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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 11/17/1997 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1997 7:00 p.m. Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Jane Hession, Chair, Kathie Case, Tim Colliton, John Hensrud, James Mason, Lori Peterson-Benike, James Wilson STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Jenny Freemyer, Kristin Kelly COMMISSION STAFF: John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist, Barbara Anderson, City Recorder 1. ROLL CALL Vice Chair Case called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Hession was absent. Commissioner Hensrud arrived at the meeting about 7:30 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Wilson moved, seconded by Colliton to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 20, 1997 Mason noted a correction to the Minutes on page 1, making add into Aadded= under approval of the agenda. Case noted a change on page 3 under the Cummins-Grill Peony Garden item, adding Jan Mosman=s last name,on page 4 under Heritage Site Signs, adding the word Astreet=in reference to the steel signs,and noting under the Grants section that she had been concerned about designating private land as historical sites. MOTION:Wilson moved,seconded by Colliton,to approve the Minutes of the October 20, 1997 Heritage Preservation Commission as corrected. Motion carried 4-0-1. Peterson- Benike abstained. IV. REPORTS AND REQUESTS - EDEN PRAIRIE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Case stated the ADancing Rock—has been put back in its original location and they would like the Historical Society to do something to bring recognition to the ADancing Kutcher Rock--. They also have decided not to do a Christmas Program at the Cummins-Grill house this year but will wait and do something this spring to commemorate the work being done on the peony garden. They felt the house would be in better shape and they will have a working bathroom by spring. The Historical Society wants to do something with the Heritage Preservation Commission in the spring,and thought perhaps the end of May might be a good time to schedule this. They could have classes on gardening held at the Cummins-Grill House, and perhaps the Garden Club could be involved in this project. V. INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMISSION MEMBER Lori Peterson-Benike was introduced to the other Commissioners and welcomed onto the Commission. VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Preservation Festival Gertz commented the Preservation Festival was much like last year=s festival except it was held in a different location. Eden Prairie had a table next to Cottage Grove and Robert Vogel. He had the opportunity to see what other cities are doing. He wished more commissioners would attend this festival next year. Peterson-Benike asked if it was well attended and Gertz responded he thought there were fewer people than last year. They had good representation by people offering services but not much from Heritage Preservation Commissions in the metropolitan area. He discussed a cast plaque for the Glen Lake Children=s Camp. Colliton commented that the Preservation Alliance needed new members and noted that if members of the HPC were not members of the Preservation Alliance, they should join. Gertz commented the thought the City should join the Preservation Alliance. MOTION: Mason moved, seconded by Wilson, that the City allocate funds for the Heritage Preservation Commission to become a member of the Minnesota Preservation Alliance. Motion carried 5-0. B. New HPC Manual Gertz handed out the new Heritage Preservation Manuals to the Commissioners and reviewed the contents briefly. He requested members review the Standards for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. He did not include all the documentation relating to this section but he will mail it out to the Commissioners to add to this section. It pertains to any work that the Heritage Preservation Commission does to any historic sites in the City. He asked for feedback from the Commissioners after they have read this. The Commissioners thought the book was very nice and would be most helpful. The roster needed to be revised, and corrections were made as needed. Gertz stated he would make up a new one and include it with the next packet. C. Roles and Responsibilities of HPC and Eden Prairie Historical Society Gertz stated they have been having some meetings at the City Center with representatives of the City,the Heritage Preservation Commission and the Historical Society to discuss ways to get volunteers together to work on the buildings that the Historical Society, the Heritage Preservation Commission and the City want HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 17, 1997 Page 3 preserved. Case stated the group will be called the AFriends of Eden Prairie—group which will be managed by the volunteer coordinator. This would be a large pool of volunteers that could be used to do things that need to be done on the sites. It can also be used for other things throughout the City as needed. They have also been clarifying the roles of each group and the functions of each one. D. Miller Spring Revised Plan Gertz noted the Miller Spring Revised Plan was given to him by Bob Lambert who requested that he present it to the Commission for their review. He did not know it had gone to the City Council for review or not. He discussed the plan and noted that his only objection was that it seems too perfect, too symmetrical and appeared to be too new. Plans for the kiosk will be submitted later. He felt the plan lacked something aesthetically. Case asked why they needed to have the long retaining wall and Gertz responded he was not sure but it might be to prevent runoff from getting into the stream from the parking lot area. Case was concerned about Gertz being involved in plans concerning historic sites from the beginning of the process. Gertz stated he would remind Bob Lambert that the plans would be coming to the HPC for a formal review and changes could be suggested at that time. A formal survey will need to be done on the site. The Heritage Preservation Commission will also need to look at the issue of signage on the site. They will look at the spring on the tour of historic sites. Gertz will talk to Bob Lambert about the spatial relationship, retaining wall, natural plantings, etc. Case suggested perhaps Jan Mosman