HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 11-07 HPB Meeting Minutes RegularAGENDA
CITY OF EDINA, MINNESOTA
HERITAGE PRESERVATION BOARD
EDINA CITY HALL — COMMUNITY ROOM
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2011
7:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
III. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
IV. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Regular meeting of October 11, 2011
V. COMMUNITY COMMENT
During "Community Comment" the Heritage Preservation Board will invite residents to share new issues or
concerns that haven't been considered in the past 30 days by the Board or which aren't slated for future
consideration. Individuals must limit their comments to three minutes. The Chair may limit the number of
speakers on the same issue in the interest of time and topic. Generally speaking, items that are elsewhere
on tonight's agenda may not be addressed during Community Comment. Individuals should not expect the
Chair or Board to respond to their comments. Instead, the Board might refer the matter to staff for
consideration at a future meeting
VI. REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Heritage Resources Inventory
B. 5015 Wooddale Lane— Royal Barry Wills, architect, 1939
C. Plan for December 14th Televised Meeting
VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS
VIII. CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
A. Southdale Center Update
IX. STAFF COMMENTS
X. NEXT MEETING DATE December 13, 2011
XI. ADJOURNMENT
—ie City of Edina wants all residents to be comfortable being part of the public process. If you need assistance in the way
,f hearing amplification, an interpreter, large -print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861, 72 hours in
advance of the meeting.
MINUTES
Regular Meeting of the
Edina Heritage Preservation Board
Edina City Hall — Community Room
November 7, 2011
7:00 p.m.
I. ROLL CALL 7:00 P.M.
Answering roll call were Chairman Stegner, and Members Ahlstrom, Anger, Carr, Curran, Davis, Moore,
Rehkamp Larson, Schwartzbauer, Copman and Ellingboe.
Staff present was Planner Joyce Repya; also present was Robert Vogel, Preservation Consultant.
II. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
Member Carr asked that the updating of the City's web site be added to the "Chair and Board Member
Comments" section of the meeting. Member Curran moved to approve the meeting agenda with the addition of
the updating of the City's website added to the "Chair and Board Member Comments". Member Carr seconded
the motion. All voted aye. The motion carried.
III. MINUTES APPROVED Regular meeting of October 11, 2011
Member Carr moved approval of the minutes from the October 11, 2011 meeting of the board. Member Curran
seconded the motion. All voted aye. The motion carried.
• IV. COMMUNITY COMMENT None
V. REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Heritage Resources Inventory
Consultant Vogel provided the Board with detailed information outlining the responsibilities of the HPB as well
as an up to date status of the heritage landmark properties, an inventory of historic resource studies, and the
scope of the preservation work currently underway.
Mr. Vogel explained that the State Historical Society (SHPO) has a statewide database of paper files with a
computerized catalog that is not remotely accessible. The inventory for Edina contains paper files for 626
surveyed properties within Edina's city limits (550 of which are homes in the Country Club District). Much of the
survey data in SHPO's inventory is quite old and many of the files have not been updated in over two decades.
Mr. Vogel pointed out that due to time and funding constraints, the review and organization of the inventory
files has not been a high priority for the HPB in the past. However, the mass of the data with over 1,000 paper
files has become overwhelming. Keeping the files up to date is a time-consuming task and some of the newest
survey data has yet to be integrated into the inventory. That being said, all of the files are securely stored and
while the data is bulky, it can be retrieved when needed by city staff.
Mr. Vogel concluded the he recommended the following action items for the HPB to update the historic
resource inventory:
Edina Heritage Preservation Board
Minutes
November 7, 2011
1. Merge the SHPO, City Hall and consultant inventories into a single set of paper files to be known as the
Edina Heritage Resources Inventory and locate the files in the city planning department.
2. Integrate the results of the Edina Country club District re -survey, Morningside Neighborhood
reconnaissance survey, and Morningside bungalow multiple property study with the master Edina
Heritage Resources Inventory.
