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Heritage Preservation - 08/16/2010 APPROVED MINUTES HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY,AUGUST 16, 2010 7:00 P.M. CITY CNETER PRAIRIE ROOMS A&B COMMISSION MEMBERS Ann Higgins, Chairperson; Kathy Veurink, Vice Chairperson; Matthew Fyten,Jeffrey Lawler, Nina Mackay, Mark McPherson, Ed Muehlberg STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE N/A COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Pathfinder CRM, LLC Sandy Eastling, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Higgins called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Commissioners Veurink, Fyten and Mackay excused. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Higgins noted a correction to the Agenda—New Business: John R. Cummins Homestead Sewer and Water Extension—add "COA-2010-03-004" MOTION: McPherson moved, seconded by Lawler to approve the agenda as corrected. Motion Carried 4-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON JULY 19, 2010 MOTION: Muehlberg moved, seconded by Lawler to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held on July 19, 2010 with the following corrections: • Page 2, Item VI. B. —delete the word "with"in the last sentence; • Page 3, Item V. B —correct Commissioner"Muehlberg" to read "McPherson"in the second sentence, second-to-last paragraph; correct Commissioner"Muehlberg" to read "McPherson"in the last sentence, second-to-last-paragraph. Motion carried 4-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF Gertz indicated nothing to report. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES August 16, 2010 Page 2 V. OLD BUSINESS A. UPDATE ON THE JOHN R. CUMMINS HOMESTEAD LANDSCAPE RESTORATION Gertz stated he is meeting Thursday, August 19 at 9:00 a.m. with Paul Sticha to go over repair orders at the Cummins Homestead. Then they're going to the Smith-More House (Dunn Bros.) to review repair orders with the intent to proceed with repairs. B. UPDATE ON THE RILEY-JACOUES FARMSTEAD PARKING SPACE AND DRIVEWAY ALTERATIONS Gertz viewed the work at the farmstead; it is completed and looks good. The seeded-in grass is "taking" nicely. The new work blends in well with what was already in place. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. JOHN R. CUMMINS HOMESTEAD SEWER AND WATER EXTENSION — COA-2010-03-004 Referring to the Sewer and Water Extension Plan dated August 13, 2010 submitted by the Eden Prairie Historical Society, Gertz stated that, in order to provide for safe trenching, could end up with a 26-foot-wide trench. This is due to the depth of trench needed. This could impact historic trees in the area. The City would need assurances from contractors on which trenching methods would be used to protect the trees. The EPHS needs to make sure the contractor is cognizant of the need to minimize trenching impact on nearby trees. There are trenching methods that could protect the trees,but it's critical the EPHS receives this information and relays it to the contractor. Item C.2 of the Findings of Fact is relevant to this issue. The DPHS will have to work with the City to arrange onsite inspection. The City Engineering and Public Works Departments will be involved. Contractors will have to provide a plan to protect the significant wooded areas. Gertz indicated the HPC can apply a condition or request the City Council apply a condition that the utility contractor provide a plan to protect the significant wooded areas. Gertz will contact the EPHS members regarding the importance of ensuring the contractor has the information regarding the historic trees. The City Public Works and Engineering Departments are already aware of the situation. Gertz stated other than the trees, there is minimal impact on the property. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES August 16, 2010 Page 3 MOTION: Muehlberg moved, seconded by Lawler the Heritage Preservation Commission adopt the Findings of Fact for the John R. Cummins Homestead Sewer and Water Service Extension Plan dated August 13, 2010 as submitted by the Eden Prairie Historical Society (EPHS) and recommend City Council approval of COA-2010-03-004 with the following condition: the EPHS is to provide plans to protect significant trees in the alignment of utility installation for City Staff approval. Motion carried 4-0. Gertz stated the COA recommendation will go to the City Council for their September meeting. General discussion reizardinz Cummins-Grill plumbiniz connection from utility to toilet room: Commissioner McPherson presented a plan for the toilet room. It is currently not ADA accessible. The room size is adequate. Only fixture reconfiguration is needed to render the room ADA compatible. A larger access door is needed, as well as grab bars, a new water closet, new lavatory and mirror. The flooring will be one-inch ceramic tile to fit the character of the house, with 3x6 inch subway tile, chair rail and painted wall above the chair rail. Gertz stated the toilet room plan does not need to be submitted to SHPO,but may want to submit for their opinion regarding an access path within the house and whether action needs to be taken. B. HPC COMMISSIONER'S INFORMATION PACKET DISCUSSION Gertz showed the commissioners a manual that has been given in the past to each commission member when they came on the HPC board. When a commissioner left the board, they'd turn the manual in to the City. Over time, the manuals went into disuse and may be worth revisiting. Soliciting feedback from the Commissioners, Gertz gave an overview of the manual contents and purpose. Lawler suggested the manual would lend itself to a web application. Commissioners could view the manual online and, if they chose, could print out whatever sections they wanted in print on their own. Higgins suggested the HPC contact list include the terms of office for each commissioner. She further requested commissioners email any other suggestions to her for forwarding to John Gertz. C. UPDATE ON THE HPC/CITY WEBSITE General Discussion of Commissioners: The Cities of Stillwater and Duluth have good historic websites. Boston has a good site but perhaps not as comparable to the City of Eden Prairie. The city websites around the State of Minnesota are pretty standard and generic. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES August 16, 2010 Page 4 Lawler did an informal survey of his neighbors regarding what they'd like to see; bottom line: simple is better. Perhaps have a simple page with links to further information. Idea: Have a map of the city, use as a portal to a particular location. McPherson said the page could start simple; more information could always be added later if warranted. Lawler suggested adding a timeline for historic sites, including significant information. Gertz suggested including site interpretation panels on the City map portal. Conclusion: Gertz will set up a meeting of a City Communications Department representative, Lawler if available and Gertz. D. HPC/COA REVIEW PROCESS DISCUSSION Gertz presenting: City Ordinance refers to" Findings of Fact" which helps the City Council in reviewing a project in conjunction with criteria(City Code and Department of Interior standards). The City hasn't utilized Findings of Fact in relation to the permit review process involving the HPC in the past,but is implementing the process now in order to be in alignment with common practice of other HPCs. The HPC will be presented with a suggested/recommended Findings of Fact developed by City Staff for review. After review, the HPC can 1) agree with the Findings of Fact in whole, 2) change the Findings of Fact, or 3) agree with the Findings of Fact, adding conditions. The HPC then issues the Findings of Fact. For the Cummins Grill Landscape Restoration Plan, a Findings of Fact wasn't developed for the HPC to review, but one was generated for the City Council. HPC members will normally receive the Suggested/Recommended Findings of Fact in advance of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting. The purpose of a Findings of Fact is to put information into a useable format for the HPC to review and forward to the City Council. The City Attorney wants this formalized format to document the process of a Certificate of Appropriateness. This is what most municipalities do for major(vs. minor)projects. E. 30t'ANNUAL STATEWIDE PRESERVATION CONFERENCE The annual Statewide Preservation Conference will be held September 16-17, 2010 in Winona Minnesota at the Winona County Historical Society. Gertz said HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES August 16, 2010 Page 5 if any HPC members want to go to the conference, grant funds are available for registration and lodging through the Minnesota Historical Society. If interested, let Scott Kipp know. Someone from the HPC or City Staff must attend to fulfill CLG status requirement. Grant application deadline: September 10, 2010; two- day attendance required to obtain a grant. Higgins will email HPC members regarding attending the conference. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Lawler moved, seconded by Muehlberg to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 4-0. Higgins adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.