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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 07/18/2005 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, JULY 18, 2005 7:00 P.M. Atrium III 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS Betsy Adams, Chairperson; Molly Gilbertson, Vice Chairperson; Bob Amell, Deborah Barkley, Nina Mackay, Ed Muehlberg,Jane Plaza COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist; Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Adams called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Commissioner Gilbertson was excused. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A report by Commissioner Amell on the Cemetery Task Force was added, under Reports of Commission and Staff. MOTION: Amell moved, seconded by Barkley, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —JUNE 20, 2005 Gertz made corrections on page 6. Under IV. Item A, sentence 6 should read "The deadline for pre-applications is July 29; the review of final grant applications is October 6." Under Item B., the first sentence should read "Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines . . ." Under V. Item A., the first sentence should read "Gertz reported that Hennepin County completed the tree inventory . . ." The second sentence should begin "The City Forester said . . ." MOTION: Amell moved, seconded by Mackay, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held on June 20, 2005, as amended. Motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Report on Cemetery Task Force—Commissioner Amell Amell reported that the task force met for the first time on June 28. The other members are Gerry Beckmann from the Historical Society; Pat Bell, a nearby resident; Wally Gelecinskyj, a funeral director; Lee Wenzel, a nearby resident; and Mike Rogers, manager of the Eden Prairie Cemetery. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES July 18, 2005 Page 2 The purpose of the task force is to review the City's current rules and regulations covering Pleasant Hill Cemetery, which is owned by the City. They will determine if the rules are necessary and reasonable for the operation of the cemetery. They will look at the demand for purchasing plots, maintenance of the grounds as it pertains to the City's C.I.P., and interest in protecting the area from a historical standpoint. Amell showed the task force the designation report on the cemetery that was prepared by the consultant hired by the City. Amell presented the consultant's recommendations, especially for continuing maintenance to insure that the cemetery would be protected and old portions would not be impacted more than necessary by the passing of time. The members of the task force were interested in the document. Adams pointed out that this document is not being shared with the general public at this point. The City Council first has to accept the maintenance guidelines that are a part of it. The Commission discussed whether designating Pleasant Hill Cemetery as a historic site would affect the reverence and respect that should be shown in a cemetery if groups of people visit it. Amell said the task force is meeting again next week, and he believes their work can be accomplished with two or three more meetings. Stuart Fox is the City's liaison with the group. B. Commission Photo Gertz said that a photograph of the Commission would be taken prior to next month's meeting. A notice will be sent to Commissioners either separately or with the agenda. C. Sisn for Riley-Jacques Farmstead Gertz reported he had talked with Bob Lambert regarding a sign for the farmstead. The Parks Department is in the process of developing new signs for all the City's parks, which will be of the same materials and format. Lambert hopes to have the design ready for City Council approval in the next few months. Gertz said the City is more concerned that the main sign for Riley-Jacques Farmstead looks like other park signs, and the HPC would have to lobby for a sign that looks different from the others. He was willing to talk to Lambert about making sure the HPC's recommendations, adopted at the June meeting, are addressed. Gertz said the Commissioners should think about how they want the sign worded and the landscaping around it. In any case, the sign will have to come to the HPC for approval of a site alteration permit. Mackay said perhaps there should be another sign showing the historic nature of the farmstead. Adams said even if a design has already been set up, she believed it is imperative that the sign also state that the Riley-Jacques Farmstead is a HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES July 18, 2005 Page 3 historic site, and that should be added to the bottom of the sign. Gertz agreed that people need to know they are at a historic site. Muehlberg said if the Parks Department comes up with a preliminary design it would be a courtesy to let the HPC review it. Gertz said he would pass that along to Lambert. Amell said he would like to see signage on the road leading to the farm that indicates it is a historic site, considering the fact that it took a lot of work and time to build that barn. Gertz said the City has limits on how large signs can be on heritage designation sites. He offered to let Lambert know what the HPC has requested. Gertz said the Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association would be at the City Council meeting on July 19 to present an award to the City for rehabilitation of the Riley-Jacques barn. D. State Preservation Conference on September 15 and 16 Information about the conference was distributed to the Commissioners. Gertz said it appears that the City is going to receive