2001 07 19 HPCrr/ yT_
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
AG EN ®A
The Regular Meeting to be held in the Session Room at the
La Quinta City Hall, 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California
July 19, 2001
3:00 P.M.
Beginning Minute Motion 2001-012
CALL TO ORDER
A. Pledge of Allegiance
B. Roll Call
C. Election of Chair and Vice Chair
II. PUBLIC COMMENT
This is the time set aside for citizens to address the Historic Preservation
Commission on matters relating to historic resources within the City of La Quinta
which are not Agenda items. When addressing the Historic Preservation
Commission, please state your name and address and when discussing matters
pertaining to prehistoric sites, do not disclose the exact location of the site(s) for
their protection.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Approval of the regular Minutes for the meeting of June 21, 2001.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Conditional Use Permit 2001-061 and Site Development Permit 2001-706;
a request to install a wireless communication monopalm and construction of
1,002 square foot equipment building at 49-499 Eisenhower Drive, within
the La Quinta Resort and Club.
Applicant: AT&T Wireless Services
Historic Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Love)
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL:
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
Vill. ADJOURNMENT
MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall Session Room
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
June 21, 2001
This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairman
Robert Wright at 3:01 p.m. who led the flag salute and asked for the roll call.
CST_\>A�r�Z�1i7�:
A. Pledge of Allegiance.
�' a 11GFM
Present: Commissioners Irwin, Mitchell, Puente, and Chairman
Wright.
It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Irwin/Puente
to excuse Commissioner Sharp. 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 Mitchell/Puente to
approve the Minutes of April 19, 2001, as submitted. Unanimously
approved.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS
A. Addendum to Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey and T in
Report Vista Montana Development; located at the northwest corner of
Eisenhower Drive and Calle Tampico. Applicant: KSL Development
Corporation - Archaeological Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Lode)
1. Principal Planner Stan Saws presented the information contained
in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community
Development Department.
P:\CAROLYN\HPC6-21-0 Lwpd -1- '1" 002
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
June 21, 2001
2. Commissioners Mitchell, Puente and Chairman Wright concurred
with staff's findings.
3. Commissioner Irwin stated the information submitted by Lillian
Hunt was informative and made the report complete.
4. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Puente/Mitchell to adopt Minute Motion 2001-011
recommending approval of the Addendum to
Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey and Testing Report -
Vista Montana Development, located at the northwest corner of
Eisenhower Drive and Calle Tampico. Unanimously approved.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
A. Commissioner Irwin opened a discussion about the safekeeping and use
of historic materials being delivered to the Historical Society, on behalf
of the City of La Quinta.
Following discussion Commission Members asked that each
Archaeological Report contain the following:
1. Three copies of the report submitted; one to be kept with the
artifacts, one to accompany the report and one to be kept in the
City files. In addition, disk containing the report will be submitted
for permanent retention.
2. The Archaeologist shall include a summary of the artifacts found
written in layman's terms, to be used in the future for students.
In addition, the items included in the summaries be used to fulfill
Assembly Bill requirements of Assembly Bill regarding museums,
repositories/depositories to advise the State what is contained in their
collections. This could also be used by students to locate artifacts they
wish to study.
Commissioner Irwin also asked about the development of a web site for
student use. Planning Manager di lorio suggested this be included in an
upcoming grant.
.-1 003
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Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
June 21.2001
Commissioner Mitchell commented on the safety and handling of
artifacts and the fact the City should be concerned about security.
B. Commissioner Puente asked staff about the status of the Oliphant
Williams project on Avenue 50. Planning Manager di lorio replied the
artifacts were recovered and the developer cleared the site of the
resources. A monitor was on site.
Commissioner Irwin clarified this was not the Oliphant Williams project,
but the Rancho La Quinta project. Planning Manager di lorio replied, the
Rancho La Quinta project had not been monitored, or completed.
1T/ 111=e10aLill ] 6101 tvd 4 O 111
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Irwin/Puente to adjourn this meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to the
next regularly schedule meeting to be held on July 19, 2001. This meeting of the
Historical Preservation Commission was adjourned at 3:25 p.m., June 21, 2001.
Unanimously approved.
