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2009 01 29 HPC MinutesMINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING A Regular meeting held in the Study Session Room at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA January 29, 2009 This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairwoman Puente at 3:00 p.m. who asked for the roll call. I. CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call. Present Absent: Staff Present IV V Commissioners Redmon and Chairwoman Puente None Sharp, Wilbur, Wright, Planning Manager David Sawyer, Principal Planner Stan Sawa, Consulting Planner Nicole CYiste (Terra Nova Planningl, and Secretary Monika Radeva. PUBLIC COMMENT: None CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed CONSENT CALENDAR: A. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wilbur/Sharp to approve the minutes of December 18, 2008, as submitted. Unanimously approved. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Historical/Archaeological Resources Survev Report for the Dune Palms Specific Plan Applicant: La Quinta Redevelopment Agency Consultant: CRM TECH (Michael Hogan, Principal) Location: South Side of Highway 111, Approximately 350 Feet East of Dune Palms Road. P:Vieports - }iPC~2009~2-19-09uiPC_DraR_Min_I-29-09.doc Historic Preservation Commission January 29, 2009 Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Commissioner Redmon asked what "auto related commercial" referred to. Staff replied it referred to a car dealership. Planning Manager Sawyer explained the project consisted of two phases. The first portion along Highway 111 was to be a high-end automobile dealership. The second portion was to be ± 200-unit multi-family affordable housing project. Commissioner Wilbur asked staff about the likeliness of this project moving forward in light of the current market and economic conditions. Planning Manager Sawyer replied the applicant for the auto dealership project had exhibited strong interest and there had not been hesitance indicating otherwise. Commissioner Redmon asked if the multi-family affordable housing project was going to be similar to the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition affordable housing project. Planning Manager Sawyer replied it was a Redevelopment Agency (RDA) project. Commissioner Sharp asked if the auto dealership and the affordable housing project were one continuous project. Staff replied there was going to be a pedestrian path connecting them. Commissioner Sharp expressed his concern about the bright lights of the dealership being a nuisance to the tenants of the development at night. Planning Director Sawyer replied the RDA staff would address concerns of this type and explained the reason the was chosen. Commissioner Wright said he was pleased that the grading activity was going to be monitored. Chairwoman Puente asked what remains were found on site. Staff replied there were some shells, animal bones, and other fragments. Chairwoman Puente inquired if the remains were historically significant. Staff replied they were significant mostly in the fact that they were human remains. P:\Reports- HPC\2009\2-19-09\HPC_Draft_Min_1-29-09.doc 2 Historic Preservation Commission January 29, 2009 Commissioner Sharp asked what "grubbing" and "mano" meant. Staff replied that "grubbing" meant scraping off the top layer of shrubs and ground cover and "mano" meant the grinding bowl for a pounding tool. There being no further comments it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Redmon to approve Minute Motion 2009-001 accepting the Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report for the Dune Palms Specific Plan as recommended by staff. Unanimously approved. B. Phase I Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report for the Travertine Acquisition for Shea Homes Trilogy at La Quinta Applicant: Shea Homes, Inc. Consultant: CRM TECH (Michael Hogan and Bai "Tom" Tang, Principals) Location: On the East Side of the CVWD Dike #4 between Avenue 60 and Avenue 62. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Representing the applicant were Ulrich Sauerbrey, Project Manager for Community Development for Shea Homes, Inc. and Jeff Davies, Community Development Manager for Shea Homes, Inc. Commissioner Redmon asked staff if the recommendations on page 15 regarding the Travertine acquisition for Shea Homes were incorporated within staff's recommendations. Staff replied they were. Commissioner Wright asked if there would be public access to the mountains behind Travertine. Mr. Sauerbrey replied there would not be any public access to the mountains from this site because it would be restricted by CVWD. Mr. Sauerbrey explained the County Parks District had a parks master plan, with a trail system, identifying an access point from Avenue 62 just a little to the south of this particular project site. He said the applicant was working with the Parks District on the trail funding based on an agreement with the County from 2002-2003. There being no further comments it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Redmon/Sharp to approve Minute Motion 2009-002 accepting the Phase I Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey P:\Reports -HPC\2009\2-19-09\HPC Mini-29-09_Approved.doc 3 Historic Preservation Commission January 29, 2009 Report for the Travertine Acquisition for Shea Homes Trilogy at La Quinta recommended by staff. Unanimously approved. C. Phase II Cultural Resources Testing and Evaluation of CA-RIV-1339 The Travertine Protect Tract 35996 Applicant: Shea Homes, Inc. Consultant: Michael Brandman Associates (Michael Dice, Principal Investigator) Location: