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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 08/18/2008 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY,AUGUST 18, 2008 7:00 P.M. J.R. Cummins House 13600 Pioneer Trail COMMISSION MEMBERS Betsy Adams, Chairperson; Ann Higgins, Vice Chairperson; Richard Akerlund, Nina Mackay, Mark McPherson,Ed Muehlberg, Kathy Veurink COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Planner II Lori Rain, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Adams called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Commissioner Mackay was excused. Robert Vogel, Senior Historian from Pathfinder CRM, LLC and Floyd Sjostrand were present. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Adams added under Old Business, Item A., number 3, an Invitation to the Heritage Preservation Commission. Adams added under New Business, Item B., The Girl Scout Booklet. MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by Akerlund, to approve the agenda as published and corrected. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —JULY 21, 2008 Higgins corrected the name of Higgins to Adams on the top of page 2, paragraph 2, under V., Item A. MOTION: Akerlund moved, seconded by Muehlberg, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission held on July 21, 2008 as published and corrected. Motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF There were no new updates from the reports of commission and staff. V. OLD BUSINESS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING August 18, 2008 Page 2 A. JOHN R. CUMMINS ADAPTIVE USE STUDY 1. Landscape Research, LLC—Landscape Management Plan Gertz reported on July 29 he met with Liz Able (MnDOT), Carole Zellie, Amy Lucas and Lance Neckar(Landscape Research, LLC) to discuss the Landscape Management Plan for the J.R. Cummins property. An aerial schematic preliminary draft was handed out. Gertz said the Landscape Research concluded that the City's ball field parking should not be located on the heritage site. They've recommended new ball field's be designed that will allow parking within the athletic space. They recommend that the open space north of the house continue to provide a K9 training course and possibly adding a community/heirloom gardens. The gardens would fit the adaptive use study's horticultural use option. The K9 facility would continue to be a good fit, since it requires minimal space, is light on the land and would continue to provide an important training area for the police. Gertz said the Landscape Research also concluded the preferred option would be to run the driveway up the east side of the property. Gertz said the final Landscape Management Plan report will be tentatively completed in September and will be forwarded to Commission Members before the next meeting. Adams asked if the Plan is simply recommendations or if it needs to be approved by the HPC. Gertz said the Landscape Management Plan is the recommended management plan for the site and it will be incorporated into the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). 2. Memorandum of Agreement Gertz reported the MnDOT Cultural Resources Unit has prepared a draft dated 8-1-08 Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement(MOA)between the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)regarding reconstruction of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 1 (Pioneer Trail) in Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota State Project(S.P.) 27-601-35. The agreement covers the J.R. Cummins property and the Goodrich-Ramus Farm property. He said the MOA provides a background of the properties and only addresses the historic preservation. Floyd Sjostrand said he would like the option to move,relocate and preserve the three smaller outbuildings located at the Goodrich-Ramus Farm. These buildings would include the Chicken Coop (969.39 square HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING August 18, 2008 Page 3 feet), Shed 1 (199.56 square feet) and Shed 2 (363.99 square feet) as outlined in the building dimensions map. He said he would like the choice of moving one, two or all of them. He said he intents to move them to Farmington. Gertz said the MOA will be presented to the City Council on August 19. Sjostrand said it would be nice if the whole site could be saved. Higgins asked about the ability of the Cummins house to withstand some of the vibration from replacing the road. She asked if there was anything in the MOA that addressed this issue. Gertz stated that Page 3, Item L. of the MOA covers this issue. He said they had talked to some of the County Engineers about making sure heavy equipment didn't damage the house and the concern would be monitored. MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by Muehlberg to approve the draft dated 8-1-08 Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement(MOA)between the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)regarding reconstruction of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 1 (Pioneer Trail) in Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota State Project(S.P.) 27-601-35. Motion carried 6-0. 3. Invitation to the Heritage Preservation Committee Adams reported the Historical Society is having a General Membership Meeting and would like to have HPC Commissioners attend at the J. R. Cummins Property on September 18 at 6:30 p.m. She said the meeting will be to discuss the long term interest in leasing options for the J. R. Cummins Property. B. GOODRICH-RAMUS BARN ADAPTIVE USE STUDY 1. Preliminary Findings Gertz reported the Goodrich-Ramus barn adaptive use study is complete and the report is being prepared. A handout was provided of the preliminary findings and site maps prepared by the City that illustrates the storm basin options, access to the site and the existing conditions. Gertz said a tree inventory was conducted to identify tree species and tree diameters. They also recorded the utilities that were present and where they come into the buildings. The site map illustrates an aerial view of the storm basin that would eliminate the barn and the preferred storm basin with the barn in place. