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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 02/27/2017 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2017 7:00 P.M. MEETING CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Olson-Chair; Tara Kalar- -Vice Chair; Cindy Cofer-Evert; Pamela Spera; Valerie Ross; Paul Thorp; Ed Muhlberg COMMISSION STAFF: Lori Creamer, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Sienna Gambino, Alyssa Meiners, Carolyn Mason, Taylor Wolf I. ROLL CALL Chair Olson called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Commission Members Cofer-Evert and Muhlberg along with student representatives Gambino, Meiners, and Wolf were absent. Norm Rogers, a resident and Historical Society member,joined the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Ross moved, seconded by Thorp to approve the agenda with the additions of Creamer's reports on the Smith Douglas Moore House and on History Day at the Capitol, and of Olson's short presentation on the laser scanning of Seppmann Mill. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. COMMISSION MEETING HELD JANUARY 23, 2017 MOTION: Spera moved, seconded by Ross, to approve the minutes. Motion carried 5-0. IV. STUDENT UPDATES Student member Mason stated due to Spring Break she would not be present at the March 20, 2017 commission meeting. V. OLD BUSINESS A. HERITAGE PRESERVATION AWARD NOMINATIONS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 27, 2017 Page 2 Ross asked if the 2016 nominations were still available as a reference for a 2017 nomination. Creamer replied it was completed online, and offered to search the files of March or April, 2016, as the nominations may have been emailed to the commission members. Discussion followed on the status of the nominations thus far. Olson explained for the benefit of Rogers, 2017 was the third year for the awards, with being May was Preservation Month. Marie Wittenberg won the first award in 2015, and in 2016 Steven Schussler won for his renovation of the Goodrich- Ramus barn. Creamer stated the announcement was on the website, and encouraged all to spread the word and nominate anyone except a current commission member. VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. HENNEPIN TOWN SITE GRANT UPDATE Creamer reported Thorp worked with her on the Legacy grant for the archeology project. Creamer had attended the grant open house (the first Thursday of every month) and spoke with Minnesota Historical Society archeologist Dave Mathers regarding the grant. Mathers advised Creamer to write an RFP for the project, then use the RFP as a budget guideline for the grant application, reversing Creamer's earlier process of estimating project costs up front. This would allow the RFP criteria to drive the grant application process instead of Creamer first needing an estimate. Thorp asked if there was a maximum grant amount, and Creamer replied a grant award of less than $10,000 was considered a "small" grant, whereas over $10,000 an annual pre-application was required. Mathers believed the commission's archeology work could be completed for less than $10,000. When the grant was awarded, one of the RFP recipients could then be chosen to start the work. Creamer was therefore waiting for some bid numbers, then could put together a budget, and submit the grant application by the April 23, 2017 deadline. Creamer had specifically chosen three firms specializing in archeology, some also recommended by Mathers. B. NEW HPC CONSULTANT UPDATE Creamer reiterated since Robert Vogel from CRM/Pathfinder discontinued the contract with the City of Eden Prairie, City staff looked at other options and signed a contract with the company MacDonald and Mack on a retainer for HPC- related projects. Having a consultant on a retainer was a departure from previous procedures. MacDonald and Mack met the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 27, 2017 Page 3 Discussion followed on the knowledge and good track record of this consultant. Creamer stated while MacDonald and Mack would not attend regular commission meetings, the firm consisting of about a dozen people could meet the commission. Kalar agreed this would be a good opportunity to build a relationship. Creamer added this arrangement made it possible for other firms to bid on projects as well, while allowing the commission to keep one firm on retainer without it having an exclusive agreement. The City of Eden Prairie had its own contract with MacDonald and Mack. Olson agreed this was a beneficial and flexible arrangement. Creamer agreed to place a courtesy meeting between this firm and the commission on the next agenda. Olson asked if Robert Vogel had supplied the final documents on the Smith Douglas Moore House before his firm's departure, and Creamer replied she had indeed received the paperwork. C. STARING LAKE OUTDOOR CENTER MASTER PLAN-PARKS Creamer handed out copies of the Master Plan diagram and explained it would improve the trails and increase the off-hours capacity for visitors to Staring Lake. The plan was to repair trails, especially the water access platform and the back trails, create additional seating, and add some educational/interpretive as well as wayfinding signage. Kalar asked if cedar chips could be added to the nature trail due to the wet and muddy paths, especially leading to Wildlife Photography Blind. Creamer replied the plan mentioned "paved trails or nature trails" but did not mention specific materials. The back trails (not circling the lake) appeared to be "nature trails." This document was part of the Parks Work Plan. Olson noted the commission would be