Submitted by:
Carolyn Walker
Secretary
- 004
P:\CAROLYN\HPC6-21-01.wpd -3-
DATE:
ITEM:
REQUEST:
LOCATION:
APPLICANT:
HISTORICAL
CONSULTANT:
REPRESENTATIVE
BACKGROUND:
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
JULY 19, 2001
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2001-061 AND SITE
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2001-706
INSTALLATION OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
MONOPALM AND CONSTRUCTION OF 1,002 SQUARE
FOOT EQUIPMENT BUILDING
49-499 EISENHOWER DRIVE, WITHIN THE LA QUINTA
RESORT AND CLUB
AT&T WIRELESS SERVICES (POLLY JOHNSON, PLANNING
ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS)
CRM TECH (BRUCE LOVE, PRINCIPAL)
PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS (POLLY
JOHNSON)
The applicant has requested approval to install cellular telephone monopole antenna
disguised as a palm tree and construct an equipment building on the south side of the
main entry into the La Quinta Resort and Club (Attachment 1). The facility would be
operated by AT&T Wireless for cellular phone use. As a part of the environmental
review a study of the impact of the proposal on the resort has been prepared for
review by the Historic Preservation Commission.
The original hotel building, 20 original cottages (casitas) and its grounds, and the
outlying Morgan and Pierce buildings meet the classification for designation by the
City as historic at a local level. The 20 original cottages (casitas) and its grounds are
eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Register
District.
PROPOSED PROJECT:
The location of the facility is approximately 280 feet west of Eisenhower Drive just
south of the Italian cypresses that line the entry drive to the resort registration
p:\stan\hpc rpt cup 2001-061 sdp 2001-706Iq resort.wpd 005
building. The proposed building is immediately north of cottage units that were
constructed in 1982, during a major expansion of the resort. The monopalm is
proposed to be located beyond existing cottages to the south of the equipment
building north of a volleyball court in an area surrounded by 1980's vintage cottages.
The monopalm will be next to two existing palm trees that are taller than the
monopalm.
The monopalm is proposed at a height of 65 feet and disguised as a palm tree, similar
to other trees on the grounds. The equipment building will contain 1,002 square feet
of floor area and house resort electrical equipment as well as cellular reception
equipment. The equipment building will be 12' wide, 83'-6" long and a maximum
14 feet high. The proposed architectural features of the building are designed to
blend in with the adjacent resort cottage architecture. The proposed materials are
exterior plaster walls, a low sloping clay S-tile gable roof of two heights, and multi
and single pane windows with shutters on the north side. Doors will contain multi -
pane glass. Colors and plaster finish will match the existing adjacent cottage units.
HISTORIC CONSIDERATIONS:
CRM TECH has prepared an analysis of the effect of the proposed project as it relates
to the historic La Quinta Resort (Attachment 2). The nearest component of the
historic hotel complex is approximately 100 feet west of project on the other side of
the entry drive to the resort. Thus, the entry drive and two rows of large Italian
cypresses and landscaping areas separate the uses. The project will not impact the
view of the entry drive. The report notes the monopalm (tower), disguised as a palm
tree, is designed to blend in with its surroundings as much as possibVe. The
equipment building will be compatible with the nearby cottages in terms of size, scale,
design, materials, color, and texture.
The report concludes that this proposed facility will not damage or obscure character -
defining features of the original buildings or grounds within the La Quinta Resort
complex. In conclusion, a finding that the project will have no "adverse Effect" as
defined by 36 CFR 800.5(a)(1), on the La Quinta Hotel Historic District.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Minute Motion 2001-_, concurring with the report prepared by CRlv1 TECH.
Attachment:
1. Proposed plan exhibits
2. Report on AT&T Wireless Services Site prepared by CRM TECH
p:\stan\hpc rpt cup 2001-061 sdp 2001-706 Iq resort.wpd 1 0C L.
Prepared by:
Stan B. Sawa, Principal Planner
Submitted by:
I
Christine di lorio, anning Manager
1.. 007
p:\stan\hpc rpt cup 2001-061 sdp 2001-706 Iq resort.wpd
CRM TECH
,TTACHMENT #2
2411 Sunset Drive
Riverside, CA 92506
Polly Johnson
Planning/Environmental Solutions LLC
26785 Camino Seco
Temecula, CA 92590
o 3UL 1120
Re: AT&T Wireless Services Site No. 6LA-C964 (CUP 2001-061)
La Quinta Resort and Club, 49-499 Eisenhower Drive
La Quinta, Riverside County, California
Dear Ms. Johnson:
July 9, 2001
At your request, CRM TECH has completed an analysis of the potential effect that a
proposed telecommunication facility project at Site No. 6LA-C964 may have on the
historic La Quinta Resort. The proposed undertaking involves the installation of a
monopalm and the construction of an equipment shelter on the grounds of the resort.
