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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 09/16/2002 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2002 7:00 P.M. Cummins-Grill House 13600 Pioneer Trail COMMISSION MEMBERS: Lori Peterson-Benike, Chairperson; Betsy Adams, Deborah Barkley,Jennie Brown, Elise Kist, Kati Simons COMMISSION STAFF: John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Chair Peterson-Benike called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Barkley was absent. Guests from the Eden Prairie Historical Society were present: Marie Wittenberg, President, Allene Hookom, Gerry Paquin and Arlene Marshall. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A report from the Historical Society was added under Reports of Commission and Staff. MOTION: Betsy moved, seconded by Simons, to approve the agenda as published and amended. Motion carried 5-0. III. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Report from the Historical Society Marie Wittenberg said the Eden Prairie Historical Society was formed in 1969. It is a registered non-profit organization and is governed by a Board of Directors. There are about 14 active and inactive directors. It is the designated reservoir of historical information for the City of Eden Prairie. The City is in charge of the historic properties and the Historical Society is in charge of keeping the artifacts and historical information. Wittenberg said the HPC and the Historical Society have talked about having a joint meeting in the spring. Adams agreed it would be a good idea because the two groups can assist each other with the projects they are working on. Wittenberg suggested meeting in the museum sometime. Adams said it is hoped the HPC and Historical Society will get more exposure from the news media as the Smith-Douglas-More House is converted into a Dunn Bros. Coffee house, and people will realize there is a need for members in both groups. Peterson-Benike said when the Society lends photographs for use, such as was done recently for the shopping center, they should have been identified and credit HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES September 16, 2002 Page 2 given to the Society. Gertz suggested drawing up a credit sheet, and attach that to photographs when the Society lends them. Gerry Paquin talked about Sunbonnet Day, which was held the day before. She wondered who was responsible for organizing it, because the bedroom was not ready for showing to people. Peterson-Benike said this is the first full year the house has been programmed. The items left in the bedroom belong to the Community Theatre group, which is preparing to use the house for a play. It was agreed that communication and coordination is needed between the City and the various groups using the house for an event. Paquin said most people who visit a historic house expect to see it with period furniture, but it is not in the house now. Gertz said that is also a matter of coordination between the people having events at the house. Also, it would be helpful to have information about the house available to give people who tour the house. Peterson-Benike suggested having a supply of flyers with standard information. Gertz suggested having a tabletop stand, or kiosk, with information about the house and the Historical Society. Marshall said her husband would be willing to make a wooden kiosk. Gertz said the City has an exhibit about the house that could be put up again. In addition, an outdoor interpretive panel will be put in place this fall. Peterson-Benike suggested having a joint meeting between City staff and the Historical Society six months prior to Sunbonnet Day to make plans for the house tours. That may require asking that some of the furniture be returned to the house for this event. Gertz said there should be instructions for setting up the house for Sunbonnet Day, and the same with other events. Paquin said some people asked where they could give contributions for maintenance of the house. Peterson-Benike said the HPC could provide information on what is going to be done to restore the house. Wittenberg called attention to the fact that this house was referred to by three different names in the flyer that went out. She would like to have one named used consistently, and let the newspapers know what it is. Gertz said the house is designated on the National Register as the J. R. Cummins Homestead. The Smith-Douglas-More House is the correct name for that house. Smith House would be the historic name if it were going to be designated on the National Register. Peterson-Benike suggested the two groups put together a list of names for the historic properties and agree on which one makes the most sense to use. Paquin said one of the visitors for Sunbonnet Day was a niece of Pappy Grill. She said she gave many items to the City, including pictures. Gertz said he didn't recall receiving any pictures. Wittenberg said she would find out more about it and let Gertz know. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES September 16, 2002 Page 3 Regarding the Anderson Schoolhouse, Wittenberg said they expect to get the architect's drawings within the next two weeks. Students from Hennepin Technical Institute will be working on restoring the school. It was agreed that the HPC should have an annual meeting with the Historical Society. A date will be selected after the first of the year. