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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-17-17 Meeting PacketDraft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: Click here to enter a date. Heritage Preservation Commission March 14, 2017 Minutes City Of Edina, Minnesota Heritage Preservation Commission Edina City Hall Tuesday, March 14, 2017 I. Call To Order Chair Birdman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering roll call were Chair Birdman and members Moore, Sussman, Nymo, Loving, Blake, Ellingson; and student members Puerzer and Nemerov. Absent were members Kelly and Christiaansen. Staff liaison Joyce Repya, Senior Planner was also in attendance. III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda Chair Birdman explained that Jerry Straub, the Planning Commission member serving as the HPC liaison for updating the Comprehensive Plan would like to address the Commission. Motion was made by Moore and seconded by Nymo to add the Comprehensive Plan update to the agenda as item VI. B. (after consideration of the COA request). All voted aye. The motion carried. IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes Motion was made by Moore and seconded by Nymo to approve the minutes from the January 10, 2017 meeting. All voted aye. The motion carried. V. Community Comment - None VI. Reports/Recommendations A. Certificate of Appropriateness - 4920 Arden Avenue Planner Repya provided details of the proposed plans where the applicant is requesting to replace an existing attached, one-story, single-stall garage that faces West 50th Street with a two-story, two-stall attached garage with living space above. The changes to the home complement its American Colonial Revival style, and are consistent with the goals of the Country Club District’s plan of treatment, thus Ms. Repya recommended approval of the request subject to the plans presented. Draft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: Click here to enter a date. Heritage Preservation Commission March 14, 2017 Following a brief discussion, Motion was made by Moore and seconded by Sussman to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness request subject to the plans presented. All voted aye. The motion carried. B. Comprehensive Plan Update: Jerry Straub, Planning Commission liaison to HPC Planning Commission member Jerry Straub introduced himself and provided an overview of the Comprehensive Plan process currently being led by the Planning Commission. Straub pointed out that the official kick-off of the plan update has been postponed pending the scheduling of some community meetings. He stressed that he looks forward to working with the HPC; encouraging the Commission to share ideas, questions, or concerns once the process is underway. C. 2017 Heritage Award Nominations - Discussion Planner Repya reported that in February it was announced that nominations for the 2017 Edina Heritage Award will be accepted until April 12, 2017. At the April 17th meeting, the HPC will review the submitted nominations and determine the 2017 recipient. A plaque recognizing the winner will be presented by the Mayor& City Council at the May 2nd City Council meeting. Ms. Repya explained that thus far no nominations have been received. She pointed out that typically HPC members take an active role in discussing potential properties for nominations; often actually submitting nominations for consideration. Discussion ensued regarding potential nominations with the Commissioners suggesting that in addition to advertising the request for nominations in the Edina Sun Current newspaper and About Town Spring magazine, perhaps the City could post a request for Heritage Award nominations on the Nextdoor Neighborhood site and provide a link to the nomination form. Planner Repya agreed to check into the potential of posting on the Nextdoor Neighborhood site. D. Name Change from Heritage Preservation “Board” to “Commission” Draft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: Click here to enter a date. Heritage Preservation Commission March 14, 2017 Planner Repya reported that at the February 22nd City Council meeting, the City Council granted first reading to an ordinance amending the Edina City Code concerning Boards and Commissions. The following changes were made: • The name Heritage Preservation Board will be changed to Heritage Preservation Commission. • A board or commission chair may now serve 3 one year terms instead of just 2. • The joint meeting with the City Council will no longer count toward attendance for board and commission members. Ms. Repya concluded that the second reading of the ordinance was granted at the March 7th Council meeting and the Ordinance will go into effect after its publication on March 16, 2017. The commission thanked Ms. Repya for the information. E. Annual Election - Chair & Vice Chair Prior to the election of officers, commission members introduced themselves to the two new members of the Heritage Preservation Commission; Laurie Blake and John Ellingson. Chair - Motion was made by Sussman and seconded by Moore to nominate Michael Birdman for a second term as Chair of the Heritage Preservation Commission. All voted aye. The motion carried. Vice Chair - Motion was made by Birdman and seconded by Sussman to nominate Scott Loving to the position of Vice Chair