HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 11-10 HPB Meeting Minutes RegularAGENDA
Edina Heritage Preservation Board
Regular Meeting
Thursday, November 10, 1977, at 7:30 P.M.
Edina City Hall Conference Room
I. Approval of the Minutes: September 8, 1977, and Octobcr 13, 1977.
II. Announcements
A. The Edina Mills Artifact display is at the Southdale Library.
B. The Edina Planning Commission approved the rezoning of the
Edina Mills site November 2, 1977. The City Council will
hold a public hearing November 21, 1977 at 7 P.M.
C. Mr. Richard Busch will give a presentation of the Edina
Mills Excavation at the Edina Park Board Meeting, Dec. 13 at 7:30 P.M.
III. Edina Mills
Acceptance of Archaeologist's Report and authorization for
payment for services.
IV. George Baird House. 4400 West 50th Street.
Mr. Dick Wiltz, owner, has been invited.
V. 1977 Community Development Funds
VI. Research Projects
VII. Next Meeting Date: December 8, 1977, at 7:30 P.M.
VIII. Adjournment.
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE EDINA HERITAGE PRESERVATION BOARD
HELD NOVEMBER 10, 1977, at 7:30 P.M.
EDINA CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM
Members Present: Foster Dunwiddie, Chairman, Maryanne Herman, Paul Mucke,
Gordon Stuart and James McWethy.
Staff Present: Harold Sand, Assistant Planner
I. Approval of the September 8 and October 13, 1977 Heritage Preservation
Board Minutes.
Mr. Mucke moved for approval of the September 8 and October 13, 1977
HPB minutes. Mr. Stuart seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
II. Announcements
A. Mr. Dunwiddie said the Edina Mills artifact display was at the Southdale
Regional Library. Mrs. Herman suggested that we should improve the publicity for
this kind of project through the newspaper, radio and Edina Historical Society.
Mr. Dunwiddie said that display facilities for this kind of material are limited
within Edina and he has often wished that display cases were available in the
City Hall. The Board generally agreed that the concept should be pursued and a
design and estimates presented to the City Council.
B. Mr. Sand reported that the Edina Mills rezoning had been approved by
the Planning Commission and would be heard at the City Council meeting November 21,
1977. Mr. Dunwiddie said he would attend the meeting to answer any questions.
C. Mr. Sand reported that the Park Board would hear a presentation by
Mr. Richard Busch at its meeting on December 13, 1977. Mr. Dunwiddie said he
would attend and prepare a brief slide presentation.
III. Edina Mills
Mr. Sand indicated copies of Mr. Busch's report on the excavation was
submitted. The staff has reviewed the report and feels the terms of the contract
have been fully satisfied, noting that Mr. Busch was requesting payment for $500
less than the authorized budget of $3,000.00. Mrs. Herman moved that the board
formally accept the report and authorize payment to Mr. Busch and thank him for
the: valuable services provided. Mr. Stuart seconded the motion. All voted aye.
Motion carried.
Mr. Sand said Mr. Busch recommended that several of the parties that
aided the research should receive letters of appreciation. The board generally
agreed that Dr. Ralph Lieber, Superintendent and Virginia Anderson, Wooddale
School principal, Mr. Wayne Tracy, machine operator and The Center for Community
Action should receive letters and the Mayor should be given an opportunity to
sign the letters.
HPB Minutes
Page Two
November 10, 1977
IV. George Baird House, 4400 W. 50th Street
Mr. Dickinson G. Wiltz, current owner of the house, was present to discuss
the possibility of rezoning his house to Heritage Preservation District.
He stated that the house has had only three owners and has been unoccupied
.part of the time, therefore the house is very well preserved on the interior.
The exterior has had some modifications including a remodeled front porch, the
removal of the rear cold kitchen and the addition of a family room in the rear.
There is some minor maintenance necessary, including the tuck pointing of the
chimneys.
Mr. Wiltz said that they are very amenable to preservation activities noting
that they were involved in the fight to save the old Metropolitan building in
Minneapolis. They were responsible for saving the Baird house when the St. Stephans
Episcopal Church had plans to demolish the building and build a parking lot and
it was through that effort they acquired the property. He said they have
allowed the Historic Marker easement, an ice cream social for the Historical
Society and have opened the house annually for inspection by the Edina School
students.
Mr. Wiltz said that after serious consideration, and consultation with his
attorney, he and his wife could not approve rezoning the site to Heritage
Preservation District. He indicated that he would have to resist efforts to rezone
the property because he could see no advantage to anyone and he could see
distinct disadvantages for themselves. He said the ordinance seemed unreasonably
restrictive; the homeowner's rights were given away with no recompense, psychological
or otherwise.
He
It, they have rejected offers to buy the house from the Church and the
Shrine and private offers because his five children are interested in retaining
the house and the Darr children (former owners) have also expressed an interest.
He said the ordinance takes a great deal of private control that they are
unwilling to give.
Mr. Wiltz stated that they may reconsider this decision if the ordinance
were modified. They may also reconsider the decision if the house was considered
for some kind of National designation; possibly because the dwelling is well
preserved on the interior and because the original drawings and some photographs
are preserved.
Mr. Dunwiddie said that this site may qualify for designation to the National
Register of Historic places and the 1976 Tax Reform Act for National Register
properties is proposed to be extended to residential properties and thus there would
be an advantage to the owner because our HPD zoning standards are very similar
to the National Standards.
Mr. Wiltz said that they would be happy to continue with historic activities
including reasonable fund raising activities. They would be willing to bring any
remodeling plans in to the board for review 4nd consultation, however, they could
not accept the formal rezoning. He added that he could see no objection to efforts
to pursue National Register designation of the site.
HPB Minutes
Page Three
November 10, 1977
After further discussion of the significance of the building, Mr. Mucke
moved to proceed with investigation of the site for Nomination to the National
Register of Historic places. Mrs. Herman seconded the motion. All voted aye.
Motion Carried.
Mr. Stuart moved to continue the proposal to rezone the property
indefinitely. Mr. McWethy added that the motion should not imply in any manner
that the site is not historically significant for zoning. Mr. Stuart agreed.
Mr. Mucke seconded. All voted aye. Motion carried.
V. 1977 Community Development Funds
Mr. Dunwiddie explained that it appears that HUD will not change its
decision to deny use of Community Development Funds for the rehabilitation of
the Old Cahill School, the Grange Hall and the continuation of the Edina Mills
project. The Historical survey was approved because it was not restricted to any
particular geographic area and thus the survey may locate historic-dwe.11.ings
that were owned by low and moderate income persons. This means that only
$5,000 of the original $26,000 grant was approved.
Mr. Dunwiddie suggested that the survey should perhaps be expanded because
it would now represent the major thrust of the board's efforts and a more
detailed and professional study could be utilized. He suggested that the scope
could be expanded.
.The board discussed various possibilities for improving the study generally
agreeing that the exact program should be defined after an interview of applicants
for the contract.
Mr. McWethy moved that the Board request authorization from the Council to
interview consultants for the survey with a budget of up to $15,000. Mr. Stuart
seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
VI. Research Projects
Mr. Sand suggested that this would be an appropriate time to begin
gathering the history of Warren C. Hyde, former City Manager, and Arthur Bredesen,
former Mayor.
VII. Next Meeting Date: December 8, 1977, at 7:30 P.M.
VIII. Adjournment
Mr. Stuart moved the meeting be adjourned. Mrs. Herman seconded the motion.
All voted aye. Motion carried.
Respectfully, submitted,
Harold Sand, Assistant Planner