Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 04/18/2022APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2022 7:00 P.M. 8080 MITCHELL RD HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Rod Fisher (Chair); Paul Thorp (Vice- Chair); George Maxwell; Steve Schumacher; Robert Bowes; Andrew Scipioni; Andy Ludowese COMMISSION STAFF: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES Andrea Porter; Joseph Canham; Devyn Stanton; Luc Willett I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Fisher called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Absent were commission members Bowes and Maxwell and student representatives Porter and Canham. John LeBlanc of True Friends joined the meeting. II. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT Stanton read the land acknowledgement statement. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Schumacher moved, seconded by Scipioni to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Schumacher moved, seconded by Fisher to approve the minutes of the February 28, 2022 minutes. Motion carried 5-0. MOTION: Fisher moved, seconded by Schumacher to approve the minutes of the Joint HPC and PRNRC March 7, 2022 minutes. Motion carried 5-0. V. NEW BUSINESS A. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS AND INTRODUCTIONS (NOVAK- KREBS) EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 18, 2022 Page 2 Fisher introduced himself and welcomed the new commission members. All commission members and student representatives introduced themselves. B. SWEAR IN NEW MEMBERS (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs swore in the new commission members. C. REVIEW CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE BIRCHWOOD CABIN SIDING DOORS AND ROOFING REPLACEMENT AT THE GLEN LAKE CHILDREN’S CAMP AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs displayed a PowerPoint and gave some background on the Certificate of Appropriateness for the Birchwood Cabin. She explained the location of the Birchwood Cabin in context to the Lion’s Den, the dormitory, and the other buildings. It, like the Lion’s Den, was a non-contributing property built after the period of significance. Thorp added the site was a designated land area and these buildings were in it, but they were not historic properties themselves. John LeBlanc of True Friends, a non-profit organization which leases the property and maintains it, stated the previous name was “Camp Indian Chief,” ostensibly named after an indigenous chief buried on the property. Glen Lake Children’s Camp was placed on the National Register in 1999 and in 2013 was designated by the City of Eden Prairie as a Heritage Preservation Site. The City owned the property but True Friends leased the property and maintained the buildings. The Birchwood cabin was built in 1982-83 and included sleeping areas for up to 28 people, a kitchen, dining area, living room and bathrooms. Novak-Krebs displayed the current Birchwood Cabin, the proposed improvements to the siding, soffit, fascia, shingles, roofing and doors, and explained the intent to match the colors and materials used on the Lion’s Den and on the Bergland Center. She displayed the current Lion’s Den with its improvement and an image of the Berglund Center. All buildings would look similar after the improvements to the Birchwood Cabin. Improvements were needed to ensure the structure would continue to be used for its intended purpose. There would be no site alternations and all improvements would be consistent with The Secretary of The Interior’s Standards for The Treatment of Historic Properties. There would be no adverse effects on the historic Glen Lake Children’s Camp and staff recommended approval. After the motion tonight the commission’s recommendation would be taken to the May 3 City Council public hearing where the Council would consider approval of the COA and make their findings. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 18, 2022 Page 3 Schumacher asked for and received clarification that True Friends had a twenty- year lease (signed in 2015 or 2016) and were responsible for all capital upkeep of the property. Novak-Krebs stated Jay Lotthammer met with True Friends every year to discuss upkeep. Fisher asked for and received clarification that the improvements would bring the Cabin in line with the appearance of the Lion’s Den with similar colors and horizontal siding. Discussion followed on the improvements. Thorp asked for and received confirmation the driveway was still gravel by the Holasek House. He urged paving this driveway. LeBlanc gave a brief history of the site. The Camp was built in 1925 to serve children with tuberculosis as recounted in a book, The History of Tuberculosis in Minnesota. Sunshine and fresh air were seen as curative effects and there was also an effort to get children out of the sanitarium. The Camp was a gift in the will from parents who had lost a son. Thorp passed around a photograph of the monument which gave an interpretive paragraph on the site. Fisher suggested a tour of the site. MOTION: Schumacher moved, seconded by Scipioni to approve the Certificate Of Appropriateness and recommended approval by the City Council. Motion carried 5-0. D. DISCUSS NEXT STEPS FOR USING THE DORENKEMPER HOUSE (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs stated it would be best to figure out when the house could be open for tours and who would be available to lead them. Thorp suggested it was best for now to play off events in the park. Adaptive reuse of the house was difficult due to lack of electricity, sewer and water. He suggested the annual Harvest Festival. Willet suggested holding a few small test events, then increasing these over the coming years. Novak-Krebs stated she would speak with the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department to see the schedule of events coming up. Discussion followed on the possibility of incorporating the Fat Pants brewery beer truck. Ludowese suggested posting a virtual tour of the Dorenkemper House on Eden Prairie website. The commission members and staff commended this idea. Fisher urged the commission members to have some events in place by the Harvest Festival. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 18, 2022 Page 4 E. REVIEW HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARD NOMINATIONS AND SELECT A WINNER (NOVAK-KREBS) Novak-Krebs handed out the sole nomination: Steve Olson, former HPC commissioner and bridge engineer, for his contributions to historic preservation in Eden Prairie. If Olson was chosen, the award would be presented at the May 3 City Council meeting. MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Schumacher to select Steve Olson as the recipient of the Heritage Preservation Award Motion carried 5-0. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. DISCUSS A POSSIBLE PROCESS TO INTERVIEW THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE 1968 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN (NOVAK-KREBS) Fisher gave some background for the new commission members. Novak-Krebs stated the commission members had discussed interviewing those involved. Thorp replied the only living person was Bob Lambert, who had served in the 1980s and 1990s, not in the 1960s when the plan was drafted. The City drilled first water well in 1971, starting the growth in Eden Prairie. Before that every house had to have a well and septic tank. Eden Prairie became a city in 1955. Fisher stated how he was impressed with how closely Eden Prairie followed the Comprehensive Plan. Novak-Krebs suggested coming up with a list of people to interview, such as David Lindahl and Bob Lambert. She suggested commission members think of questions about the overall development and specifically about the Plan. The interviews would be posted on the website along with the other oral histories. She would put this on next month’s agenda. B. DISCUSS POTENTIAL HISTORY DISPLAY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL (ROD FISHER) Fisher asked when a time would be available for him to meet with Stanton and Willett and the principal. Willett offered to contact Mr. Virgin and let Fisher know the arrangements. VII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF Novak-Krebs stated new commission members training would be held by her before the June meeting at 6:30, with the regular meeting at 7:00. VIII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 18, 2022 Page 5 Thorp reminded commission members of the City Council workshop on the next evening. There was meeting with The Preserve on Wednesday. The Antique Sale would be held May 6 and 7. On May 16 at 7:00 p.m. the Historical Society would host the Joint HPC- Historical Society Meeting, and on May 25 the Annual Meeting for the Historical Society would be held. The upper-level research room of the Cummins Phipps Grill House was complete, with map files, City newspapers (Chaska Shakopee, Hopkins and all Eden Prairie News, bound ) and newspaper microfiche to 1865. IX. FYI ITEMS X NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, May 16, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cummins Phipps Grill House. XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Schumacher moved, seconded by Scipioni to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.