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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 07/16/2007 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY,JULY 16, 2007 7:00 P.M. Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS Betsy Adams, Chairperson; Ann Higgins, Vice Chairperson; Richard Akerlund, Nina Mackay, Mark McPherson,Ed Muehlberg, Jane Plaza COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Adams called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. All Commissioners were present. Robert Vogel was at the meeting to give updates on the Cummins House Reuse Study. Also present were Chris Muller, a Boy Scout from Troop 695, who is working on a merit badge by attending a public meeting, and his mother. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Akerlund, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 7-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —JUNE 18, 2007 Plaza made a correction on page 3, the first sentence in the fourth paragraph, where the name should be Plaza, not Higgins. Adams made a correction on page 5, the first sentence in the third paragraph, which was changed to read "Adams said . . . so there is some furniture that is available that could be on permanent loan which is part of the Society's collection." MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by Plaza, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held on June 18, 2007, as published and corrected. Motion carried 7-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. NATIONAL PRESERVATION CONFERENCE REGISTRATION Gertz said he would like to get completed registration forms by the end of July from Commissioners who are planning to attend the conference, which is being held October 2-6, because of "early bird" savings of about $75 per registration. However, they could still register after that date. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING July 16, 2007 Page 2 B. PRESERVATION ORDINANCE UPDATE Gertz said he plans to begin working on updating the City's preservation ordinance this month. He wants to get a completed draft to the Commission to review before the August meeting. Adams noted that the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions is offering a discussion on this topic at the preservation conference. The information provided states that many ordinances adopted in the past may no longer meet the community's needs and should be revised. Vogel said Minneapolis' ordinance, for example, is adversarial and difficult to enforce. It is important to know if an ordinance actually works. Gertz agreed that it has to be both workable and flexible. Vogel said the Commissioners should give themselves enough time to go through the ordinance and understand how it works; then find out how City staff reacts to it. Gertz said it has to be reviewed by the City Attorney as well as City staff. V. OLD BUSINESS A. CUMMINS HOUSE REUSE STUDY The Commissioners had draft copies of the conceptual site plan for a hospice addition. Gertz said they had the Planning staff look at it that morning and, overall, they were impressed with it. However, they commented that it has a relatively large footprint compared to the house. They also had comments related to zoning. Their biggest concern was the noise level because of the airport, and that would have to be mitigated, based on the Metropolitan Council Land Use Compatibility Study. Vogel said the reuse study's purpose is to have the highest and best use of the Cummins House. After doing a lot of analysis, he and Gertz decided there are probably multiple uses for the house, but five scenarios were worth developing: housing, office or retail, pilot lounge, horticultural business, hospice. Vogel pointed out that a hospice is the only use that requires any design work to alter the site. Architect Linda Mitchie drew up the concept plans. She is also the head of the Newport Heritage Preservation Commission and has a good feel for dealing with unusual purposes for historic properties. The Cummins House is a typical example of rehabilitation of a historic house. The City has already brought it into good condition. A hospice use would require meeting preservation standards and would also have to meet zoning regulations. With regard to requirements for use as a hospice, Vogel said the location is perfect. There is a huge, unmet need for end-of-life care. There are some relevant building and safety codes, as well as some state statutory requirements, which make the Cummins House impossible to use as it is for a hospice. The Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines allow for minor alterations. However, nothing that is significant to the house could be destroyed. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING July 16, 2007 Page 3 Vogel said it would be necessary to have a connection between the existing brick building and the new construction. Another element to consider is that the hospice addition is likely to last many years, but it could be removed in the future if that purpose ended. Also, the addition should be designed so it does not visually affect the appearance of the property. This is a ground-hugging, partially hidden addition. The best design solution on any of these projects is to design a contemporary building so it is obvious which is the historic building and which is the new one, but the appearance should be compatible. Vogel stated that, in general, this plan would pass the criteria for historic preservation. Off-street parking would provide paved parking space. In the concept plan, parking has been moved to an inconspicuous spot. Not a lot of parking would be needed