ATTACHMENT B
(Draft Resolution)
RESOLUTION NO._____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE SNYDER
RESIDENCE, LOCATED AT 271 WEST MER ITO PLACE , AS A
CLASS 1 (LANDMARK) HISTORIC RESOURCE HSPB #1 76,
SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS (APN 505-301-001).
THE CITY COUNCIL FINDS AND DETERMINES AS FOLLOWS:
A. WHEREAS, Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the designation of historic sites and districts; and
B. WHEREAS, The owner, Eicholz Scott Family Trust , submitted an application seeking historic site designation of the Snyder Residence located at 271 Merito Place; and
C. WHEREAS, on April 6, 2026, members of the Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) and City staff conducted site inspections of the proposed historic resource; and
D. WHEREAS, on April 7, 2026, a noticed public he aring of the Palm Springs Historic S ite Preservation Board to consider Case HSPB #17 6 was held in accordance with applicable law; and
E. WHEREAS, at said hearing, the HSPB carefully reviewed and considered all the evidence presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including, but not limited to, the staff report and all written and oral testimony and voted 7-0 to recommend that the Council designate the Snyder Residence a Class 1 (Landmark) historic resource; and
F. WHEREAS, on May 12, 2026, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs City Council to consider Case HSPB #176 was held in accordance with applicable law; and
G. WHEREAS, at the said hearing, the City Council carefully reviewed and considered all the evidence presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including, but not limited to the staff report and all written and oral testimony.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS RESOLVES:
SECTION 1: FINDINGS – PART “A”, CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC RESOURCES.
Evaluation of the Application. Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.05.070. C.1.a, the City Council shall evaluate the application and make findings in conformance with the following criteria:
Criteria for the Designation of Class 1 Historic Resources. A site, structure, building or object may be designated as a Class 1 historic resource, provided both of the following findings (“a” and “b”) are met:
a. The site, structure, building, or object exhibits exceptional historic significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below:
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The Snyder family purchased two parcels in the subdivision and commissioned William C.
Tanner to design their winter home in Palm Springs. The home demonstrates a strong association with residential development patterns during this period in between the wars and a connection to a prominent designer with local distinction.
(Criterion i) The resource is associated with events that have made a meaningful contribution to the nation, state, or community;
Based on the research provided in the report, no meaningful or significant events that made a contribution to the nation, state or local community occurred at this site, thus, this criterion is not met.
(Criterion ii) The resource is associated with the lives of persons who made a meaningful contribution to national, state or local history;
After searching for a location with a dry climate and low altitude, John and Estella Snyder made Palm Springs their winter home and became the first owners from 1932 to 1943, after which the property transferred to eight subsequent owners. While each owner maintained professional affiliations and contributed to the community in various ways, none individually meets this criterion for historic significance.
(Criterion iii) The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national, state, or local history;
During this period between the wars, Palm Springs was going through a transformation from its sanatorium past to a winter luxury resort. Architecturally, the influence of the 1915 Panama- California Exposition in San Diego ignites an interest in Spanish- Mediterranean Revival architecture throughout the region. This aesthetic was immediately adopted for its adaptability to the desert environment and its exotic appearance. Many seasonal homes were built in this style including the Snyder Residence which was a custom-built home. The homes designed in this style tend to utilize a combination of different materials such as tile, wood, decorative iron features and slump blocks. 271 West Merito Place in the Old Las Palmas neighborhood is a one-story home with modest proportions laid out in a u-shape plan. The horizontality of the home stretches across the lot but the gable roof forms give the structure height and articulation. The clay tile roof has a purple hue and the details in the fireplace and exterior fenestration give the home a distinct character. Although modifications have been made to the original design of the home, the overall design of the site reflects the period of significance, thus this criterion is met.
(Criterion iv) The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction;
Unlike the National Register criterion concerning construction, the Palm Springs evaluation of construction addresses the type (of construction), the period (of construction) and the method (of construction). The structures on the site were constructed usi ng conventional methods of construction and materials that were available during the period. Criterion iv is not met.
