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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 12/16/1996 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1996 6 : 30 p .m. Atrium Conference Room 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Sherry Butcher-Younghans, Chairperson; Jane Hession, Conrad Skonieczny, James Wilson, James Mason STUDENT MEMBER: John Katzung ASSOCIATE MEMBER: Molly Patterson COMMISSION STAFF: John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist, Kathleen O ' Connor, Recording Secretary I . ROLL CALL Chair, Butcher-Younghans called the meeting to order at 6 : 37 p .m. New Chair, Hession took charge of the meeting at 7 : 05 p .m. , at which time Butcher-Younghans left to attend another meeting. Gertz, McMahon and Case were absent . Mason and Katzung arrived later. II . APPROVAL OF AGENDA The following items were added to the agenda : V.D. Designations, E. Composition of the HPC and Meeting Frequency; VI . C. Intern to Start in January - Prairie Bly, D. Historic Sites Committee, E . Riley/Jacques . MOTION: Wilson moved, seconded by Skonieczny to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4-0 . III . APPROVAL OF MINUTES - NOVEMBER 18, 1996 MOTION: Hession moved, seconded by Skonieczny to approve the minutes . Motion carried 4-0 . 1 IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. FY 1997 CLG Grant Application Schedule Discussion of the following CLG Grant items were tabled due to Gertz ' s absence . 1 . January 10 - Pre-application draft deadline 2 . January 31 - Final application deadline 3 . March 13 - Grants Review Committee B. Elaine Jacques Donation Per her letter to the Mayor and City Council Members dated December 9, 1996 , Elaine Jacques has offered to donate $5, 000 for the restoration of the granary located on the Riley/Jacques homestead. The donation is contingent on three conditions stated in her letter. MOTION: Skonieczny moved, seconded by Wilson to recommend to the City Council to accept Elaine Jacques proposal as per her letter dated December 9, 1996 . Motion carried 4-0 . C. Reminder of January 13 , 1997 Public Hearing Hession reminded Commission members of the January 13 , 1997 Public Hearing. This Public Hearing is regarding the local designation of the Riley-Jacques property, Miller Spring, and the Smith-Douglas-More home . The date was set in September 1996 . Gertz will take care of necessary notifications in the newspapers and of neighboring property owners . V. OLD BUSINESS A. Recordation of Glen Lake Children' s Camp Despite the HPC ' s recommendation to the contrary, the City Council has approved Friendship Ventures ' request to demolish the Camp Edenwood dining hall, which has been determined to be National Register eligible . Mason will contact Rolf Anderson to get information on how to formally document the site . Wilson will contact Mike Maile to determine the planned demolition date and advise him as to when documentation will begin. Wilson 2 and Mason will informally document the property with photography and a video camera. Wilson will report back to the HPC at the January 13 , 1997 meeting. In his letter to Mayor Jean Harris dated November 7, 1996 , Mike Maile expressed an interest in having an on- site remembrance of the original dining hall . This could possibly include salvaging the fireplace, and/or photographs . B. Marilyn Schoonover House Marilyn Schoonover intends to sell the property she owns on Duck Lake trail and would consider negotiating with the City of Eden Prairie to purchase it, if it so desires . Schoonover first spoke with the HPC about purchasing the home when she attended the September 16 , 1996 meeting. At that time she was requesting a life estate and also wanted to make some changes to the house . Gertz made a follow-up visit to the property and stated he believed the home to be eligible for designation in it ' s current state . However, the improvements planned by Schoonover would make it ineligible . At the October 21, 1996 meeting, the Commission voted to recommend to the City Council not to purchase the Ohm- Schoonover House. However, now Schoonoever is looking to sell the property outright, without the life estate and without making changes to the house . In view of the other three City owned properties, and the cost and work involved in the upkeep of them, the HPC does not feel the City should purchase the Schoonover home . MOTION: Wilson moved, seconded by Skonieczny to recommend to the City Council not to acquire Ohm- Schoonover property for a historic preservation purpose. Motion carried 4-0 . The City has inspected the old barn adjacent to the home which is now on City property. It was found to be in extremely hazardous condition and the City recommends it be removed this winter. MOTION: Hession moved, seconded by Wilson that the HPC recognizes the barn is a danger to the public ' s safety and concurs with the City' s recommendation to have it removed. Further, the HPC recommends the barn be 3 documented before it is removed, and the following architectural elements be salvaged and stored by the City as stated in the December 16, 1996 memo to the Mayor and City Council, from the HPC, through Chris Enger: 1 . Two metal Cupolas with weather vanes . 