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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 01/28/2008 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2008 7:00 P.M. Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS Betsy Adams, Chairperson; Ann Higgins, Vice Chairperson; Richard Akerlund, Nina Mackay, Mark McPherson,Ed Muehlberg, Jane Plaza STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Claire Lukens, Mark Muston,Alexandra Shea COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Adams called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Muehlberg arrived at 7:30 p.m. Student Representative Lukens was absent. Janet Jeremiah, Community Development Director, and Karla Wennerstrom from the Eden Prairie News, were present. Peter Campbell, Kim Gorman and Adam Holden, representatives for Verizon Wireless, made a presentation on the proposed telecommunications tower. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Adams recommended that Item A. under New Business, be placed after Approval of the Minutes. MOTION: Akerlund moved, seconded by Plaza, to approve the agenda as modified. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —DECEMBER 17, 2007 Plaza made two corrections on page 1, under Item A. The third sentence was corrected to read " . . . educational pursuits would not be the best use of grant money, . . ." The fourth sentence should read " . . . Instead, they could do more preservation management . . ." MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Plaza, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission held on December 17, 2007, as corrected. Motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONS AND STAFF V. OLD BUSINESS A. FY 2008 CLG GRANT UPDATE Gertz reported that the CLG grant pre-application was submitted. It requests a $16,000 grant to develop four preservation management plans. Gertz passed HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSON MEETING January 28, 2008 Page 2 around a copy for the Commissioners to review. The grant would cover the time he spends on the project. He said some sites will require more time than others, for example Glen Lake Children's Camp. Gertz said the HPC had also talked about doing an educational proponent for each site, such as interpretation of the site. He proposed putting these in a preservation prospectus, which will state what kind of information each site would benefit from. This would take the place of an interpretive plan. Adams said they want to include stories about the sites. Gertz said he has two weeks to finalize the application and resubmit it to the SHPO, where the review board has five months to decide which projects to accept. If Eden Prairie is selected, the grant project would start July 1. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. VERIZON WIRELESS 65-FOOT MONOPOLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER SITE REVIEW FOR RILEY- JACOUES FARMSTEAD HERITAGE SITE Gertz said that the HPC should review the tower site because of its location close to a heritage preservation site and follow the same standards they would if it were located on the site. The Commissioners will look at the photo simulations and determine what an area of potential effect would be. The location of the tower is about a half-mile from the heritage preservation site and the effect would be indirect, but has the potential of affecting the view-shed. Gertz said he does not believe the tower presents a visual barrier to the site or has an adverse effect. Peter Campbell reported that they walked the entire site with Jean Johnson from Eden Prairie's zoning section. They discussed the entrance to the park and decided to avoid that location for the tower. It will be out of sight as much as possible. He worked closely with the Parks and Recreation Commission on the location. After they received approval from that Commission they made a presentation to the Planning Board. On February 12 it will go before the City Council. Campbell said they have been dealing with wetland flood plains in the area of Riley Lake. Stuart Fox has been out there to find the best location. Building an 80-foot tower would be allowed, but Verizon cut the height back to 65 feet, and the Parks Commission approved that. Holden said he looked at the location of the wetlands, and tried to avoid architectural sites. He had the SHPO's database to work from. Higgins inquired if there has been any discussion about trying to change the visual effect of the tower through color. Gorman replied that unpainted galvanized steel is considered best, because there is not as much maintenance and it blends into the surroundings. There will be a significant amount of landscaping and plantings around the pole to help conceal it from view, including an eight-foot wall of arborvitae. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSON MEETING January 28, 2008 Page 3 Plaza asked how long Verizon's agreement with the City runs. Campbell replied it is a 25-year agreement. Each market is different, and the number of towers they build depends on cell phone coverage in the area. Their customers in the Bearpath development have been complaining they don't have in-house service for their cell phones, so Verizon is trying to accommodate them. Campbell said they are going to build the tower to be extendible, so it could eventually go to 80 feet, but they would again have to go through all the steps they have gone through for approval to allow that to happen. Gorman explained the company makes sure the job is done right so the pole won't have to be replaced. Akerlund inquired if the Metropolitan Airports Commission has any concerns about the tower. Campbell replied the MAC received the information and has not expressed any concerns as yet. However, if the FAA should refuse to allow it, Verizon would not be able to proceed. Higgins asked when the tower would be going up. Campbell said if they get approval from the City Council on February 12, construction would begin by June. It takes about two weeks to complete the work. Holden said they expect to have approval from the SHPO by the end of February. MOTION: Plaza moved, seconded by Mackay, the Heritage Preservation Commission finds that the Verizon Wireless 65-foot monopole telecommunications tower proposed as sited for 9100 Riley Lake Road will not have an adverse effect on the Riley-Jacques Farmstead heritage site. Motion carried 6-0. The representatives from Verizon Wireless thanked the Commission for letting them make their presentation, and Adams thanked them for coming. B. 2008 HPC WORK PLAN REVIEW The Commissioners reviewed the 2008 Work Plan Gertz drew up. He explained that his time has been reduced this year and the list is probably more ambitious than time would allow. He asked the Commissioners if the way it is prioritized meets their expectations. Once it is approved by the HPC, the plan will be submitted to the City Manager. Adams noted that the list does not allocate any time for Gertz to work on Eden Prairie's sesquicentennial. The HPC has been given responsibility for celebrating this milestone. Gertz replied he would fit it in the list where the Commissioners think it should go. The Commissioners decided to make it priority number 4. Adams said Gertz does not have to do most of the work. She has been talking with the Historical Society and they are planning to participate. The HPC will be coordinating the celebration with the Parks and Recreation Department. It will be a team effort with both City and community partners. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSON MEETING January 28, 2008 Page 4 Regarding work on Pioneer Trail effects on the Cummins property, Higgins asked if Gertz has any information as to whether or not construction of Pioneer Trail will start at the Hwy. 212 end of the road. Gertz replied that construction will begin in May at that end of the road and will impact the Cummins property quickly. All the permits have to be done before May. Mackay inquired if Gertz could change the list of priorities if he finds it is not working. Gertz said he could do that. Things will come along that will be added to this list. Higgins noted that the items represent more than the amount of time Gertz can allocate to work on HPC-related projects, so Scott Neal might decide that some of them will not happen. Gertz replied that is true; however, he does not expect to spend much time on the Dorenkemper house, for example. He will meet with people there,but most of the work is done. Regarding item number 7, presenting the Adaptive Use Study results to the City Council, Adams asked if Gertz does not see that happening until the 3rd quarter. Gertz said it is just in that place because other things will consume his time, such as the CLG grant project. With the Pioneer Trail work going on, he is not sure when the study will be presented to the Council. Gertz asked Jeremiah if she knew whether the City Council Workshop schedule is complete. If possible, he would like to bring items to the attention of the Council at a workshop, such as the preservation code update, and to go over the Adaptive Reuse Study with the Council. Jeremiah replied that the Council has four workshop meetings this year, and the last time she checked there was one slot available. She offered to check into whether it was still available and reserve it. Adams thanked Gertz for the listing of priority projects and said it is helpful to have it. C. 2008 SESQUICENTENNIAL PLANS The Commissioners were given a list of ideas for the sesquicentennial. Adams said the list was also distributed to the Historical Society a couple of weeks ago, and they want to adapt ideas from the list to raise funds for the group. One was to commission, and have made for sale, special-edition sesquicentennial Xmas ornaments, and the other was to reproduce and sell old maps of Eden Prairie. Adams asked Higgins if she was willing to lead the HPC in its celebration efforts. Higgins said she would like to be a part of the planning and asked if anyone else on the Commission would like to help coordinate the work. Akerlund and Mackay said they would. Adams said she would coordinate their work with the work of the Historical Society. Gertz recommended talking to Sandy Werts in the Parks and Recreation Department. She