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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 11/19/2012 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2012 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Prairie Rooms A & B COMMISSION MEMBERS: Ed Muehlberg (Chair), Cindy Cofer Evert (Vice Chair), Jeffrey Lawler, Mark McPherson, Steve Olson, JoAnn McGuire STAFF: John Gertz, Pathfinder CRM, LLC Lori Creamer, Staff Liaison Heidi Wojahn, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Melissa Berman, Leanne Zhang I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Acting Chair McPherson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Commissioners Muehlberg and Cofer Evert and Student Representatives Berman and Zhang were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Lawler moved, seconded by Olson, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4-0. III. MINUTES MOTION: Olson moved, seconded by McGuire, to approve the October 15, 2012 minutes. Motion carried 4-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF None. V. PUBLIC HEARING A. SCHUSSLER BARN LOCAL DESIGNATION Recommendation to designate the Goodrich-Ramus Barn as a Heritage Preservation Site. A memo from City Planner, Mike Franzen, indicated official notice of this public hearing was published November 9, 2012 in the Eden Prairie News and sent to 3 property owners on November 10, 2012. McPherson asked if anyone wished to address the Commission on this matter. No one did. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 19, 2012 Page 2 MOTION: Lawler moved, seconded by Olson, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 4-0. MOTION: Lawler moved, seconded by McGuire, to recommend to the City Council that the Goodrich-Ramus Barn property be designated as a Heritage Preservation Site. Motion carried 4-0. IV. OLD BUSINESS A. UPDATE ON CUMMINS HOUSE FOUNDATION REPAIR Gertz directed commissioners' attention to packet photos saying the foundation was opened up, insulated, and backfilled. The grade was raised in order to properly drain the site. An email from Paul Sticha summarizes this and other updates at the house. Lawler asked if there was a hole underneath the foundation or if it was on soil. Gertz said it sits on soil and the frost protection was done to help prevent future structural problems. There is enough of a gap between the wall and the floor to monitor this. McPherson inquired if the outside grade was higher than the floor elevation inside. Ideally there would be a four-to-six inch difference to prevent moisture. A swale is another option. Gertz replied it is possible the levels are about even. Landscape modification is doable. McPherson asked if weather stripping on the exterior doors and thresholds had been completed. Creamer noted there was also no status update on landscaping. Gertz said the prairie grass has been planted but the trees have not. Downspouts were modified earlier this past summer. McPherson said one of the gutters needs correction due to the way it is hanging. Olson asked if the work items in Sticha's letter were included in the spreadsheet. Gertz said he wasn't sure they were all on the spreadsheet although they did make it into his field notes. B. UPDATE ON CUMMINS HOUSE UPPER LEVEL REMODELING PROJECT Representatives from the Eden Prairie Historical Society (EPHS) are working on a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) and possible grant for the restoration of the upper level of the original home. McPherson said it would nice to have an update from EPHS at the next meeting. Creamer will contact the president. C. UPDATE ON INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE Gertz said he had two documents related to interpretive panels. One shows only text, and the other(which he circulated) includes photos. He asked Creamer to check if there are CDs containing artwork in the office. Lawler recently saw a sign in the community constructed of the same materials as the interpretive panels. The materials appeared durable and the contrast was nice. The sign at Feldman Mound is in disrepair. To transition it and other like signage to the document example would be good. Gertz said although it hasn't been done, the old signs can be buffed out and HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 19, 2012 Page 3 restored with a rubbing compound and lustre finish. Maintenance guidelines should be available in the office. He suggested copies be made so there is a complete set of all the interpretive panels. There used to be a large-print bound copy in the office to give to people unable to access the sites in person. McPherson suggested emailing Cofer Evert to verify she didn't miss any interpretive panels. Creamer said Cofer Evert's email stated she took photos and intends to have a summary at the December meeting. D. WEBSITE UPDATE Lawler distributed copies of the format for the web page map captions to pass along to Communications. If the user clicks on a site, it will pull up a little blurb and thumbnail of the picture. There are a couple more pictures he has yet to obtain (Smith-Douglas- More House and the Cemetery). Some other suggestions for the website include a link back to the City of Eden Prairie website and to the State Historical Society so the user can find more in-depth information. He requested input and also asked for advice on citing sources. Olson