of the Heritage Preservation Commission. All voted aye. The motion carried. VII. Correspondence And Petitions - None VIII. Chair And Member Comments Moore explained that when working at the Edina Historical Society he uncovered some original 1935 photographs of the 2016 Edina Heritage Award winning home at 5201 Wooddale Avenue. He agreed to share the photos with Planner Repya for the files; and Rehkamp Larson Architects who were co-recipients of the award along with the property owners Doug and Pat Vayda. IX. Staff Comments Planner Repya reported the following: Draft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: Click here to enter a date. Heritage Preservation Commission March 14, 2017 • The annual board and commission chair/liaison meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 29th from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Chair Birdman stated that he would be unable to attend - Vice Chair Loving agreed to attend in his stead. • The city is undergoing a revamping of the entire web site that includes an evaluation of the most viewed pages. A consolidation of information on the HPC pages will occur to ensure easy access. She agreed to keep the commission advised of the web site progress. • Consultant Vogel has been communicating with a representative from the Morningside Church as they look for guidance with a forth coming building project. Currently, there is no new information to report. X. Adjournment - 8:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Joyce RepyaJoyce RepyaJoyce RepyaJoyce Repya PROCLAMATION PRESERVATION MONTH MAY 2017 WHEREAS, historic preservation is an effective tool for managing growth and sustainable development, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride and maintaining community character while enhancing livability; and WHEREAS, historic preservation is relevant for communities across the nation, both urban and rural, and for Americans of all ages, all walks of life, and all ethnic backgrounds; and WHEREAS, it is important to celebrate the role of history in our lives and the contributions made by dedicated individuals in helping to preserve the tangible aspects of the heritage that has shaped us as a people; and WHEREAS, “Embracing the Story of Our Town” is the theme for Preservation Month 2017, sponsored by the Edina Heritage Preservation Commission. NOW, THEREFORE, we, the City Council of the City of Edina, do proclaim May 2017, as Preservation Month, and call upon the people of Edina to join their fellow citizens in recognizing and participating in this special observance. Dated this 2nd day of May 2017. ________________________ James B. Hovland Mayor 1 MEMORANDUM TO: Edina Heritage Preservation Commission FROM: Robert Vogel, Preservation Planning Consultant DATE: April 10, 2017 SUBJECT: Comprehensive Plan and Small Area Study 44th Street & France Avenue A comprehensive plan (“comp plan” for short) is a local government’s guide to community development (physical, social, and economic). Comp plans are not meant to serve as regulations; instead, they provide a strategic vision and a rational basis for future planning and community development decisions. The primary users of comp plans are local elected officials, citizen advisory commissions, and their staffs who rely on the plans for guidance in decision making in land use, economic development, transportation, housing, public infrastructure, and environmental protection. The Minnesota Land Planning Act of 1976 designated the Metropolitan Council as the agency responsible for regional planning in the Twin Cities region; although there is no regional plan per se, state law requires each local unit of government to adopt a comp plan that conforms to the regional plan prepared by the Metropolitan Council. Each county and municipality in the metro area is also required to revise and update its comp plan every ten years to ensure consistency with the goals and policies of the Metropolitan Council. While state law does not mandate inclusion of a heritage preservation element in the city’s comp plan, municipalities in the Twin Cities with mature preservation programs typically incorporate preservation goals and policies in their plans. Cities which participate in the Certified Local Government program administered by the US Department of the Interior are also strongly encouraged to adopt comprehensive preservation plans and the National Park Service has issued standards and guidelines for preservation planning. The uniqueness of individual comp plans reflects community specific and locally driven preservation planning processes. Historical Background Protecting Edina’s significant heritage resources has been an integral part of the city’s community development program since the establishment of the Edina Heritage Preservation Board in 1975. The earliest efforts aimed at integrating heritage preservation into community planning emphasized the identification and registration of historically important buildings— however, by 2000 only the Country Club District and six individual properties had been registered as preservation sites and the city’s first comp plans barely mentioned preservation. The first attempt at developing a comprehensive preservation strategy was made in 1999 when the Heritage Preservation Board sponsored a historic context study to delineate the broad patterns in Edina’s historical development that were represented by heritage preservation resources. In addition to the historic context statements, this study established goals and priorities for future surveys to identify and evaluate properties worthy of preservation. The 1999 study led directly to the reorganization of the city preservation program and the adoption of the current heritage landmark program in 2002. 