2001 12 20 HPC Minutes
MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Ouinta City Hall Session Room
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Ouinta, CA
December 20, 2001
This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairman
Maria Puente 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 Irwin, Mitchell, Sharp, Wright, and Chairman
Puente. Unanimously approved.
Staff Present:
Planning Manager Christine di lorio, 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 Wright/Mitchell to
approve the Minutes of November 15, 2001, as submitted. Unanimously
approved.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS
A. Phase I Cultural Resources Assessment for the La Ouinta Grill; a request
for approval of a Phase I Cultural Resources Assessment. Applicant: The
Woodward Group Historic Consultant: LSA
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. Commissioners Mitchell, Irwin, and Wright concurred with staff's
recommendations.
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December 20, 200 I
3. Commissioner Sharp concurred with staff's recommendations, but
asked what was going to be built on the site. Staff replied there
would be three office buildings constructed of board and batten
with a flat shingle tile roof.
4. Stewart Woodard, architect representing the applicant, clarified
there were actually three structures. One single story, and the
other two will be two stories. The plans would also utilize many
of the trees on site.
5. Commissioner Wright asked if the water tower would remain since
it was historic. The applicant replied he had two engineers looking
at the tower and both found it unsafe.
6. Commissioner Irwin stated she had been researching information
on this site and needed to speak to the former owner, Robert
Cunard. He would know more about the history of the building
and the tower.
7. Mr. Woodard stated he was trying to find further historic
information on the tower. He also stated if the tower was of
historical significance he would work with staff to try and preserve
the structure. Currently, however, his contractors have informed
him it is unsafe and will be dismantled piece by piece.
8. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Mitchell/Sharp to adopt Minute Motion 2001-021
recommending approval of the Phase I Cultural Resources
Assessment for the La Quinta Grill; located on the southeast
corner of Calle Cadiz and Avenida Bermudas. Unanimously
approved.
B. Phase I Cultural and Paleontological Resource Assessment for Specific Plan 90-
016. Amendment #1; a request for approval of a Phase I Cultural and
Paleontological Resources Assessment. Applicant: Toll Brothers - Historic
Consultant: LSA.
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.
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Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
December 20, 2001
2. Commissioner Mitchell had a question regarding the 15% portion of this
property that was inaccessible due to the surrounding brush. Applicant's
representative, Forrest Haag replied the area shown may have been
overestimated because the Historic Consultant did record the flora
coverage of the entire 385 acres. There was only one acre of Mesquite
Thistle that was not included in the inventory. The acreage has
continuously been planted in citrus groves, surveyed for home sites, and
had trees removed, leaving only a few palms and thickets of mesquite
which were identified in the study. The archeologists researched the
history of the property and referred back to the 1 990 Langwalter
Archaeology Study that was done for the 90-016 EIR which was a very
thorough investigation. So, the property has been thoroughly studied.
3. Commissioner Mitchell stated the Paleontology was performed too often
to areas which potentially would yield the same paleontological
resources. He then asked why the City was requiring so much
paleontology.
4. Planning Manager di Iorio responded that the City had a Paleontological
Plan which recognized certain research design questions that needed
additional clarification. The updated General Plan would address
Commissioner Mitchell's concern.
5. Commissioner Mitchell stated he had no other concerns other than he
thought this area was a "high" or "moderate" area for paleontological
resources. He also wanted to point out that doing paleontology
assessments should be approached with a lot of care and consideration
to avoid wasting the applicant's time and money. He stated the same
items would continue to show up, such as fresh water clam shells and
snails, if care was not exercised in ordering these studies. He asked if
there were regulations for paleontology studies to avoid these problems.
Staff stated the General Plan update has a Paleontological Section which
is more definitive of what is required. Staff will obtain copies to give to
the Commissioners.
6. Commissioner Wright concurred with staff's recommendations and
Commissioner Mitchell's concerns.
7. Commissioner Irwin stated her main concern was the two sections
identified and asked for monitoring during earth moving. Staff replied the
project was conditioned to do so.
8. Commissioner Sharp and Chairman Puente concurred with staff's
recommendations.
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December 20, 2001
9. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Wright/Mitchell to adopt Minute Motion 2001-021
recommending approval of the Phase I Cultural and Paleontological
Resources Assessment for Specific Plan 90-016, Amendment #1.
Unanimously approved.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
A.
1.
Commissioner Wright brought up the subject of the next meeting
date. He was concerned about the future time table for Item B.
2. Staff stated the normal meeting date would be January 17, but
the meeting could be rescheduled to a later date to allow the
applicant's archaeologist time to test the property and get a report
with sufficient information for the Commission to take action on
Phase II. That would allow the applicant to go to the City Council
on February 5, 2002.
3. After general discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Wright/Mitchell to change the January Historic
Preservation Commission meeting date from January 17, 2002 to
January 31, 2002. Unanimously approved.
B. Commissioner Irwin asked if there was any information on conferences
in the first quarter of 2002. Staff replied none had been received as of
this date.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Wright/Sharp to adjourn this meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to the
next regular meet rescheduled to be held on January 31, 2002. This meeting of the
Historical Preservation Commission was adjourned at 3:28 p.m., November 15, 2001.
Unanimously approved.
Submitted by:
(!;U~1v tM~~
Carolyn Walker
Secretary
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