City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: APRIL 25, 2023 FROM: COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WARD: 3
DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: PLANNING CASE DP-2022-01109 – REQUEST BY SHAWN STEVENS TO DESIGNATE THE WALTER VERLY HOUSE RESIDENCE - LOCATED AT 6268 PALM AVENUE - AS A CITY LANDMARK AND AMEND THE ZONING CODE MAP TO APPLY THE CR – CULTURAL RESOURCE OVERLAY ZONE TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY ISSUE:
Adopt a Resolution to designate the Walter Verly House, located at 6268 Palm Avenue, as a City Landmark and adopt an Ordinance amending the Zoning Code Map to apply the CR - Cultural Resources Overlay Zone to the subject property.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Determine that Planning Case DP-2022-01109 (Historic Designation), to designate the Walter Verly House as a City Landmark, is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) and 15308 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment), as the proposal will have no significant effect on the environment, identifies the structure as a cultural resource, and preserves the historic character of a cultural resource; Approve Planning Case DP-2022-01109 (Historic Designation) based on, and subject to, the Cultural Heritage Board facts for findings outlined in the attached Cultural Heritage Board staff report; Adopt the attached Resolution designating the Walter Verly House as a City Landmark; Approve the attached findings for the Zoning Code Map Amendment to apply the CR — Cultural Resources Overlay Zone to the subject property; and Introduce and subsequently adopt the attached Ordinance to rezone 6268 Palm Avenue from the R-1-7000-Single Family Residential Zone to the R-1-7000-CR – Single Family Residential and Cultural Resources Overlay Zones.
CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS:
On January 18, 2023, the Cultural Heritage Board (CHB) held a public hearing and unanimously voted (7 ayes and 0 noes) to recommend that the City Council approve Planning Case DP-2022-01109 and designate the Walter Verly House as a City Landmark (Attachments 4 and 5).
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A “Landmark” is defined in Section 20.50.010 (U) of Title 20 of the Riverside Municipal Code as:
“Any improvement or natural feature that is an exceptional example of a historical, archaeological, cultural, architectural, community, aesthetic or artistic heritage of the City, retains a high degree of integrity, and meets one or more of the following criteria:
Exemplifies or reflects special elements of the City's cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, architectural, or natural history; Is identified with persons or events significant in local, state or national history; Embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of construction, or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship; Represents the work of a notable builder, designer, or architect, or important creative individual; Embodies elements that possess high artistic values or represents a significant structural or architectural achievement or innovation; Reflects significant geographical patterns, including those associated with different eras of settlement and growth, particular transportation modes, or distinctive examples of park or community planning, or cultural landscape; Is one of the last remaining examples in the City, region, State, or nation possessing distinguishing characteristics of an architectural or historical type or specimen; or Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in history or prehistory.” DISCUSSION:
Property owner, Shawn Stevens, is requesting approval of a Historic Designation request to designate the Walter Verly House as a City Landmark.
The Airplane Bungalow-style residence was constructed in 1919. Records do not indicate that the residence is associated with any known designer or builder. According to building permits and City Directory records, the original owner of the residence was Walter Verly, a mechanic at the Mission Garage. A detached garage was constructed at the residence in 1921. The garage was destroyed by an electrical fire in 2019 and replaced by a detached two-car garage in 2020. The residence has had no major alterations according to records.
The Airplane Bungalow residential architecture is fairly uncommon in Riverside, with only approximately seven known examples throughout the City. The Walter Verly House embodies the character-defining features of the style, including a two-story structure with Asian architectural influences and an emphasis on horizontal lines; a “pop-up” second story set back from the first floor; low-pitched gable roofs with wide eaves and gable end outlookers; a combination of stucco and wood shingle exterior cladding; fixed, casement, and double-hung wood-framed windows with trim; and an open porch with square posts atop battered piers.
The Walter Verly House is historically significant as an excellent and rare example of Airplane Bungalow style residential architecture in the City. The residence also retains a high degree of integrity required for Landmark designation.
Therefore, the residence is eligible for City Landmark designation under Criterion 3 of Section 20.50.010 (U) of Title 20, as it embodies the character-defining features of the Airplane Bungalow Style of architecture.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Prior to the CHB and City Council meeting, public notices were mailed to property owners within 300 feet of the site.
As of the writing of this report, no responses have been received by staff regarding this historic designation request.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being and Goal 2.3 – Strengthen neighborhood identities and improve community health and the physical environment through amenities and programs that foster an increased sense of community and enhanced feelings of pride and belonging citywide).
This item aligns with the following Cross-Cutting Threads:
Community Trust: The Landmark Designation request is being reviewed during a Public Hearing before the City Council and the public is able to provide comments.
Equity: The Landmark Designation will require a landmark plaque be placed so that they are visible from the public right-of-way, providing information about the historic property to all residents.
Fiscal Responsibility: The Landmark Designation will require no City General Funds.
Innovation: The Landmark Designation request includes a historic property from the recent past, which relates to new clarifications of historic properties.
Sustainability and Resiliency: The Landmark Designation will help to preserve the City’s collective history for future generations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this report.
Prepared by: Jennifer A. Lilley, Community & Economic Development Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Approved by: Rafael Guzman, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Resolution for Historic Designation
Recommended Findings for CR Overlay Zone
Ordinance
Cultural Heritage Board Staff Report – January 18, 2023 Cultural Heritage Board Minutes – January 18, 2023
Presentation
DP-2022-01109 (HD) – 6268 Palm Avenue ● Page 3