2 When Edina updated its comp plan in 2008 the new plan included a 19-page chapter on heritage preservation prepared by the Heritage Preservation Board and its staff. This plan involved a great deal of citizen involvement over two years, including numerous public meetings and workshops devoted to discussion of preservation issues and priorities. This process produced a consensus vision for the future of heritage preservation work. Part reference document and part policy manual, the plan was intended to create a more sustainable community based preservation program based on sound resource management principles. The current comp plan makes heritage preservation an important part of comprehensive community planning and lays the groundwork for integrating heritage preservation policies and objectives with the city’s other long-range community development goals, particularly in the areas of land use and development. The heritage preservation chapter discusses the scope of the city preservation program, frames critical preservation planning issues, and delineates a range of local historic contexts which provide the basic framework for identifying, evaluating, and registering significant properties as Edina Heritage Landmarks. The plan also establishes specific goals and policies for managing heritage preservation resources within the framework of the existing preservation ordinance and zoning codes and provides an action plan for implementation. Updating the Comp Plan The underlying reason for updating the city’s preservation plan in 2017-2018 is the recognition by the HPC and its staff that the 2008 plan contains some information gaps and needs to be revised to reflect the results of research and planning work undertaken since 2008. Stakeholders have also expressed interest in redefining the mission objectives of the city preservation program to place greater emphasis on stewardship of heritage resources through increased public education and partnership with historic property owners. The basic format of the updated plan will probably not be substantially changed from the 2008 plan. However, some of the goals and policies, as well as the action plan for implementation, will need to be revised; new goals may be developed to strengthen the integration of preservation into the broader community development decision-making arena. The overview of local historic contexts, as well as the inventory of properties registered or determined eligible for designation as heritage landmarks, will need to be updated. Perhaps most importantly, we need to explore ways to expand our preservation planning “tool box” so that we can more effectively preserve, protect, and enhance heritage resources through delivery of critical preservation services. 44th Street & France Avenue Small Area Study Our 2017 work plan includes two small area studies that will be carried out as part of the comp plan update. The first small area study deals with the historic commercial district at 44th Street and France Avenue, sometimes referred to as the “Westgate Commercial District.” (The other small area study will focus on the 50th Street and France Avenue commercial district.) The purpose of this study is to create a 20-year vision, guide plan, and policy framework for future development, including public infrastructure improvements. The role to be played by heritage preservation in this kind of neighborhood-scale study is fairly straightforward: 3 1. Review historic contexts and the results of local historic preservation surveys and use these data to develop site-specific goals and priorities for the identification, evaluation, registration, and treatment of heritage resources. 2. Identify the significant heritage preservation resources which are most likely to be impacted by future development activities. 3. Develop explicit procedures for dealing with heritage landmark eligible properties within the framework of existing land use, zoning, and heritage resource management programs. 4. Recommend specific ways to maintain and enhance the historic character of the area. The 44th & France locality was included in previous surveys of heritage preservation resources conducted under the auspices of the City of Edina. Several historic buildings of historical interest were documented by reconnaissance surveys of the Morningside neighborhood carried out between 1979 and 2009. A more detailed intensive survey of the “Westgate Commercial District” conducted in 2012 identified eight buildings that were considered historic, three of which were subsequently determined individually eligible for registration as Edina Heritage Landmarks. Another building, the historic Westgate Theater, could not be fully evaluated but is considered by some to meet the ordinance criteria for historical significance; more research is necessary to document its historic associations and architectural integrity. All of the