for the small staff that is required to operate a hospice. Adams said she understands a hospice would be owned by a non-profit business, meaning the City would be selling the homestead. Vogel replied it could be sold as "fee simple" or something else other than full ownership. The development package will depend on the money and whose money it is. Akerlund added that the City could lease the site to a hospice business. Vogel said this would be the least economically risky of the five scenarios. It is also the one that would transform the property overnight. There would be significant lag time to develop the other ideas. Adams said she understands Vogel is aiming at early fall to package up these ideas. She asked if he is going to present the other four scenarios to the Commission. Vogel replied he would walk them through different scenarios at the next meeting. Adams said she thought it important for everyone to share any insight they might have on what the Council would be likely to approve. Vogel said they should review the scenarios in light of having to carry out their responsibilities as a Heritage Preservation Commission. The Council will make a policy decision. If the Council decides they do not want the house to be a public building any longer, then the HPC needs to have some kind of confidence these projects would work from a historic perspective. Allowing public access has been a concern of the Commission from the start. The Council might not decide to do anything for now. Then the reuse study just becomes part of the City's public policy. There is no way to know what will happen, but there are a limited number of scenarios that would be appropriate. McPherson asked what kind of support the HPC would get from the City. Who has the final say as to how the plan looks? Gertz replied the HPC would have the final plan review. Vogel added that the HPC issues the Certificate of Appropriateness. Adams said the HPC can actually veto the plans. Because this is a historical property, even if it is sold the HPC would still have veto power. That is why these designations are so important because it gives the HPC some control. Vogel said the Council should not overrule the HPC. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING July 16, 2007 Page 4 Vogel said the HPC needs to decide how it will react to these different scenarios; for example, the horticultural use scenario. Peonies are historical plants that add to the value of the property. We would not approve using the space for some other plantings. Gertz said the peony garden would be outside the area of the hospice. It is within the Park Department. Vogel said he did not think there is a problem with LAWCON requirements. Gertz said they would be bringing these five scenarios to the August meeting. All of these uses would require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). The HPC should consider if all of them would be eligible for a CUP. Adams added they also have to meet the City's ordinances. Vogel said the Commissioners have to be able to visualize what these ideas will look like. He asked if they think the best option would be for the house to just be available for City programming. Vacancy is the worst thing to happen to a historic house. The Cummins House is in peril now. Vogel asked the Commissioners to contact him if they have any ideas. B. CUMMINS PARKING UPDATE Gertz said he had not received any updates on the revised parking plan. He has been told that the architectural engineering firm, HTPO, would likely have something on the parking plan within a week. He will send the information to the Commissioners when it arrives. At the meeting he had earlier this summer, they talked about relocating the ball fields and perhaps placing some parking in another area. C. GLEN LAKE CHILDREN'S CAMP UPDATE Gertz said the feedback he has received is that people are impressed with the work that has been done. It is in much better condition already. The bathrooms are a big improvement. They had accessibility problems that have been corrected. Higgins said she visited the camp yesterday and walked around the exterior of the buildings. She noted pieces of metal that appear to be loose on the fascia below the roof line of the dormitory. Gertz said he would mention that when he is at the camp on Tuesday. The plan is to replace the entire fascia. Gertz said no more work would be done on the project until September. He plans to meet with the architect for Friendship Ventures. Kevin Schmieg has also been invited. The purpose is to go over all the projects completed to date and see if they have been done to appropriate standards. They will determine what projects Friendship Ventures can include for reimbursement from the SHPO grant total. Gertz said he would also be looking at the site with Mark Buechel from SHPO. Friendship Ventures is having a meeting on July 30 or 31, which Buechel and Gertz will attend, as well as some engineering consultants. The purpose is to go over the project, look at the work that needs to be completed, the schedule, go over everything in detail and determine how to complete the project on time. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING July 16, 2007 Page 5 Gertz reported that the City has hired Brauer & Associates to do a comprehensive Master Plan for the camp. The Parks Department is working closely with them. Brauer& Associates will be making a presentation on the Master Plan to the HPC on September 17. They will be asking for feedback from the HPC, and later they will make a presentation to the Parks Commission. Gertz said he would reserve the Heritage Room for that meeting and will provide as much information as possible to the HPC prior to the meeting. Adams said the camp has a landscape that is historical. She asked if the Commissioners will understand everything they are looking at on the Master Plan. Gertz said they will. The HPC is only involved with the historic portion, so they will need to focus on the National Register District. The whole point of the Master Plan is to assist Friendship Ventures with their planning process. The Master Plan will guide their work where it is related to the National Register District, as well as future projects. It will include parts of Birch Island Park. Plaza said the Commission would be better prepared to provide feedback if they could see it ahead of time. She asked who is requiring the Master Plan. Gertz said the City is doing this on behalf of Friendship Ventures. He doesn't know if it was implemented through the Parks Department. Higgins said raising the lake level back to where it was will have an effect on the Master Plan, and asked if Brauer & Associates is aware of that. Gertz said he believes so. They would take into account the historic district and that will be incorporated as part of the Master Plan. Vogel pointed out that the Secretary of the Interior's Preservation of Historic Landscapes has guidelines for historic landscapes. He said that might be the best way to respond to the Master Plan. Gertz said it is available on line. Adams asked Gertz if there are particular things he wants the Commissioners to read on line. Gertz replied he would let them know where to find it on line and he would also send them materials. Gertz said it is a great idea to have a Master Plan, and it will be workable. He has been pushing for this with Friendship Ventures for years. D. DORNKEMPER HOUSE Adams reported she went to a meeting of the Historical Society and let them know the HPC would like to spearhead completion of the work on the house. They were pleased that the HPC wants to take this on. Kathie Case and others are willing to help with the furnishings and offered to get those that are appropriate. They intend to have the furnishings on permanent loan to the house. Higgins said Kathie Case told her she had some wallpaper that she thought might work at that site. Gertz said he would talk to her about it. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING July 16, 2007 Page 6 Gertz said he plans to run an ad in the newspaper to let people know volunteers are needed to paint and wallpaper the house. The members of the HPC would be coordinating the work. Gertz said he had hoped to have the work finished by Sunbonnet Day on Sunday, September 9, so that people could go through the house; however, at this time it looks like an impossible task. Akerlund asked if there is a chance of getting a request for volunteers in the City's newspaper insert, "Life on the Prairie." Gertz said Sandy Werts does all the coordination for that publication and he would check with her. McPherson asked what work needs to be done in the house and how many volunteers are needed to do it. Gertz replied the house is in good condition. The floors need to be cleaned and finish put on them. Painting and papering needs to be done. A little more work on the hinges is needed. The chimney flues are cut and final connections are being made for the cook stove, but it is one thing that is probably more difficult to get done before Sunbonnet Day. Adams said it would be good if Molly Gilbertson and Kathie Case could work together. Gertz said he did pass along to Kathie that we need to have everything look right with the furnishings. He said he would talk to Molly. He believes she could keep the look to the period that is appropriate. Adams said she would work with them. Gertz said the paint color has been selected. He needs people who can paint and wallpaper. McPherson said he would help with the painting. Higgins offered to put a work schedule together. Gertz said the walls are all ready for paint. We don't have a budget for painting, however, and need to find a company that is willing to donate paint. Adams said if some Commissioners are interested in working on this, perhaps there could be an initial meeting to organize a timeline. Higgins, McPherson and Akerlund offered to come. Gertz said he could meet with them next week. He will find out when Gilbertson is available and arrange for a weeknight or weekend for everyone to meet. E. OLD FARM ON PIONEER TRAIL Akerlund asked about the status of the barn located between Staring Lake and the Cummins property. Gertz said he had not heard anything in the last three weeks. He doesn't expect to do anything about it unless directed by the Council or City Manager. However, he said it is not just the barn but the farm itself that is involved in the Pioneer Trail widening project, which might take the barn. He recommended waiting until more is known or the HPC is required to be involved. Adams said it was the recommendation of everyone at the Historical Society meeting for the family who owns the farm to go to the public with this issue. They went to the Council meeting and are approaching the newspaper, so that will bring it to the attention of the Council, and the Council could ask the HPC to do something about it. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING July 16, 2007 Page 7 Higgins said she would like to have an update at the next meeting on what has happened so far. Gertz said he would do that. VI. NEW BUSINESS VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Akerlund moved, seconded by Mackay, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0. Adams adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m.