concerned about any additions made near the Outdoor Center, which is historic. Creamer replied according to the plan only interpretive signage was planned for outside of the Center. D SMITH DOUGLAS MOORE HOUSE REPAIRS Creamer stated Paul Sticha, Facilities Manager, approached her with news the renters of the house needed routine maintenance such as painting. However, the fence and gate also needed repair, as the gate did not function and the posts were rotted, and the fence itself was sinking. Creamer passed out photographs taken by Sticha. The proposal was to use other, more durable materials such as treated wood for the repair. Thorp asked about the origin of the fence, and Creamer replied it was added with the addition of the restaurant. Kalar asked if the area needed to be fenced since it was not an original feature, and Creamer replied to her knowledge since the restaurant served alcohol, the outdoor patio would require a fence. The fence only HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 27, 2017 Page 4 enclosed the restaurant's patio. Thorp noted treated wood would last, and the gate probably needed to be braced. Spera asked if, since the fence was not historic, the commission had any say in the issue. Olson noted there should be a Smith Douglas Moore Best Practices document, as he remembered consulting one in earlier years. Spera asked if the fence would have had to have been approved by commission when it was built and if so, could staff find out what conditions might have been placed on it at that time. Olson replied Bob Mack might know, since the fence came in while MacDonald and Mack did its work. Creamer added the historic 100-year-old grape vine on the trellis was encroaching on the tables and needed to be pruned, and passed out photographs of the vine. Kalar asked if the Minnesota Arboretum could inspect the vine, and Creamer replied she had suggested having a specialist look at it. Olson displayed an online Arboretum document on growing and pruning grapes in a northern climate. Discussion followed on pruning the mother vine. Kalar noted pruning will not get to the issues of the curvature which causes the encroachment. Ross stated the commission should ensure an expert consults with the city as to how the vine should be pruned. Regarding the fence, Kalar suggested if the fence is not mentioned in the Best Practices manual, alternative materials and treatments could be used, and Ross agreed. VII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY The date for the joint meeting of the HPC commission and the Historical Society was set for June 19, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cummins House. General updates: Ross announced after several meetings a committee had been formed to catalog the holdings at the Cummins Grill House. Norm Rogers was a member of the committee, and Commission Member Thorp may join. The effort involved photographing and physically tagging items with the donor's name using a pre-existing document, and later entering the data into Past Perfect as a permanent record. She invited others interested in the effort to join. The Society's Valentine's Day event was successful, with 40 people in attendance and 5 tours, including a Boy Scout Troop. The Society hoped to repeat the event next year. The Society's next event was the Cummins House Vintage Sale set for April 27-29, 2017: 4:00-8:00 p.m. on the 27th, and 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on the 28th and 29t'. There would be several vendors, including the Prop shop, the Farmhouse Girls, a watercolor artist, Kelly Reagan's antique jewelry and vintage clothing, a baker providing cupcakes, and the City's food truck. This was a highly attended event each year. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 27, 2017 Page 5 In addition, some graduation parties, a groom's dinner, and a few tours had been booked for the house. Discussion followed on the completion of the upstairs electrical, and Ross stated the electrical, Wi-Fi, and insulation had been completed. VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. HUELER PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL LOCATION: 12300 RIVERVIEW RD Creamer displayed a topographical map and explained the Planning Department received an application for this property, near where the commission had toured at a previous meeting in 2016. The proposed development would split one parcel into three lots for houses to be built. Discussion followed on the relation of the proposed development to the commission's fact-finding tour. Kalar asked if there was a question about possible Indian Burial Mounds on the development site, and Creamer and Olson agreed. Creamer explained whenever a development proposal was received by the Planning Department, the planners would consult a map which showed locations earmarked as historic or an archeological site, and also solicit feedback from watershed district staff. The proposal was still in the preliminary stages and had not yet been brought to a public hearing. She asked the commission for its reactions. There was a question as to whether or not the Blacksmith Shop was actually on City property. Kalar suggested a survey would determine this. Thorp stated he had worked on this property over the last 20 years, and was working for the Huelers up until a year ago. The current development was much less dense than what had been originally proposed. Creamer pointed out on the map where the two custom homes were to be built, and explained the narrative she provided describes the proposed work. There would not be much dirt moved around, and the house built in 1917 