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2002 11 21 HPC'& w¢ cFy OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION The Regular Meeting to be held in the Session Room at the La Quinta City Hall, 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California NOVEMBER 21, 2002 3:00 P.M. Beginning Minute Motion 2002-023 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 Minutes for the Regular meeting of October 17, 2002. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. B=ort on Archaeological Testing and Mitigation at a portion of Site CA-RIV- 150 (Phase III for the area Generally Bounded by Highway 1111 Adams Street, Avenue 47 Washington Street and Simon Drive Applicant: Dale F. Frank, Jr. Archaeological Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Love, Principal) HPC/AGENDA VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS VIII. ADJOURNMENT HPC/AGENDA MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall Session Room 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA October 17, 2002 This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairman Maria Puente at 4:00 p.m. who led the flag salute and asked for the roll call. CALL TO ORDER A. Pledge of Allegiance. B. Roll Call. Present: Commissioners Irwin, Wright, and Chairman Puente. Absent: Commissioners Mouriquand and Sharp. Staff Present: Principal Planner Stan Sawa and Secretary Lynda Kerney. A. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Irwin/Wright to excuse Commissioners Sharp and Mouriquand. Unanimously approved. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Irwin/Wright to approve the Minutes of September 26, 2002 as submitted. Unanimously approved. B. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Irwin to approve the Minutes of October 3, 2002, as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report (Phases I ands Applicant: Dale F. Frank, Jr. Archaeological Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Love and Michael Hogan, principals) P:\CAROLYN\Hist Pres Com\HPC 10-17-02.wpd -1- Historic Preservation Commission Minutes October 17. 2002 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 Wright noted the absence of the Phase II Report and asked when the report would be completed. CRM TECH Representative Michael Hogan replied it would be available in December. 3. Commissioner Wright asked if the applicant was in a hurry to begin the project. Applicant's representative, Hal Hall of HJH Construction answered that Mr. Dale Frank, the owner of the project, was in fact, anxious to start. Commissioner Wright explained that without the Phase II report, the Commission could not approve moving forward with the work. 4. Commissioner Irwin provided some historic information in addition to that presented in the report by CRM TECH. Norman "Happy" Lundbeck had built a house close to Washington Street and Highway 111, between two sand dunes and amid dense mesquite. The house was difficult to see, but was there through the 1920s. Close to Simon Drive, there was a trash dump and an area where date and citrus tree clearings were burned. The Clarks purchased the property in 1921. Commissioner Irwin noted that she had spoken to a descendant of Lundbeck who was very knowledgeable of the site. 5. Commissioner Irwin stated she is pleased with the project and looks forward to its completion. 6. Mr. Hall asked about the location of the Lundbeck dwelling. Commissioner Irwin explained it was close to Washington Street. 7. Mr. Hogan asked if Bai "Tom" Tang of CRM TECH had contacted Commissioner Irwin regarding history of the property. Commissioner Irwin said she had not spoken to Mr. Tang. The information she gave is based on the archival research of the Historical Society. If Mr. Tang would like to speak with the Lundbeck descendant, she would make arrangements for contact. 8. Chair Puente asked for clarification of staff's recommendation. Staff explained that CRM TECH had submitted a report an Phase I, but only a letter summary of Phase II. Staff recommends P:\CAROLYN\Nisi Pres Com\HPC 10-17-02.wpd -2- Historic Preservation Commission Minutes October 17, 2002 acceptance of the Phase I report, but not Phase 11. Conditions require the approval of Phase II by the Historic Preservation Commission prior to City Council approval. 9. Staff confirmed that the project is on the City Council agenda for November 19th. CRM TECH will have to submit the Phase II report in early November in order for the project to proceed. Commissioner Irwin suggested convening a special meeting to approve the report so as not to delay the project. 