(Criterion v) The resource presents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, Resolution No.____
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or architect whose individual genius influenced his age, or that possesses high artistic value;
William Charles Tanner, an accomplished artist and architect, was the man who designed the Snyder Residence at 271 W. Merito Place. His portfolio of work ranges from civic projects to residential estates around Southern California. The report specifies 191 0s-1930s as his most prolific years, where he produces incredible art as well as architecture. Perhaps one of his most notable works was the transformation of the Desert Inn Complex (1922-1926) for Nellie Coffman.
The architecture was taken from simple wooden bungalows to the fashionable Spanish Colonial Revival and the Snyders resided there before building their winter home at 271 W. Merito Place.
Tanner is responsible for other prominent homes such as Invernada (HSPB #56) and the O’Donnell Residence (HSPB #19). 271 S. Merito Place was designed by Tanner during his active years and clearly demonstrates his genius and expert knowledge of the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The report also calls out the builders William Marte and H.L. Hansen as influential developers in Palm Springs during this period. Their quality of work was well known, and they worked with many other prolific architects like John Porter Clark and Albert Frey. Based on the findings in the report, Criterion v is met.
(Criterion vi) The resource represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction, as used in evaluating applications for designation of historic districts, for parcels on which more than one entity exists; or
The resource is not within a historic district and does not qualify under Criterion vi.
(Criterion vii) The resource has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to national, state or local history or prehistory.
No information has been provided on any pre-historic significance of the site.
SECTION 2: PART “B” ANALYSIS OF HISTORIC INTEGRITY.
Analysis of Integrity. (PSMC 8.05.070.C.1.b). The site, structure, building, or object retains one or more of the following aspects of integrity, as established in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards: integrity of design, materials, workmanship, location, setting, feeling, or association.
The report provides an evaluation of the site relative to the seven aspects or qualities of historic integrity, as recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. The seven aspects or qualities include location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The report concludes that the site retains a high degree of integrity and is further analyzed below:
1. Location:
The location of the home is in its original place of construction; therefore, the integrity of location is met.
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2. Design:
The orientation and site placement of the home was designed to maximize open space along the south and west sides of the property. While these areas have since been adapted to accommodate the swimming pool and sports court, the overall sense of openness re mains intact. The historic building footprint follows a C -shaped configuration that consists of a central core aligned along an east -west axis and two wings positioned on either side of the main structure. This layout creates an open courtyard/patio area t o the rear of the home. While a portion of this space was enclosed, the original spatial relationship is preserved, and the primary fireplace was restored and remains in its original location and appearance. A garage and recreation room were added in the 1980s in a design that is compatible with the existing home.
The additions replicate and match key design features and finishes including the roof form. The site plan provided in the report on page 63 identifies the changes in more detail. Overall, the one-story residence, designed by Tanner in the Spanish Colonial Revival style continues to convey the simple massing, low -pitched gable roof forms, and much of the original exterior detailing. The integrity of the design remains largely intact.
3. Setting:
The Merito Vista tract was developed by Prescott T. Stevens and recorded as a subdivision in 1925, making it one of the oldest residential subdivisions in Palm Springs. The layout of the lots in this subdivision deviates from the basic grid pattern by including curving streets and the natural beauty of the landscape and mountains as a backdrop for the homes is a feature that remains evident today. This area remains a low -density residential area with most properties consisting of larger parcels. The integrity of setting remains intact.
4. Materials:
The building materials used to construct 271 W. Merito Place consists of rough-hewn lintels and wooden rafters and eave brackets, slump stone with an adobe style appearance, and multi-hued barrel tile roof. Wooden French doors and casement windows remain and more recent additions to the home match the surrounding building materials but the wrought -iron detailing at the front entry feature was removed. Although some changes have been made, the overall integrity of the materials remains extant.
5. Workmanship:
Despite being completed during the height of the Great Depression, the home exhibits a high level of craftmanship which is clearly evident in the slump stone walls, wooden carvings, wooden brackets, primary fireplace, and the wrought -iron hardware. The report includes historic photographs of the home that provide a clear comparison, proving that much of the original craftsmanship remains intact and visible today.
