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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 11/17/2008 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 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, Kathy Veurink STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Frank Bi, Stephanie Vilendrer COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Planner II Lori Rain, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Adams called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Student representative Stephanie Vilendrer was excused. Student representative Frank Bi was absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Akerlund moved, seconded by Mackay, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —OCTOBER 20, 2008 Higgins added "Douglas-More" at the end of the name "Smith" on page three under New Business Item A., fourth sentence. MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Veurink, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission held on October 20, 2008 as corrected and published. Motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. SOUTHWEST TRANSITWAY PROJECT Gertz reported receiving a letter dated November 7, 2008 from Mr. Dennis A. Gimmestad from the State Historic Preservation Office to Ms. Katie Walker regarding the environmental review planning process needed for the Southwest Transitway Project. The letter acknowledges the need to identify and evaluate HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING November 17, 2008 Page 2 historic properties at an early stage in the planning process. A Scoping Information Booklet on the project was reviewed. Gertz said Eden Prairie is just one of many cities included in this project. This project will include a good portion of Eden Prairie which would include historical properties. Only one of the three sites as outlined on page four of the booklet will be considered. Gertz will conduct a preliminary review of the alternatives outlined. A consultant will be hired to do the Draft Environmental Impact Statement(DEIS). The timeline for the project has a completion date of December 2009. The main component of the project will take place during the summer months of 2009. B. SMITH-DOUGLAS-MORE HOUSE Gertz reported the Smith-Douglas-More house (Dunn Bros) lease proposals will be reviewed by the City Council on November 18, 2008. Two proposals have been received by the City, one of which is from current tenant Ann Schuster. The other is for a French restaurant(Cafe Ficelle).Gertz said he inquired about the restaurant use plan and whether or not it would require alterations to the building. He was advised the proposal does not include specific plans regarding changes to the space at this time. The HPC will need to inquire on the potential updates prior to the approval of a lease. Higgins provided a copy of the Smith-Douglas-More lease proposals that will be presented to the Eden Prairie City Council on November 18, 2008. The proposal from Dunn Bros includes a fundraising program to assist the new Art Center. V. OLD BUSINESS A. GOODRICH-RAMUS BARN Gertz reported the Goodrich-Ramus barn has been winterized. The County and City Public Utilities met on site to shut off water, drain pipes, etc. Higgins inquired whether the house has been winterized. Gertz said wherever there is water, it's been winterized. Gertz said the County is also moving ahead to complete recordation of the barn. The County said they would like to get it out of the way right away and well before the barn is sold, moved, or deconstructed. He doesn't know who the city has hired for the recordation but recommends they consult with Robert Vogel as he has done much recordation on the site already. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING November 17, 2008 Page 3 B. GLEN LAKE CHILDREN'S CAMP PROJECTS UPDATE Gertz reported the grading and landscaping at the camp (dormitory) is complete, as are trails, decks and piers. Much has been done incorrectly. The site work looked good but a final grade is still needed. Gertz said all trails in the area of the dormitory were paved at 6 feet wide, which was not agreed to by SHPO. The trails also appear to not meet ADA required slope grades. The deck appears to have several issues which results in having to be redone. The stairs are slanted with the lower step buried and the footings are not built to code. Gertz said the piers were not applied to the foundation according to the approved plans. They are not in the correct location and didn't go high enough on the pier. The concrete bridge on the lower end has been damaged due to heavy equipment being driven over it. To correct it, the contractors then paved it to ten feet wide. Muehlberg advised that if the bridge has been punctured it may not be structurally sound and should be flagged. Akerlund asked if photo documentation has been obtained. Gertz said photo documentation has already been obtained of all of the incorrectly performed issues. Muelhberg asked if the noncompliant issues can be flagged and fenced off. Gertz said the building inspectors will have to go out and red flag the issues and a request can be made to have the areas fenced off. Muehlberg asked if a stop work order can be issued. Gertz said Kevin Schmieg would be responsible for issuing a stop work order. Gertz said he will keep the Commission updated as efforts are made with Friendship Ventures to correct these items. He suggested future projects should request bond money. C. J.R. CUMMINS HOUSE UPDATE Gertz reported the ice box restoration at the Cummins house is complete and this work was done exactly right. The masons did very good work and blended the brick seamlessly into the brick on the house. The new roof is a faithful representation of the original, only much better. The examining brick is in storage and the site has been cleaned up. Scott Neal took some final pictures of the site and put them on the cities website. Gertz said the outhouse fell over into the lilacs. The Park and Recreation Department secured it in its original place and anchored it into the ground. The goal for next summer is to find a place for it. Akerlund suggested having this as an Eagle Scout project. More discussion will take place on this topic in the future. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING November 17, 2008 Page 4 Gertz said he will meet on Friday with the Park and Recreation staff and Dave Lindahl to discuss the ball field parking before meeting with MnDot and Landscape Research staff on the same topic. This issue is one of the stipulations in Section 106 of the MOA. The main goal is to get the parking reduced. Muehlberg asked if the final plan will already be approved once it comes to the HPC. Gertz said the site alteration permits go through the City Council and the City Council will seek HPC recommendations prior to the final plan. Adams reported the Historical Society is still looking into leasing the house as a reuse option. The Historical Society wants to continue to have this as city property. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. CLG GRANT/PRESERVATION SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN CONSULTANT SELECTION Gertz reported there were a lot of request for proposals (RFP's) sent out. He received three responses back. Two of which weren't able to commit to work at this time. The third is from Pathfinder CRM, LLC (Robert C. Vogel). Gertz said the proposal Vogel sent looks good and that we've had a positive previous experience in working with him in the past. Ultimately, we would need to select this proposal or it would result in losing the grant to the state. Muehlberg asked if we could inquire with other firms why they didn't apply. Gertz stated that we would inquire with other firms on why they didn't apply. Gertz said he sent the RFP's to all of the available local consultants and thought we would've gotten more of an interest. Some of the consultants may be aware that we've worked with Vogel in the past and may have chosen not to pursue an interest due to this. Gertz said Vogel already has a lot of information on the properties and has worked with the city and the HPC before. Vogel's performance benchmarks consist of beginning the project on or before December 1, 2008 and begin meeting with the HPC on January 26, 2009. MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Higgins, to approve the Proposal for Preservation Site Management Plans dated November 13, 2008 from Robert C. Vogel, Pathfinder CRM, LLC. Motion carried 5-0. B. ROBERTS DRIVE HOUSE Gertz reported Housing and Community Service requested of him to go and look at a house on Roberts Drive in Eden Prairie to determine if the house had any historical significance. He said the house could be locally historically significant. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING November 17, 2008 Page 5 The house was built in 1890 by Robert Anderson and is currently owned by the neighboring church. The church is interested in using it for Habitat for Humanity and desires to have it restored in a historical sense. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Akerlund moved, seconded by Higgins, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Adams adjourned the meeting at 8:47 p.m.