identified historic properties have considerable potential for rehabilitation and several building owners have indicated interest in maintaining and enhancing their properties. There is an old saying amongst planners: if you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. Heritage preservation can be an effective component of site- or neighborhood-level planning because the conceptual underpinnings of modern land use planning (as well as economic development) are entirely compatible with the best management practices used in heritage preservation. The trick is to fully integrate preservation with other community development planning throughout every stage of the planning process. The 44th & France small area study offers an important opportunity to plan for the future of a unique and important historic neighborhood. Heritage preservation priorities need to be carefully considered throughout the small area planning process. The first step is to provide the study team with background data on heritage resources in the study area. Historical research and survey work already done will need to be incorporated into the study and complemented, not duplicated, unless there is a need to check its accuracy, refine it, or revise it. The next step is to analyze the heritage resource data in the context of other planning information—land use, zoning, existing infrastructure, economic trends, etc. While the city’s overall preservation goals are fairly straightforward, a serious effort will need to be made to identify critical resource management issues unique to the 44th & France neighborhood. Of course, resident and property owner input should also be obtained to help determine the goals and objectives of the plan. 1 MEMORANDUM TO: Heritage Preservation Board FROM: Robert Vogel, Preservation Planning Consultant DATE: April 3 2012 SUBJECT: Westgate Commercial District Survey This memorandum presents a summary of the results of an intensive-level heritage resources survey of the Westgate commercial district. The survey involved background research in documentary sources as well as field examination of individual buildings. The purpose of the investigation was to identify and gather information on heritage preservation resources and to determine whether identified properties meet defined criteria of historical, architectural, or cultural significance. The survey was carried out by the city’s preservation planning consultant, who is solely responsible for the interpretations and recommendations contained in this report. All records generated by the survey will be placed on file with the city planning department. SURVEY AREA The Westgate commercial district is located in the northeastern part of the city within the historic Morningside neighborhood around the intersection of West 44th Street and France Avenue South. France Avenue forms the municipal boundary between Edina and Minneapolis and defines the western limits of the Linden Hills neighborhood in south Minneapolis. RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODS The primary planning goal of the survey was to identify and gather data on historic commercial buildings in the vicinity of France Avenue and West 44th Street. It included background research in documentary sources as well as field survey (i.e., the physical search for and recording of historic buildings on the ground). The underlying reason for conducting the survey was to determine whether identified properties meet defined criteria for historical, architectural, or cultural significance. The survey was designed to be a planning tool and was not intended to result directly in the designation of properties as Edina Heritage Landmarks. Because this was an intensive survey, the objective was to document all commercial properties over 50 years old in sufficient detail to permit evaluation of their heritage landmark eligibility. As a result, the survey involved the visual inspection of the exterior of every building in the survey area. Nonhistoric properties were not surveyed. The field survey was preceded and accompanied by historical research to define historic context (i.e., the historic events and trends that shaped the important broad patterns of commercial development) and reconstruct the specific history of individual buildings. The field survey was carried out on foot and resulted in a detailed report on each 2 property, with written data, photographs, and other documentation, which were the basis for evaluating historic significance and integrity. Some archival research and reconnaissance-level field survey of the Westgate locality had been conducted prior to the initiation of this project. David Gebhard and Tom Martinson took note of the Westgate Theater and the Convention Grill in their Guide to the Architecture of Minnesota (published in 1977) and Jeffrey Hess identified several conspicuous Morningside properties, including the Morningside Odd Fellow’s Lodge, in his 1980 study of Edina architecture. A reconnaissance level survey of the entire Morningside neighborhood was undertaken by the Edina HPB in 2004, but it focused primarily on residential properties. A thematic study of Morningside bungalows was also carried out under the auspices of the HPB in 2009. In addition, several oral history interviews have been conducted with former Morningside residents and