could design a landscape plan for the City which would include the City=s plans with the HPCs ideas. The Commission suggested that the spring be centrally located with a drive all the way around it so people can still fill up their water jugs and water their horses, etc. VII. OLD BUSINESS A. Cummins-Grill Peony Garden Gertz stated the peony garden was mowed but it has not been cleared of the brush on the south side of the garden nor have any stumps been removed. The rows were staked out so the crews would know where they were located. B. Riley Jacques Granary Restoration HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 17, 1997 Page 4 Gertz has not heard from Tom Dietel regarding a quote on the restoration work for the granary,and has not been able to reach him by telephone. He will keep trying and if he cannot get through to him,he will solicit other contractors to submit estimates for the work. Case stated that Elaine Jacques was concerned that her donation was not being used and Case asked if there was something that could be done to hurry the process along so that some work was actually done in 1997. Gertz stated he will call Elaine Jacques and keep her informed of the status of the project. C. Heritage Site Signs Case stated she plans to get the list of sites that need signs finished up after Christmas. Gertz showed a sample of the old signs and the new signs are very slightly different,but the Commission determined it was not significantly noticeable. D. City Owned Heritage Site Budget and Use Planning Gertz stated staff is holding another series of meetings on the budget beginning on November 19, 1997. They will continue with the budget process and end use planning to determine how to use properties once they have been restored. This will go through the City Council next spring and will include a maintenance budget in addition to the other elements. Discussion ensued regarding having living history on the Riley Jacques farm, and the potential for actually growing corn on the farm and having live animals present at different times of the year for children to pet, etc. The Moore house had been considered as a bed and breakfast and has many artifacts already there which have been preserved. It could also be used as a museum. It was felt that roles need to be clarified as to whether the HPC has the right to say who rents these properties or how they are used, and this should be discussed at the Wednesday meeting. E. Settlers Ridge Street Names Case stated that a list of names had been submitted by Kristen and Jenny and Gertz will give them to the developers. The majority of the burial mounds on the site of Settlers Ridge are intact, although one of them is located within a street location, so that will have to be redesigned to avoid disturbing that burial mound. VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. Complete Survey on Diversity Training Comments made were that the diversity training was relevant in that they had to deal with the early settlers and the Native American people,but not much else. The most important things were to respect each other=s opinions, and have a willingness to HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 17, 1997 Page 5 educate ourselves on issues. We should be sensitive to other cultures. Gertz stated he would fill out the remainder of the form and submit it to the Human Rights and Diversity Commission. B. Discussion on Use of Funds for the 1998 CLG Grant Proposal Gertz stated that in December or January he has to submit a grant proposal to the Minnesota Historical Society for a grant and the Commission needs to talk about this to decide what they want to do. Hensrud commented that he thought the signage on the historical sites throughout Eden Prairie was important,and they should continue with the historic site designation process. Gertz stated the Commission has discussed doing a brochure with kiosks around the City and perhaps they should have a workshop to discuss this further. Case noted they had determined there number one priority was making the designations of historic sites, and they should follow through with this as their main focus. She would like to see this completed first and then do other things after these sites are protected. Hensrud commented they can do the designations without the grant, and he felt there was a need for balance and the public needs to know about these sites. Colliton stated they need to make the sites protected because they could lose them if they don=t do it due to development occurring since the MUSA line has moved. Case stated they had planned to have another six sites designated by now and they haven=t completed that yet, and she was concerned about getting this completed. Discussion ensued regarding different levels of designations and what is needed to make a designation. Criteria needs to be established regarding what level of preservation will be required. If they accept buildings that have been moved from the original site,they are accepting a lower level of preservation. Gertz commented they either had to use the funds or lose them. C. Cummins Grill House Christmas Program Plan There will be no Christmas Program held at the Cummins Grill House this year. D. Reschedule Historic House Tour It was decided to reschedule the historic house tour for Saturday, 12/13/97 and everyone would meet at City Hall at 8:30 a.m. Hensrud noted he would not be able to be there. One of the highlights of the historic tour will be Franlo Park because there has been a request to change the name to Sam Anderson park. Case discussed the guidelines for designation in relation to private owners and developers and how restrictive they want to be in this process. The intent was to make the property more valuable not something that will cause problems for homeowners when they want to make changes to their properties. Funds can be used for such things as surveys of sites,historic preservation planning,interpretive centers, and designating properties. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 17, 1997 Page 6 Discussion ensued regarding the construction of the bathroom at the Cummins-Grill house and Gertz stated he had been holding funds for the Riley Jacques Granary restoration,but it might be possible to use the Christmas event funds for the toilet in the Cummins-Grill House. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Case moved, seconded by Mason,to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:04 p.m.