HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 11/20/2006 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2006 7:00 P.M.
Prairie Rooms A & B
8080 Mitchell Road
COMMISSION MEMBERS Betsy Adams, Chairperson; Nina Mackay,
Vice Chairperson; Richard Akerlund,
Bob Amell,Ann Higgins, Ed Muehlberg,
Jane Plaza
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES Nathan Wagner,Alexandra Shea, Lauren Bentz
COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist;
Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder
I. ROLL CALL
Adams called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Adams added a Web site update, and a report on reprinting "Eden Prairie: the First 100
Years" under Old Business.
MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Higgins, to approve the agenda as amended.
Motion carried 7-0.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —OCTOBER 16, 2006
Gertz made the following corrections: On page 2, under A. Old Business, the third
sentence in the second paragraph should read, "Gertz said the SHPO has put additional
review of the proposed work plans for the camp on hold." The sixth sentence should
read, "It included building the interior partition walls in the dormitory right to the ceiling
and gutting the original interior walls. Some material was placed under a tarp on the
property." The seventh sentence should read, "Gertz wants the materials put back . . ."
In the second and third sentences of the third paragraph, the words "National Historic
status" should be changed to "National Register status."
On page 3, the third sentence of the first paragraph should read "Based on their
comments, the City will ask for the existing plans that were approved." In the third
paragraph, the last sentence should read " . . . character defining and could not be
eliminated." On page 4, in the first paragraph, the words "National Historic" should be
changed to "National Register." On page 6, in the first paragraph, the second sentence
should read " . . . under jurisdiction of the state archaeologist and the local Sioux Indian
tribes . . ."
MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by Mackay, to approve the minutes of the Heritage
Preservation Commission held on October 16, 2006, as corrected. Motion carried 7-0.
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
November 20, 2006
Page 2
IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. GLEN LAKE CHILDREN'S CAMP UPDATE
Gertz reported that he was notified via e-mail from the architect for Friendship
Ventures that all biweekly meetings with the SHPO and City staff, including him,
have been canceled indefinitely. Gertz said he did not know why that action was
taken.
Gertz will be meeting at the site with Stuart Bailey, the architect, on November 28
about a different issue. The City's building inspectors noted that removal of
existing framing in the great room area of the dormitory resulted in deflection of
the roof rafters. There is real concern about possible damage to the roof due to
snow this winter. He and the architect need to discuss how to support the roof,
and do it in a way that is acceptable to their plan and National Register standards.
Regarding treatment of the foundation, Gertz has talked to Mark Wickstrom, the
brick mason who is working on the icebox at the Cummins house. He has agreed
to provide some mock-ups, which Mark Buechel from the SHPO is willing to
look at to see what can be done to correct the problem.
Gertz said he would continue working with the site map to identify defining
features and areas that should be preserved.
B. FY 2006 CLG GRANT PROJECT— CUMMINS HOUSE REUSE STUDY
Adams said the City applied for and received a grant for a reuse study on the J.R.
Cummins Homestead. The grant would be used to hire a consultant. In response
to the Request for Proposal, Gertz said he had received two proposals so far: one
from Miller-Dunwiddie Architects and one from PathFinder CRM. He expects to
receive more prior to the deadline of 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29.
Gertz said a quorum of the Commissioners would be needed to review the
proposals and make a selection, based on the criteria. The Commissioners agreed
to meet on Thursday, November 30.
Gertz offered to make copies of the proposals after the 4:30 p.m. deadline on
November 29, and the Commissioners could pick them up from the front desk that
evening after 5:00 p.m.
MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Amell, that Adams call a meeting on
Thursday, November 30, 2006 at 7:00 p.m., to select a consultant for the reuse
study of the Cummins-Grill House. Motion carried 7-0.
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
November 20, 2006
Page 3
C. LOCAL DESIGNATION UPDATE
Gertz said he would initiate the local designation process for the Glen Lake
Children's Camp. Gertz suggested waiting until January 2007 to hold a public
hearing, which is a requirement of the process. Between now and then he would
prepare a Findings Statement for the City Council and SHPO, schedule the public
hearing and mail out notices to landowners in the neighborhood of the camp.
Gertz explained that the public hearing would be at the time of a regularly
scheduled HPC meeting, but would be held in one of the Heritage rooms to
accommodate an audience. Gertz said that after the minutes are approved, the
public hearing would be opened. Those present would be invited to speak and ask
questions, which the Recording Secretary records, but the Commissioners do not
respond to them.
D. UPDATE ON WEB SITE
Plaza reported that she, Gertz and Adams met with Pat Brink about how the
project could move forward. More information about heritage sites will be added
to Eden Prairie's Web site. Plaza is using Web page layouts that already exist and
then preparing information from the interpretive panels.
There are approximately 13 historic sites that could be put on the Web site. A key
will be used to show whether locally designated sites are City-owned or privately
owned, and whether they are on the National Register, etc. Plaza said she would
get back with Brink to find out how the design is proceeding.
Mackay asked to be included if the group meets with Brink again.
E. REPRINTING "EDEN PRAIRIE: THE FIRST 100 YEARS"
Gertz stated he has not done any more work on scanning the book to prepare for
republication. Through sales of the book, there is a fund to pay for reprinting it.
Rebinding will probably involve other people.
Gertz said there are no more copies of the book available that he knows about.
Dunn Bros. had it available for sale at the Smith-Douglas-More House, and the
new owners would probably be asked to do the same when it is reprinted. Helen
Anderson will write a new "Forward" to the book.
F. JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL
Gertz said he was surprised to find out that the City Council Workshop in
December is to be a joint meeting with the Heritage Preservation Commission and
the Human Rights and Diversity Commission.
Adams said it might be to the HPC's advantage to sit down and talk with the new
City Council, perhaps at the beginning of the year or in June, and invite the
SHPO. They could talk about the CLG grants and other programs.
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
November 20, 2006
Page 4
Gertz said he would find out about the Council Workshop in December. If he and
the Commissioners are needed there, they could bring the Council up-to-date on
what the HPC is doing. There is always an opportunity at the workshops for
members of the Boards and Commissions to meet with Councilmembers. Gertz
believes the Council might ask for regular reports.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Muehlberg moved, seconded by Akerlund, to adjourn the meeting. Motion
carried 7-0. Adams adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m.