6. Feeling:
Designed as a winter retreat for the family, the site highlights the natural landscape and left enough open space around the home intended for future expansions of the garden and other Resolution No.____
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amenities. The architectural design of the home remains distinctly intact, and the feeling of the site is true to its original intent. The integrity of feeling remains.
7. Association:
The design of the home maintains a strong association with the Spanish Colonial Revival style and still displays design characteristics of the designer William C. Tanner. The integrity of association with the period and the designer are intact.
SECTION 3: DEFINING HISTORIC CHARACTERISTICS
In considering a recommendation for historic resource designation it is important to distinguish those physical elements that are original or from the period of significance that contribute to the resource’s historic significance from alterations, additions or features that were added at a later time that may be sympathetic to the original character, but which may create a false sense of historicity. Distinguishing original character-defining features from non-original elements aids the HSPB when it is tasked with evaluating future alterations to the historic resource.
The following is a list of character-defining features identified by the City Council:
Character-defining features of the resource are as follows:
• Site design and placement of the home on the parcel
• An emphasis on horizontality including low pitched roof • Multiple gabled roof lines
• Vintage barrel roof tiles
• Ease of movement and access from the indoor and outdoor spaces • Asymmetrical U-shaped layout
• Concrete block exterior wall treatments intended to imitate adobe brick • Overhanging eaves
• Main entry feature including the stamped concrete floor, roof cover /overhang, and footprint
• The original 1932 residence
• Vintage Gladding, McBean roof tiles
• Wood rafter tails and wooden eave brackets
• Original portion of the covered patio with rustic stone and masonry fireplace (formerly an exterior feature)
• Original chimney features with stone and masonry detail • Wood and brick lintels
• Multi-light and single-light casement windows
• Original doors that have been relocated
• Wooden French doors excepting that which fronts the 1985 garage conversion • Original wood-plank doors
• Original wrought-iron door hardware and shutter dogs
• Wooden shutters
• Sawtooth board siding under roof gables
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• Copper hooded box window at master bedroom
• Concrete block perimeter wall
Non-contributing elements:
• 1984 swimming pool and spa
• Swimming pool/spa covered terrace
• 1984 tennis court and surrounding fencing
• Composition roofed patio extension
• Tennis court pavilion
• 1985 garage and recreation room
• Equipment enclosures
• Steel cages on various windows
• Glass panels on patio extension
• Non-original light fixtures
• Non-original main entry enclosure with front door
• Skylights on roof (8)
• Hardscape
• Landscape including statuary and art pieces
SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
The proposed historic resource designation is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical changes to the environment, directly or indirectly.
SECTION 5: CONDITIONS THAT APPLY TO HISTORIC SITES:
According to Section 8.05 of the Municipal Code, the following shall apply to a Class 1 Historic Resource:
1. It shall meet the definition of a Class 1 historic site as outlined in Municipal Code Section
8.05.020.
2. An archival file on the property shall be maintained by the City.
3. It may be qualified as ‘historic’ at the federal, state, and/or county level.
4. The structure/site may not be modified, nor objects removed without following the procedures outlined in Municipal Code Section 8.05.110 “Demolition or Alteration of Class 1 and Class 2 Historic Resources – Certificate of Appropriateness”.
5. A marker explaining the historic nature of the site may be installed at the site in a location viewable from the public way.
6. Compliance with all rules and regulations for Historic Sites and Historic Districts under Chapter 8.05 of the Municipal Code shall be required.
7. The site shall not be further subdivided.
8. The City Clerk shall submit the Council Resolution to the County recorder for recordation within 90 days of the effective date of the Council’s resolution.
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Based upon the foregoing, the City Council hereby designates the Snyder Residence located at 271 W. Merito Place, a Class 1 (Landmark) Historic Resource (Case HSPB #176).
ADOPTED THIS TWELFTH DAY OF MAY, 2026.
SCOTT STILES
CITY MANAGER
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
ATTEST:
BRENDA PREE, MMC
CITY CLERK
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
Resolution No.____
May 12, 2026
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, BRENDA PREE, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. ____ is a full, true, and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on _______________________, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Palm Springs, California, this ______ day of ______________, _________.
BRENDA PREE, MMC
CITY CLERK
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS