HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix D - Cultural Resources Report (Confidential)Tel: 909 824 6400 Fax: 909 824 6405
May 20, 2022
Guy Selleck, CEO/Principal
Builder’s Max, Inc.
1207 N. East Street
Anaheim, CA 92805
Re: Update to Phase I Cultural Resource Assessment
Rome Hill Commercial Development Project (APNs 371-150-001 and -002)
City of Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, California
CRM TECH Contract No. 3808
Dear Mr. Selleck:
Between November 2021 and May 2022, CRM TECH conducted a cultural resources study for the
proposed Rome Hill Commercial Development Project in the City of Lake Elsinore, Riverside
County, California. The project area consists of approximately 6.75 acres of vacant land in
Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 371-150-001 and -002, located on the northeastern side of Grand Avenue
and to the west of Rome Hill, on the southern shore of Lake Elsinore. It comprises a portion of the
Rancho La Laguna (Stearns) land grant lying within Township 6 South Range 4 West, San
Bernardino Baseline and Meridian (Figures 1, 2).
Background
According to existing documentation in your possession, the current project area was previously
covered by a standard Phase I cultural resources survey completed by L&L Environmental, Inc., in
2016 under provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; L&L 2016 [see
Attachment A]). The scope of that study, conducted on a 55.83-acre property that encompassed the
current project area in its entirety as well as additional land further to the northeast and the southeast,
included a historical/archaeological resources records search, historical background research, Native
American consultation, and an intensive-level field survey.
As the result of these research procedures, the 2016 study identified three historical/archaeological
sites as lying within or partially within its survey boundaries (L&L 2016:45-49). One of these sites,
since designated 33-024870 (CA-RIV-12328) in the California Historical Resources Inventory, was
found at the northeastern end of the current project area (ibid.:46; Gillean and Sanka 2016 [see
Attachment B]). The other two sites, 33-005048 (CA-RIV-5048) and 33-011009, representing a
prehistoric artifact scatter and Lake Elsinore, respectively, lay well outside the boundaries of the
current project area and thus require no further consideration during this study (L&L 2016:46).
Site 33-024870 was first recorded during the 2016 study and described as two structural foundations
on a concrete pad with an associated patch of asphalt (Gillean and Sanka 2016:1). Evidently the
remains of a building that was present at that location at least by the 1950s but appeared to have
2
Figure 1. Project location. (Based on USGS Lake Elsinore and Wildomar, Calif., 7.5’ quadrangles, 1988 edition)
3
Figure 2. Recent satellite image of the project area.
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been removed between 1994 and 2002, the site was found not to be eligible for listing in the
California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) and not to be significant under CEQA
provisions (ibid.:3; L&L 2016:48, 52).
Since the 2016 study is now six years old, the present study was designed and implemented to
update and reexamine its findings and conclusions. Research procedures completed during this
study included updates to the records search and the historical background research as well as a
systematic field inspection of the project area. A summary of the methods and results of these
procedures is presented below, along with the final conclusion of the study.
Update to Records Search
The historical/archaeological resources records search for this study was provided by the Eastern
Information Center (EIC) at the University of California, Riverside, on January 19, 2022. The
purpose of the records search is to document any additional cultural resources studies that have
occurred in or near the project area as well as any additional historical/archaeological resources that
may have been identified. The results of the records search indicate no additional studies involving
the project location since 2016, nor any recently discovered cultural resources within or adjacent to
the current project boundaries.
Outside the project area but within a half-mile radius, two cultural resources studies have been
reported to the EIC since 2016. Together with 10 studies that took place before 2016, approximately
40 percent of the land within the scope of the records search has now been surveyed. As in 2016,
EIC records identify five historical/archaeological sites within the half-mile radius in addition to the
three mentioned above, indicating that no cultural resources have been identified in the scope of the
records search since then. Three of these, 33-004248, 33-004249, and 33-004250, were prehistoric
—i.e., Native American—archaeological sites, all of them consisting of bedrock milling features,
while the other two, 33-007186 and 33-011277, were residential buildings dating to the 1930s-1940s
era. None of these five sites were found in the immediate vicinity of the project area.
Update to Historical Background Research
Historical background research for this study was conducted by CRM TECH archaeologist Ben
Kerridge, M.A. In addition to the sources consulted during the 2016 study, satellite images of the
project vicinity taken since then were also examined for information pertaining to more recent land
use history. These satellite images are available at the Nationwide Environmental Title Research
(NETR) Online website and through the Google Earth software. Based on these sources, very little
change has occurred within or adjacent to the project area since 2016 (NETR Online 2016-2018;
Google Earth 2016-2021). Other than stockpiles of construction materials noted in the northeastern
portion of the project area in 2021, the overall landscape has remained largely unchanged (ibid.).
