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Heritage Preservation - 02/27/2006 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2006 7:00 P.M. Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS Betsy Adams, Chairperson: Molly Gilbertson, Vice Chairperson; Bob Amell, Deborah Barkley, Nina Mackay, Ed Muehlberg, Jane Plaza STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES Danny Dunleavy,Anna Hewitt, Jennifer Nicklay COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist; Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Chair Adams called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Commissioner Gilbertson and Student Representative Jennifer Nicklay were absent. Janet Jeremiah, Director of Community Development, attended the last 10 minutes of the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Amell, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —JANUARY 23, 2006 Adams made a correction on the first page, noting that Commissioner Barkley had an excused absence. Adams made two corrections on the second page, under Item C. in the second paragraph. The second line should read "where lathe was removed", and the last line should read "Plexiglas to make it look like a wall." MOTION: Amell moved, seconded by Plaza, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission held on January 23, 2006, as corrected. Motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Anderson Schoolhouse Deconstruction Adams showed photos of the building being deconstructed. Eighty percent of the material from the building was thrown away, but the floor and a number of other parts were saved and are being stored at Hennepin Technical College. They will be used by students and faculty in reconstructing the schoolhouse. The old floor caused Gertz to rethink where some walls used to be and gave him a better idea of how it should be reconstructed. He measured and photographed the floor. Based HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 27, 2006 Page 2 on all the models, a computerized photo was made to show how the reconstructed school will look. B. Minnesota Historical Society Rally at the Capitol Gertz received information about a rally at the Capitol at noon on March 13, being put together by the Minnesota Historical Society. The rally is to lobby legislators for funding of historical projects. Gertz said Commission members who are interested would be welcome to join the rally. C. Tour of Homes Gertz showed information he received about a tour of historic homes being sponsored by the American Institute of Architects. V. OLD BUSINESS A. CLG Grants Update Gertz reported the grant application was submitted to the SHPO on February 17. The grant request is for $12,000. Gertz said that amount would cover the cost of hiring a team of professionals to prepare a reuse study. The HPC will be selecting the team. Before a Request for Proposals is sent out, Gertz said he would discuss with the HPC the scope of work that will be included. The SHPO review committee meets in March to discuss the grant applications. If the City receives this grant, the work would probably start in the spring of 2007. B. Cummins House Ice Box Reconstruction Gertz said the City will do the ice box deconstruction work in March and prepare the footings and foundation; the class from Anoka-Ramsey College will start their work in April. Councilmember Butcher would like to have other class projects available for her winter institute. Gertz met at the house with a man from the college who does restoration work of all kinds. He will probably select some windows to restore, in addition to some inside work. All of the restoration work is going to be filmed by Channel 16. C. Site Alteration Permit Update The City Council approved the permits as recommended by the HPC. The Council noted the recommendation to use native vegetation at the signs. Gertz said he would let the Commission know when the signs are going to be installed. VI. NEW BUSINESS HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 27, 2006 Page 3 A. Amendment to City Code Chapter 11, Section 11.05-Heritage Preservation Sites Gertz said he recommends that the HPC consider seeking an amendment to the City's preservation sites code that would determine which site alteration permits would require full City Council approval and which can be approved administratively. Many cities break that down into "major work" and "minor work" in order to save time and expense. Eden Prairie does not make this distinction in its preservation code. If an amendment to the code were made, the Commission would determine if the permit request would be minor work or major work. If it is determined to be major work it would go to the HPC and then City Council. If a permit request is determined to be minor work, it would be sent to the HPC for approval and administered by staff. Gertz asked the Commissioners to look at the definitions for "minor" and "major" work that other cities use, which is lacking in Eden Prairie's code. For example, if something is not being permanently removed from a designated property, it is generally "minor." Changing the paint color on a building would be "minor." Right now, the City would be required to hold a public hearing just for changing the color on a building that is locally designated. If the code were amended, it would simplify the process. Gertz pointed out that the City would be designating more properties in the future, and that is one reason for the HPC to recommend this change. There was agreement among the Commissioners to continue to look into this at the next meeting. Gertz said he would get some examples of major and minor projects and a copy of the City code to review. B. Site B Hennepin Village Gertz explained that Site B Hennepin Village is going to be submitted soon for City approval. The development is located west of Spring Road and may impact the viewshed at Fredrick-Miller Spring. Also impacted by the development will be the Fredrick farm site ruins, west of the spring along the bluff top, overlooking the spring below. The original development proposal did not include this portion that juts out east of the ridge. Also, it did not include homes that would impact the ruins of the Fredrick home site. There are at least two lots and a cul de sac that would be within the setback. Gertz recommends that the site be documented and recover any artifacts prior to development activity. In the nomination of the Fredrick-Miller Spring as a designated historic site, there is mention of preserving the viewsite. Adams inquired what the HPC could do to make suggestions or requests. Gertz replied the HPC should look at whether this development would affect the rural setting of Fredrick-Miller Spring. If that is the case, the development will degrade the site based on the designation of the spring as a rural setting. The spring's primary significance is in its historic setting. The site was nominated based on its rural setting and should be protected from the full impact of the development. Gertz said he would be working with the developer to HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 27, 2006 Page 4 limit the impact, and hopes it will result in a plan that takes the viewshed into consideration. VII. ADJOURNMENT Commissioners Gilbertson and Barkley are stepping down at the end of this term, which ends with the March meeting. That leaves two openings on the Commission. Applicants are being interviewed on February 28. Gertz said he had been told there is just one applicant for the HPC. Adams requested that the reprinting of "Eden Prairie — The First 100 Years" be kept on the agenda until the City Council approves the cost of reprinting it. Gertz agreed. MOTION: Mackay moved, seconded by Amell, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Adams adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.