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING August 18, 2008 Page 4 Gertz said there will be barn access all the way around for functionality. McPherson asked if the machine shed could be saved if part of the main treatment basin were squared off. Vogel stated the Engineers are concerned that they've already reduced the surface area and that there's not a whole lot of area left. Gertz stated it may be difficult at this point because none of the buildings were determined to be significant. Vogel said there will not be any type of fence around the barn but recommends a locked gate across the driveway closer to Pioneer Trail. He said the bottom apron of the driveway coming in should be paved. Akerlund asked if it's possible to put in a trail along the backside of the barn within the Parks and Recreation property. Gertz said he didn't believe Parks and Recreation would do it and that there are currently trails on the south side. Vogel said for security purposes, since the reuse is for secured indoor storage, you wouldn't want to provide a pedestrian access to the back of the barn. He said Police presence in a car could only be on the front side. Vogel said there's no structural work that's needed for the barn and this is far cheaper than demolition. There's not much operational money needed to maintain the barn. Vogel said the second level is the most likely to be used as storage space for vehicles. To use it would require some modifications to the building. A different type of locking doors and security lights would be needed to use the stable area. The interior stairway would need to be reconstructed. Two fire exits and fire escapes are needed. And it would need to have a sprinkler and an elevator lift installed. Vogel said future consideration may want to be given to the silo. It currently doesn't have a cap on it and could eventually start to decay. Adams said the goal is to save the barn as a listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Vogel said the HPC serves as a reference of opinion on the site and recommends the HPC start a designation process after the project is done. Vogel recommended having a preservationist monitor the buildings during the construction stage. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING August 18, 2008 Page 5 Muehlberg requested the final study include consideration of redesign of the basin to include the machine shed. Vogel noted this will be incorporated. Vogel said the findings conclude three options for the barn. First, the preferred option,is to keep it in place and to reuse it. Second, is to try to move it. Third, is to capture photographic and architectural documentation before demolition. Gertz said the final report will be mailed to the HPC by the end of August. 2. Memorandum of Agreement Adams said this is the same MOA that was previously agreed to earlier in the meeting. MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by McPherson to approve the Preliminary Findings of the Adaptive Reuse Study for the Goodrich- Ramus Barn dated Julyl, 2008. Motion carried 6-0. C. GLEN LAKE CHILDREN'S CAMP PROJECTS UPDATE Gertz reported the State Historic Preservation Office has commented on the most recent landscape and grading plans for the Glen Lake Children's Camp dormitory site. He said the foundation work has been approved and will proceed. SHPO still has some issues with the rip-rap placed adjacent to the trail on the west side of the dormitory. The City will ask Friendship Ventures to remove it from the site. Gertz said the trail width is also a concern to SHPO. The trail on the west side of the building can't exceed 6 feet in width, including shoulders. The comments from SHPO also make it clear they are not approving the 6 foot width as a standard for the entire heritage site. Specific details are outlined in the letter from Mark Buechel, SHPO Historical Architect, dated August 4, 2008. Gertz said there was a low area off the main drive as you drive up to the camp on the right hand side. The camp wanted to fill it in because when there's a large rainfall it gets muddy. Buechel had understood that the HPC was still proposing to fill in this area. Gertz will talk with Buechel to get this issue resolved. D. DORENKEMPER HOUSE IMPROVEMENTS UPDATE Gertz reported the Dorenkemper House projects are moving ahead. Jim Clark from the Eden Prairie Historical Society indicated some funds will be donated to install a security system in the house. Gertz said he has been working with the HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING August 18, 2008 Page 6 City's Facility Department to select the system and make sure it is as non obtrusive as possible. Gertz said Walls Trends will complete the painting and wall papering on the upper level by Sunbonnet Day in September. McPherson asked if precautions were being made to control the humidity level so the wallpaper remains intact. Gertz said there's currently no cooling system or dehumidifier present. He said he would work on this issue. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. VERIZON WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER SITE REVIEW—RILEY JACOUES FARMSTEAD Gertz reported the Verizon Wireless telecommunications tower planned for Riley Lake Park is being reviewed again due to moving the tower to a new location in the park. An aerial view of the park that illustrates the original location and the new proposed location was handed out. He said the tower will be about 870 feet from the barn, compared to the 840 feet based on the original location. The tower itself remains unchanged and will be slightly lower in elevation at the proposed location. MOTION: Veurink moved, seconded by Akerlund to approve the Verizon Wireless 65 foot monopole telecommunications tower proposed as newly sited for 9100 Riley Lake Road based on the Riley Park aerial drawing dated August 7, 2008. Motion carried 6-0. B. GIRL SCOUT BOOKLET Higgins reported on a Girl Scout Booklet titled, "Tales As Old As Time," and a BINGO game introduced at the Eden Prairie International Festival by two Girl Scouts, Hannah Slinkard and Ummul Kathawalla. The booklet and game were created as part of a Girl Scout project. She said there are only two copies of the booklet available. The booklet is an oral history of growing up in Eden Prairie. Higgins suggested the HPC work on a making this available for more people by approaching others to assist with printing cost. Higgins has requested the two girls come to the October Historical Society Meeting to discuss their project in greater detail. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Muehlberg moved, seconded by Akerlund, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Adams adjourned the meeting at 9:32 p.m.