Attachment C - HPC Minutes - Z-94-24-3.pdf

PHOENIX HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION 
MONTHLY MEETING 
Final Meeting Minutes 
Date: 
September 16, 2024 
Time: 
4:30 p.m. 
Location: 
Virtual-only via Webex 
Commission Members Present 
Staff Present 
Dan Garcia, Chair 
Helana Ruter 
Tricia Amato, Vice Chair (virtual) 
Kevin Weight 
Dan Klocke 
Desiree Aranda 
Taz Khatri (virtual) 
Cletus Montoya 
Christina Noble (virtual) 
Emma Collins 
Brenda Thomson 
Bridget Collins 
Chad Gestson (virtual - late arrival) 
Jodey Elsner (virtual) 
Crystal Carrancho (virtual) 
Maura Jackson (virtual) 
Danny Inglese (Law Department) 
Commission Members Absent 
Staff Absent 
Francesca Miller 
Keely Varvel Hartsell 
1. 
Call meeting to order 
Chair Garcia verified that a quorum was established and called the meeting to 
order at 4:39 p.m. 
Dan Garcia,  
HP Commission 
Chair 
2. 
Introduction of Commission Members and Staff 
Chair Garcia asked the Commission members to introduce themselves 
followed by staff introductions.  
HP Commission 
and Staff 
3. 
Review of meeting minutes from the annual work session and the 
monthly meeting held on August 19, 2024. 
Action Requested: Approval of minutes (separate actions for the two 
meetings). 
Chair Garcia asked the Commission for questions or comments about the 
draft minutes from the August 19th annual work session. None were posed. 
Chair Garcia then asked the Commission for a motion on the draft minutes 
from the August 19th annual work session.  
HP Commission 
ATTACHMENT C

(NOTE: After agenda item four completed, Chair Garcia returned to agenda 
item three and asked Mr. Inglese for an update on the paused outcome of the 
vote on the minutes for the August 19th HP Commission monthly meeting. 
Mr. Inglese stated that per the Commission’s rules of procedure, a quorum is 
required to conduct business. However, conducting business then only 
requires a majority of those present. Since there were six members present 
and four members voted, yes, the minutes did pass in this case. Also, he 
referenced the Robert’s Rules of Procedure, which state that abstentions are 
not required if a member was not present at a prior meeting – members are 
welcome to vote on minutes for any prior meeting that they did not attend. 
Chair Garcia thanked Mr. Inglese for confirming the vote of 4-0 with 2 
abstentions for the August 19th HP Commission monthly meeting minutes. He 
also appreciated the clarification on abstentions not being required when 
voting on minutes from prior meetings that members may have missed. 
Following this confirmation of the vote on the second action item for agenda 
item three, Chair Garcia then moved the agenda forward to item five.) 
5. 
Public Hearing for Rezoning Application No. Z-94-24-3, Thompson Rock 
Garden, at 10023 North 13th Place. 
Action Requested: Recommendation on Historic Preservation (HP) Overlay 
Zoning 
Chair Garcia invited Maura Jackson to present this item. 
Ms. Jackson said that Rezoning Application No. Z-94-24-3 is a request to 
establish Historic Preservation (HP) overlay zoning for the property located at 
10023 North 13th Place, which is known historically as the Thompson Rock 
Garden or the Sunnyslope Rock Garden. She presented the following 
information in support of the request: 
•
Background:
o
1979 Phoenix Historic Building Survey
▪
Although subject property was not yet 50 years old, it
was identified as eligible for listing as a unique local
example of folk art used in landscaping;
▪
Subject property, now substantially over 50 years in
age, is recommended as eligible for listing on the
Phoenix Historic Property Register (PHPR) under
Criterion C as an exceptional example of a folk art
environment
▪
Request for designation was initiated by the current
property owner; and
▪
Designation was initiated by the HP Commission on
June 17, 2024
▪
HP overlay zoning application was filed by HP Office on
June 26, 2024
•
Property Overview:
o
Grover Cleveland Thompson purchased this property in 1954
Maura Jackson, 
HP Staff