On the East Side of the CVWD Dike # 4 between Avenue 60 and Avenue 62 Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Commissioner Sharp asked staff about the human remains found outside the property lines and who had decided not to remove them. Staff replied the archaeologist determined that he had gone outside the applicant's property line and did not have the authority to remove the remains. Commissioner Redmon asked why the cremation site was reported if it was outside the property lines. Staff replied the archaeologist felt it was best to report it since it had been discovered. He said sometimes grading goes off-site and this way the site would be left undisturbed and protected. Commissioner Wright commented on the on-site/off-site monitoring and the protection it provided. Commissioner Redmon asked for clarification on who the artifacts, if any found, would be given to. Staff replied the artifacts would first be given to the tribe and if they were not interested, they would be then passed on to the City. Commissioner Sharp said his understanding was that artifacts were given directly to the La Quinta Museum. Commissioner Wright explained that until a few years ago the tribal members were not involved at all and all recovered artifacts were sent to Riverside. This was not because the tribe members were not interested, but because they did not have the facilities or expertise to care properly for the artifacts or monitor the site. P:\Reports -HPC\2009\2-t 9-09\HPC Min_7-29-09_Approved.doc 4 Historic Preservation Commission January 29, 2009 Planning Manager Sawyer said his experience was that the remains were always returned to the tribes. Commissioner Redmon expressed her concern was that if all remains were returned to the tribe those would also include the pottery and other artifacts in addition to human and cremation remains that would possibly end up in a storage facility versus being displayed at the La Quinta Museum. She wanted to make sure they were handled properly. Planning Manager Sawyer replied this instance would not set a precedent as each case would be handled on an individual basis through a consultation between the City and the tribal members if requested. Commissioner Wright said he was pleased that the tribe was involved in the process. Chairwoman Puente asked why the cremation remains were considered special and unique. Mr. Sauerbrey replied his understanding was the remains had a historical significance in the tribal history. Discussion about the remains and their historical significance followed. Commissioner Wright said Shea Homes had a good track record of being very sensitive to historically significant sites and artifacts. There being no further comments it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Redmon to approve Minute Motion 2009-003 accepting the Phase II Cultural Resource Testing and Evaluation of CA- RIV-1339 the Travertine Project Tract 35996 as recommended by staff with the revision to Section 3-D, Amendment 2, that the artifacts would be distributed to the tribal members and not the City. Unanimously approved. D. Paleontological Resources Assessment Report for The Travertine Acquisition for Shea Homes Trilogy at La Quinta Applicant: Shea Homes, Inc. Consultant: CRM TECH (Michael Hogan and Bai "Tom" Tang, Principals) Location: On the East Side of the CVWD Dike #4 between Avenue 60 and Avenue 62 P:\Reports - HPC\2009\2-19-09\HPC_Draft_Min_i-29-09.doc 5 Historic Preservation Commission January 29, 2009 Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. There being no questions or comments it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wilbur/Redmon to approve Minute Motion 2009-004 accepting the Paleontological Resources Assessment Report for the Travertine Acquisition for Shea Homes Trilogy at La Quinta as recommended by staff. Unanimously approved. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: Conference Updated Planning Manager Sawyer said the Historic Preservation Conference was scheduled for April 16 through 19, 2009. He noted the budget allocated by the City was conservative and extended over registration fees and gas reimbursement, but hotel stays and other travel arrangement were not included. He mentioned that a city staff member would also be attending the conference and he encouraged the Commissioners to carpool if possible. Discussion followed regarding events included at the Conference and Planning Manager Sawyer encouraged the Commissioners to be fiscally conservative. VIII. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS: A. Update on curation of City artifacts Planning Manager Sawyer said previously the City planned to store artifacts at the La Quinta Museum, but due to lack of available space they will be relocated to City Hall under supervision of the Planning Department. Commissioner Wilbur asked if the La Quinta Museum would be able to use the artifacts. Planning Manager Sawyer replied the artifacts would be available for use by the Museum. Discussion followed regarding the La Quinta Museum. B. Quarterly Attendance Report Planning Manager Sawyer reminded the Commissioners that there were only two unexcused absences allowed per fiscal year. Commissioners then discussed their Ethics Training. P:\Reports - HPC\2009\2-19-09\HPC_Draft_Min_i-29-09.doc 6 Historic Preservation Commission January 29, 2009 X. 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 Meeting to be held on February 19, 2009. This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was adjourned at 3:55 p.m. Unanimously approved. Submitted by: Monika Radeva Secretary P:\Reports - HPC\2009\2-19-09\HPC_Draft_Min_t-29-09.doc 7