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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 10/15/2001 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2001 7:00 P.M. J. R. Cummins House 13600 Pioneer Trail COMMISSION MEMBERS: Lori Peterson-Benike, Chairperson; Betsy Adams, Deborah Barkley,Jennie Brown Kati Simons,Art Weeks, Mike Wroblewski COMMISSION STAFF: John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Peterson-Benike called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Barkley had an excused absence. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Wroblewski moved, seconded by Adams, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — SEPTEMBER 17, 2001 MOTION: Simons moved, seconded by Brown, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held on September 17, 2001, as published. Motion carried 4-0, with Weeks and Wroblewski abstaining due to their absence. IV. REPORTS AND REQUESTS Peterson-Benike reported she attended a second Historical Society meeting last month. They are still in the process of obtaining funding for the Anderson School restoration. Kathie Case took radiators and trim for the museum from the Anderson House, which is to be demolished soon. Peterson-Benike took photos of the house. A grandson, 85 years old, had a final tour of the house with Kathie Case, and told her more about the house. The Andersons lived there until the 1940s. Peterson-Benike brought the Historical Society up to date on the More House and they are enthusiastic about the possibility of it being used as a coffeehouse. V. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Recap on the Statewide Historic Preservation Conference John Gertz and Peterson-Benike attended both days of the conference, which was held on Thursday and Friday, September 20 and 21 in Glenwood. Adams was there on Friday. The conference was held in an old school. The theme of the HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION October 15, 2001 Page 2 conference was adaptive reuse of historic community schools. They attended sessions that were relevant to the HPC. B. Recap on the Cemetery Walk Program Gertz described the walk through the two cemeteries. The main trail was lit by luminaries. There were biographical sketches of some of the people buried there. Volunteer actors depicted one main character at each cemetery and another actor took the part of the caretaker. The actress who played Elizabeth Anderson said it was an honor to play that role and hoped the City will do it again. It is a good way to teach history. C. Update on Lookout Park Wayside Gertz referenced the article in the Eden Prairie News about cleaning up the wayside. In it there was a statement from MAC that they are willing to allow the cleanup. However, they are concerned about the fact the wayside is in the RPZ (Runway Protection Zone) of the airport. The City has sent a letter to MAC asking them to permit park maintenance crews to begin cleaning it up, which MAC did, but only if the following conditions are met. (1) Give them five days' notice; and (2) Prepare a hold-harmless agreement. Gertz said the agreement has been drawn up and will be forwarded to MAC after being signed by Carl Jullie and Mayor Harris. Gertz believed the work could be done by November, if the City crews are available. Gertz said he hoped the Native American group that has shown an interest in restoration of the wayside will approach MAC for permission to restore the site. Gertz said that if the property were transferred to the DNR, it would be their responsibility to take care of the site and make it secure. It will continue to be patrolled by park rangers. Once it is cleaned up it would become very visible from the road. When the site is cleaned up, the SHPO has said they will look at the wayside again and consider it for National Register status. Once it is restored it would almost certainly be eligible. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Smith House Tour After the meeting HPC members toured the Smith House. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Review and Recommendation on Main Parking Lot for the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION October 15, 2001 Page 3 HPC members received a memo from Bob Lambert, who wanted the HPC to know what is happening at the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area. A parking lot and trailhead will be developed, and the farmhouse and outbuildings will be removed or demolished. The work will be done in the spring and summer of 2002. Lambert asked for a motion recommending this action. He invited the HPC to review the buildings and record any data that is important to historical records prior to removal or demolition. Gertz said the buildings would be documented and photographed again. The property in the conservation area was surveyed and found to be historically significant. One of the interpretive signs would be located at the trailhead. Gertz said the HPC would have a tour of the site some time. MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Brown, to approve the development of the main parking lot and trailhead for the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area, including removal or demolition of the existing farmhouse and farm buildings. Weeks asked to amend the motion to reference the memorandum from Bob Lambert, dated September 25, 2001. Adams and Brown accepted the amendment. Motion carried 6-0. B. Appointment of Student Representatives to the HPC Gertz reported that three students applied to be on the HPC. They are expected to be appointed by the Council at its meeting on October 16 and would be able to attend the November meeting of the HPC. VIII. ADJOURNMENT The members of the Heritage Preservation Commission toured the Smith House from 8:00 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. There was no motion for adjournment.