioner Puente suggested staff send the brochure to some of the other agencies that might be interested in attending the workshop. Discussion followed regarding those who would benefit by attending the workshop. Historical Preservation Commission '~~1996 . ~ Se 0' i I 3. There being no further discussion, Chairman Millis directed staff to distribute the brochures as discussed. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL A. Staff distributed and discussed the letters that had been sent to the consultant candidates. The Contracts for Mellon & Associates had been approved and signed by the Council and staff. VII COMMISSIONER ITEMS A. Commissioner Items: 1. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio gave a presentation on the seismic retrofit and interior remodeling of the Hacienda del Gato. a. Staff introduced Mr. Larry Spicer, representing the Sienna Corporation, new owners of the who spoke regarding the retrofit of the Hacienda del Gato. Mr. Spicer stated he would be willing to take each of the Commissioners on a tour. The plans he had with him were of the interior designofthe Hacienda del Gata. At a later date they would be submitting plans for the exterior grounds and demolition that is proposed. Mr. Spicer went to to describe the proposed changes that were to be made to the site. It has been a residence and it will be converted to a sales and information center with office space. It will evolve from the one use to the other to be sensitive to the tradition of the place. The idea is to have the new construction adjacent to the old in a style that is compatible. The interior changes was to create a handicapped accessible are in the wing that use to be bedrooms. Then creating some entries between the three offices for communications. The oak floors in the library and main living area will be refinished. The ceiling tongue and groove beams will remain as they are. Over the fireplace a mantel will be installed. This area will generally be cleaned up and refurbished and address the ADA requirements at a later date. The challenge is to balance the historic character with the new Code requirements such as the ADA. The public events that are planned for later this year are generating the start of the construction. In regards to the retrofiting, during the inspection of the buildng they found that the framing extends down to the footings and therefore the roof carries the load making this building exempt from the retrofitting requirements. They have received a letter from the Builidng and and Safety Departmetn asking that they have the framing anchored to the stem wall. Due to the structural foundation of the building, they are investigating earthquake insurance to determine the structure integrity Historical Preservation Commission August 22 , 1996 of the building, The stem wall is 12" wide with the footer below this, The builidng has been up 70 years and there is no evidence of any cracking, They have contracted with Knox Mellon and Associates to do a survey of the buildings and its environment. b, Planning Manager Christine di Iorio presented Building and Safety Director Tom Hartung who explained that the building would not require all the building modifications they originally thought it would need due to it meeting the historical requirements, Staff is currently looking at the handicapped requirements in light of the historical building, c, Commissioner Woodard asked who would make the detemrination on the ADA requirements, Staff stated the Building and Safety Department. d, Commissioner Woodard asked about updating the handicapped parking, Mr, Spicer explained where they would be located and given access to the building, Building and Safety Director Tom Hartung stated the restricitons would be lessened due to its historic nature and some concessions can be made so that the changes would not destroy the historic fabric of the building. e. Commissioner Woodard asked if the interior work could begin without the site plan being approved. Staff stated that as long as the HPC approved the project and no life or safety hazards were being created, staff would approve it. f. Commissioner DeMersman stated that in his work they had received several exemptions from the ADA due to the circumstances of historic buildings. g. Commissioner Woodard asked if the HPC reviewed the interior dsign of the buildings. Chairman Millis stated they did not. Staff stated they could have a clause added to the conditions that if the interior was of more valuable than the exterior, then neither the inside nor the outside could be modified. h. Mr. Spicer showed the design drawings of the site to the Commission. 1. Commissioner Wright thanked Mr. Spicer and the Sienna organiztion for being so historically sensitive to the site. Mr. Spicer stated that the impact of the site on the community is very evident. J. Mr. Spicer thanked the Commission for their time. Historical Preservation Commission Aug"st-i-Y,1996 c.;e pi '7 k. Commissioner Woodard asked staff to explain the procedure whereby the Commision would review a site at a historic location. What is the procedure when the Commission would do an extensive review of a project. I. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio explained that under CEQA the HPC would review the entire site relative to where all the buildings are, the trees, etc. CEQA requires that no loss of integrity is being made to the buidling. It must be compatible with the historic structure. Any new buildings must be compatible with the existing. m. Commissioner Woodard explained that he would like to see what the addition would be constructed of and the details. Staff explained that the Commission would be reviewing the same package that would be submitted to the Planning Comission. This review was a preview to an official review. n. Commissioner DeMersman explained his experience with the compatibilty issues as they pertain to new consruction with historic sites. Commissioners discussed the different interpretations of how new construction is viewed. B. Commissioner DeMersman stated that the State Preservation Conference being held in the desert was becoming more of a reality. C. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio explained that there would be a workshop held by the California Preservation Foundation in January in Palm Springs. Commissioners were encouraged to attend any of the workshops that were being offered. D. Commissioner Puente asked if the meeting could start at 3:15 P.M. rather than 3:00 P.M. to allow her time to arrive from school. There being no objections, it was unanimously determined that the meeting would begin at 3:30 P.M. VIII.. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners DeMersman/Puente to adjourn this meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to a regular meeting of the Historical Preservation Commission on October 17, 1996. This meeting of the Historical Preservation Commission was adjourned at 4:04 P.M. Unanimously approved.