10. Mr. Hogan pointed out that the field work for Phase II is complete. Commissioner Irwin responded that this Commission requires a full report in thesis form. A letter is not sufficient. Commissioner Wright concurred. 1 1 . There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Irwin/Wright to adopt Minute Motion 2002-024 accepting the Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report - "Washington Park Project" (Phase I) subject to conditions. Unanimously approved. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None. VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS A. Commissioner Irwin questioned reports being submitted by CRM TECH that are not complete. Staff responded that the incompleteness of the report could be due to the developer's pressure to move forward. 1. Commissioner Irwin suggested the reports not be scheduled for Commission review until the reports were complete. Commissioner Wright concurred. 2. Commissioner Wright indicated his displeasure about the demolition of the house at 59-650 Madison Street as discussed last meeting. The CRM TECH Report should have contained stronger language to indicate that it could have been a historical resource. He has drafted a letter to the City Council regarding the issue. It is not the job of CRM TECH to make a determination about the historical value of a building. He suggested sending a letter to each of the firms that usually provide these reports. P:\CAROLYN\Hist Pres Com\HPC 10-17-02.wpd -3- Historic Preservation Commission Minutes October 17, 2002 3., Commissioner Irwin concurred and requested staff draft a letter, for Chairwoman Puente's signature, notifying the firms that reports will not be scheduled until complete reports are accepted. 4. Commissioner Irwin reiterated that she would like a letter to the City Council drafted. Commissioner Wright volunteered to draft a letter for Commission consideration. B. Commissioner Wright noted that he had not received his agenda packet in the mail until this morning. Staff will deliver packets instead of mailing them from now on. C. Chairwoman Puente asked what happened to Lauren Weiss, the consultant who previously attended Historic Preservation meetings. Staff explained that the City no longer contracts with her. D. Commissioner Irwin reminded the Commissioners that work on the Context Statement needed to be completed. 1. Staff stated no direction had been given regarding the continuation of the historical survey. 2. Chairwoman Puente pointed out that funding must be found. 3. Commissioner Wright emphasized the need for the survey. If the survey had been completed the house at 59-650 Madison Street would have been identified and there would at least be a record. VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Irwin/Wright to adjourn this meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to a special meeting to be determined, or the next regularly scheduled meeting to be held on November 21, 2002. This meeting of the Historical Preservation Commission was adjourned at 4:31 p.m. Unanimously approved. Submitted by: V Lynda J. Kerney Secretary P:\CAROLYN\Hilt Pres Com\HPC 10-17-02.wpd . -4- _, BI #A HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION STAFF REPORT DATE: NOVEMBER 21, 2002 ITEM: REPORT ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL TESTING AND MITIGATION AT A PORTION OF SITE CA-RIV-150 (PHASE II) LOCATION: AREA GENERALLY BOUNDED BY HIGHWAY 111, ADAMS STREET, AVENUE 47, WASHINGTON STREET, AND SIMON DRIVE APPLICANT: DALE F. FRANK, JR. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL CONSULTANT: CRM TECH (BRUCE LOVE AND MICHAEL HOGAN, PRINCIPALS) PREVIOUS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION (HPC) REVIEW: A Phase I report and Phase II summary letter was submitted to the HPC on October 17, 2002. The Phase I cultural resources report, noting the existence of an archaeological site was accepted at that time. The Phase II letter briefly summarizing the findings of the testing of that site was not accepted. A Phase II report on the testing of Site CA-RIV-150 has been submitted for acceptance (Attachment 1). The HPC staff report summarizing the Phase I findings is attached (Attachment 2). PROPERTY BACKGROUND: The study area is a vacant parcel of approximately 51 acres on the south side of Highway 111, between Simon Drive and Adams Street. Lowe's Hardware with its parking lot has been constructed in the middle of the area, fronting on Highway 111. Phase I and II cultural and historical resources assessments have been completed for a Specific Plan Amendment application (SP 87-011, Amendment #4) to allow construction of a shopping center development. This assessment will be part of the environmental review required by the California