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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation - 03/18/2019 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL RD HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Olson-Chair; Tara Kalar-Vice Chair; Pamela Spera; Valerie Ross; Paul Thorp; Richard Smith; Shanti Shah STUDENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: Joe Pesheck; Neha Bhupatiraju; Sydney Lewis COMMISSION STAFF: Lori Creamer, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Olson called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Absent were commission members Kalar and Smith and student representatives Bhupatiraju and Lewis. Cheryl Kessler joined the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Shah moved, seconded by Ross to approve the agenda with the addition of the Historic Gym Task Force added under Item B, Reports by Staff. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Ross moved, seconded by Shah to approve the minutes of the meeting held February 25, 2019 with Human Rights and Diversity Commission replaced by Peoplefest Steering Committee on page 2 and a rewording of a statement by Ross on the top of page 3 regarding her arrangements for a speaker, which should not have mentioned a specific name. Motion carried 5-0. IV. NEW BUSINESS A. CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS —LION'S DEN SUBMITTAL Creamer stated Connor McGrath of True Friends submitted a site plan and material samples for the Lion's Den Certificate of Appropriateness application. She asked for comments on this revised submittal. At this time, the commission was not called upon to approve anything or make a motion,but to look over the materials. Discussion followed on the submission materials. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION March 18, 2019 Page 2 Thorp asked why True Friends did not go ahead with the pavement. Creamer replied True Friends had met previously with planning staff to discuss parking lot improvements. The parking lot plan was not part of this request . The path involved bituminous material, requiring them to work with the Watershed District. Also, the gravel path was in the historic district and was subject to the historic restrictions, and Olson agreed paving would change the character of the site. Thorp noted this trail up to the property was an ongoing problem; it was continuously being washed out and proved difficult for handicap accessibility. Olson stated there must be a solution short of paving. The building included in the C.O.A. application before us tonight, was built in 1970,but was located in the district. Olson stated he would like to see a clear statement they would replace the same footprint. Thorp added the building itself would not change. Discussion followed on the parking area. Shah asked for and received clarification on what changes were being requested. Creamer passed around siding and windows materials samples. Kessler asked if the application had specified who would do this work, or if they would actually perform it. Creamer replied this was a preliminary plan and ultimately a licensed contractor would do the work after applying for the permits and the inspections being done. Thorp explained the City owned this property. Olson added the scope of the job precluded the applicant from performing the work. Discussion followed on the LP Smart siding material sample for the siding versus real wood such as cedar. Creamer observed this was a business, with more than one campus (of which Eden Prairie's was the only historic site), which might drive a certain homogeneity of materials and which were most likely probably purchased in bulk. Olson stated the True Friends website advertised Camp Edenwood being on a National Register site. Ross asked if the windows would be aluminum or wood. Olson stated he understood Anderson windows were wooden, but thought he read vinyl in the materials. He suggested inserts for smaller panes, like the inserts on the Bouley building. Creamer and Thorp agreed vinyl was mentioned and would probably be used, and had no objection to it or to the color. Olson noted the storm guard aluminum rain water systems. He suggested the commission require wood for the railing and a color be provided in the materials. Creamer summarized the comments: she would ask McGrath to resubmit without the paving layer included so the commission and proponent would have a clear sense of what was being approved. The application would need more photographs of all sides of the structure, an updated narrative statement to include preserving the same footprint for the building, dimensions of the ramp and building elevations, and have siding materials and window inserts to match what is on the Bouley building. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION March 18, 2019 Page 3 Creamer added McGrath would be able to attend the April meeting to address comments; also she would hopefully have comments back from SHPO on the project. Olson request that Creamer have McGrath confirm he has the best management and practices documents. V. OLD BUSINESS A. HERITAGE PRESERVATION AWARD Creamer announced the call for nominations was posted on the website, on social media and in the Eden Prairie newspaper and encouraged all members to submit nominations. B. PEOPLEFEST UPDATE Shah stated she had no updates. Thorp announced he would staff a booth at the event with a map of historic sites with photographs and another map of historically significant places including trails, old school sites, bridges, and county roads. He displayed the materials. Kessler stated she also volunteered for the event. Discussion followed on augmenting the materials' details. Shah described some of the other participants, including a food truck, henna, dancing from different cultures, cooking demonstrations, activities for children, et cetera. C. HARVEST CELEBRATION Ross stated she would represent the Historical Society and would be happy to represent the HPC as well at the City's Harvest Celebration. The Dorenkemper House would be open for tours. There might be games for children held outside in front. Discussion followed on game suggestions. No date for the event had been sent as yet. Ross was working with Kathie Case on signage. She added Jes Schrom had suggested a"story stroll" and this was an opportunity for the commission to use its signs along with a sheet with questions about each sign. There could be a small prize. Kessler suggested a"harvest booklet" of questions. The commission members expressed enthusiasm for these ideas. Ross asked Thorp to bring his maps to this event as well. D. NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY Creamer and Thorp had no updates. Creamer stated the Human Rights and Diversity Commission also wished to do something for this but was presently working on Peoplefest. This would occur in November so the commission had time to decide on an event or course of action. VI. REPORTS OF STUDENTS EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION March 18, 2019 Page 4 VII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. STAFF UPDATES FROM FEBRUARY 25 MEETING Creamer stated she had also reached out to Jes Schrom regarding the possibility of the commission assisting with the planning of the Harvest Celebration. More details to come. She had not heard back from the 106 Group regarding possibly exhibiting the found artifacts for Native American History month, and Adam Keating had replied the commission would have to work with the Minnesota Historical Society, who would become the custodians of the artifacts. Kessler stated she was meeting with the museum director of Stearns County and a staff member of the State Arts Board and would ask for some ideas. She also knew the former head of Collections at the Minnesota Science Museum and could contact her. Also, the History Museum had a relevant exhibition recently and she could contact the head of that exhibition as well. B. HISTORIC GYM TASK FORCE Creamer stated in 1999 there had been a task force to restore the gym. Since then, there were new principals and superintendents, but Kathie Case was now reviving the effort. She and Creamer had met with the current superintendent and received a favorable response. The next step was to advertise the effort, perhaps through events and fundraisers, and she asked for interested commission members to serve on the task force. Shah asked what the original task force's goal was, and Creamer replied it was to save the gym from demolition. The gym was refurbished and there was a fundraiser and a dance. The space is available to rent for community events. Olson recalled a conversation about a possible National Register nomination, and Thorp suggested this might be a goal. Creamer stated in five years the gym would be 100 years old, so an effort now could be a five-year plan toward a celebration. The building would be available on weekends and after 6:00 p.m. in the evenings. VII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY Thorp stated the Calico Ball had been canceled. The Vintage Sale would be held in May, Mother's Day weekend. The Ghost Walk would be held in October. Kessler stated the Eden Prairie Players might do reenactments. The Historical Society annual meeting would be held April 25 at 6:00 p.m. in the historic gym. Ross announced Justice Paul Anderson, whose mother founded the Historical Society and who assisted the Society getting its historic status, would EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION March 18, 2019 Page 5 be speaking about Eden Prairie history and his time on the state Supreme Court. Light appetizers would be provided. VIII. FYI ITEMS IX NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held Monday, April 15, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at the Maintenance Facility, 15150 Technology Drive. X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Shah moved, seconded by Ross to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.