3. Develop a fully operational computerized catalog system to provide rapid, easy access to critical
management information based on location, name of property, resource type, use, date of construction,
and significance.
4. Prepare Minnesota Architecture -History Inventory Forms for all surveyed properties that are not
included in the current SHPO inventory.
Member Carr thanked Mr. Vogel for the thorough report stating that the information was helpful to see the big
picture regarding Edina's historic resources. Board members agreed, adding that they found it interesting that
in this electronic age so little has been done on the State level to provide electronic accessibility to historic
resource information. Member Curran commented that Edina's resource inventory from SHPO is dated from
1998...reason enough to bring the data into the 21St Century.
Member Davis pointed out that Edina's historic assessor's files dating back to the 1950's are stored at the Edina
Historical Museum, however they do not have staff to evaluate the inventory. Chairman Stegner stated that it
would be important to evaluate the data available on the historic resources and then determine a structure for
organizing the information.
Discussion ensued regarding the importance of providing Edina's historic resource data in an electric format that
could be accessed by the public. Chairman Stegner commented that creating an up to date electronic database
of Edina's historic resources is a project that has not been addressed, yet if done correctly, could be a model
replicated in other communities.
Member Davis moved that Chairman Stegner appoint a subcommittee of three people to report at the January
meeting on the potential for creating an electronic historic resource inventory for the City. Member Curran
seconded the motion. All voted aye. The motion carried.
Chairman Stegner asked for volunteers to serve on the historic resource inventory subcommittee. He, Member
Moore and Member Davis volunteered. Consultant Vogel agreed to provide the subcommittee with the State's
Survey Manual.
Board members agreed that solidifying a thorough and current historic resource inventory would serve to
advance the preservation of those resources in the community.
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Edina Heritage Preservation Board
Minutes
November 7, 2011
Following a brief discussion Member Rehkamp Larson moved that the HPB create a calendar with inventory and
grant time lines using the current annual work plan as a template. Member Ahlstrom seconded the motion. All
voted aye. The motion carried.
Chairman Stegner suggested that as a long term project, the Board review the properties currently listed as
eligible for landmark designation to compare with potential properties currently not identified which could be
added to the list. Consultant Vogel agreed that including long term projects with the work plan was an excellent
idea and suggested that referring to the Heritage Preservation section of the Comprehensive Plan where the
goals are established would be helpful.
The Board thanked Mr. Vogel for the valuable information — pointing out that they now better understand the
previous work of the HPB with an eye on planning for future.
B. 5015 Wooddale Lane — Royal Barry Wills, Architect, 1939
In 1939, the home at 5015 Wooddale Lane was constructed as part of an architectural experiment. Life
Magazine in collaboration with Architectural Forum Magazine selected four families in four income groups in the
east, south, mid -west and far west areas of the country, and eight of the most prominent architects in America
to draw plans for traditional and modern type homes affordable to the respective families. A "traditional" Cape
Cod style home was designed for Edina's Blackbourn family priced in the $5,000 to $6,000 range by renowned
New England architect, Royal Barry Wills.
While this home has been identified in the City's historic resource inventory, Member Moore brought it to the
attention of the Board along with clippings from Edina's 1939 "The Crier" newspaper when the construction and
marketing of the home was chronicled. The Board agreed that the information was fascinating and wondered if
the current owners were aware of the history of their home. Planner Repya agreed to send a letter to the
owners outlining the history of their home with an invitation to discuss the potential for landmark designation.
Chairman Stegner was joined by the remainder of the Board in thanking Member Moore for sharing the
interesting newspaper clippings on the Royal Barry Wills home. No formal action was taken.
C. Construction of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Video 1936-1938
Member Moore shared a 13 minute movie highlighting the construction phases of St. Stephens Episcopal Church
from the 1930's. Mr. Moore explained that his grandfather served on the building committee for the church and
periodically had his son (Moore's father) take movie footage of the construction from the early days when the
land was being cleared to the time when the church was nearing completion.