business people under the auspices of the Edina Historical Society. HISTORIC CONTEXT Commercial development in Morningside began shortly after the TCRT Como-Harriet streetcar line opened in 1905. The Como-Harriet line ran electrified trolleys between downtown Minneapolis and the western suburbs from 1905 until 1954. The streetcar line stimulated property development of all kinds and the earliest nodes of suburban commercial development tended to cluster around the streetcar stops—small, compact, neighborhood-scale commercial districts sprang up along all of the Twin Cities streetcar lines, with larger agglomerations of stores and offices found at the junctions and terminuses of the major commuter lines. The first businesses to spring up around 44th Street and France Avenue were small stores selling basic necessities; as the surrounding residential neighborhoods grew, more specialized retail and service establishments appeared, including a drugstore, barbershop, grocery store, bakery, and a movie theater. All of the early businesses were oriented to pedestrians, since their customers usually walked from their homes to the store or stopped to shop on their way home from the trolley stop. The area now known as the Westgate district originally formed part of the Waveland and Waveland Park subdivisions platted in 1920. Steam-powered commuter trains ran from Minneapolis to Lake Harriet and Excelsior 1878-1891. However, there was very little actual development activity until after C. I. Fuller platted the Morningside Addition in 1905. Local officials and developers began to consider plans for neighborhood-scale commercial development in Morningside. Shortly after the incorporation of Morningside Village in 1921 part of the undeveloped Waveland Park subdivision was replatted for commercial development by Minneapolis businessman C. W. Fairbairn, who opened a filling station and auto service garage at the intersection of Sunnyside Road and France Avenue. Platted in 1922, Fairbairn’s Rearrangement of Waveland and Waveland Park consisted of two blocks of irregularly shaped lots between West 44th Street, France Avenue South, and Sunnyside Road. The Lots were oriented to the Twin City Rapid Transit (TCRT) Como-Harriet streetcar line, which ran down West 44th Street; in the 1920s a loop extension was built along France Avenue to 50th Street, which became the 3 southwestern terminus of the Como-Harriet Line. (Village officials rejected plans for a commercial development to be located farther west on 44th Street that was proposed by Thorpe Bros., developer of the Edina Country Club District.) The automobile had a profound effect on the streetcar commercial districts across the Twin Cities, changing the size and scale of the buildings, the types of businesses, and the overall character of the neighborhoods. New building types, including filling stations and repair shops, began to appear during the 1920s to meet the requirements of cars, trucks, and buses. Store buildings, and their associated parking lots, grew increasingly larger. In Westgate, these trends increased dramatically after World War II. Many of the older commercial buildings along France Avenue, West 44th Street, and Sunnyside Road were demolished and replaced by larger structures; several of the old buildings that remained were drastically remodeled to compete with more modern buildings. Those local businesses that relied on a neighborhood customer base, such as the grocery store, Griffin Drug, and the Westgate Theater, suffered the most and eventually closed. Where the old streetcar era buildings have survived, they are now occupied by different types of establishments, mostly service businesses and specialty stores. SURVEY RESULTS As an area of commercial growth during the early development of the Morningside neighborhood, the Westgate commercial district features a remarkably intact concentration of one- and two-story commercial buildings which exhibit the architectural trends and patterns popular during the streetcar era (1905-1954), when the district functioned as a neighborhood-scale retail and service center. The following properties were identified as potential heritage preservation resources: • 4384-4390 France Avenue. Two-story commercial block built in 1918 by the Golden Link Lodge No. 167 and commonly known as the Odd Fellows Hall. Designed as a combination lodge hall and multi-tenant commercial block, the property has been occupied by numerous retail and service establishments; the lodge hall on the upper level was converted to office space after the fraternal organization disposed of the building in the late 1960s. The building exterior has been altered from its historic appearance but retains sufficient integrity of design and materials to qualify for preservation as an example of early 20th century commercial architecture. It is significant primarily in the area of social history. • 4400 France Avenue. Built in 1956, this one-story broad-front commercial block has been occupied by Linhoff Photo since 1975. The building lacks historical and architectural significance and is not considered a preservation resource. • 4402 France Avenue. One-story commercial block constructed in 1968 and the warehouse was built in 1972 for Burger Sporting Goods. • 4404-4406 France Avenue. This one-story broad-front commercial block contains