would remain. Thorp stated the site has changed over the last 150 years. He doubted there were in fact Indian Mounds,but the specialists would determine this. His concern was the creation of a drainage retention pond in the southwest area which would spill over into the storm sewer system, which could disturb the Blacksmith Shop site. The commission proposed the possibility of creating a "safe zone" until it could assess this impact. Creamer agreed. Discussion followed on the locations of the existing features and of the proposed development details. Ross asked who owned the area surrounding the Blacksmith Shop, and Thorp replied it was a publicly dedicated right of way owned by the city. Discussion followed on how the Heulers' sale of the property would be affected by the Blacksmith Shop, and potential impacts on the shop by the development. Olson clarified the timeline had the grant application being HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 27, 2017 Page 6 submitted in April, Creamer would hear back a month later, and therefore the earliest archeology project would be in September or October. He asked if the Heulers' timeframe was known, and Thorp replied he did not have the information. Creamer replied the Heulers' wished to move forward, however the application had not been deemed complete and questions still remain regarding the stability of the bank of the Mississippi River immediate upstream of the property. The watershed would suggest the city create a permanent or temporary easement to stabilize the riverbank. Creamer added the watershed districts consultant looked at this project as well, but was unable to specifically comment because there was no comprehensive draining plan providing the details showing the total amount of area disturbed and proposed pervious to impervious conversions. Until the drainage plan was complete, the consultant would withhold comments. Olson stated this development triggered no alarms as yet,but there was concern about protecting potential resources in the area of the Blacksmith Shop. He suggested the commission provide feedback saying there are potential resources it is investigating and wish to protect if such resources are discovered or confirmed. Spera asked for clarification as to who was investigating, and Olson replied the archeological grant for the Hennepin Town Site would do this. Discussion followed on the relationship of the grant to the development. Creamer replied the developer could be required to survey the area, or investigate just the Blacksmith Shop area. Olson said the commission needed to have language up front with the developer so there are no major surprises or changes. Olson asked if there was a record from SHPO on the 1917 house, and Thorp replied it was not one of the inventoried properties. Olson then questioned if it was historic, and Ross replied the house was 100 years old. Discussion followed on the history of this house. Creamer reiterated she wanted to commission to see the plans early, and the question of handling the storm water would drive the project's future timeline. In the end, the development agreement would enforce the conditions, including the commission's concerns. IX. ONGOING TRAINING Creamer stated she was keeping this part of the agenda as a standing item. There was no training at this meeting. X. FYI ITEMS A. COMMISSION INTERVIEWS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017 Creamer stated she would attend the interviews. B. HISTORY DAY AT THE CAPITOL HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 27, 2017 Page 7 Creamer stated as a result of receiving an email invitation she attended History Day at the state capitol, where she met with State Representative Jenifer Loon (48B), Senator Steve Cwodzinski (48), and honorary member of the Minnesota Historical Society Ram Gada. Topics included the importance of Legacy funding and the bonding bill for restoration of Fort Snelling for its bicentennial in 2020. Discussion followed on the capitol building. C. SEPPMANN MILL LASER SCAN Olson displayed a video clip of a laser scan of Seppmann Mill, completed in partnership with MacDonald and Mack for the Minnesota DNR. This "registered point cloud" capture both data and photographs, and offered a fly-through view with the ability to reveal various layers, to determine wall thickness and other features, and was an alternative if a site had no plans. The software was freeware added to Internet Explorer. In presenting this tool to the commission Olson did not have a specific project in mind,but wanted to make the commission members aware of it. There was the potential to engage the public,perhaps by scanning cemeteries as a starting point. Ross asked if this tool could be used to diagnose certain problems, such as with a foundation, and Olson replied it could; this tool had been used on the Stone Arch Bridge to record a sagging span. Thorp noted this also provided a record of an existing site. Creamer remarked she did receive requests from one City Council member for online information in lieu of a site visit, which could be another application. Olson replied the scan was no panacea, it was useful for a property being altered; the scan could be used as backdrop for future change. His projects included the development of three-dimensional models and renderings. XI. NEXT MEETING The next HPC Commission meeting will be held on Monday, March 20, 2017 in Prairie Rooms A & B. XII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Spera moved, seconded by Thorp, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5- 0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 p.m.