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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 09/21/2020APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION TUESDAY, SEPEMBER 21, 2020 7:00 P.M. (Virtual Meeting 8080 MITCHELL RD HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Olson-Chair; Tara Kalar-Vice Chair; Pamela Spera; Valerie Ross; Paul Thorp; Rod Fisher COMMISSION STAFF: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES Devyn Stanton, Aarav Subbaiah, Anna Patten, Finn Bloch, Maia Chevez, Sarthak Agrawal I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Olson called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Absent was student representative Bloch. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Ross to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Ross moved, seconded by Fisher to approve the minutes of the August 17, 2020 meeting. Motion carried 6-0. IV. NEW BUSINESS A. WELCOME STUDENT MEMBERS AND INTRODUCTIONS (OLSON) Olson welcomed the students and had each commission member introduce themselves. The students introduced themselves. B. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES (OLSON) Olson summarized the commission’s charge and added four historic reading assignments he had given to Novak-Krebs to pass to the students. These were National Register of Historic Places applications on Prince, the Arthur and Edith Lee House (first African-American family in south Minneapolis), 2,000-year-old Indian Mounds Park in Saint Paul, and Mesaba Cooperative Park in Hibbing. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 21, 2020 Page 2 Fisher requested the student representatives give a short, one-page summary on their reading. Olson suggested the students pick a subject and let the commission know at the October meeting, with a presentation to come later. Novak-Krebs offered to email the readings to the student representatives. C. STATE VISUAL RESOURCES DATABASE (OLSON) Olson stated the Minnesota Historical Society has a database of images (objects, postcards, et cetera) in their collection, and began there with a search for Eden Prairie. He did not find any Prohibition history but did find other historic events and suggested Lifetouch items, road intersections, et cetera that he printed out as possible display items. When he searched for “Prohibition” he found items such as photographs, pins, poems, and posters for Minnesota, but not for Eden Prairie specifically. Olson offered to show his navigation to this site and its search function at a later meeting. D. WETLAND BANK ON SEVER PETERSON PROPERTY (NOVAK- KREBS) Novak-Krebs displayed the property for the commission and explained Sever Peterson wished to create a wetland bank and restore the habitat. This also created credits that could be purchased if a developer was unable to mitigate a wetland, et cetera. This parcel was 217 acres to be put in an easement, and Mr. Peterson was working with the Board of Water and Soil Resources. She pointed out an access road that connected with Flying Cloud Drive. Thorp pointed out the 18-acre triangle piece of property just outside the red line was that of the Otherday family owned from 1871 through the 1930s and stated it should be on the commission’s radar as a historic property. He also pointed out Indian Road that connected with Flying Cloud Drive, which was not a public right-of-way. Fisher asked if there were artifacts or structures to be dealt with besides the possible historic significance of the road. Thorp replied there was not; there were no mounds and no artifacts, but the site once had a cabin. Thorp added Mr. Peterson was aware of the Thorp’s interest in preserving the property. Novak- Krebs clarified which parts of the property on the display were involved. Thorp added Mr. Peterson was interested in the Otherday family history, and the property would be well protected. E. JOINT MEETING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION (BETH) EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 21, 2020 Page 3 Novak-Krebs stated the commission at its last meeting discussed being more inclusive. She contacted the Human Rights and Diversity staff liaison, Megan Yerks, for more resources on the Somali population in Eden Prairie, and received the name of a man who worked for the Housing and Community Resources Committee in Eden Prairie and other resources. She offered to pass this onto the commission members. Discussion followed on a possible joint meeting later in winter. Novak-Krebs explained the proposed Eden Prairie Land Acknowledgement Statement, which could be read at the beginning of meetings, events, and could be printed, et cetera acknowledging the indigenous inhabitants of Eden Prairie and their relationship to this territory which is occupied. A public display or art based on this statement could also be a joint HPC-HRD project. Spera, as a former member of the Human Rights and Diversity commission, enthusiastically commended the idea. Other commission members agreed. Novak- Krebs agreed to work with Yerks to schedule a joint meeting. F. SMITH DOUGLAS MORE HOUSE OUTDOOR HEATER PROJECT (BETH) Novak-Krebs explained that the owners of the coffee shop want to install electric heaters under the porch roof on the side of the house where they have some outdoor seating. Novak-Krebs also explained that they will have to install some conduit on the side of the building. The owners are finding that during COVID, customers are more comfortable sitting outside. The heaters will allow outdoor seating and business later into the colder months. The heaters were not yet installed. The plan was for them to help stretch the season into the cooler months to get more business during Covid-19 and would remain there year-round. The owners were working closely with the City and would pay for it. Fisher asked if the conduit could be hidden behind the pillar. V. OLD BUSINESS A. PRESERVE MINNESOTA 2020 CONFERENCE (NOVAK-KREBS) Thorp stated he attended, and Fisher said he would try to catch some of the sessions. B. CUMMINGS GRILL ROOF (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs stated she spoke to Rick Clark, and if the commission applied for the grant next summer, the roof was in sufficient shape to last until 2022. The deadline for the grant is July 2021. REVIEW PHOTOS FOR DISPLAY AT FAT PANTS (NOVAK-KREBS) EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 21, 2020 Page 4 Novak-Krebs asked Olson if the images he found could be used. Olson replied the images at high resolution could be obtained. Novak-Krebs asked if other commissioners had photographs, and Fisher suggested old maps and aerial photographs. He had some of the area of the restaurant going back to 1870, and photographs of various development stages of Eden Prairie. Devyn Stanton suggested taking photographs on his phone. Novak-Krebs stated the commission could go through the photograph suggestions and then present them to the owner of Fat Pants. D. YORKVILLE TRAIL MANAGEMENT PLAN (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs stated John Gertz had done background research and the field work would be finished in September and October. Thorp said he and John Gertz were working to schedule a walk-through of the site. Novak-Krebs would keep the commission updated. VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF VII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY Ross and Thorp stated the Historical Society had no updates. The board meeting was this Thursday. Nothing had been settled for the holiday events. VIII. FYI ITEMS Olson stated he spoke to the State Review Board about visitors to upcoming meetings. At the October commission meeting he would give out the online roster of nominated candidates for the November review meeting. The student could then decide if they wished to attend the meeting. Devyn Stanton asked if Lookout Point on Highway 12 near Shakopee needed a new heritage site sign. Olson replied others also appreciated that site, but the airport had confiscated that area as part of the protection zone, and people were not allowed to gather there. Kalar stated the Bureau of Land Management was the administrator of that land and maintained it. The airport did not own it, but the land was in restricted area beneath where aircraft takeoff and land and was subject to airport rules. There was the potential in the future for the airport to take additional measures to secure the area and tear down the structure. Stanton lamented the possible destruction of the structure. Kalar stated a Facebook group dedicated to its preservation seemed to have fallen apart and the site remained unresolved. Olson stated the site was eligible for the National Register, so it could not be bulldozed with public funds, but if a private owner wished to change the site without grants or permits, it could be demolished. Kalar stated if the airport EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 21, 2020 Page 5 wished it to be gone, it would be. Kalar stated that the site would not be changed any time soon. Olson stated there was a report on wayside rests throughout the state, and this one was included. IX NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, October 19, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. online. X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Kalar moved, seconded by Fisher to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.