two storefronts. The brick-faced, flat-roofed building was constructed in 1940 for 4 Griffin’s drugstore and was later occupied by a beauty shop. The original Burger Brothers Sporting Goods store was located here; Dick’s Sports Barbers, the current occupant, moved into the space at 4404 France Avenue in 1999. The other storefront has been occupied by the Gear Running Store since 2001. Although it is not considered individually significant, the building is architecturally compatible with and contributes to the historic preservation value of the two-story commercial building located next door at 4412 France Avenue. • 4412 France Avenue. Built in 1920, this two-story broad-front commercial block was designed especially for the corner location, with a canted main entrance at France Avenue and Sunnyside Road. The ground floor level is divided into several storefronts (the property encompasses the storefronts at 4406 and 4408 France Avenue and 3900 Sunnyside Road) and the upper level contains apartments. This was a very popular design for streetcar-related commercial development throughout the Twin Cities. Currently occupied by Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery, Caribou Coffee, and other establishments. Overall historic integrity is very good and the building represents an outstanding, well preserved example of early 20th century commercial architecture. At a neighborhood level, the property is also significant for its association with commercial development in the Westgate district. • 4500 France Avenue. This property consists of three contiguous parcels at the corner of France Avenue and Sunnyside Road, a complex of buildings currently occupied by Edina Cleaners and Launderers, a commercial laundry and dry cleaners. It includes structures associated with the original Fairbairn filling station (1923) and the Westgate Garage (1924), both designed by Miller and Holt, architects; and the Westgate Theater (1928), designed by Perry E. Crosier of the firm of Liebenberg and Kaplan. The auto service buildings were adapted for reuse by the Edina Laundry Co. during the early 1960s and the Edina Westgate Theater was acquired and remodeled by the Stotts family after it closed in 1978. The Streamline Moderne style movie theater (historic address: 3904 Sunnyside Road) has been substantially altered from its historical appearance. More research is needed to assess the historic integrity of the former movie house and the other building components before a determination of heritage landmark eligibility can be made. • 3910-3912 Sunnyside Road. The Convention Grill is a one-story masonry commercial building with Art Moderne style detailing. The date of construction is variously given as 1933, 1940, or 1948 in published accounts; its continuous use as a café since 1940 is well documented. The façade has been remodeled several times, reflecting the recent trend toward Art Deco ornamentation; nevertheless, the building retains key aspects of its original character and is in all respects a venerable neighborhood landmark. With respect to heritage landmark eligibility, historical significance is derived primarily from its associative rather than design values. 5 • 3918 Sunnyside Road. This architecturally undistinguished commercial building may have been built as early as circa 1920 but the storefront has been substantially altered, to the point where it no longer qualifies as a heritage preservation resource. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The survey identified and gathered data on a total of eight commercial properties built between circa 1918 and 1968. Surveyed properties were evaluated within the historic context, “Morningside: Edina’s Streetcar Suburb” (delineated in the 1999 Historic Context Study and adopted as part of the 2008 Edina Comprehensive Plan) to determine whether they should be considered eligible for designation as Edina Heritage Landmarks under City Code §850.20 subd. 2. The following properties appear to qualify for Heritage Landmark designation and should be considered worthy of preservation: • 4384-4390 France Avenue South (Historic Odd Fellow’s Hall) • 4412 France Avenue South (Historic Griffin Drug); recommend including the attached one-story storefronts on France Avenue and Sunnyside Road • 3910-3912 Sunnyside Road (Convention Grill) It is recommended that the HPB issue determinations of eligibility for planning purposes pursuant to City Code §850.20, subd. 3. Nomination of these properties for heritage landmark designation is not considered a high priority at this time. More research is recommended to fully evaluate the historic significance of the Edina Westgate Theater building and the former Westgate Garage located at 4500 France Avenue South; this research should focus on documenting whether the buildings retain sufficient aspects of historical integrity with respect to design characteristics, materials, and aesthetic character to constitute a heritage resource worthy of preservation. HELP MAP EDINA’S VISION EDINA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Comp Plan Community Kick-off Meeting 7 p.m. May 8 Braemar Golf Course | 6364 John Harris Drive, Edina Big Ideas Workshop 7-9 p.m. April 19 Public Works | 7450 Metro Blvd, Edina Big Picture Workshop 8 a.m.-4 p.m. April 22 Public Works | 7450 Metro Blvd, Edina VISIONEDINA