Board recommends Class 1 historic designation for Snyder residence tied to William Charles Tanner

The Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board voted unanimously on April 7 to recommend that the City Council designate the Snyder residence (case HSPB176) as a Class 1 historic site, following staff findings that the property meets municipal designation criteria and retains key character-defining elements.

Staff told the board that the single-family house, identified in packet materials with several variant street-name spellings, was built in the early 1930s, reflects Spanish Colonial design adapted for Palm Springs, and is linked to designer William Charles Tanner. Staff said the property met municipal historic-criteria (referenced in staff materials as Municipal Code section 8.05.070—criteria 3 and 5) and satisfied integrity findings that support Class 1 status. The board adopted proposed clarifications to the character-defining features before voting.

Why it matters: A Class 1 designation records the house’s architectural and historic significance and creates standards that staff and future boards will use to review changes to the property. Staff and consultants said the designation would help preserve features such as original doors that were relocated, the tiled roof and a rustic stone fireplace whose interiorization was documented in the report.

Owner representatives and consultants described their research on Tanner and the Snyders. One applicant speaker said the nomination grew from archival work and community input and praised local consultants for tracing Tanner’s contributions; consultant Steve Vaught called the house “a tremendous example of Palm Springs in the 1930s” that complements Tanner’s better-known Desert Inn work. Tim Scheffler of the Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization said the owners allowed the house to be part of a local house tour and endorsed the nomination.

Board members focused questions on the nomination’s list of contributing and non-contributing elements. Members asked whether shutters were original (consultants said they appear original), whether the enclosed front entry and relocated fireplace should be treated as non-original alterations (the record shows the entry was enclosed mid-century and the fireplace—originally exterior—now sits inside), and whether the “original portion” of the covered patio with rustic stone fireplace should be called out separately from later extensions. Staff and the applicant clarified redlines to the draft resolution to: (1) emphasize "ease of movement and access between indoor and outdoor spaces," (2) identify the main entry feature including stamped-concrete floors and footprint, (3) note the formerly exterior fireplace and original chimney masonry, and (4) change the non-contributing entry description to "non-original enclosed entrance with front door."

The motion to close the public hearing and adopt Resolution HSPB176 recommending that City Council designate the Snyder residence a Class 1 site (and make a CEQA determination that the action is not a project) was moved by Board member Moshka-Hitchpock and seconded by Board Member Payanesa; the motion passed 7-0.

What’s next: The board’s recommendation will be transmitted to City Council for final action. The adopted resolution and the redlined character-defining features will serve as the reference for staff review of future exterior changes to the property.