▪
Mr. Thompson created a folk art environment over two
decades throughout the exterior of his home;
▪
He combined original mosaic pieces, freeform concrete
and mortar, statuary, native rock, and cast concrete
pieces to create an immersive folk art environment;
▪
His home is present on this parcel and is included
within the boundaries of the proposed historic
designation – the house blends seamlessly into the
exterior sculptures and contributes to the overall site;
•
Significance:
o
The Thompson Rock Garden property is eligible under
Criterion C as a rare local example of a folk art environment.
The sculptures possess high artistic value using a distinctive
method of construction and materials
•
Integrity:
o
After Mr. Thompson’s death in 1977, Marion Blake purchased
the property in 1978
▪
Ms. Blake, a teacher with background in Art History,
has maintained the folk art environment, thus enabling
the Thompson Rock Garden to retain its historic
integrity, including location, design, materials,
workmanship, feeling, and association
•
Boundary:
o
The proposed HP zoning boundary encompasses 0.22 gross
acres. It has been drawn to include the subject parcel in its
entirety as well as the adjacent portion of the right of way, as is
customary in rezoning cases;
o
The proposed boundary contains the documented historic
resources and follows parcel lines and street monument lines
as much as possible
In conclusion, Ms. Jackson said that staff was recommending the rezoning 
request (Z-94-24-3) to establish HP overlay zoning for the subject property 
should be approved for the following reasons: 
•
The property meets the significance, age, and integrity requirements
for HP overlay zoning set forth in Section 807.D of the Zoning
Ordinance; and
•
The proposed boundaries meet the eligibility criteria outlined in
Section 807.E.
Chair Garcia thanked Ms. Jackson for the presentation. Prior to asking the 
Commission for questions or comments, he asked for clarification when the 
information packet was sent to the Commission, since he did not receive it. 
Ms. Ruter responded to Chair Garcia and apologized that she had sent the 
information packet to his personal email rather than his work email address. 
Chair Garcia requested that his email information be updated to reflect his 
work email address for HP communications.

Ms. Ruter stated that she would update the email contact information. 
Chair Garcia then asked the Commission for any questions or comments. 
Commissioner Khatri asked for clarification whether this designation would 
limit any additions or changes to the Thompson Rock Garden.  
Ms. Jackson said that any future proposed changes to the subject property 
would need to come through the Historic Preservation design review process. 
She also believes that the property owner’s intention is to maintain what is 
currently on site and to conserve it as it is existing. However, if changes were 
proposed in the future, those probably would not be recommended during that 
review process.  
Commissioner Khatri commented that the rock garden was really a reflection 
of its creator, Mr. Thompson. 
Chair Garcia verified that there were no further comments from the 
Commission. He then reviewed the comment cards that were submitted for 
this item, as follows:  
•
Marion Blake (Owner of subject property) – In favor of this item, but
did not wish to speak
•
Julia Taggart – In favor of this item, and wished to speak
•
Terry Glaze – In favor of this item, but did not wish to speak
•
Kim Kasper – In favor of this item, but did not wish to speak
•
John Jacquemart – In favor of this item, and wished to speak
Chair Garcia invited Julia Taggart to the podium to share her comments. 
Ms. Taggart appreciated Ms. Jackson’s presentation on the history of the 
Thompson Rock Garden. She thinks the garden is an amazing piece of 
artwork. She expressed her concern that other rock gardens in Phoenix have 
been destroyed such as Somewhere Over the Rainbow rock salvage yard. 
Although the Louis Lee Rock Garden still exists, the family does not wish to 
pursue historic designation for its property. However, the Lee Family does 
support Marion Blake’s request for historic designation of her property. 
Therefore, with an approval of HP overlay zoning, Ms. Blake’s property would 
be the only rock garden to have historic preservation protection. She said that 
the Thompson Rock Garden is much loved by many in the community and 
beyond. She mentioned that Ms. Blake wants to preserve her property, as 
does the Sunnyslope community, and she would be happy to have her 
property receive historic designation and be listed on the Phoenix Register. 
Next, Ms. Blake would like to pursue listing her property on the National 
Register as well.  In addition, she reminded the Commission that the 
Sunnyslope Studio Art Tour is scheduled for October 26-27, 2024. 
Chair Garcia thanked Ms. Taggart. Then, he verified that Marion Blake, 
property owner, was in support of this item, but did not wish to speak.

Next, Chair Garcia invited John Jacquemart to the podium to share his 
comments.  
Mr. Jacquemart said that he was in support of this item, and he requested the 
HP Commission for its support too. He then mentioned the Watts Towers in 
Los Angeles, for context, and referenced its similarities of the doorways and 
the site. 
Chair Garcia thanked Mr. Jacquemart. Then he verified that the Commission 
had no additional comments on this item. 
Next, Chair Garcia asked the Commission for a motion on this item.  
Vice Chair Amato made a motion to approve the Rezoning Application No. Z-
94-24-3 for the Thompson Rock Garden located at 10023 North 13th Place.
Commissioner Klocke seconded the motion. 
The Commission voted, as follows: 
Chair Garcia – Yes 
Vice Chair Amato – Yes 
Commissioner Khatri – Yes 
Commissioner Klocke – Yes 
Commissioner Noble – Yes 
Commissioner Thomson – Yes 
Commissioner Gestson – Yes 
Approved 7 – 0. 
Chair Garcia thanked the Commission, and he moved on to the next agenda 
item. 
6. 
Update on requests for demolition 
•
30-day demolition holds
•
Properties on the Phoenix Register
Action Requested: Information and possible discussion 
Chair Garcia invited Emma Collins to present the update. 
Ms. Collins referenced the 30-day hold report that was provided to the HP 
Commission and briefly reviewed the DAPPs that were submitted since last 
meeting, as follows: 
DAPPs: (12 Total) 
• (3) Closed
• (1) Open – Currently in 30-day hold period
• (1) Extended – 9801 North Metro Parkway East; previous review extended
• (7) Pending
o
(5) Pending submissions
Emma Collins, 
HP Staff