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Heritage Preservation - 11/21/2011 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER PRAIRIE ROOMS A&B COMMISSION MEMBERS Ann Higgins, Chair; Ed Muehlberg, Vice Chair; Jeffrey Lawler, Mark McPherson, Kay Desmarais, Cindy Cofer Evert STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Ian English; Mettie Lee COMMISSION STAFF John Gertz, Pathfinder CRM, LLC Lori Creamer, Recorder I. ROLL CALL Higgins called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Muehlberg and English were excused. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Lawler moved to approve the agenda; Evert asked to add item B. Historic Site Markers Update under Reports of Commission and Staff, seconded by Evert, to approve the amended agenda. Motion Carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. COMMISSION MEETING HELD OCTOBER 17, 2011 MOTION: Evert moved, seconded by McPherson, to approve the minutes of the Heritage Preservation Commission meeting held on October 17, 2011. Motion carried 5-0. IV. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. EDEN PRAIRIE HISTORICAL SOCIETY UPDATES There were no representatives from the Historical Society present; however, Higgins will contact Case to find out if the Historical Society would like to have this update on the agenda. B. HISTORIC SITE MARKERS UPDATE Evert shared the information on the site markers which she had received from staff. She handed out a summary of the identified properties and mentioned there are 18 cast plaques and 18 street signs remaining to be distributed. There was HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 21, 2011 Page 2 some discussion on the replacement cost to purchase more plaques and signs. Staff will find out who the original supplier was when the time comes to place an order. Desmarais volunteered to help Evert with this project beginning in 2012 which includes visiting the sites, taking photos and reporting back to the commission at the regular monthly meetings. Gertz stated the original plan with this program was to give recognition to those properties in Eden Prairie with some historical significance, even though they are not on the locally or nationally registered. Gertz commented the list would have to be updated as there are some properties not listed and others that are no longer in existence. V. OLD BUSINESS A. SMITH DOUGLAS-MORE HOUSE PROJECTS UPDATE Gertz shared the e-mail from Sticha on the updates at the Smith Douglas More House which included an update on the new storage shed, the gazebo and the parking lot and rain gardens. If anyone has questions about the items in the e-mail they should contact Paul Sticha, Facilities Manager for the City of Eden Prairie. Higgins asked if the copula could be put inside the new shed to keep it out of the weather and possible vandals. Other commission members didn't think that was a concern. Evert shared the positive feedback she has heard on the additional parking. Higgins wondered about the plaques which identify the plant material and where we are in the process. Lawler stated sometimes the U of M extension service is available to help with service projects identifying plants and placing stakes in or near the rain garden. McPherson mentioned the city has contacts with a master gardener which may be able to help with the project as well. Lawler suggested maybe a master sign or planting plan if individual signs are not an option. Sometimes the preference is not to have people down in the rain garden. B. LOCAL HERITAGE SITE DESIGNATION UPDATE Gertz handed out the boundary maps for each of the three sites which are being considered to be designated as a local heritage site. The Dorenkemper house will be included in the same boundary as the Riley Jacqes property. There will be no need to make any changes to the Glen Lake Children's Camp. The lake and lakeshore are included within the boundary because it was part of the historic use of the property and it is currently on the National Registry. Higgins asked what the white boundary line indicated. Gertz stated it was either the natural high water line or where the slope towards the lake started. The outdoor center was given a new boundary line for the local designation which was chosen to capture part of the forest which includes historic and non contributing structures on the site. The prairie restoration section is also included as part of the site. The outdoor center is not currently on the National Registry. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 21, 2011 Page 3 Gertz stated the boundary maps would be attached to the local heritage site report for each property along with interior and exterior photos. The reports were reviewed by the Parks & Recreation department and there were some concerns about designating the outdoor center. Gertz was not present at the meeting to discuss the local designation. Questions were raised about the criteria of what could and couldn't be done to the property if it was designated. One consideration was enlarging the deck. Gertz would like to address some of these issues with the park staff. The outdoor center is a highly used facility and the concern is the limits in which the designation may put on the property. Gertz asked if anyone from the HPC would like to be included in that meeting. Higgins and Desmarais both expressed interest in attending. Gertz stated he hadn't heard of any other comments or concerns with the Dorenkemper or Glen Lake Children's Camp properties. Gertz will contact Kipp to find out if there were other concerns and schedule another meeting. The designation would need to be supported by city staff in order to move the process forward. McPherson asked if there were other properties which would be in the same situation. Gertz said yes the Riley-Jacques Barn is a local designated property which is used by the public often. Higgins expected to have the properties on their way to the city council for approval. Gertz stated the Best Management Practices (BMP) would need to be attached to each ordinance which has been completed. Gertz asked if there were any questions or comments. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. CUMMINS HOUSE FOUNDATION STATBILIZATION UPDATE Gertz met Christian Hendry, a structural engineer, at the Cummins House to review the situation. Hendry thought it would be best to open the wall to see what is causing the movement. City staff from the facilities department was not is a position to spend the time and money to pursue that option. The architect wanted to see the entire foundation, inside and out, in order to complete the work with the engineer to produce a plan showing the situation with the foundation. City staff could then go out for bid on the project; however, that process was too costly for the city budget at this time. The architect and structural engineer submitted a report based on what they were able to determine. Gertz stated he would forward a copy of that report to the commission members to review prior to the next meeting and be prepared to discuss at the December meeting. Hopefully in the spring the project would be able to move forward. The HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES November 21, 2011 Page 4 HPC should make a recommendation for a contractor to complete the work before it is too late. Gertz agreed it would have been prudent to do what the engineer recommended. His concern was there may be additional problems that were not discovered since they were not allowed to complete the work. Higgins concern was the Historical Society is the current lease holder at the property and the longer we wait to see what the problem really is, the more costly the project could become. These are all valid concerns which the HPC should look at before the permitting process. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Evert moved, seconded by Lawler to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Higgins adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.