2 . Fourteen light transom located above the barn' s north doors . 3 . Batten door on the south-east corner. 4 . Two or three windows from either gable, if possible . 5 . Board and batten siding if possible . Motion carried 4-0 . C. Heritage Site Marker Application Review Hession received a site list for markers from Gertz . She passed it on to Mason who will now begin the process of seeing the markers placed. Mason will speak with Jerry Prodoehl about having the roadside markers placed and determine a date to do so. Mason will report back to the HPC at the January 13 , 1997 meeting. The Commission also discussed the fact that several property owners have not paid for their markers . Suggestions are requested as how to best follow up on this matter. D. Designations Skonieczny will speak with Gertz and Butcher-Younghans regarding the need for the City Council to review for approval the proposed designations sites, which include the Highway 169 Overlook, the Creek Knoll Bridge, and the Cummins-Grill Homestead. This recommendation for local designation is per the motion made at the August 19, 1996 HPC meeting. Skonieczny will report back to the HPC at the January 13 , 1997 meeting. E. Composition of the HPC & Meeting Frequency Discussion was had regarding the suggestion to have two regularly scheduled HPC meetings per month. The general consensus of the Commission was to continue with one meeting per month for the time being. Efforts will be made to streamline the meetings as much as possible in order to get more accomplished. Additional meetings may be called on an emergent basis if needed. Butcher-Younghans has spoken with Chris Enger about hiring another person to work with Gertz on a part-time 4 basis . Enger advised there are currently staff people with available time that could assist where needed. Skonieczny will ask Gertz the status of the motion made at the November 1996 HPC meeting to request the City Council add two new members to the HPC, bringing the total members from seven to nine . Commission members are encouraged to recruit prospective members for the HPC and have them fill out the necessary application. Mason believes John Wailey may be interested in serving on the Commission. VI . NEW BUSINESS A. Phase II Investigation CSA 1 (Pioneer Trail) This item was tabled until the January 1997 meeting. B. 1997 HPC Work Schedule 1 . Meeting time and location A planning meeting will be held on Saturday, January 4 , 1997 from noon until 2 : 00 p .m. at the Cummins-Grill house . Bring lunch. 2 . Work Tasks Each Commission member is asked to review the 1996 work schedule, and prior to the planning meeting, make a list of ten things he/she would like to see accomplished in the coming year. C. Intern to Start in January - Prairie Bly Prairie Bly has expressed interest in serving as an intern with the HPC during the month of January 1997 . Ideas were discussed where her assistance could best be used. It was decided she might research possible site usage for the Riley/Jacques homestead. Other suggestions included the interpretive program, working with the Historic Sites Committee, and designations research. Hession will pursue with Gertz . D. Historic Sites Committee Patterson is willing to help set up the Historic Sites Committee . She will draft an outline of her vision for 5 the Committee and report back to the Commission at the February 1997 meeting. It was decided to inquire of neighboring cities the policies for their Historic Sites Committees and how to shape an interpretive plan. Hession will contact Kathy McGrew in Minnetonka, and the Art Godfrey House . Mason will contact Joyce Repya in Edina . It was suggested that Mary Davis would be a good candidate to contact for Historic Sites . E. Riley/Jacques See item IV. B . F. HPC Meeting Packets Hession expressed concern regarding the need for all Commission members and the recording secretary to receive complete packets prior to the meeting. The packets should include all letters and memos pertaining to issues that will be discussed at the meetings . G. January and February meeting dates for 1997 The regular monthly HPC meeting for January will be held on January 13, 1997 due to the fact City Hall will be closed on January 20th in honor of Martin Luther King ' s Birthday. The February meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 1997 due to President ' s Day falling on the previous Monday. E. Resignation of Commission Member and New Vice Chair Betty McMahon has submitted her letter of resignation from the HPC, effective immediately. In view of this, the City Council will appoint a new Commission member at their meeting on December 17, 1997 . Additionally, the Commission must elect a new Vice Chair. This will be an agenda item for the January 1997 meeting. VII . ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Skonieczny moved, seconded by Mason to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 10 : 15 p.m. 6