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Heritage Preservation - 06/16/2003 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2003 7:00 P.M. Prairie Rooms A & B 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Lori Peterson-Benike, Chairperson; Betsy Adams, Deborah Barkley,Jennie Brown, Molly Gilbertson, Elise Kist, Kati Simons COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist; Peggy Rasmussen, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Chairperson Peterson-Benike called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., with all members present. Vicki Pellar-Price was also present as a guest. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A presentation by Pellar-Price was added under VIL New Business, and moved to the top of the agenda, after approval of the minutes. MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Kist, to approve the agenda as published and amended. Motion carried 7-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —MAY 19, 2003 AND MAY 29, 2003 MOTION: Gilbertson moved, seconded by Brown, to approve the minutes of the meeting of the Heritage Preservation Commission held on May 19, 2003 and the special meeting held on May 29, 2003, as published. Motion carried 7-0. VI NEW BUSINESS A. Presentation on a Story Garden for Eden Prairie Vicki Pellar-Price spoke about "Writers Rising Up to Defend Place, Natural Habitat, Wetlands", an organization that combines literature and the environment by promoting poetry and writing related to the environment. The group decided to ask for an Elizabeth Frey Ellet "Story Garden" in one of Eden Prairie's parks. The context of the garden would be taken out of Ellet's book about Minnesota. She wrote about this part of Minnesota, including Lake Minnetonka, Lake Harriet and Stillwater, giving the readers a picture of the whole area. When Ellet saw the area that is now Eden Prairie, she said she had been to the "Garden of Eden." In the Story Garden, five or six areas of the park would be planted to follow the story line in her book. When people enter the park they would be told about the Story Garden places. Signs would be used to indicate where they are. The goal of the project would be to make the park very appealing to families and children, as well as having educational value. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES June 16, 2003 Page 2 Pellar-Price said she met with Bob Lambert and he liked the idea. The site he is considering for this is Purgatory Creek Park, now under construction. Pellar- Price showed the Commissioners a drawing of the park concept. There is a formal plan in place for some areas of the park, but there are also unplanned open areas. Pellar-Price recently presented the idea to the Historical Society to gain its support, and was asking for input from the HPC. Gertz asked if Lambert indicated whether the Parks department would be involved, as far as funding the project. Pellar-Price replied her organization would have to get corporate sponsors that will donate for the design and the plantings, but hoped the City would also contribute. She planned to ask Bachmann's to donate plants. Gertz suggested she also ask local farmers Terry Picha and Sever Peterson. Pellar-Price hopes to meet with those involved in planning the layout of the park and find out where a Story Garden will fit. She promised to keep the Commissioners informed as the plan develops, asking for feedback and how the HPC might want to get involved. Brochures about the Story Garden given to those entering the park would include information about the HPC and the Historical Society. Peterson-Benike thanked Pellar-Price for her presentation. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. Annual Meeting of the Historical Society Adams reported on the annual meeting, held June 14 at the J.R. Cummins Homestead. Vicki Pellar-Price spoke about the idea of a Story Garden, as noted above. Because the Historical Society did not get a grant from the Eden Prairie Foundation for refinishing the furniture belonging to the Dorenkemper House, the group voted to spend $1,000 of their funds to begin the process. An amount of money had been donated by Ginny Dorenkemper to spend on the house. One of the members of the Board of Directors,reported he has been informed that the people who own the land where the Anderson Schoolhouse is now located say it will have to be moved. The plan was to move it to the Hennepin Technical Center for the students to work on. However, moving it will be expensive. The Historical Society hasn't heard from Hennepin Technical Center about moving it to their property, or from the School District about a final location. The group realizes that owning this building is a big responsibility and potentially a huge cost. They plan to invite someone from the SHPO to attend a meeting to discuss the condition of the building and whether it is worth saving. Peterson-Benike said the Historical Society realizes it will be necessary for them to get corporate sponsorship in order to make renovations. It could be a worthwhile project if they had the funding. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES June 16, 2003 Page 3 Peterson Benike resigned from the Historical Society's Board of Directors; and Adams was elected to take her place. B. National Preservation Conference Gertz reported that the National Preservation Conference would be held in Denver from September 30 to October 5, 2003. He plans to attend. No CLG funds will be available this year, however, to pay the cost for HPC members. He will ask Scott Neal if funds might be available from the City. Members would be reimbursed for the cost of attending the state preservation conference on September 18 and 19 in New Ulm. C. Eden Prairie Foundation Grant Gertz reported that the Eden Prairie Foundation awarded the City $1,075 to be used for work on the J.R. Cummins House. The money was generated by the sale of Les Kuba prints of the house. Copies of the prints are available from the City for$100 each. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Dorenkemper House Update Gertz reported that the new roof has been completed, and they hope to have the siding on by the end of the week. The doors and windows, made of solid oak, have been delivered and should be installed by the end of the week. The hardware items will be ordered soon and installed within the next two weeks. The excavator would be able to finish his work after that. Not much has been done on the interior except to clean it up. Brown asked if there would be an interpretive sign outside the house. Gertz said there would be. Brown inquired if there will also be a sign for the main entrance. Gertz replied nothing is planned at this time, but there should be one for all the historic properties. B. Riley Farm Update Gertz reported on the current projects. The architect asked if the City would be able to do the engineering for the sanitary sewer connections, which would save $8,000-$9,000. Al Gray, the City Engineer, said the City would work up the overall plan, do specifications, and add it to the architect's bid package, or they can do it separately. Gertz will ask the architects if they have a preference. A hazardous materials test is going to be done on the barn and house, as well as on the Cummins-Grill House, so the materials can be identified. The cost for that will be $600 per house, and $200 for the barn. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES June 16, 2003 Page 4 Gertz met with the person who was collecting samples from the buildings on the farm in order to indicate their structural strength. The species of wood used in the buildings is unknown. The person collecting samples said if he doesn't get sufficient information back from the samples he sends in, he has to assume everything is working at minimum capacities and he would have to over-engineer for the current material. Gertz expects to receive an estimate of the cost to do that Soil borings have been completed and the engineers are waiting for the report. The Site Alteration Permit will be presented to the City Council on July 15 for review and approval. A workshop on preservation of the City's historic properties will be held prior to the City Council meeting. Gertz said he is preparing a package of information covering the Site Alteration Permit, information on the barn renovation plan, the costs involved to this point, and also the cost estimates for repairs to the Riley house and the J.R. Cummins house. Gertz asked HPC members to be present for the workshop, as he will be on vacation. He didn't believe the Commissioners would be expected to answer questions on the budget because there is a fixed budget for 2003, and staff is proposing that most of the budget be spent on the barn. That will take all the money previously allocated this year for the J.R. Cummins house and the Riley house. The Council will look into these costs. Gertz said he would break them down to provide the Council with options. Adams asked if City staff reviewed the budget for the Riley-Jacques barn and site alterations and come up with suggestions. Gertz replied they did look at it, and the consensus was that this project can be done with the existing CIP budget for historic projects, but it will take the whole budget. Once it is up and running, it can start creating revenue for the City. It would be more expensive to do the work in phases. The other properties are secure. There is $11,000 available in addition to the CIP budget to do the highest priority projects on the exterior of the houses. That will take care of the work that is necessary for a year or two. C. J.R. Cummins House Update Gertz said the Council would be discussing what to do with this house at the workshop on July 15. He reported that this historic property was purchased with LAWCON funds, a federal source of funding handled through the Minnesota DNR. Those funds come with strict restrictions on use of the property. The original definition on use of the property was for recreational and educational purposes. An adaptive reuse project would not be allowed because that doesn't meet the definition of a permitted recreational use. Turning it into commercial property through a lease agreement would not be permitted either, unless the use was recreational in nature and the DNR gave its approval. The DNR has stated that outdoor interpretive use is permitted. Gertz said he would give the City Council information about LAWCON funds. Gertz recommended that the HPC look for a use that would fit this property. Possibly the Historical Society could find more uses for the building than it HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES June 16, 2003 Page 5 currently has, possibly as a museum. They could use it on a full-time or a shared basis with the Parks and Recreational Services and put on more programs with them. A non-profit organization could use the building but would not be allowed to have an office in it. VI. NEW BUSINESS B. Birch Island Villas Gertz reported there is a proposal for development of the Albert and Abbie Picha farm on Birch Island Road. This property was being considered for designation as a Heritage Preservation Site. Gertz met with Dwight Picha, their son, and Bill Kaufman, the developer, and was asked to go through the house. The house was built in about 1905. Gertz said it is not in very good condition. All the ceilings have plaster coming down, and there is a huge mold problem. The foundation is not in bad condition but the roof has holes in it. Gertz said the house would be salvageable if a great deal of money was invested, but the Pichas are not interested in preserving it; they are more interested in having the property developed. Gertz said he didn't believe the house was worth saving. Al and Abbie Picha are planning to move out of it. Before the house is demolished, the HPC should make sure there is photo documentation and consider salvaging some items if the Historical Society is interested. Terry Picha would like to preserve the home next door where his grandparents first lived. That is a more complete farm and would be worth preserving, Gertz said. However, the developer is not interested in preserving the house in place. The HPC will be asked to consider at a later date how this home would be impacted by the development, which will consist of townhomes. Brown suggested putting together a brochure showing all of the City's historic properties. Gertz agreed that would be a good idea. At the last City Council workshop where historic properties were discussed, there was a listing made of the properties according to the owner and the designation level, as well as archeological sites. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Brown, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0. Chairperson Peterson-Benike adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m.