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —AUGUST 19, 2002 Peterson-Benike made a correction on the bottom of page 1, under B. Report on NAPC San Antonio Forum 2002. In the first sentence, the word "Office" should be "Officer." Peterson-Benike asked that items in the minutes that are to be carried forward to the next meeting should be noted in a separate part of the minutes so they are kept on the agenda until they are done. It was recommended that they be placed on the agenda as item A. Follow Up Points, under Old Business. In addition, the Recorder will mail a copy of the Unapproved Minutes to Peterson-Benike at the same time they are sent to Gertz, approximately two weeks before the next meeting. MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Brown, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held on August 19, 2002, as published and amended. Motion carried 5-0. B. Report on the 23ra Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Conference Peterson-Benike and Gertz attended both days of the conference. Kist, Adams and Brown attended on the second day. It was held in Owatonna at the building now used for the City Center and Senior Center. It was first used as an orphanage prior to 1945 and then as a State school until 1974. This is a good example of adaptive reuse of historic buildings. All agreed it was a good conference. There were informational sessions about the orphanage and school, and tours of local historic sites. A man who grew up in the orphanage told about life there. A mock Heritage Preservation Commission meeting was held, the point of which was how to handle design review of historic buildings or homes requested by citizens. The subject of one session was the large historic preservation project underway in Anoka. The community development director gave the history of Anoka and how the city first became interested in historic preservation. Gertz said they have an excellent plan in place. The architect talked about the importance of installing sprinkler systems in historic homes. C. Sunbonnet Day (This was covered under the Report from the Historical Society.) Brown and Simons attended, and were able to answer some of the questions people had who were touring the house. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES September 16, 2002 Page 4 V. OLD BUSINESS A. Follow-Up Points • A report on the Pleasant View Cemetery was postponed to the October meeting. • Molly Gilbertson is to be contacted to find out if she is interested in applying for the open position on the HPC. B. Fredrick-Miller Springy Site Alteration Permit Gertz said the HPC was being asked to recommend approval of the Heritage Preservation Site Alteration Permit by the City Council at its September 17 meeting. The request is for relocation of the spring standpipe to a location nearer the creek, construction of a new spring tank, parking area, interpretive panel and bench seating. The City is working out a joint agreement with the Watershed District for the renovation work. The HPC first approved relocation and renovation plans in March 1998 for safety reasons, because of ice and contamination from snow being plowed from the road. Moving it to the east would eliminate that problem. Following HPC's approval of the project, it was determined to delay work on the spring until the anticipated water and sewer work in the area were completed. However, water and sewer work were not extended to the spring site as expected, and will be taken through the Hennepin Village development instead. MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Kist, to recommend approval of Heritage Preservation Site Alteration Permit #2002-03-0005. Motion carried 5- 0. C. Building Rehabilitation Projects 1. Smith-Douslas-More House Gertz reported the new addition is being framed, so the scale of it can be seen in comparison to the house. Vandals broke into another building on the property and took two lighting fixtures that would have been used in the house. Also, a fire that was set on the porch ignited some of the porch decking, but fortunately didn't take hold. The electrician for the project was asked to put up property lighting around the house. Adams stated there would be an article in the Mpls-St. Paul magazine about the partnership between the City and Dunn Bros. Coffee for adaptive reuse of the property. Adams was thanked for contacting the magazine about doing the story. Gertz said one minor change was being implemented. The stove will be positioned in the corner of the dining room rather than in the location HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES September 16, 2002 Page 5 originally discussed. Dunn Bros. want to use a gas stove and there was a concern about safety. The new location will have a direct vent duct to the outside. The basement brick has been completely re-pointed and the floor has been poured. The plumbing has been roughed in, and utilities are connected to the main water line. Some electrical work is done. However, the project is about two weeks behind schedule. 2. J. R. Cummins House Gertz said he expects to be receiving estimates for the removing the porch, except for the roof structure. Now that Sunbonnet Day is over, Gertz said he would put together a memo and send it to the City Council asking them to direct staff to clear up the debris on the property. 3. Riley-Jacques Farm Gertz will meet with Park Department staff and go over their earlier plans for the use of the barn. The group of students from NTI is coming up with adaptive reuse ideas for the whole farm. When the plans are completed, the HPC will review them. 4. Dornenkemper House Gertz reported that a survey was done and the foundation plan is in progress. Then they will begin work on excavation and construction of the foundation. By October they hope to have the wood siding on the house and make it ready for the winter. Peterson-Benike said the reason for putting on siding is that the house probably has had wood siding most of the time since the house was built. Logs were just a method of construction, and adding siding was preferable. D. Interpretive Panel Installation Gertz said he plans to have the interpretive panels installed in October. The locations were staked two weeks ago, except for Lookout Park, which is on property owned by the Metropolitan Airports Commission. It is hoped MAC will allow the interpretive panel to be installed sometime in the future. Kist asked if it could be put on adjacent property. Gertz said it could be put on a nearby trail owned by the City. Peterson-Benike suggested getting an article in the paper about the HPC and the interpretive panels. Adams said featuring one in each issue would be a good way to do it. VI. NEW BUSINESS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES September 16, 2002 Page 6 VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Brown moved, seconded by Kist, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Chair Peterson-Benike adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.