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2007 08 16 HPC Minutes MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING A Regular meeting held in the East Conference Room at the La Ouinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Ouinta, CA August 16, 2007 This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Vice Chairperson Wright at 3:00 p.m. who asked for the roll call. I. CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call. Present: Commissioners Sharp, Redmon, and Vice Chairman Wright Absent: Commissioner Puente and Chairman Wilbur Staff Present: Planning Director Les Johnson, Principal Planners Andy Mogensen and 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 Sharp/Wright to approve the minutes of June 21, 2007, as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Paleontological Resources Assessment of the Travertine Project, La Ouinta, Riverside County, California Applicant: Hoffman Land Development Consultants: SWCA Environmental Consultants Location: Area roughly bounded by the extensions of Jefferson Street, Madison Street, Avenue 60 and Avenue 63. 1 . Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. P:\Reports - HPC\2007\9-20-07\Draft Minutes.doc Historic Preservation Commission August 16, 2007 2. Commissioner Sharp asked if these would be tract or custom- built homes. 3. Mr. Jim Hildenbrand, 77852 Wildcat Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92211, representing Hoffman Land Development, introduced himself and said they would be more high-end homes. 4, Commissioner Sharp asked how many units would be built. Mr. Hildenbrand replied they are still in the planning process. He added the original Specific Plan provided for up to 2,300 units, a 500-room hotel. a tennis facility and ten acres of commercial. He said they are probably looking at one golf course, a very high-end residential component and a set-aside hotel/resort facility component, There will also be some additional minor land uses spread in between those sites in order to facilitate some other fractional time share uses within the hotel. 5. Commissioner Sharp asked if the project was going to be compatible with the Quarry. Mr. Hildenbrand said they will be trying for at least that level. They are adjacent to the Ministrelli property and are coordinating issues. Commissioner Sharp asked if Mr. Ministrelli's property was developed, Mr. Hildenbrand replied it was not. Staff said the Ministrelli piece is in final map review. 6. Commissioner Sharp asked the starting date of the project. Staff said the client had been through a lengthy process and addressed various issues to bring the project to finality. They are currently in the early process of reviewing their Specific Plan and land uses. The project will be scaled back from what the 1995 Specific Plan identified. Commissioner Sharp asked about population density and land use: Staff replied the project would be a less intensive project, but they are very early into the modification of their Specific Plan. Staff is encouraged that: 1) they have been able to work with Fish & Wildlife Service and the other entities to address habitat-related concerns; and 2) they've been able to secure the Bureau Of Reclamation crossing over the dike to Madison which is another significant hurdle. They are making progress and have hired a land use planning consultant firm to assist in the planning process. An amended Specific Plan should be completed by year end. 7. Commissioner Sharp said he was encouraged by the number of replies received from the Native American groups. Staff replied that was actually a part of the Cultural (Archaeological) Report. P:\Reports - HPC\2007\9-20-07\Draft Minutes.doc 2 Historic Preservation Commission August 16, 2007 8. Commissioner Sharp said the consultant did a great job on this report. 9. Vice Chairman Wright said he has been watching this project since 1995 and this is probably the most beautiful piece of property in La Quinta. It is rich in ancient human habitat, as far as the people who lived there three or 4,000 years ago. He is glad to see it finally get started. The reports are great and advised the client to follow-through and work with staff. 10. Mr. Hildenbrand said it has been a journey bringing this project fOlrward and they are now starting on the fun part of seeing the vision coming forward. 11. Commissioner Sharp asked about a particular section of the map. It is noted as "Not a part" of the project. Mr. Hildenbrand said it belongs to an independent owner. They have been negotiating with the owner to purchase the property. 12. Commissioner Sharp asked about the access areas noted on the map. Mr. Hildenbrand said they were defined as study areas in order to address future roadways. They prepared those studies to make sure the offsite roadways were covered in the reports. They were also included to eliminate any roadway issues in the future. One is a grant from the Bureau of Land Management and the other is a license agreement to cross the dike as well as ri~lhts-of-easement from property owners around the access areas. 13. There being no further comments it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Sharp to approve Minute Motion 2007-006 accepting the Paleontological Resources Assessment as submitted. Unanimously approved. B. (1) Class III Cultural Resources Inventory and Evaluation, Including Limited Subsurface Testing of Archaeological Site Ca-Riv-7394 for the Proposed Travertine Development Project (2) Phase I Report on Vineyards Within Section 33 of the Proposed Travertine Development Project Applicant: Travertine Corporation Consultants: SWCA Environmental Consultants Location: Area roughly bounded by the extensions of Jefferson Street, Madison Street, Avenue 60 and Avenue 63. P:\Reports - HPC\2007\9-20-07\Draft Minutes.doc 3 .- -- Historic Preservation Commission August 16, 2007 1 . Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. 2. Commissioner Redmon noted under Recommendations, Paragraph 3, if any artifacts are found they will be "...delivered to the City, unless the Native American tribes wish to have them, prior to issuance of first building permit for the property." She asked if the artifacts brought to the City are then put into use in the new museum or what is the intended use for those materials and what happens to them. Staff said this is a topic that could be more fully addressed in Commissioner Comments at a later date. The brief answer would be, depending on the find, staff would work with the City's museum manager to determine whether to display or archive the item. The new museum manager would make the decision. 3. Commissioner Redmon asked if it was the intent of the City to place some of these materials in the new museum. Staff said that is the intent, but the first concern is proper curation. There will then be a determination as to which items will be displayed. 