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Heritage Preservation - 12/15/2003 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2003 7:00 P.M. Prairie Rooms A & B COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Lori Peterson-Benike, Chairperson; Betsy Adams,Jennie Brown, Deborah Barkley, Molly Gilbertson, Elsie Kist and Kati Simons STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: John Buteyn and Mackenzie Epping COMMITTEE STAFF PRESENT: Carol Pelzel, Recorder I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Chair Peterson-Benike at 7:10 p.m. Kist reported that John Gertz did call and said he would not be in attendance. Kist will give a report on the information he provided her later in the agenda. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Motion was made by Adams, seconded by Brown, to approve the agenda as published. The motion carried, 7-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —NOVEMBER 7, 2003 Brown asked that the word Heritage be corrected on the heading of each page of the minutes. Gilbertson suggested that Elizabeth Fry Ellet's name be included in the first sentence of the third paragraph on Page 4 under A. FY 2004/2005 CLG Grant Project Discussion. Motion: Motion was made by Kist, seconded by Berkley, to approve the November 7 minutes as corrected. The motion carried, 6-0-1 with Brown abstaining because of absence from that meeting. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF V. OLD BUSINESS A. Reuse Alternatives for the Cummins-Phipps-Grill Property B. Outdoor Space Use at the Riley-Jacques Farm Kist reported that Gertz suggested that the Commission might want to discuss the use of the Cummins-Grill House and the outdoor space at the Riley-Jacques farm. However, Gertz does HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION December 15, 2003 Page 2 have some additional information to present to the Commission so they may want to consider postponing discussion to the next meeting. Peterson-Benike said this is an important issue and they may want to think about this for the next meeting. Adams suggested that they brainstorm at this meeting about some of the issues and possible ideas. Simons pointed out that two memos were included in the Commission's agenda regarding the limitations for the use of land covered by the Land and Water Conservation Fund Agreements (LAWCON) and for the properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and locally designated properties. Peterson-Benike said it is her feeling that the City Council's expectation will be for this Commission to explore additional alternatives. Adams said it appears that they would be in compliance if the Historical Society used the Cummins-Grill House but probably not for some other uses. Adams asked if the City Council is asking them to look beyond the recommendation that the Historical Society take this facility over as their home base. Peterson-Benike said she believes that the Council is asking them to look at other alternatives. She pointed out that an outdoor use has to be there for the Cummins-Grill property. It is parkland. This is where they have a problem with a commercial use. Adams said she is not sure that all parties involved understand that they are being asked to look at alternative uses. The Historical Society has been waiting to have a meeting with the City Manager regarding the use of the Cummins-Grill House. Peterson-Benike said that they need to explore the best use for this property. There has been a lot of discussion taking place on the amount of money being spent on historical properties and there is a sense that they should be looking for some kind of return on the investment of that particular house which there is not right now. Peterson-Benike pointed out that the use of the Cummins-Grill House would probably be this Commission's number one priority as they enter into the new year. Adams asked if any profit or non-profit organizations have contacted the City regarding using the Cummins-Grill House. Gilbertson said Dunn Brothers has indicated an interest in the property, however, they would need to check into whether or not this would be a permitted use considering this property was purchased with LAWCON funding. Peterson-Benike said she would like to table this item to their next meeting and in the meantime the Commission think about possible uses for these properties. She said she feels they do not have enough information to move forward at this time. Adams said that any thoughts or ideas could be discussed this evening so that they are included in the minutes. Kist said a possible use would be to rent space for a coffee shop. Simons suggested that they have ski or snow shoe rental during the winter months and other activities during the summer similar to what is done at Hyland Park in Bloomington. Peterson-Benike indicated that when they are dealing with properties such as these, they need to look at what has been done to the buildings and what was proposed in the original plan. There has been a lot of work done on these facilities. Simons said a good possibility would be for a historical museum. Peterson- Benike said a historical museum could be something they could build on. Gilbertson said they might look at having a historical museum and antique store with a coffee and tea shop. Peterson-Benike pointed out that this Commission has previously talked about an interpretive use for the Cummins-Grill House. She said she feels there will be a lot of pressure to make this facility a revenue source. They need to think about the use of this facility as a long-term use. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION December 15, 2003 Page 3 Adams indicated that many of the uses proposed were never done or decided against. The economic climate is different than it was seven years ago. Adams said she would like to see the Historical Society have a more visual presence so that they can develop an active volunteer base and remove some of the pressure from the Heritage Preservation budget. Peterson-Benike said she agrees with Adams and pointed out that in two years the climate will change again. This is something they need to think about to come up with a creative idea. Kist said that with the success of the Dunn Brothers store in the Douglas-More House they may want to do something similar at the Cummins-Grill House and Dunn Brothers may be willing to put more money up front. Gilbertson suggested that they look at a use that would sell ice cream during the summer months and hot chocolate during the winter months. Peterson-Benike said that someone did indicate an interest in using the house as a tearoom. Gilbertson said they could have a tearoom in a museum. Adams indicated that the City could ask for requests for proposals for the use of these facilities and this may result in additional interest from vendors who have not already indicated an interest in the properties. Peterson-Benike explained that this Commission must also consider a use for the outdoor space at the Riley-Jacques Farm. Adams said it was her understanding that the Parks and Recreation Department would be in charge of programming for that facility. Peterson-Benike said they have talked about Sun Bonnet Days at this location. Buteyn said he would like to see something different than a Dunn Brothers Coffee House in the Cummins-Grill House. He would like to see more of a variety in the community. Epping said she agrees and it would be nice to have something different. Buteyn said he feels an ice cream or hot chocolate shop would be a good idea. Peterson-Benike said the Riley-Jacques Farm should work well for programming. If Sun Bonnet Days is moved to this location they will be taking away from the Cummins-Grill House. Kist pointed out that there would still be seasonal events at the Cummins-Grill House including the Valentine party. Brown asked how other communities are using their historical sites. Peterson-Benike said she thinks adaptive reuse is something that is being considered in a lot of communities. Eden Prairie seems to be one of the first to have a commercial use in one of its historic sites. Peterson-Benike said it would be a good idea to look at what other communities are doing. Many of the historic sites in other communities are not city owned. Brown asked if they would have to raise money to maintain the Cummins-Grill House. Peterson-Benike responded that it is not this Commission's function to raise funds but to review any structural changes to the City's historic sites. C. Review and Approval of the New Heritage Preservation Site Registration Form Kist reported that a draft copy of the Heritage Preservation Site Registration Report was included in the Commissioner's agenda packet. Gertz asked that the Commission review this form and approve it for use by Robert Vogel for the cemetery study. Kist pointed out that Vogel is approximately 25 percent completed with the cemetery project. Adams asked what HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION December 15, 2003 Page 4 the fundamental difference is with this report and the National Register report. Peterson- Benike responded that the format he was using is easier to understand and more concise. Sections 7, 8 and 9, the narrative description, statement of significance and treatment plan sets the plan in motion. Motion: Adams moved, seconded by Kist, to approve the Heritage Preservation Site Registration Report as presented to work as a basis for Robert Vogel's designation of the Eden Prairie and Pleasant Hill Cemeteries. The motion carried, 7-0. VI. NEW BUSINESS Kist pointed out that the January and February meetings will be on the second Monday of the month instead of the third because of the holidays. The meetings will be January 12 and February 9. Kist reported that the Riley-Jacques barn is requiring some additional repair work that will have to be approved by the City Council. They found that the concrete footings on the barn would have to be replaced. They also discovered in the hayloft that the floor would have to be replaced with plywood. Peterson-Benike said the cemetery tour was cancelled due to the weather. It will be rescheduled once the weather is nicer. Peterson-Benike reported that Gertz normally prepares a recap of the year's accomplishments for the City Council. She suggested that this be done again this year and that members of this Commission make a presentation to the City Council. This is something that is normally done in January. Peterson-Benike congratulated Epping on the nice article about her in the Eden Prairie magazine. Adams asked if they were to discuss specific projects for the CLG grant. Peterson-Benike responded that the final application is due in February and this is something they can discuss at their next meeting. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Motion was made by Brown, seconded by Gilbertson, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried, 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.