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Heritage Preservation - 03/15/2010 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2010 7:00 P.M. Heritage Room 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS Ann Higgins, Chairperson; Kathy Veurink, Vice Chairperson; Betsy Adams, Richard Akerlund, Nina Mackay, Mark McPherson, Ed Muehlberg STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Alexis Smith COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Pathfinder CRM, LLC; Sandy Eastling, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Higgins called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Student Representative Alexis Smith absent, Commission Members Richard Akerlund and Ed Muehlberg excused. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: McKay moved, seconded by Verurink to approve agenda. Motion Carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 22, 2010 Corrections: Page 2, Item IV D., second paragraph—replace "area" with the word "site"; Page 3, Item V. A. first paragraph—replace "illustration panels of the design layout" with "proposed landscape plan". Page 3, Item V. B,replace "County" with "Council". MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Mckay to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held on February 22, 2010 as corrected and published. Motion carried 5-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. MINNESOTA RIVER EROSION Gertz reported Senior Planner Kipp has spoken with Public Works Director Gene Dietz that a Bluff Mitigation Plan would be a Section 106 process as was done at HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 15, 2010 Page 2 the Cummins-Grill site. The Watershed District would pay for evaluation at the beginning for archaeological site and locating areas of significant impact. However, evaluation couldn't be done until the water level goes down. Part of the Hennepin town site area is in a low lying area and could be under water. There are other potentially-impacted sites as well. V. OLD BUSINESS A. CUMMINS GRILL CULTURAL LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT PLAN - DRAFT Gertz submitted pictures of fencing ideas for around the Cummins Grill area; George Watson of Brauer& Associates gave favorable feedback. There is fencing at the site which can be utilized. Site Plantings: the Parks & Recreation Department plants flowers in the front of the home annually. The flowers are not in keeping with the historic atmosphere of the location. Gertz suggested now —when the landscape plan is being developed—would be a good time to address the situation and incorporate proper plantings into the plan. Gertz offered to relay a request to the Park & Recreation Department. MOTION: Mckay moved, seconded by Adams to have the recently established annual beds located in the South (front) and East sides of the Cummins Grill House removed and restored to lawn. Motion carried 5-0. Gertz stated Brauer and Associates will present at the April HPC Meeting. He said the Parks & Recreation Department would like to get the site alteration permit in April,but it isn't possible because the permit request has to go to both the HPC and City Council. B. PRESERVATION CODE REVIEW The Code is scheduled to be presented to the City Council March 23, 2010. C. LEGACY GRANTS D. CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPLICATION PACKET E. BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES MANUALS UPDATE F. MARCH 9TH HPC PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL Higgins reported the presentation went well; she also had the opportunity to promote the newly-reprinted History of Eden Prairie book. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 15, 2010 Page 3 G. ANNUAL CLG REPORTING Gertz referred to the submitted report, stating it is generated to comply with Federal law. McPherson asked about prioritizing the list for designating properties as Heritage Preservation sites. Gertz responded priority should be on the Dorenkepmer House. It is a rescued historic property that would not have survived had it not been moved and restored at the Riley-Jacques farmstead. Higgins asked if the designation is dependent on City Council approval. The HPC makes a recommendation to the City Council for designation. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. HISTORIC BUILDING EXISTING CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT SUMMARY FOR J. R. CUMMINGS HOUSE AND SMITH-DOUGLAS- MORE HOUSE OUTBUILDINGS Gertz presented the preliminary Conditions Assessment Summary. He met with Kevin Schmieg and Paul Sticha on February 23, 2010. They inspected the outbuildings at the J. R. Cummins House and Smith-Douglas-More House. Smith-Douglas-More House—the shed could be moved,but it would be expensive. The cost to move, the amount of restoration required and the ultimate end use of the shed need to be considered. Unless these are addressed, there isn't a good reason to move the shed. The building is in poor condition itself. The slab foundation is in poor condition. There is a need for additional parking at this site. However, additional parking would require funding. The summary will also include photos of the structures, a site map plus field drawings already on file with the City. J. R. Cumminizs House—the shed may have been moved onsite, but Gertz is unsure. If the building stays and a use is determined, the building would need a new foundation and siding. Gertz recommended saving the building, as it may be the only building from the Phillips-Grill period. The block building (well) is probably from the Grill-era. All these buildings represent different periods of time from the various residents. Future Steps: 1. Make the recommendation to save the buildings 2. Go to the Parks & Recreation Department for further action HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES March 15, 2010 Page 4 Temporary stabilization measures need to be taken. The buildings are definitely worth saving. The entire privy building needs to be tarped. It is currently wired together for stabilization. The privy area would also be an archaeological site. The assessment is the beginning of the planning process. The HPC can then develop an action plan for rehabilitation and restoration. This would be an outline of how the HPC wants restoration handled. Gertz said the summary should be finished by May. Then, the HPC will need to approve the assessment. Gertz reported one building, The Peony Shed, is in such poor condition now that, by the time it's restored, it would lose its historic significance. There wouldn't be much of the original structure left. He recommends the building be adequately documented, for reconstruction of the building in the future. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Adams moved, seconded by Mckay, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Higgins adjourned the meeting at 8:40p.m.