As required by FCC and the City of La Quinta, the analysis was conducted under the
provisions of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
As you know, the La Quinta Resort, founded as the La Quinta Hotel in 1926, is probably
the most prominent and best-known historical resource in the City of La Quinta. It was
first recorded into the California Historical Resource Information System in 1982, and
its history and architectural characteristics were extensively documented in 1997
(Carpenter 1982; Steigemeyer and O'Connor 1997). During the latter survey, the
original, 1920s-vintage portion of the resort was delineated as a historic district, which
consists of the main hotel building, 20 original guest cottages ("casitas"), and "a
distinctive ground plan into which the casitas are set" (Steigemeyer and O'Connor
1997:3). Because of the architectural merits of buildings within the district, and because
of the important role the hotel played in the growth of the La Quinta area, the La
Quinta Hotel Historic District has been evaluated as eligible for listing in the National
Register of Historic Places (ibid.:2-3,10-11). Therefore, it qualifies as a "historic
property," as defined by Section 106 regulations (36 CFR 800.16(1)), and is entitled to
proper protection under Section 106 provisions.
The site of the proposed undertaking is located on the grounds of the La Quinta Resort,
but not within the boundaries of the La Quinta Hotel Historic District. The monopalm
and the equipment shelter will be installed in the vicinity of the casita containing
Rooms 407-412, which like all other casitas in the 400 series were built in 1982, during a
major expansion of the resort complex (Vorderwinkler 2001). The nearest component of
the historic district, the casita with Rooms 101-103, stands approximately 100 feet to the
west of the project site, and the undertaking will cause no physical alterations to the
existing characteristics of this casita or any other contributing element of the district. In
other words, the undertaking as currently planned will not have a direct physical effect
on the La Quinta Hotel Historic District.
�Mj
Tel. 909 784 3051 Fax 909 784 2987 Cell 909 376 7843
The potential visual or atmospheric effect of the undertaking on the historic district
requires further discussion. The original La Quinta hotel building and the 20 original
casitas, as mentioned above, are located in an area approximately 100 feet to the west of
the project site. They are now surrounded by modern structures constructed during the
resort's recent expansion, the earliest of which date to 1979 (Vorderwinkler 2001). The
monopalm, obviously, is designed to blend in with its surroundings as much as
possible, and the equipment shelter, as currently planned, will be compatible to the
character and appearance of the nearby casitas in terms of size, scale, design, material,
color, and texture. In comparison to the existing buildings of modern construction in
the same vicinity, these facilities do not damage or obscure character -defining features
of the original buildings in the La Quinta Resort complex. Rather, they represent a
minimal and inconspicuous visual intrusion to what remains of the historic appearance
of the district, especially when observed from public spaces and public rights -of -way.
With regards to the indirect effect that the proposed undertaking may have on the La
Quinta Hotel Historic District, there is no evidence that the installation of the
telecommunication facilities at this location will increase or contribute to the
deterioration or other long-term damages to the historic character and significance of
the district. The undertaking's potential for such indirect effect, in short, is also
considered to be minimal.
Based on the analysis presented above, CRM TECH recommends to the City of La
Quinta a finding that the proposed undertaking at AT&T Wireless Services Site No.
6LA-C964 will have no "adverse effect," as defined by 36 CFR 800.5(a)(1), on the La
Quinta Hotel Historic District.
Thank you for this opportunity to be of service!
Sincerely,
Bruce Love �B- om Tang
Principal Historian/Architectural Historian
References:
Carpenter, Anne
1982 Historical resource site record, La Quinta Hotel. On file, Eastern Information Center
(Site No. 33-7258), University of California, Riverside.
Steigemeyer, Vicki, and Pam O'Connor
1997 Historical resource site record, La Quinta Hotel, Casitas and Grounds. On file,
Community Development Department, City of La Quinta.
Vorderwinkler, Inge
2001 Personal communication. Interviewed via telephone on July 6, 2001.
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