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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 06/19/2006 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY,JUNE 19, 2006 7:00 P. M. Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Betsy Adams, Chairperson; Nina Mackay, Vice Chairperson; Richard Akerlund,Ann Higgins, Ed Muehlberg,Jane Plaza, Bob Amell COMMISSION STAFF: Deb Sweeney, Recorder. John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist I. ROLL CALL Adams called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Bob Amell and John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Higgins added a discussion of insurance issues affecting events at Riley Jacques Barn to Old Business, Cummins House and Riley House update. MOTION: Akerlund moved, seconded by Plaza, to approve the agenda as published and amended. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —MAY 15, 2006 MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Akerlund, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held May 15, 2006 as published. Motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF Adams presented Gertz's report. See report and discussion listed per topics below. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Pioneer Trail Expansion Update Adams referenced Gertz's report on preliminary meetings with Hennepin County to address impacts of the Pioneer Trail expansion on the Cummins House property. Key issues include saving the shagbark hickory trees, minimizing use of retaining walls, and burying power lines. The next meeting will be June 28 at HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES June 19, 2006 Page 2 of 4 1:30 p.m. and will include SHPO. Adams and possibly MacKay planned to attend. Higgins recalled she might have seen a similar instance in White Bear Lake where some special legislation was used to determine who would pay for burying power lines. She committed to forward this information to Gertz. B. Cummins House Ice Box Adams reported the work on the ice box is progressing slowly but steadily as the mason has time. Gertz is comfortable with the progress and the safety of the construction. Work may be completed by fall. C. Cummins House and Riley House Update Adams noted re-pointing work on the Cummins house and Riley House is nearing completion. MacKay expressed surprise that only 80% of the work was passable. Muehlberg said this is not unusual as color, texture, and drying mortar complicate the process. Akerlund expressed concerns about vibrations due to heavy equipment used for the road construction causing damage, as well as vibrations from increased traffic flow after the road is built. Both a church in Stillwater and some European cathedrals have installed earthquake monitors to measure building stress from development or air traffic. Adams said the vibration issue should be addressed in the SHPO discussion, especially since the road is coming 80 feet closer to the building. Regarding Riley House, the HPC recommends adjustments to insurance be made so that it is easier to hold events (such as the cancelled antiques sale) in the Riley- Jacques barn. The cancelled event draws attention to a larger insurance question regarding historical property and historical artifacts. Adams stated the City insures the buildings but not the contents. According to the City Attorney, all the artifacts (for example, those in the Dunn Bros Douglas-More House) are uninsured. One potential insurer would be the Historical Society, which owns the items. Plaza suggested the state Historical Society might have insurance coverage that could be used, or could at least share information about how other Historical Societies handle this issue. Higgins said the Minnesota League of Cities also has an insurance trust. Adams agreed to consult with Councilmember Sherry Butcher, as someone who is familiar with both organizations, for insights. Akerlund noted there could be liability issues as well, for example, if someone were hurt by climbing on farm equipment. Adams said Gertz is working with the Historical Society and City Manager Scott Neal to find a solution. D. Glen Lake Children's Camp Update Adams reported that Friendship Ventures must develop a feasibility plan for reusing (or not using) the original windows in order to satisfy the Secretary of the Interior's requirements and obtain reimbursement. It might be possible to rehinge them or use the original sashes. A creative architect is looking at the possibilities and will report mid-month. If it is determined the original windows cannot be HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES June 19, 2006 Page 3 of 4 used, the project can proceed to put in new windows that are as close to the originals as possible. Installing one as a sample might be a possibility. In any case the old windows would be saved for possible future use. Akerlund asked if the wood is sound and Adams said she believed so. Muehlberg noted that if new windows were used, the architect would likely recommend double-pane glass for energy reasons. Does "close to the original" mean in appearance, or in structure/function? Adams noted there are many regulations and the HPC may need to help make that decision—the goal is to get the best result possible while still accounting for Friendship Ventures' needs. Friendship Ventures needs to act promptly to exhaust the possibilities for saving the windows so that they can receive their reimbursement and stay on schedule for the interior work, which will likely begin this fall. E. Oak Creek At Hennepin Village Project Update Adams reported the visual intrusion on the property has been resolved due to changes in the plan. The W.A. Frederick Farm ruins, however are still impacted. A Phase I archaeology survey has been conducted, so the site is not protected. Adams noted Gertz recommends seeking volunteers and archaeology students to do further data collection and photo documentation of the site before it is destroyed. Gertz would seek permission from the property owner and oversee the project. The developer has been very accommodating to historic preservation in the past, and has already changed this project to reduce the visual intrusion. Higgins noted it would be important to know the development phases and schedule to determine the timeline for the volunteer project. Akerlund wondered if Oak Point students could do the work, as they excavated some pottery at Purgatory Creek. Adams said more speed and professionalism is needed; college students would be good candidates. There would be no cost to the City. MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by MacKay, that the Heritage Preservation Commission recommend that John Gertz explore ways to develop a volunteer project for data collection and photo documentation of the W.A. Frederick Farm ruins at the Oak Creek At Hennepin Village site. Motion carried 6-0. F. CLG Grant Update Adams reported the process is on track. Robert Vogel will present his findings and recommendations for maintaining the properties at the next HPC meeting. Gertz is checking with Vogel to see if a field trip to the three sites during the next HPC meeting would be feasible. G. HPC/Web site Information Update Web site project leader Plaza reported the city has agreed to provide communications assistance to put up the site. City Staff should be able to assist HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES June 19, 2006 Page 4 of 4 the HPC in the fall. Plaza reviewed her draft outline, which includes plans for a list of properties and a map. She noted the need to consult with the Historical Society and make sure the web site design projects do not overlap. Adams said the Historical Society is stepping back from the web site idea while it reviews its mission and conducts organizational development,but if they do decide to do a website, it would likely be more of a photo album concept. The Historical Society would be delighted to share photos for the City website as well, both of sites and artifacts and of people. Plaza recommended having a Historical Society representative attend an HPC meeting in the fall to talk about the web site. Adams said the Historical Society has been looking at other HPC and Historical Society websites, so they should have some good ideas to share. The HPC needs to be very specific as to what it wants as far as content,page design and how the pages connect. City Staff will put up the site,but all the creative and visioning work should be complete before going to them. VL NEW BUSINESS VII. ADJOURNMENT MacKay moved, seconded by Akerlund, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.