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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 04/17/2017 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY,APRIL 17, 2017 7:00 P.M. MEETING CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Olson-Chair; Tara Kalar-Vice Chair; Pamela Spera; Valerie Ross; Paul Thorp; Meredith Anderson; Shanti Shah COMMISSION STAFF: Lori Creamer, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Sienna Gambino, Alyssa Meiners, Carolyn Mason, Taylor Wolf I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Olson called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Commission members Anderson, Ross, and Spera along with student representatives Meiners and Wolf were absent. A. SWEARING IN OF NEW MEMBERS 1. MEREDITH ANDERSON 2. SHANTI SHAH Commissioner member Shah was sworn in by Chair Olson. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Shah moved, seconded by Kalar to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. COMMISSION MEETING HELD MARCH 20, 2017 MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Kalar to approve minutes with the change by Olson to page 4, second-to-last paragraph regarding Phase Two of the City Center photo project, and not the Historical Society photo project. Motion carried 4-0. IV. STUDENT UPDATES V. OLD BUSINESS A. HUELER PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL UPDATE EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 17, 2017 Page 2 LOCATION: 12300 RIVERVIEW ROAD Creamer announced revised plans for development came in on Friday, and her main concern is construction of a storm water drain in the area which would be covered by the grant application (the Blacksmith Shop). She pointed out on a topographic map the area where grading would direct the storm water intelligently but could possibly impact the site. Thorp explained the location in more detail. Creamer explained these revised plans have been distributed to city staff, and due to the HPC having a grant application for this area, Public Works must weigh in. The developer is looking at an aggressive timeline and is prepared to send this project to SHPO. Therefore the HPC is waiting for a grant for a site that is not designated a historic site and has not yet been able to complete due diligence. Creamer submitted the grant application Friday (April 14) and typically heard back 30 days from the submission. Thorp noted the site is within the city's road right of way, and Creamer added the commission cannot make a motion to save areas within this site. The state archeologist has weighed in on the project, SHPO will weigh in, and the HPC could agree with SHPO's recommendations. Discussion followed on the role of the stated archeologist, whose primary concern was the impact on Native American burial sites. Creamer stated the archeologist could highlight some of the commission's concerns for the site. Also, the language in the development agreement spelled out specific steps if anything of significance was found. Thorp suggested putting in the RFP language about magnetic overview of areas, which may be first thing the archeologist could do. Creamer replied the commission would not have to go through the RFP process; a contract could be drawn up immediately. Kalar suggested the commission could pursue aggressive timeline as well once the grant was approved. Creamer replied the developer could also take some time to do research and perhaps visit the site; actual digging would happen last and then be a process of working from a small initial dig. Discussion followed on how to lay out the priorities of the commission for this site within the timeline. Creamer noted it would likely be the end of summer before the developer actually turned dirt; the developer would go before the City Council in June, and the earliest development agreement could come in July. Dense vegetation could prevent movement on the site as well. The house currently on the site would stay, and then the developer would develop two lots, and would work first on the lot to the north, away from the site of concern. This would first need to be sold. The city staff would want to see the storm water treatment plans before approving any construction. Thorp noted this was a 30-foot diameter area, making it easy to work around the Blacksmith Shop site when discovered. Creamer stated the developer may hold off building in the area of concern until SHPO's comments, which SHPO had up to 30 days to provide. Even if this project went before the Planning Commission in May, it might be possible that SHPO's comments will come back by then, and if not, the Planning Commission could approve the EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 17, 2017 Page 3 development contingent on SHPO's comments. Kalar suggested locally designating the Blacksmith Shop foundation when discovered, then asking for a COA (Certificate of Appropriateness). Creamer agreed. Thorp stated his hope that the Planning Commission's and SHPO's recommendations would include items listed in the grant application. Creamer stated she would contact commission members of any updates or changes. VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. HENNEPIN TOWN SITE GRANT UPDATE Creamer thanked Commission Members Thorp and Anderson for their assistance. The grant application was submitted last week (Friday, April 14). B. CUMMINS HOUSE GRANT UPDATE Creamer announced the city had hired Miller Dunwoody to complete the plans and specs for the building. Creamer received the 30 percent plans, including photos and recommendations, which Creamer submitted to the grants office. Staff will be required to report three times before completion. C. STREET SIGN FUNDRAISER UPDATE Creamer stated she shared the commission's