is willing to provide as much support as she can, but is very busy doing the normal City events. Werts has said the City will pay for the Eden Prairie Community Band to adapt the piece of music that has been written for the sesquicentennial. The band can show up at different HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSON MEETING January 28, 2008 Page 5 events to play the piece, such as Sun Bonnet Day and at the July 4"' celebration. Werts was at the Historical Society meeting when they discussed the list of ideas. Adams said she believed the Minnesota's sesquicentennial logo is available to use. Gertz said it would not be difficult to adapt the logo for Eden Prairie. Adams said the Historical Society is interested in having the book Eden Prairie — The First 100 Years reprinted. Gertz said he has been working with a staff member on getting it reprinted. There are funds available from the sale of the original printing of the book. Helen Anderson has agreed to do the forward for the book. The logo could be used on the cover. Adams said the free banners for light poles at two City locations came as a result of an article in the Eden Prairie News written by Karla Wennerstrom about the sesquicentennial. She and Gertz received an e-mail from a woman saying she would like to donate banners. Adams said Council Member Kathy Nelson had made a suggestion to put together a panel of original landowners or their children to talk about what Eden Prairie used to be like. If it were done in City Council chambers it could be on cable TV. Many of these people are members of the Historical Society so it would be very easy to put together. Akerlund mentioned that Sever Peterson knows many older residents. Adams said there could be two or three different groups doing this in Council chambers. Akerlund noted that the state is trying to find out about people whose families have owned their farms for 150 years. However, even if they haven't been here that long, their stories about where they came from would be interesting. Akerlund offered to research information about the first railroad that came through Eden Prairie. Gertz suggested organizing a tour to the State Capitol. Adams said a tour of City historic sites should also be arranged. Gertz said because this is about statehood and city-hood, at some point there should also be a focus on the government. It would be good to have something about the formation of the City, the first town board meeting, etc. He said if they could get members of Eden Prairie Players to take on those characters, it would be fun to do that in Council chambers. The Council could be asked to make a proclamation about the sesquicentennial close to May 11. Adams asked about involving the school district in the sesquicentennial. Mackay suggested that Ron Case would be a good contact. She offered to find out if CMS wants to do something. Adams said this is the year of the sesquicentennial, not an event, so the celebration can be held before May 11 as well as after. It can be celebrated at events such as Sun Bonnet Day, Schooner Days, etc. Mackay recommended HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSON MEETING January 28, 2008 Page 6 having a central theme throughout. Gertz said Werts is willing to incorporate the celebration into all her plans for the year. Adams also suggested putting something about the sesquicentennial on the City's Web site. She said the City could add to the logo the state has come up with. Gertz wondered if there would be a copyright issue involved. Higgins offered to ask the person in charge of the logo. Mackay said perhaps the Eden Prairie News could put something related to the sesquicentennial on their masthead. Akerlund inquired if there would be an interest in having someone talk to the Mdewakanton Sioux about sharing their perspective on the sesquicentennial. Adams said there would be an interest in knowing if there are some stories from 150 years ago that would be pertinent. Akerlund said he would find out. McPherson asked if there is anything the group can do now to get started on preparations for the celebration. He thought they should get some information out quickly. The Commissioners decided to get the logo first so it can be on the City's Web site, the School's Web site and the Eden Prairie News masthead. Some information could be placed in the City's "Life in the Prairie" that is inserted in the newspaper. Adams offered to contact the Eden Prairie Magazine. Akerlund said perhaps something could be placed on the changeable signs at Purgatory Creek Recreation Area and at the City Center. Adams asked the Commissioners to give any information they have to Higgins. They also want to involve other people outside of the Commission. Perhaps a small group could be formed to brainstorm ideas. The Chamber of Commerce should also be involved. The Historical Society has a great many photographs in their archives. Many of them would go with stories about the City's history. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Akerlund, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0. Adams adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.