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