4. Vice Chairman Wright said previous artifacts have been placed in storage with the Native American Tribes and U.C. Riverside. He expressed his pleasure at having such a nice place to curate these items. Vice Chairman Wright said there will be Native American monitors on almost all the new projects because of S818. 5. Commissioner Redmon asked what constituted the qualifications of the American Indian Monitor. Staff said the City conditions the project and the Native Americans decide who, and what, constitutes a qualified monitor. It is up to the Tribe who is involved in the project, to bring in the appropriate monitor. 6. Mr. Hildenbrand said he was working with William Contreras of the Torres Martinez Tribe to provide a Native American Monitor. P:\Reports - HPC\2007\9-20-07\Draft Minutes.doc 4 Historic Preservation Commission August 16, 2007 7. There being no further comments. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Redmon/Sharp to adopt Minute Motion 2007-007 accepting the Class III Cultural Resources Inventory and the Phase I Report on Vineyards as submitted. Unanimously approved. C. Paleontollogical Evaluation Report and Mitigation Plan for a 3.4::!: Acre Site, Assessor's Parcel Number 770-020-012 Applicant: Dan Cline, Forward Architecture and Design Consultant: George L. Kennedy, Ph.D., Brian F. Smith & Associates Location: Northeast corner of Calle Tampico and Desert Club Drive 1 . Priincipal Planner Andy Mogensen presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. 2. Commissioner Sharp asked what was planned for this location. Tom Cole, representative for Highland Dev Co. 80 South Lake Street, Suite 660, Pasadena, California, replied it would be a retail shopping center. 3. Commissioner Sharp asked when they planned to begin working on the development. Mr. Cole said the plans were going to the Planning Commission in the next month or two and they hope to start breaking ground in the first quarter of 2008. 4. Commissioner Redmon said the report indicated previous mass grading. She asked if there were studies done during that grading and were they on file and available for the Commission to see. Staff said the record search indicated there may have been a previous survey, but it wasn't definitive on whether or not one was conducted. 5. Vice Chairman Wright said it was done prior to the formation of the Historic Preservation Commission. Staff concurred and said originally this was supposed to be the second phase of the existing office building next door. It was never constructed, but they did put in the utility lines and there is a transformer in the middle of the site. 6. Vice Chairman Wright said he looked forward to finally seeing something nice in that location. p:\Reports - HPC\2007\9-20-07\Draft Minutes.doc 5 Historic Preservation Commission August 16, 2007 7, There being no further comments, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Sharp/Redmon to adopt Minute Motion 2007-008 accepting the Paleontological Evaluation Report and Mitigation Plan as submitted. Unanimously approved D. Phase I Cultural Resources Survey Report for a 3.4:t Acre Site, Assessor's Parcel Number 770-020-012 Applicant: Dan Cline, Forward Architecture and Design Consultant: CRM Tech (Clarence Bodmer, Daniel Ballester, and Laura Hensley Shaker). Location: Northeast corner of Calle Tampico and Desert Club Drive 1 . Principal Planner Andy Mogensen presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. 2. The Commissioners had no comments. 3. There being no further comments, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Redmon/Sharp to adopt Minute Motion 2007-009 accepting the Phase I Cultural Resources Survey Report as submitted. Unanimously approved E. Updated Cultural Resources Report for St. Francis Church Parking Lot Applicant: Prest Vuksic Architects Consultant: CRM Tech (Michael Hogan, Ph.D.) Location: Washington Street, 500 feet south of Avenue 47 1 . Principal Planner Andy Mogensen presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. 2. Commissioner Sharp was concerned about the look of the project and asked if the parking lot would be asphalt. Staff said the actual paved surface will be where the current temporary parking lot is located. There will be a new driveway on the southern end across from Caleo Bay Drive. The actual upper part of the project will consist of a retention basin and potential future building pad. P:\Reports - HPC\2007\9-20-07\Draft Minutes.doc 6 Historic Preservation Commission August 16, 2007 3. Commissioner Sharp asked what was meant by "potential future building pad." Staff replied the applicant has not given thElm any definite plans for the site, but are keeping the area vacant for an undetermined future purpose. There has been quite a bit of historic activity at the site and those reports have been included in the packets. 4. Vice Chairman Wright said they found a lot of material at the Laiing Luxury homes site. He commented on the capped site and the fact that it is being monitoring very closely. 5. Vice Chairman Wright said he was confused since he thought this was originally a 16-acre site. Staff said the acreage noted is for the entire site, including the existing church. 6. Staff said the current application is for a permanent parking lot and retention basin, but no buildings are included. The reason this matter was being brought before the Commission was the large amount of grading involved. 7. Vice Chairman Wright requested staff keep the Commission up- to..date on this project and anything new on the Laing property. Staff replied they would. 8. There being no further comments. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Sharp/Redmon to adopt Minute Motion 2007-010 accepting the Updated Cultural Resources Report as submitted. Unanimously approved VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: A. Comments on New Commissioner: 1. Vice Chairman Wright introduced Commissioner Redmon to the group and discussed the responsibilities of the Commission{ers). B. Comments on Museum: 1 . Commissioner Redmon asked what the relationship was between the Historic Preservation Commission and the new museum. p:\Reports - HPC\2007\9~20-07\Draft Minutes.doc 7 Historic Preservation Commission August 16. 2007 2. Vice Chairman Wright explained the Commission has been working with the City for many years on what was needed in the new museum. He asked staff to obtain a copy of the previous surveys for Commissioner Redmon's use. C. Comments on Meetings: 1 . Staff advised the Commissioners they will be meeting monthly in order to work on the scheduled 2007-2008 Work Program. VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Sharp/Redmon to adjourn this Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to the next Regular Meeting to be held on September 20, 2007. This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was adjourned at 3:50 p.m. Unanimously approved. cZbmitted biJd/~ C~ker Secretary P:\Reports - HPC\2007\9-20-07\Draft Minutes.doc 8