suggestions for use of funds from the sign project with the city manager. The city manager informed Creamer that a "flying red horse" Mobil station sign, formerly on Flying Cloud Drive,had been stored by a local family, who donated it back to Eden Prairie. The city manager suggested that restoring this to a working sign and displaying it as a public art in a light rail station or in the town center could be another possible use of the funds. The sign may be in storage at the Public Works building. The estimated cost of restoration would be around $40,000. Creamer added she had the sense that the city manager's office would like to see a lasting, tangible, and visible use of the funds. Kalar replied that commission could consider donating toward this effort, and noted there were funds dedicated to public art for light rail. Creamer replied there were, as well as funds from the Eden Prairie foundation. Thorp and Creamer agreed that residents might wish to donate to this. Thorp stated this was a good suggestion by the city. Creamer added she and Kalar have a meeting set up with schools to determine need and obstacles for a tour program. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 17, 2017 Page 4 Olson suggested that the commission reconvene in June on all the suggested choices, and also discuss the possibility of an interpretive sign about the history of the Mobil sign to include with the restoration project to give the sign more context. D. HISTORIC PROPERTY INVENTORY UPDATE Creamer announced she met with Jay Lotthammer, Parks Director, Matt Bourne, Park Maintenance Manager, and Paul Sticha, Facilities Manager to go through the building inventory. There were no large projects slated for this year. The Riley House Bar and Garage had no significant plans in 2017, only routine maintenance. Creamer is working on the grant for this autumn for the Riley grounds for the design and fabrication of the remaining six interpretive signs. There were no plans for the Dorenkemper House. The Smith Douglas More House had lilac bushes installed and the cedar shingle roof with insulation completed in 2016, and a 25-by-25-foot concrete pad and bocce ball court was installed last week. The city will also replace the white picket fence, and Public Works will install curbs and gutters beside a rain garden that experienced washout. The Parks and Recreation Department will prune the trees. [Mason arrived at 7:45.] The grant for the upstairs of the Cummings Grill House is in progress, and the Parks and Recreation Department will add directional signs. Camp Edenwood is undergoing a building assessment by McDonald & Mack of the 11 buildings, and a thermography study is also being done to research heat loss. The Respite Center is being built. Shah asked if it had changed hands, and Creamer replied that only the name changed. Kalar asked for an update on the vine at the Cummins Grill House and noted there were now pavers and woodchips around the vine on the site. Creamer promised to get an update on the vine. She also noted that Staring Lake Outdoor Center was not on her inventory, and she would follow up on that. Shah asked if this building inventory is available, and Olson replied he would show Shah the website and map as part of the commission's ongoing training. VII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY A. VINTAGE SALE REMINDER EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 17, 2017 Page 5 The vintage sale will be held at the Historical Society on April 27 and 28 from 4:00-8:00 p.m., and April and 29 from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. VIII. NEW BUSINESS IX. ONGOING TRAINING A. CHAPTER 1. WHY ARE WE HERE? Olson displayed the HPC website, the Street Sign Fundraiser page, and the Heritage Sites map for the benefit of Shah. Olson explained some properties were not nationally registered, only locally designated. Creamer explained the properties mentioned were city owned. Creamer explained the Development Projects page shows current developments, including plans and staff reports. The Hueler property information will go up soon. Creamer offered to add the map on the left navigation menu on the HCP webpage Olson displayed the City of Stillwater Heritage Preservation Commission webpage, which offered the Preservation Education link, on which the training PowerPoint was stored. Olson walked through the first chapter, which was an online companion to the hard copy document. The commission members introduced themselves and their backgrounds to commission member Shah. X. FYI ITEMS A. MONDAY, MAY 1, 2017—6:30 PM HOUSEAL LAVINGE ASSOCIATES 2040 COMP PLAN FOCUS GROUP MEETING Creamer announced the commission members received an email invitation from Marissa Bayer, community development coordinator, for an hour-long meeting with the consultant. RSVPs should be sent to Bayer. B. TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2017—7:00 PM HPC AWARD PRESENTATION AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING Resident Jim Clark will receive his award that night. Creamer will send out an invitation to the reception. C. THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017—6:00 PM BOARDS & COMMISSION BANQUET EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 17, 2017 Page 6 Invitations to the banquet will be sent out. XI. NEXT MEETING A. MONDAY, MAY 15 MEETING CANCELED- NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING IS MONDAY,JUNE 19, 2017 Creamer will email the commission members about any pressing issues. If an ad hoc meeting must be held, a public notice for this will be posted. XII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Shah moved, seconded by Kalar to adjourn. Motion carried 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:33pm.