Since the movie provided by Mr. Moore was in an 8 -track format, Planner Repya arranged to have the City's
communications department download the movie to YouTube which enabled the Board to view the film.
After the viewing, the Board expressed their thanks to Member Moore for sharing this valuable piece of Edina's
• history. It was agreed that the film would no doubt be of interest to the community; and it was pointed out that
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Edina Heritage Preservation Board
Minutes
November 7, 2011
since St. Stephen's Church received the 2011 Preservation Award, perhaps the film could be incorporated into
the upcoming televised meeting. Chairman Stegner also thanked Member Moore for sharing the movie with the
Board — pointing out that it provided an excellent segway to the next item on the agenda. No formal action was
taken.
D. Plans for December 13th Televised Meeting
Chairman Stegner reminded the Board that in response the City Council's request that one meeting a year be
televised, it has been arranged for the next HPB meeting on December 13th to be videotaped. To accommodate
the production staff, the meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers.
A discussion of the meeting content ensued. It was agreed that in addition to any potential Certificate of
Appropriateness applications, it would be a good time to review the Board's 2011 activities, as well as the work
plan and future projects that have been identified.
Referring back to the film of the St. Stephen's Church construction, it was pointed out that since the movie has
no sound, perhaps background music could be added to enhance the viewing.
Chairman Stegner stated that once the deadline for COA submittals has passed, it will be easier to establish the
agenda for the December meeting. He agreed to work with Planner Repya on a potential power point
presentation and the format of the meeting and report to the Board prior to December 13th. No formal action
was taken.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS None
VII. CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
A. Southdale Center Update
Member Moore reported that he and Member Anger met with Planner Repya to review the Southdale
information she had in her files. They also plan on visiting the Edina Historical Society to review their
information with the ultimate goal of creating a master book of scanned files.
Member Anger stated that it would be great if the Southdale owners recognized the importance of identifying
the artifacts from the center's early days. Consultant Vogel commented that it appears the owners need to get
a handle on what artifacts remain and where they are located.
Member Carr pointed out that there may be a foundation such as the Target Foundation that would be
interested in supporting a Southdale artifact restoration project. Board members agreed, adding that there are
most likely TV footage and press materials from Southdale's early days that could be used to spark interest from
the public.
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Edina Heritage Preservation Board
Minutes
November 7, 2011
Chairman Stegner thanked Members Moore and Anger for their work thus far; pointing out that with the
upcoming 125th Anniversary of the City in 2013, the timing of this project is perfect.
B. GrandView District Small Area Study
Chairman Stegner reported to the Board that since the October meeting Planner Repya, he and Consultant Vogel
attended a work session of the GrandView District Small Area Study committee that focused on the history of
the area. Also in attendance were members from the Edina Historical Society and Jerry's Foods. The
information was very interesting and focused on the development of the area since 1912 as well as influential
residents that lived in the neighborhood. The purpose of the work session was to provide the committee and
consultants an historic backdrop they will take into consideration in their planning process.
C. Updating of the City's Web Site— Member Carr
Member Carr recognized that the City's communication's department is in the process of re -doing the City's
website and pointed out that this might be a good time for the HPB to provide input regarding the need for an
interactive element whereby interested parties have the ability to access information. She added it would be
wonderful if through the website, the HPB could emphasize education and heritage preservation awareness.
Following a brief discussion, Planner Repya agreed to report back to the Board on how the updated website will
impact their mission.
. VIII. STAFF COMMENTS
Planner Repya provided the Board members with copies of the completed "Thematic Study of Heritage
Resources Associated with Women in the City of Edina". The project, funded by a matching Certified Local
Government Grant" will be coupled with previous studies to provide contextual information regarding the
impact of women on Edina's heritage resources.
Board members stated that they have been anxious to receive the finished study. It was agreed that they
wanted ample time to review the information, and since the December meeting will be televised, they would
discuss the study at the January 2012 meeting.
IX. NEXT MEETING DATE December 13, 2011
X. ADJOURNMENT 8:55 P.M.
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Respectfully submitted,
Joyce Repya
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