Environmental Quality Act for the project application. p[\stan\hpc rpt sp 87-011 amend #4 ph 2 washington park .wpd DISCUSSION: The field testing of Locus 3 of Site CA-RIV-150 consisted of the equivalent of 26 2x2 meter surface serapes, five 1x1 meter test units, and 10 backhoe trenches, up to 220 centimeters in depth. Additionally, all surface artifacts within the site (Loci 1,2 and 3) of Site CA-RIV-150 were collected. Of the ten backhoe trenches, two were placed in Loci 1 and 2 to determine the approximate depth of the fill material in this portion of the project site. Loci 1 and 2 of the archaeological site were investigated during the Phase I research and determined to have been highly disturbed with its integrity "seriously compromised" due to fill being deposited on it, probably from the construction of Lowe's Hardware (originally Eagle Hardware); therefore, most of the fieldwork was conducted on Locus 3. However, the surface collection in these areas resulted in a large number of ceramic sherds, and some fire -affected clay and rock, groundstone fragments, and animal bone. Within Locus 3, four concentrations of dense artifact concentration were found. Surface collection from these concentrations and other parts of the site yielded a variety of ceramic sherds, fire -affected clay pieces, rocks, chipped stone pieces and groundstone fragments. Eleven historic -era artifacts, such as metal cans, glass and wood were found. The surface scrapes, test units, and backhoe trenches resulted in the same artifacts as the surface collection being found, plus shell pieces, bone fragments, and shell beads. The most interesting feature was a rock cairn found in one of the surface scrapes. Most of the feature was present between 20-30 centimeters below the surface and was circular in shape, measuring 45-50 centimeters across and appeared to be widest in diameter at about 30 centimeters in depth. All artifacts recovered from the fieldwork have been cleaned, sorted, counted and catalogued. The various types of artifacts are been analyzed by staff of CRM TECH. The report notes that Locus 3 of Site CA-RIV-150 was an area of intensive aboriginal use, containing at least two specialized work areas where stone tools were produced. The distribution pattern of the lithic scatters at this locus and the discovery of the rock cairn are of great interest to the study of prehistoric archaeological sites in the Coachella Valley and may reveal important information through the in-depth Laboratory analysis that is currently underway. CONCLUSION: The report concludes Locus 3 of Site CA-RIV-150 is an "historic resource", and as such, must be mitigated. The work conducted to date, along with the current p[\stan\hpc rpt sp 87-011 amend #4 ph 2 washington park .wpd analysis, proper curation (at the City facility), preparation and submission of a final report to document the results of the artifact analysis and overall interpretation of the locus is considered to be proper partial mitigation in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Monitoring of clearing and earth -moving activities for the project is also recommended by the study to properly mitigate the effects of this project. Implementation of these measures will provide proper mitigation to reduce the project's potential effects to a level that will be less than significant. RECOMMENDATION: 1. Adopt Minute Motion 2002- , accepting the "Interim Cultural Resources Report -Archaeological Testing and Mitigation at a Portion of Site CA-IRIV-150 Washington Park Project" (Phase II), as prepared by CRM TECH, subject to the following conditions:. A. The final report documenting the results of the artifact analysis and overall interpretation of the locus shall be submitted to Community Development Department for approval by the Historical Preservation Commission, prior to issuance of the first occupancy permit for the project. B. On- and related off -site earth -moving activities, including clearing, grubbing, trenching and grading shall be monitored by archaeological monitors to the satisfaction of the Community Development Department. C. The final report on the monitoring shall be submitted to the Community Development Department for approval by the Historic Preservation Commission, prior to the issuance of the first occupancy permit for the project. Attachments: 1 . Interim Cultural Resources Report - Archaeological Testing and Mitigation at a Portion of Site CA-RIV-150 Washington Park Project" (Commissioners only) 2. Staff report for the meeting of October 17, 2002 (excerpt) Prepared by: b - 1�) avor-i, Stan B. Sawa, Principal Planner p[\stan\hpc rpt sp 87-011 amend N4 ph 2 washington park .wpd UI_'