Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985 05-28 HPB Meeting Minutes RegularC A G E N D A EDINA HERITAGE PRESERVATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 28, AT 8:00 P.M. EDINA CITY HALL MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM I. Approval of Minutes: April 23, 1985 II. Plan Review: Proposed Dwelling 4528 Bruce Ave. (B-85-5) Ill. Plan Review: Propsed Addition 4617 Moorland Ave. (B-85-6) IV. Grimes House, 4500 W. 44th St. V. Certified Local Governments Program VI. Election of Officers VII. Other Business VIII. Next Meeting Date: June 25, 1985 at 8:00 P.M. VIIII. Adjournment MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING EDINA HERITAGE PRESERVATION BOARD TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1985 AT 7:30 P.M. EDINA CITY HALL MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Foster Dunwiddie, Tom Martinson Gary Nyberg, Gordon Stuart, John Childs Lois Wilder and David Gepner STAFF PRESENT: Harold Sand I. Approval of Minutes: Mr. Gary Nyberg moved approval of the April 23, 1985 minutes as submitted. Mr. David Gepner seconded the motion. All voted aye, motion carrier. II. Plan Review Proposed dwelling 4528 Bruce Avenue (B-85-5). Mr. Sand advised the Board that the Edina Board of Appeals and Adjustments approved a lot width variance for this property on May 16, 1985. The variance was issued subject to a condition that a survey of the property demonstrated that the lot was 50 feet wide and that the Heritage Preservation Board approves the building plans, because the lot is within a National Register Historic District. The decision of the Board of Appeals and Adjustments was appealed by the southerly adjacent property owner Mr. Peter Mahon Jr. The appeal will most likely be considered by the City Council on June 17, 1985 at 7:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers. A new notice of this hearing will be mailed to the appropriate property owners. Mr. Sand indicated that a survey of the vacant lot has ben submitted since the variance hearing. The survey confirms the 50 foot width of the lot and illustrates encroachments of a driveway, sidewalk and fence on the lot. He presented the proposed dwelling plans and elevations noting that the plans illustrate a front facing garage and walls covered with brickfstucco and wood lap siding. The dwelling is designed in a modern English Tudor style to reflect one of the most common styles in the District. Mr. Dunwiddie advised the audience that the primary concern of the Heritage Preservation Board was integrating the architectLrfbf the structure with the rest of the District. The issues of lot size and setbacks are not within the Board's purview or the condition of the variance. The Board will primarily discuss the appropriateness of the structure within the National Register Historic District. The Board is an advisory body to the City Council. Mr. Jeffry Gustafson of Gustafson and Associates, the developer of the property, indicated that the plans were designed by Russell Home Designs and he asked for a plan that was compatible with the neighborhood to the best of the designers ability. He is somewhat perplexed because out of the whole Country Club Neighborhood, this portion of Bruce Avenue is quite mixed. There are houses across the street that are entirely lap siding and two houses away is a contemporary that is very unusual. They tried to stick with a tudorish design to be compatible with the neighborhood. They decided to use a front loading garage because on Bruce - Avenue there are 11 other front loading garages and a side loading garage would make the house narrower which would look out of place and cover a large part of the rear yard with driveway. Putting the driveway where it is preserves a large tree in the front yard. His firm has constructed a number of dwellings using this tudor style in western Edina, Bloomington and Eden Prairie. They have achieved an older look than most contractors have achieved. Mrs. Karen Kepple at 4527 Bruce Avenue indicated she did not have a comment on the design of the house but is concerned about the size of the lot. Mr. Gustafson stated that the proposed dwelling was 4 feet narrower than permitted under the ordinance. Mrs. Pat Kitilson at 4529 Bruce Avenue expressed concern bout the design of the proposed house and a need for compatibility to the 50 year old houses in the neighborhood. In response to Mr. Nyberg, Mr. Gustafson indicated that the fireplace was designed as a masonry structure. Mr. Martinson stated that there are some essential differences between the Country Club District and the rest of Edina that haven't come across in the building plans. The Country Club is a special historic district. The issue is not trying to move a few details around or throw a different material on and try to satisfy the city staff. The issue is dealing with and perhaps bettering what is already there. The particular style chosen is not important because there are many different styles in the District. The Country Club district has over 500 buildings and there are several recent mistakes that should not be considered a model. The contemporary structures are unfortunate incidents that have nothing to do with the dwellings of the 20's and 301s. When you examine the siting of houses you do ✓ not have front driveways. There are several reasons why the front driveway was not used, one is to pick up more sun, the houses run east and west. The second thing, when you look up and down the block you don't see alot of cars in front. There are many other parts of Edina that have that but this is a different scale of neighborhood. The plan seems to be a cartoon and does not bear a design relationship with the structures developed by Liebenberg and Carl Hanson and the others in the 20's and 301s. The proposed design is an assemblage of dislocated parts, the kind of thing you find in West Bloomington or Eden Prairie in 1980. You don't put a 1982 garage door in front of the house. You don't use a depressed arch over the front door that has nothing to do with English Tudor design or any of the period design styles. The English tudor exposed framing has a definite sense of order and this is not close to the appearance of tudor framing. This lot is in the 1 1/2 story area of the Country Club District not the 2 story area and the proposed dwelling is very bulky for this area. The Board is not concerned with the setbacks but the quality of design and character are important. There must be a far better architectural quality. He recommended that the plans should be reconsidered by the designer on the basis of what the Country Club District and period revival design is supposed to be. The plans should be reviewed in terms of how you use historical motifs and appropriate details, materials, colors and textures and come back to the board again. Mr. Martinson moved to not approve the plans and continue the request indefinitely to permit the reevaluation of the plans. Mr. Nyberg seconded the motion. 