Field Inspection
On January 26, 2022, CRM TECH archaeologist Daniel Ballester, M.S., carried out the field
inspection of the project area. The survey was completed at an intensive level by walking a series of
parallel northeast-southwest transects at 15-meter (approximately 50-foot) intervals. Ground
5
Figure 3. Typical landscape in the project area. (Photograph taken on January 26, 2022; view to the southwest)
visibility was good to excellent (90 percent) as the area had been largely cleared of vegetation
(Figure 3).
During the survey, Site 33-024870, the structural remains recorded in 2016 at the northeastern end of
the current project area, was located, closely inspected, and found to have been disturbed since its
initial recordation. Specifically, portions of one of the foundations at the site had been removed,
while the other foundation, the concrete pad, and the asphalt patch appeared to be unaltered as
recorded in 2016 (see Attachment B). No other features or artifact deposits of prehistoric or
historical origin were observed within or adjacent to the project boundaries.
Discussion
In summary, Site 33-024870, a group of late-historic-period structural remains, represents the only
potential “historical resource,” as defined by CEQA and associated regulations (PRC §5020.1(j);
Title 14 CCR §15064.5(a)(1)-(3)), that has been identified within the current project area. The site
was previously evaluated for historic significance when it was first recorded in 2016, and the
pertinent section of the 2016 L&L study states:
To be considered eligible for inclusion in the CRHR, a resource must possess integrity and
demonstrate eligibility under at least one of the CRHR criteria. This site does not appear to retain
sufficient integrity to be considered eligible for inclusion in the CRHR and no evidence was detected
to indicate that this resource has the potential to yield additional information important to history in
the future. Therefore, L&L recommends this site as not eligible for inclusion in the CRHR and not
6
significant pursuant to CEQA… Recordation onto DPR 523 Forms exhaust the site’s research value
and no further work is recommended for this resource prior to project implementation. (L&L
2016:52)
Isolated structural remains like these are among the most common historic-period features to be
encountered in southern California, especially those from the mid-20th century. With the primary
components of the sites—i.e., the buildings—removed, these fragmented secondary features retain
little ability to reflect a close association with any persons or events in their history. The foundations
recorded at Site 33-024870 do not demonstrate any particular merit in design, construction,
engineering, or aesthetics and, in the absence of a substantial artifact deposit, holds little potential to
yield any important archaeological data for the study of local history. Based on these consideration,
CRM TECH concurs with the 2016 determination that Site 33-024870 does not appear to be eligible
for listing in the CRHR and does not meet CEQA definition of a “historical resource.”
Conclusion and Recommendations
Based on the information and analysis presented above, CRM TECH concludes that no “historical
resources” are present within the current project area. Pursuant to PRC §21084.1 and §5020.1(q),
CRM TECH recommends to the City of Lake Elsinore a finding that the proposed project will not
cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of any known “historical resource.” However,
in light of the established archaeological sensitivity of the lakeshore setting of the project location,
the possibility of encountering subsurface cultural remains during the project, especially those of
prehistoric origin, cannot be overlooked. Therefore, CRM TECH concurs with the recommendation
presented in the 2016 study that an archaeological monitoring program be implemented during earth-
moving operations associated with the proposed project (L&L 2016:57). At a minimum, the
monitoring program should be composed of the following requirements:
• All ground-disturbing activities in the project area should be monitored by a qualified
archaeologist and/or a Native American representative of Luiseño heritage.
• If cultural materials more than 50 years of age are discovered, they need to be field-recorded and
evaluated. The monitor should be prepared to recover artifacts quickly to avoid construction
delays but must have the power to temporarily halt or divert construction equipment to allow for
controlled archaeological recovery if a substantial cultural deposit is encountered.
• Collected artifacts should be processed, catalogued, analyzed, and prepared for permanent
curation in a repository with permanent retrievable storage that would allow for additional
research in the future.
• Standard record forms should be prepared to document the cultural remains discovered during
the monitoring program and submitted to the EIC for incorporation into the California Historical
Resources Inventory.
• A report summarizing the methods and results of the monitoring program, including an itemized
inventory and a detailed analysis of recovered artifacts, should be prepared upon completion of
the field and laboratory work. The report should include an interpretation of the cultural
activities represented by the artifacts and a discussion of the significance of all archaeological
finds.
• The approval of the report by the City of Lake Elsinore, along with final curation of the
recovered artifacts, will signify completion of the monitoring program and, barring unexpected
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findings of extraordinary significance, the mitigation of potential project impacts on cultural
resources.