an award for the Riley-Jacques barn project from the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota at the State Preservation Conference. They have asked for names of department heads that should be mentioned, and Gertz asked that the HPC be mentioned in the text. Anyone from the HPC who goes to the conference could sit in on the presentation of awards. Gertz said he would be going. Adams said she plans to attend the conference for both days. Registrations are due by September 1. V. OLD BUSINESS A. CLG Grant Update Gertz reported he has received a signed, fully executed grant agreement from the state. He will be putting together a Request for Proposals and will probably have that out by the end of July. By the end of August he should have the results of the RFP, and the HPC would be reviewing the proposals that come in. The deadline for completing the grant is July 2006. This grant is to do research and reports on the three sites that the HPC would like to have designated as local heritage preservation sites a year from now. These are the Consolidated School, the Staring Lake Outdoor Center and Glen Lake Children's Camp. With regard to the camp, Gertz said being locally designated would give the HPC more control over what is done there. B. Dorenkemper House Gertz said he met that morning at the house with Bruce Bren and another person Bren brought with him who will do the work on the house. He will be submitting a proposal on the cost to Dan Herbst. They hope to have the work substantially done by Sunbonnet Day. Gertz would like to see Herbst recognized by the City HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES July 18, 2005 Page 4 that day. He has done a great deal to restore this house, and has worked with the Historical Society on the restoration. C. Cummins and Riley House Repairs Gertz reported that work has started to make the repairs. The west porch of the Cummins house has been demolished, and they are ready to finish excavation of the footings and to pour footings for a new porch. They have been removing siding on the Riley house, and discovered that a rim beam is very deteriorated. The architect said this would mean full replacement of that beam. She suggested using plywood in the middle, rather than a solid-wood beam, as this would be cheaper. The estimate is $2,500 for removal and replacement. Because this is an additional cost, they will wait before asking for approval until they see if there is another beam that would need replacing when they have completed excavating the area. The City Council approved 100 percent shingle replacement on the Cummins house, at a cost of$13,300. They have not found a brick that matches the Chaska brick found on the house that is the right size. They have all the paint matched. Gertz said the Cummins house would qualify for a State Capital Projects Grant- in-Aid grant. If funds are available again next year, he would recommend the City apply for them. Adams said that would also demonstrate to the Council that the HPC doesn't expect the City to pay for everything, and would show that the Commission is willing to do some fundraising. D. Glen Lake Children's Camp Gertz reported that people with Friendship Ventures are applying for the State Capital Projects grant discussed at the last HPC meeting. He helped put together the resolution for the City Council that also contains the HPC recommendation to support Friendship Ventures in applying for the grant. The resolution was shown to Ric Rosow, City Attorney, and was changed quite a bit, because the resolution contains language the State requires that makes the City ultimately responsible for the grant match if Friendship Ventures defaults. An attachment will say Friendship Ventures agrees to supply matching funds and will administer the grant. The City Council will be asked to consider the resolution at its July 19 meeting. If the Council adopts it, Friendship Ventures will vote on it and then will send in the application if it is approved. Gertz said Stuart Bailey, the architect, told him he has so far not been able to find a company that would retrofit the windows. Regarding fascia replacement, the architect said metal fascia would be removed and replaced with something in keeping with the original wood construction. Gertz said he would recommend using painted wood, which would be a historic material. Bailey talked about a material that was virtually maintenance free, which would probably be a composite. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES July 18, 2005 Page 5 Gertz asked the Commissioners if they wanted to discuss this further or make a recommendation to Friendship Ventures. Adams said they could make a recommendation and the architect can incorporate it into the plan or they could respond as to why they didn't use the recommendation. Mackay said the HPC would want a material that is long lasting and in keeping with the historic appearance. Barkley said they also want something that is maintenance free and looks good. Muehlberg suggested obtaining clarification from the architect of the type of material they are considering. Gertz said he would ask Bailey to provide more information on the alternative material. Perhaps he could send the specification sheet for them to look at. The HPC will revisit this at the August meeting. With regard to the historic photos Bailey asked for at the last meeting, Gertz said he hasn't sent them yet. The floors in the photos have a shiny surface that appears to be painted. VI. NEW BUSINESS VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Amell, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Adams adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.