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Heritage Preservation - 10/21/2019 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 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; Shanti Shah; Cheryl Kessler COMMISSION STAFF: David Lindahl, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT MEMBERS: Maia Chavez; Ellyse Ferlauto; Lilly Hyland; Aditya Nandhiyar I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Olson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Absent was commission member Kessler. Eden Prairie resident Norm Rogers joined the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Shah moved, seconded by Thorp to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Ross moved, seconded by Shah to approve the amended minutes of the September 9, 2019 meeting with minor changes: “ox-car” to “ox-cart” in New Business, Item A, page 2, the substitution of “Mack” for “McGrath” in New Business, Item B, page 2, and the correction of 10,000 to 20,000 dollars in FYI Items, Item A, page 3. Motion carried 6-0. IV. NEW BUSINESS A. PUBLIC HEARING TO DESIGNATE HISTORIC YORKVILLE AND BLOOMINGTON ROAD AS A LOCAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION SITE Olson opened the public hearing. Thorp displayed a map of Eden Prairie historic sites and explained the nomination. The site dated from 1820. Fur traders came from Canada on their way to Mendota or Fort Snelling and the ox-cart trail led from Eden Prairie to Fort Snelling. The trip took 30 days to travel over 400 miles on this trail which was merely two ruts. He showed the trail outlined in red on the HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION October 21, 2019 Page 2 map. He displayed the Town of Hennepin plat from 1853 and explained the land ownership of the time, and showed the ox-cart trail on this map in green. In 1863, Chaska residents wanted a road built to reach market, and the trail was surveyed, widened and converted into a road, which he displayed on a contour map. In 1877, Riverview Road was put in. He showed a 1945 aerial photograph, and then explained the location of the trail and the boundaries of the site being proposed for nomination. In designation of the site, the width of the road would be preserved. Only the City-owned property could be designated, but the entire site, even the private property, was historic. Olson explained the next steps: after local designation there would be a management plan in place to care for the site, which would also apply to local homeowners if they were interested. MOTION: Ross moved, seconded by Spera, to close the public hearing. MOTION carried 6-0. MOTION: Thorp moved, seconded by Ross, to recommend the City Council designate a portion of the historic Yorkville-Bloomington Road within the James A. Brown Conservation Area in Eden Prairie per the findings and recommendations of the nomination report as a heritage preservation site per Criterion One of City Code Chapter 11.05 Subdivision 3 whereby the historic road is associated with events that have made significant contribution to the broad patterns of Eden Prairie’s history. MOTION carried 6-0. V. OLD BUSINESS VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. BIRCH ISLAND PARK WORSHIP SITE – PAUL THORP Thorp stated he had been approached by the mayor regarding possible Indian sacred grounds by Birch Island Lake (known as Island Lake in the 1870s) and both walked the site. Thorp found much information on the site in the HPC files. Lindahl displayed map of the site. Thorp explained this was north of the lake and of the Glen Lake Children’s Camp in a heavily wooded area. There was an ancient fire pit and two artifact sites. The Planning Department had a map with these sites showing up on it as on City property. Thorp did not have next steps at this point. He noted the current trail was heavily used. Olson suggested a conversation with Jay Lotthammer would be fruitful, and Lindahl offered to assist. VII. REPORTS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION October 21, 2019 Page 3 The Holiday Boutique would be held at the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House on Friday, November 1 from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday, November 2 from 10:00 to 5:00 p.m., featuring different vendors offering homemade/vintage items. Santa would be at the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House from November 11 through the holidays. The Sharing Tree Lighting Ceremony would be held Saturday, November 30 at 6:00 p.m. at the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House. After the ceremony visitors could meet with Santa in the house. The Society was sending members to training sessions for Collective Access, a software system that allowed information to be shared across the state, for cataloging the Society’s collection. There would be an event in February at the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House for Valentine’s Day. VIII. FYI ITEMS A. DISCUSS 2020 WORK PLAN Olson announced the Shakopee Mdewakanton Cultural Center was open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and suggested a visit. Thorp announced an event had been put on by the by the Human Rights and Diversity Commission group, and that group reached out to him for a possible joint meeting. He suggested a visit to the Cultural Center and Olson suggested also gathering more information on the Birch Island Lake site. Olson listed the commission’s accomplishments for 2019 and asked for suggestions and changes to the 2020 Work Plan. First Quarter Discussion followed on next steps for the Flying Red Horse. The commission members updated Lindahl as to the current status of this project. Lindahl suggested looking at the 2019 budget for possibly engaging Bob Mack for next steps. Third Quarter Discussion followed on another joint meeting with the Historical Society, which had not happened in 2019, possibly in the second quarter instead. Kalar suggested adding Preservation Alliance Award attendance by commission members. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION October 21, 2019 Page 4 Discussion followed on having the current student members continue the work on the website that the previous slate of student members had begun. B. 6825 ROWLAND ROAD – RUZIC PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT Lindahl displayed the site and explained this had come up due to possible development on the property. Mr. Ruzic lived in along Rowland Road and had passed away the previous year. Development along Cherokee Trail West was approved in late 1980s and Mr. Ruzic’s brother in Chicago has inquired about subdivision. Part of the house was from 1915. Lindahl wanted to bring this to the commission’s attention for taking photographs and recording information, which he could help facilitate before destruction. Discussion followed on the location and history of this property. C. DANIEL HOISINGTON EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE BOOK REPRINT Lindahl stated he had looked for more copies of this book, which seemed to be out of print, and asked if one should be digitized so that more copies could be made. Thorp displayed his copy and explained he thought each new commission member should receive a copy. IX NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, November 18, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in Prairie Rooms A & B. X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Shah moved, seconded by Thorp to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m.