Under these conditions, CRM TECH further recommends that the proposed project may be cleared
to proceed in compliance with CEQA provisions on cultural resources.
Thank you for this opportunity to be of service. If you have any questions or need further
information regarding the research results outlined in this letter report, please feel free to contact our
office.
Sincerely,
Bai “Tom” Tang, M.A.
Principal, CRM TECH
References Cited:
L&L (L&L Environmental, Inc.)
2016 Phase 1 Cultural Resources Assessment for the Lake Elsinore Villas Project, ±55.83
Acres in and near the City of Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, California. Copy provided by
Builder’s Max, Inc., Anaheim. (See Attachment A)
Gillean, William R., and J.M. Sanka
2016 California Historical Resources Inventory record forms, Site 33-024870 (CA-RIV-
12328). On file, Eastern Information Center, University of California, Riverside. (See
Attachment B)
Google Earth
2016-2021 Satellite photographs of the project vicinity; taken in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Available through the Google Earth software.
NETR Online
2016-2018 Satellite photographs of the project vicinity; taken in 2016 and 2018.
http://www.historicaerials.com.
ATTACHMENT A
2016 CULTURAL RESOURCES STUDY
By L&L Environmental, Inc.
<Pliase 1 CU[;tumf !J!lsource )lssessment far tlie LaR.§ 'Elsinore 'Jlitl4s IJ'roject
In and' :Near tlie City of£~ 'Efsinore, 'lQversitU County, CJI
1.0) INTRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING
1.1) Introduction
J/.prif2016
The following report documents a Phase I CRA for the Lake Elsinore Villas Project and was
completed in accordance with CEQA and the County of Riverside Cultural Resources
Guidelines. This report follows the California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) procedures
for cultural resource surveys and is generally based on the OHP Archaeological Resource
Management Report (ARMR) format (OHP 1990). In addition, this report reflects format and
content information specific to the Riverside County Planning Department Cultural Resource
Review website (Riverside 2016a) and Cultural Resources (Archaeological) Investigations
Standard Scopes of Work (Riverside 2016b).
1.2) Project Location
The proposed project is generally located in the southwest portion of Riverside County,
California, west of Interstate 15, southeast of Highway 74, and near the southwestern shoreline
of Lake Elsinore (Figure 1 ). Specifically, it can be found within Sections 19 and 20 of Township
6 South, Range 4 West as shown on the USGS Lake Elsinore, CA 7.5' topographic quadrangle
map (Figure 2). The project is located immediately northeast of the intersection of Vail
StreeVKathryn Way and Grand Avenue in and near the City of Lake Elsinore (Figure 3). The
project site consists of APNs 371-090-001, -002, -003, and -004; 371-150-001, -002, -009, -010,
and -016; and 371-160-007 and totals ±55.83 acres. The project area is comprised of lands
located within the City of Lake Elsinore (±13.53 acres) and lands located within unincorporated
Riverside County (±42.30 acres) (Figures 2 and 3).
1.3) Project Description
The proposed project includes the construction of a multi-family residential development known
as the Lake Elsinore Villas. The project would be constructed within a ±55.83 acre project area
comprised of lands located within the City of Lake Elsinore (±13.53 acres) and lands located
within unincorporated Riverside County (±42.30 acres). The project is currently in the design
phase and is subject to change based on the results of on-going CEQA compliant technical
studies, Native American coordination, and feedback from the City of Lake Elsinore, Riverside
County, and other applicable agencies. At this time, the project is anticipated to include
approximately 11.84 acres of residential development and the remaining 43.99 acres are
proposed as a biological resources or wetlands mitigation area. These areas are shown in
SqXX-15-499,Jl.~ 8
ATTACHMENT B
CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL RESOURCES INVENTORY
SITE RECORD FORMS
Site 33-024870 (CA-RIV-12328)
State of California--The Resources Agency Primary # 33-024870 (update)
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI #
CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial CA-RIV-12328 (update)
Page 1 of 1 Resource name or # (Assigned by recorder)
Recorded by Daniel Ballester Date January 26, 2022 Continuation √ Update
Affiliation: CRM TECH, Colton Project No: CRM TECH 3808
On January 26, 2022, Site 33-024870 was revisited during an intensive-level
archaeological field survey. It was observed at the time that portions of Feature
1 had been removed, while Features 2, 3, and 4 appeared to be unaltered as recorded
in 2016.
Report Citation:
Bai “Tom” Tang
2022 Update to Phase I Cultural Resource Assessment: Rome Hill Commercial
Development Project (APNs 371-150-001 and -002), City of Lake Elsinore,
Riverside County, California
DPR 523L (1/95) *Required information