HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019_5_14_Meeting(1281)Draft Minutes☒
Approved Minutes☐
Approved Date:
Minutes
City Of Edina, Minnesota
Heritage Preservation Commission
Edina City Hall
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
I. Call To Order
Chair Birdman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Answering roll call was Chair Birdman and members, Lonnquist, Schilling, Davis, Widmoyer,
Mondry, Blake and student members Venell and Maheshwari. Staff Liaison, Emily Bodeker and
Preservation Consultant Vogel were also in attendance.
III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda
Motion was made by Blake seconded by Lonnquist to approve the meeting agenda as
amended. All voted aye. The motion carried.
IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes
A. HPC Minutes: January 8, 2019
B. HPC Minutes: February 12, 2019
C. HPC Minutes: March 12, 2019
Motion was made by Schilling seconded by Davis to approve the meeting minutes. All
voted aye. The motion carried.
V. Special Recognitions and Presentations: None
VI. Community Comment: None
VII. Reports/Recommendations
A. Archeology Project Update
Archeology consultant, Jeremy Nienow presented to the Commission and gave an update on the
Archeology project. The Artifact Identification Day will be on May 18th from 10am-noon, at the
Edina Historical Society.
Draft Minutes☒
Approved Minutes☐
Approved Date:
B. 2019 Preservation Award
Liaison Bodeker informed the Commission that two nominations were received for the 2019
Preservation Award, The 44th & France Small Area Plan and 4610 Browndale Avenue.
The Commission discussed both applications and thought each nomination would have been a
good award recipient. The commission also discussed potential changes for advertising for
nominations next year.
Motion by Blake seconded by Davis to award the 2019 Preservation Award to the 44th &
France Small Area Plan. All voted aye. The motion carried.
C. Country Club Resurvey
Commissioners working on the Country Club Resurvey and Consultant Vogel provided an update
on the research that has been found in working on the Country Club resurvey project. There was
an interest to find out how Thorpe planned the Country Club Development.
VIII. Chair and Member Comments: None
IX. Staff Comments:
Consultant Vogel informed the Commission that the Preservation Conference would be held in
St. Cloud this year.
X. Adjournment
Motion made by Lonnquist to adjourn the April 9, 2019 meeting at 8:17 p.m. Motion seconded
by Davis. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Bodeker
May 14, 2019
Heritage Preservation Commission
Emily Bodeker, AICP, Assistant City Planner
Certificate of Appropriateness: 4604 Browndale Avenue
Information / Background:
The subject property, 4604 Browndale Avenue, is located on the west side of Browndale Avenue, south of
Bridge Street, north of Edgebrook Place and east of Minnehaha Creek. The Heritage Preservation
Commission approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for 4604 Browndale Avenue in 2018. The proposed
Certificate of Appropriateness includes similar updates to the home than the 2018 COA but with a few
variations, specifically a bump out on the southeast corner of the front façade and a front porch expansion.
The updated COA request still includes the reorienting (removing and rebuilding) the garage back to a side
loaded garage facing the north property line, a 2 level addition to the south side of the existing house, and
an addition to the garage area on the front facing façade. The proposed project will also require an
updated variance. The variance that was approved by the Planning Commission to exceed the
allowable square footage with a non-conforming setback was contingent on the plans presented,
therefore an updated variance is required. The variance will be heard by the Planning Commission
on May 22, 2019.
The home, built in 1925, is a two-story Spanish Eclectic style residence. It was built in 1925 for Charles A.
Moore, an executive with the United Fruit Company (who is credited with helping to perfect the mechanical
process by which bananas are ripened artificially during transport). The house was designed by the
architectural firm of Jacob Liebenberg and Seeman Kaplan and is not one of the six “model” Country Club
Homes designed for Samuel Thorpe in 1927-1928.
STAFF REPORT Page 2
Primary Issues:
The proposed building addition and changes will be visible from Browndale Avenue. The District plan of
treatment recommends rehabilitation as the most appropriate treatment for historic home in the Country
Club District. The general standards outlined in the plan of treatment allow for the construction of
structural additions provided the new work is architecturally compatible with the historic house and other
historic homes in the neighborhood.
Preservation Consultant Robert Vogel’s Comments are included in the attached memo
dated May 3, 2019.
Staff Recommendation & Findings:
Staff concurs with Consultant Vogel’s evaluation of the proposed plans for the proposed additions and
changes to the front facade, also recommending approval of the updated Certificate of Appropriateness
request. If the applicant is agreeable to the HPC and its staff would like to inspect and record any cork
insulation material that is exposed during construction.
Findings supporting the recommendation include:
• The proposed work is compatible with the historic character of the house and will require minimal
alteration of the existing structure.
• The proposed changes will not result in the loss of any significant architectural character defining
features.
• The proposed work will be compatible with the size scale, proportions and materials of the existing
house.
• The proposed work will not have an adverse effect on the surrounding homes or the neighborhood
has a whole.
Conditions for approval:
• The plans presented
MEMORANDUM
TO: Emily Bodeker, Assistant City Planner
FROM: Robert Vogel, Preservation Planning Consultant
DATE: May 3, 2019
SUBJECT: COA Application (Revised) for 4604 Browndale Avenue
I have reviewed the revised plans and project narrative for the project at 4604 Browndale
Avenue in the Country Club District. A Certificate of Appropriateness was approved for this
property in 2018, however the rehabilitation project was never undertaken and the owner is now
seeking a COA for a different project, one that involves replacement of the existing street-facing
attached garage with a new side-loading attached garage, a second-floor addition, and alteration
of the front entry area.