said he likes it and would want to see it demoed. Creamer said she could see if someone from the IT department can show a demo at the December meeting. This project is part of the 2013 IT work plan. Gertz said much of the information on these sites has been included in tour booklets from the past. There could be a little more added to Purgatory Creek Bridge, and there is additional information available on Pleasant Hill Cemetery from the local designation form. Each property has such a form in a City file that could be linked to on the website. The Goodrich-Ramus Barn should be added as well as the Miller Spring, the overlook, and Eden Prairie Cemetery. The historic home at Glen Lake Children's Camp should also be included. He recommended leaving off the burial mounds. They would be difficult to photograph, it's best not to indicate where they are as some are on private property. Olson agreed adding they wouldn't want anybody disturbing those sites. Gertz said he has additional pictures he can send to Lawler and will send him tour information in an electronic format, as well. Lawler stated he will add the additional sites discussed, take pictures of the sites he missed, and forward his information to Creamer. Creamer agreed to see if someone from the IT department can attend the next meeting or at least obtain a mock-up even if they can't attend. Lawler said he could check how the airport commission is citing information. McPherson suggested modeling it after another city such as Chaska. Gertz said he didn't think it was anything to be too concerned about because the information is coming primarily from city documents. He recommended indicating if sites are nationally-registered, locally- designated, or eligible to be registered. Also a symbol could be added if they have on- site interpretive signage. A brief discussion ensued about preparing for future designation of homes nearing 50 years of age in the area. Gertz agreed it couldn't hurt to be ready. There are other Twin Cities communities who have already acquired and restored homes. Olson asked the age of the airport. Gertz explained it goes back to the 1940s when it was a grass practice field used by United States Navy pilots. Some of the property was purchased from the Goodrich and Grill families. It evolved into an airport after World HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 19, 2012 Page 4 War IL Some of the historic hangar areas have been preserved,but much of the rest of it was recently torn down. VII. NEW BUSINESS None VIII. FYI ITEMS A. LETTER FROM SHPO—RE: SCHUSSLER BARN Creamer stated the letter from the Minnesota Historical Society to Schussler Creative, Inc. was included in the commission packets as an FYI item. If the barn is locally designated, there will be two checkpoints for renovations. Bob Erickson from Welsh Companies should be encouraged to relay any proposed site or building changes to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the City at the same time. B. GOODRICH RAMUS BARN CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT Creamer reported a few more conditions were added to what was already recommended by the HPC. It will go to Council tomorrow. They will see the project request(PUD with waivers, etc.) and designation in addition to the conditional use permit. The Planning Commission has seen and commented on these items. Erickson attended the meeting and gave a presentation,but there has not yet been any feedback from SHPO on the designation. Gertz suggested if there are any SHPO comments, they should be included with the other documents. Later on, a preservation management plan will need to be put together and given to Schussler. It is one of the requirements of designation. It doesn't need to be complicated, but it needs to be done within a relatively short period of time. Creamer asked if the plan is part of Gertz's contract responsibilities. He said it was. Creamer received information on Downtown Main Street from the Annual Historic Preservation Conference held in September. Even though Eden Prairie doesn't currently have a downtown area or main street, the guide contains helpful information on getting people involved in and approaching projects. It is available on the mnpreservation.org website. Olson said perhaps they could look at it online at next month's meeting. Lawler said it will be interesting to see how Light Rail changes Eden Prairie over the long-term. Creamer reported Betsy Adams, the EPHS president, sent an email in regards to pursuing a zoning change for the Cummins-Grill house. This would allow for an office renter upstairs, a possible vendor, and usage for weddings, etc. Upon conferring with Franzen, it was determined this request has already been spelled out in their conditional use permit. Gertz agreed rezoning is not necessary but asked if they were given any boundaries. Creamer said there are parking restrictions. McPherson pointed out the conditions are similar to the Smith-Douglas-More house. IX. STUDENT UPDATES HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 19, 2012 Page 5 None X. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HPC meeting will be Monday, December 17, 2012, 7 p.m. at City Center, Prairie Rooms A & B. XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Lawler moved, seconded by Olson, to adjourn. Motion carried 4-0. McPherson adjourned the meeting at 8:21 p.m.