'The Board discussed the motion and the idea that the design is making fun of the other buildings on the block in terms of character -there is an insensitivity to the essence, the planning of the Country Club District. There are many references available on period revival design including books and reports. There are a series of books by Royal Barry Wills available in the Library, there is the report and nomination of the Country Club District. There is a series of periodicals in the art department of the Library such as "Pencil Points" every month between 1920 and 1935 that are filled with details and designs that were used during this period. The issues that were raised here have been central issues in the architectural community since 1973 or 1974. The periodicals, monographs and style manuals are there and the issue of dealing with National Register properties is well established. The requirement is not to change details on the plans but to redesign the house in a period revival style. The developer should find an architect or designer that can design a house in this style or go back to the 1920's and 1920's and take a plan from that period. Mr. Gustafson inquired about the new dwelling at 44th and Browndale built by Wally Irwin. However, that property is not within the Country Club District. Mr. Gustafson stated that he is the owner of the vacant lot and the house to the north and that he is the prospective purchaser of the new dwelling. Mr. Gustafson asked if a front loading garage would be prohibited. The Board responded that it may be possible within a period motif such as a porte cochere. The other method to avoid a wide driveway is to share a driveway with the adjacent house. It will be very difficult to properly design a front loading garage that is double wide; perhaps a tandem garage could be properly designed. Mr. Dunwiddie asked for a vote on the motion before the Board. Mr. Gustafson said he would withdraw the request and come back with new plans at the next meeting. The Board all voted aye, the motion carried. The proposed plans were denied and the request continued to allow the developer to prepare new plans. III. Plan Review: Proposed addition 4617 Moorland Avenue (B-85-6) Mr Sand stated that this request was considered by the Board of Appeals and Adjustments on May 16, 1985. The Board approved a 14.5 foot rear yard variance with a condition that the building plans are approved by the Heritage Preservation Board. The proposal will enlarge the kitchen - eating area in the rear of the dwelling with a single story, flat roof addition. The proponent has not presented formal architectural plans at this time. The dwelling is model home "G" of the 8 model homes in the Country Club District. The plans were designed by the architectural firm of Liebenberg and Kaplan. The city has a set of the original building plans on file and details on the dwelling. A second story living area has been added above the garage and the garage opens to the north rather, than the south as illustrated on the plans. Mr. Steve Sather of Patio Village Inc., the contractor on the job and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Paulus, owners of the house were present. Mr. Sather indicated they did not have the plans prepared but they intend to build a matching addition with cedar accents and matching stucco. The south wall of the addition will be recessed one foot north to preserve the existing wood detail. Mr. Martinson said that the addition is in back and not visible to the public and therefore the design is not critical. He offered to work with the owners to prepare a plan for review. Mr. Dunwiddie said that this item should be tabled until June 25, 1985 because the Board did not have plans to review. Mr. Martinson moved to continue the item until June 25, 1985. Mr. Stuart seconded the motion. He voted aye, motion carried. IV. Grimes House 4100 West 44th Street Mr. Dunwiddie reported that the house is for sale and the asking price has been reduced to $250,000. The present owners Dr. and Mrs. Stallard are moving out of the country. The Edina Historical Society recently toured the house and talked with the real estate agent. The agent discussed the possibility of some interior and exterior changes to the dwelling. The dwelling is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is zoned Heritage Preservation District and the city has a facade easement. The exterior and elements of the interior are regulated by the City through the easement and zoning. The house was recently restored including a careful paint analysis to determine the original building colors. Mr. Dunwiddie mentioned the mater because there may be a request for changes in the future. V. Certified Local Governments; The staff has not been able to contact the State Historic Preservation Office due to vacations. VI. Election of Offices: Mr. Martinson moved to continue this item. There were no objections. VII. Other Business: Mr. Martinson advised the Board that Foster Dunwiddie has been elected to be a Fellow of the American Institute of sArchitects which is a rare distinction given to 1 or 2 percent of architects. The Board congratulated Mr. Dunwiddie on this high distinction. VIII. Next Meeting Date: The meeting time was changed to 7:30 P.M. on the regularly scheduled day, Tuesday June 25, 1985. IX. Adjournment: Moved by Tom Martinson, seconded by Gary Nyberg. All voted aye. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted Harold Sand