My June 5, 2018 COA comments on the previous COA application provides background
information about the subject property and makes the case for its historic significance and
integrity; the memorandum also explains the general approach to rehabilitation as a preservation
treatment. These statements certainly apply to the revised project and do not need to be repeated
here.
In my professional opinion, the revised project meets the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for
rehabilitation of historic properties and complies with the design guidelines discussed in the
Country Club District Plan of Treatment. Removal of the existing attached garage should have
minimal impact on the historic character of the house; the front-facing garage is not original
construction and has not acquired historical significance in its own right. Attached garages are
appropriate in the district and locating new attached garages on a secondary elevation is regarded
as a “best management practice” for rehabilitation of historic properties. The plans presented
with the COA application indicate that the doors of the new garage will not be visible from
Browndale Avenue—more importantly, the new garage will not require demolition of any
important character defining architectural features and while the addition will alter the house’s
principal façade from its as-built appearance, the new front wall surface facing Browndale
should not detract from the features of the property which are significant to its historical and
architectural values. The garage should have minimal visual impact on the appearance of the
house.
The design of the proposed second-floor addition meets the general performance standards for
rehabilitation projects and will be compatible in scale and exterior finishes with the rest of the
house. The proposed window and front entry door replacement work also meets applicable
preservation standards. The new windows and doors should match the originals in size, design,
color and texture. Alteration of the front entry door and stoop should not have an adverse effect
on the historic character of the façade.
In conclusion, I recommend approval of the COA with the stipulation that if any original cork
insulation is discovered during construction, the Heritage Preservation Commission and its staff
should be given a reasonable opportunity to inspect and record the exposed material.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
APR 2 5 2019
CITY OF EDINA
Consideration for Certificate of Appropriateness at property located at 4604 Browndale Avenue
The owners of this 1925 Spanish Colonial Revival seek approval for the following updates to the street
facing fagade:
• Reorient garage BACK to a side loaded garage located in the north facing side yard.
• Addition of a 16' x 20' 2-level volume to the south side of the existing house
• Enlarged footprint of Front Stoop
• General maintenance and safety updates to the existing home
The original home was designed by the architects Liebenberg & Kaplan and built in 1925. The home
is a wonderful example of the Spanish Colonial Revival present throughout the historic district. The
garage doors of the original home faced the north side yard a 1950s addition and remodel located the
garage doors to the street facing garage. The 1950s addition used panelized stucco, that does not match
the original stucco. The proposed garage will be a 3-car garage with doors facing north and accessed
from the sideyard. To allow for space enough for 3-car garage a 6' addition will need to be added to the
street facing façade of the garage. This addition does not project beyond the face of the main volume of
the house. Additionally, a 6'-6" addition will be added to the Creekside/ rear yard to create an overall
width of 35'-9" for the 3-car garage. In essence, the 1950s garage is demolished in order to allow for
access to the side loaded garage.
Above the garage the existing 2" floor volume will be added onto and align with existing roof
geometry (addition towards street, extrusion of existing roof geometry). The new roof will match the
existing Spanish clay tile roof. The east facing double hung windows will have decorative wood shutters
to match the unique style of the existing home. The material palate and character will use the existing
house as precedent. The scale of the garage and bedroom volume is subordinate to the main volume of
the house. Pulling from the existing roof forms, the second story addition quietly resides next to the
main volume of the original home. The addition will have stucco walls, exposed rafter tails, and a clay
tile roof. Proposed reworking eliminates garage doors on street facing fagade, consistent with the
Country Club District's Plan of Treatment.
The existing home sits on a double lot and is vastly out of scale with its neighboring grand homes.
The proposed design adds a 2-level living space to the south side yard. The primary volume of the
addition sits back 12" from the existing front wall of the house — preserving the charming original
Spanish Colonial Revival buttress. The addition consists of a Living Room on the main level and bedroom
on the 2" level. The Living room opens to an outdoor patio space. To animate the façade of the 2-level
addition a small 1-level bay is located on the south east corner of the addition, housing a cozy window
seat. The hip-roof of the bay wraps the corner and extends beyond the chimney on the south where it
continues as the canopy for the south stoop. The material palate of the addition will match the exiting
house — stucco walls, exposed rafter rails, clay tile roof, and decorative window shutters. The scale and
character of the addition compliments, but does not overshadow, the original house.
The proposed design also adds glass to the original front door; allowing light to enter the house and
visibility to the front stoop. The front stoop is enlarged to accommodate a few small chairs, its size is
consistent and in keeping with homes in the historic district.
The existing home needs general maintenance and upkeep, and upgrades to meet current life safety
building code. Most of the wood windows are rotted and inoperable and need to be replaced. We
propose replacement of all windows with energy efficient double hung or inswing casement with
simulated divided lites (or "muntins"). The existing stucco with be inspected and repaired or replaced
with traditional stucco as needed. Additionally, the existing clay tile roof will be inspected and repaired.
Additionally, an egress double hung window will be added to north wall of existing main volume of
house, to do this the window location will need to be modified. The new egress window is not on street
facing façade but is visible from the street. All necessary maintenance items safeguard the longevity of
the home and will be in keeping with the character of the historic district.
All proposed work simultaneously preserves the historic character of the neighborhood, while
updating the home to accommodate a modern family. The additions bring the house closer in scale to
the surrounding stately scaled homes. Within the context of the block and size of lot, the proposed
home quietly blends into the framework of neighborhood.
The homeowners have lived in the Country Club District for almost 20 years and look forward to
moving their family to their new creekside home.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
APR 2 5 2019
CITY OF EDINA