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2003 08 29 HPC Minutes MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING The Regular Meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall Session Room 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California August29,2003 This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairperson, Leslie Mouriquand at 3:00 p.m. who led the flag salute and asked for the roll call. I. CALL TO ORDER A. Pledge of Allegiance B. Roll Call Present: Commissioners Puente, Sharp, Wilbur, Wright, and Chairperson Mouriquand. Staff Present: Planning Manager, Oscar Orci, Principal Planner Stan Sawa, and Secretary Carolyn Walker. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners WrighUSharp to approve the Minutes of June 19, 2003 as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Phase I Historical, ArchaeoloQical, and PaleontoloQical Resources Reports Applicant: Coachella Valley Engineers for Madison/58th Partners Paleontological Consultant: CRM TECH - Michael Hogan, Principal Location: South side of Avenue 58, approximately Y, mile west of Madison Street. 1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Commissioner Puente asked where the items would be stored, for long term curation. Staff replied they would be stored at the La Quinta Museum when it was completed. Until then they would be put in temporary City storage facilities. She then asked the status of the Museum and was told it had been tabled to the next fiscal year. 3. Commissioner Sharp asked if this property had been previously surveyed and if so, how long ago. Staff replied approximately half of the project had been previously surveyed and indicated the location on the map in the staff report. 4. Commissioner Wright commented there was an enormous amount of lead, from a former firing range, which was on this site. He thought it should be brought to the attention of the developer. Staff commented the site had been cleaned up. 5. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners WrighUPuente to adopt Minute Motion 2003- 009 accepting the Archaeological Assessment Report as submitted. Unanimously approved. 6. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners WrighUPuente to adopt Minute Motion 2003-010 accepting the Paleontological Assessment Report for Coachella Valley Engineers for Madison/58th Partners as submitted. Unanimously approved. B. Results of Phase II Archaeoloqical Assessment of Archaeoloqical Sites for Specific Plan 2003-065. Applicant: Centex Destination Properties Archaeological Consultant: Statistical Research, Inc. Location: West side of Eisenhower Drive at Coachella Drive 1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Ms. Anne Q. Stoll, Project Director at SRI (Statistical Research, Inc.) made a presentation about testing at the site. She stated they found nothing subsurface. There were surface scatters and trash related to the original hotel with some modern debris dumped on top. They did find two pieces of prehistoric pottery in the area and although their shovel testing did not indicate any prehistoric deposits they are recommending monitoring as this is a sensitive area with relation to the prehistoric stand of Lake Cahuilla. 2 3. Commissioner Wright asked if this was the milling stone area in the back of the property. He wanted to know if that site was going to be graded. 4. Chairperson Mouriquand said it was up to staff to work with the developer regarding preservation of the milling stones. She added she had previously recorded three of the milling stones in 1989 and her name was in this report. Since the time of her recording, the area has been heavily pot hunted or covered over with sand. There were areas, at the time, which could have been cremation sites or pottery firing locations. A lot of the sites have been destroyed in the past ten years. Her opinion was the area was heavily utilized. This is a highly significant area and this is one part of it. She was surprised only two pot sherds were found 5. Commissioner Wright asked if the milling stone was a large one. Chairperson Mouriquand replied most of them are slicks. 6. Commissioner Sharp asked for a definition of a milling stone. Chairperson Mouriquand replied these are large boulders at the toe of slope and they were used as milling stones and the ones on this project have slicks on them which are kind of an elongated, slightly depressed smoothed area; t!ius the name slick, as it is slick to the feel. They were used for grinding. She stated there were also rumored petroglyphs, which she had never been able to locate. This is a very significant area and she hoped the developer will keep the milling stones in place and feature them in an interpretive way, by incorporate them into the development. 7. Staff stated these are in the toe of slope and that particular area would be kept clear. The Plan focuses development within the site. There is a retention basin, and the balance is not to be touched. 8. Chairperson Mouriquand asked if there had been any consideration of conserving in perpetuity the milling stones. Staff replied there had not. She suggested staff consider the possibility. 9. Commissioner Wright commented since the milling stones have been identified, they should be preserved and not graded or developed. The recommendation of this Commission should be the milling stones be incorporated into some sort of preserved area. He was adamant about not allowing this site to be disturbed. 3 10. Commissioner Wilbur asked if the milling stones were currently in a recognizable state. Staff replied they were. 11. Commissioner Wright stated he had seen one of the sites and it was very recognizable. He thought the sites should be marked and the City should not allow development in this area. The area is so rich in history and tied in with the trail to the City of Indian Wells which is said to be as old as 3,000 years. He did not want to see this removed. 12. Chairperson Mouriquand asked if there was still a historical district designation for the Cove area in the General Plan. If not, she suggested it be created. Staff replied there wasn't currently a mechanism in place to allow the creation of a historic district. He reiterated the developer was not going to grade or develop this specific area. Chairperson Mouriquand suggested a district be completed under the local Historic Preservation rules. Staff replied one of the immediate preservation efforts would be an easement for the area containing the milling stones in order to preserve the stones. 13. Commissioner Wright stated the Commission had discussed this area before and recognized the toe of slope area needed protection; especially with regard to the fish lines. He stated he agreed with Chairperson Mouriquand the Commission should be emphatic to the toe of slope area to see that it is not disturbed. 14. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners WrighU Wilbur to adopt Minute Motion 2003- 011 accepting the Phase II Archaeological Assessment of Archaeological Sites for Specific Plan 2003-065 with an added condition as follows: A Conservation Easement shall be placed over that portion of the subject site containing milling stones. The Conservation Easement shall be prepared in the manner prescribed and approved by the City Attorney. Unanimously approved. 4 C. Historic preservation Commission Work Proqram 1. Planning Manager, Oscar Orci gave an update on the progress of the Commissions Work Program, which included the following points: a. A draft questionnaire was given to the Commissioners to survey other organizations regarding the possible future education forum. Planning Manager Orci requested each Commissioner read, edit and put in their comments and return it to him before the next Commission meeting. Staff will be sending this questionnaire to other cities, tribes, and museums. b. Staff stated the deadline for most grant programs is in May of next year. The applications should be available in October. Staff had requested the City be placed on the list and will bring back the completed application for the Commission's comments. c. Staff talked about the Context Statement and circulated a copy to all Commission members. He asked the Commission to look it over and give comments. He stated he would like to have Context Statement finalized as soon as possible. Chairperson Mouriquand stated it was her understanding there was a later version of this Statement. Planning Manager Orci said he would have staff check into the matter. Chairperson Mouriquand said she would check her own records for a copy and if she found it she would forward it on to staff. d. Staff stated there were standards for archaeological and paleontological reports. Staff would see that all Commissioners receive a copy. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None. V. COMMISSIONER ITEMS A. Presentation of a signed Plaque to former Commissioner Barbara Irwin. The text of this plaque was previously read into the June 19, 2003 Historic Preservation Commission minutes. Ms. Irwin thanked the Commission and wished them well 5 VI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Sharp/Wright to adjourn this Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to the next Regular Meeting to be held on September 18, 2003. This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was adjourned at 3:45 p.m. Unanimously approved. Submitted by: l' / ~') (J' L / dJ#( /JlJ 7{ If (/ip 1.-- Carolyn Walker Secretary 6