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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 09/16/2019APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL RD HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Olson-Chair; Tara Kalar-Vice Chair; Pamela Spera; Valerie Ross; Paul Thorp; Shanti Shah; Cheryl Kessler COMMISSION STAFF: David Lindahl, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT MEMBERS: Maia Chavez; Ellyse Ferlauto; Lilly Hyland; Aditya Nandhiyar I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Olson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Absent was commission member Kessler. Doug Mack of McDonald & Mack Architects joined the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Ross moved, seconded by Spera to approve the agenda with the addition of the heritage site maps and the Historical Society’s oral history project under FYI Items. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Shah moved, seconded by Ross to approve the minutes of the August 19, 2019 meeting. Motion carried 5-0 with one abstention (Kalar). IV. NEW BUSINESS A. YORKVILLE AND BLOOMINGTON TRAIL NOMINATION REPORT PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION Doug Mack presented a PowerPoint and detailed the nomination, which was adopted by the Minnesota Individual property inventory form prepared by Two Pines Resource Group. This portion of the road was eligible for local listing under Criterion One. Mack displayed the actual section of road that was eligible and noted the land was overgrown. The Lidar image clearly showed the road as surveyed by Thorp. He highlighted the history and use of the road, which was not EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 16, 2019 Page 2 included in the 1854 government land survey or the 1854 or 1860 maps. He affirmed the road was an ox-cart trail, and stated the road within the conservation area was graded. Mack described the importance of the road to commerce and read the statement of significance; 1864-1892 was the period of significance. B. REVIEW LOCAL NOMINATION PROCESS – NEXT STEPS Thorp did further research and found a map that indicated a survey of an existing route for the construction of the road, and no eminent domain, easement, or land purchase from any settler, but went along the existing trail and was taken by prescription (or use). He displayed the town of Hennepin 1863 road alignment and showed its location in relation to the blacksmith shop. Thorp asked to amend the paragraph to say it was possibly built over the ox-cart trail, altering the Two Pines report that stated it was not built on the trail. Mack agreed this made sense and asked how this could be handled. Kalar asked if Thorp’s research could be captured even if the consultant did not agree with it. Mack replied it could; evidence from both parties could be set out where there was ambiguity. Lindahl added this would not affect the recommendation. Discussion followed on ways to present the narrative. Kalar asked for the criteria for a local nomination. Olson noted Criterion One in the local standards resembled criterion A in the national standards. Discussion followed on next steps (a public hearing). Kalar asked for recommendations from Mack on how the City should treat this site moving forward. Mack replied a vegetation management plan was the primary recommendation; there was no direct, immediate threat. Erosion and other factors could affect the site but it was not immanent, and would be taken up place after the City Council meeting. Lindahl added future treatment depended on the site’s accessibility. MOTION: Kalar moved, seconded by Shah, to find the Yorkville Bloomington trail site eligible for local nomination. MOTION carried 6-0. V. OLD BUSINESS A. WATER RESERVOIR INTERPRETIVE PANEL – NEXT STEPS Lindahl described the project for the students and announced the cost would be covered by the Public Works Department. He went through the presentation shown at the previous meeting. Olson called for volunteers for the interpretive panel committee; Spera, Shah and Thorp volunteered. Olson invited the students to shadow the committee members in their work on this project. VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. 2019 STATEWIDE HISTORIC PRESERVATION CONFERENCE EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 16, 2019 Page 3 Kessler, not present, did attend; Spera did not. VII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY Thorp announced the Fall Harvest Celebration, which offered a tent with a historic map collection and genealogy information. Ross announced the History Hunt on October 5, 2019, 2:00-5:00 p.m. with a drawing for an afghan. The Eden Prairie Library would also hold a “Story Stroll.” She passed around a map of the tour. Santa would be at the Cummins House on November 11. He would be there Fridays through Sundays, and then every day of Christmas week. The Sharing Tree lighting ceremony would be held November 30. The Ghost walk was on October 12, with tours staring at 7:00 p.m. on the half-hour. There were four different free tours, and the Eden Prairie Players would play the roles of pioneers that lived around the Cummins House. There would also possibly be some improvisation. VIII. FYI ITEMS A. GRANT APPLICATION FOR CUMMINS HOUSE UPSTAIRS WORK Lindahl stated he and Kathie Case reviewed the feedback from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), made the suggested corrections, and submitted the application on September 6. This was a competitive grant application requesting $105,000.00 with a $20,000.00 contingency. Thorp stated before Lori Creamer left Thorp volunteered to assist with the street sign purchase requests and had not heard. Lindahl replied Jeanne Karschnia Community Development was helping with this. The signs were still being sold. B. HERITAGE MAP UPDATE (CITY WEB SITE) Lindahl stated the IT Department asked him if he would like to see the new Heritage Sites Map, and he asked to compare the two. He was unable to display the new map, but he described the improvements to the site. Lindahl detailed the Oral History Project, which would be displayed on the HPC website as a “click and listen” feature. Each square would be a thumbnail of the person with details and a biographical pop-out. There would also be a transcription of the sound file. Ross stated this was in the process of being done and might actually be completed. Lindahl stated the city of Eagan’s oral history website linked to references such as a photograph of a building, roads, residences, et cetera, and suggested keeping this in mind. He admitted this would be a large project. Kalar asked if the City has releases for the photographs, and Lindahl replied he did think so. Spera offered to check with the Historical Society on photograph permissions and public domain resources. Shah stated the students from previous years had recommended website changes as an assignment by the commission and by Creamer and asked if there was some documentation. Kalar EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 16, 2019 Page 4 replied there was a PowerPoint. Shah recommended the commission review this for this project. Olson summarized the project: the website would be rolled into this new format, and then updated with photographs and other resources. Lindahl affirmed this and stated he would be able to help with it in the future. IX NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, October 21, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in Prairie Rooms A & B. X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Shah moved, seconded by Ross to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m.