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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990 07-24 HPB Meeting Minutes RegularA G E N D A REGULAR MEETING OF THE EDINA HERITAGE PRESERVATION BOARD TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1990, AT 7:30 P.M. EDINA CITY HALL MANAGERS CONFERENCE ROOM I. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: June 26, 1990 II. NEW BUSINESS: - Country Club District Design Review Policies III. OTHER BUSINESS: IV. NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING: August 28, 1990 V. ADJOURNMENT 0 t. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING EDINA HERITAGE PRESERVATION BOARD TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1990, AT 7:30 P.M. EDINA CITY HALL MANAGERIS CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Gary Nyberg, Lois Wilder, Donald Wray, Marilyn Curtis, David Gepner, and Walter Sandison MEMBERS ABSENT: Cy Stuppy STAFF PRESENT: Joyce Repya I. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Walter Sandison moved for approval of the minutes from the June 26, 1990, meeting. Marilyn Curtis seconded the motion. All voted aye; the motion carried. II. NEW BUSINESS: Country Club District Design Review Policy Ms. Repya advised the Board that the City Council had recently heard a request from a property owner in the Country Club District to override and administrative decision whereby staff had denied the homeowner's request to add a second curb cut to their property to accommodate a circular driveway. At that meeting, Council upheld staff's decision, but at the same time, sensed a lack of structure in place to back up a design review decision such as this. As a result, Council has asked that the Heritage Preservation Board review the policies in place, establish practices for design review (i.e. front and sides of structures, exterior materials, sidewalks and driveways, etc.) and recommend a process by which the design review can be implemented. Currently, design review is implemented as a condition for variance approval. The problem lies in the fact that if a variance is not required, the Board lacks authority to impose design review. As the Ordinance now stands, in order to impose the design review requirement the property must be zoned HPD, Heritage Preservation District. There are now five structures zoned HPD in the City of Edina. If v� the HPD overlay zone were to be added to the Country Club, the Board's responsibilities would increase from 5 to 555 structures. In 1980, when the National Registedr designation of the district was intiated, all homeowners received a letter which promised that the designation would in no way interfere with ones individual property rights. Also, minutes from the May 1979 Heritage Preservation Board meeting include a discussion where Foster Dunwiddie voiced his concern of the practicability of administering a district the size of the Country Club if it were to be rezoned to Heritage Preservation District. Marilyn Curtis pointed out that when Mr. Thorpe initially developed the Country Club District, deed restrictions clearly spelled out the intentions of the developer. The promotional literature for the district boasted that "you will be protected from having a monstrosity or an "eyesore" erected next door". There was a home builders committee whose responsibilities were to review proposed plans to ensure they met the established criteria. Ms. Curtis added that the deed restrictions apparently ran with the property for a period of 40 years, after which time, they expired. Ironically, it wasn't until the late sixties or early seventies that intrusive changes appeared in the district. Chairman Nyberg pointed out there are new communities around the country which have been developed and sold with many more restrictions than exist in the Country Club District. However, the difference lies in the fact that in those communities home buyers knew right up front what they would and would not be able to do with their homes. In contrast, the Country Club District has 550 homeowners who have been able to renovate and maintain their homes relatively unrestricted. If the City were to come along and all of a sudden impose design review requirements for all exterior changes made to homes in the district for the sake of heritage preservation, he ventured to say that 90% of the homeowners would feel their property rights had been violated. Chairman Nyberg also observed that now a majority of the homes in the district are from 50 to 60 years old and it is to be expected that they are requiring considerable maintenance. The changed family lifestyles since the 1920's and 1930's is another important factor entering into play with the construction taking place in the district. Fifty years ago family rooms, multiple bathrooms, and two car garages were the exception -now they. are expected. Discussion ensued among Board members relative to the large turnover of homeowners in the Country Club since the early 1980's when the history and significance of the district was last presented. The board agreed that maintaining the integrity of the Country Club District is definitely a priority. However, in lieu of the rezoning to Heritage Preservation District, the Board's energies might best be spent educating the residences about the significance of the Country Club District and the National Register Designation; and then going one step further, to make the Heritage Preservation Board an accessible resource to the homeowners as an advisory body. Chairman Nyberg suggested that the Board might design an informational brochure that could be hand delivered to all Country Club residents. Discussion ensued relative to the content of the proposed brochure. Members agreed a brief history along with suggested design guidelines and an invitation to contact the Heritage Preservation Board for assistance and/or advise would be most beneficial. The format for the brochure was discussed as was the content. The Board agreed that some important design guidelines to highlight include: - Building materials and details - Windows - Overall design and scale In addition to the proposed brochure, board members agreed that it would be helpful to have an information sheet available to Country Club residents, architects, contractors and realtors. The purpose of the sheet would be to get the word out to the people who can make a difference that the reason the Edina Country Club has been such a desirable place to live is because people have been sensitive to the districts charm and character since its inception. Board members decided that the brochure and information sheet would be their fall project. Chairman Nyberg offered to do the keylining and artwork and Lois Wilder offered to work on the text. Due to the tour of the Country Club scheduled for the September meeting, the Board agreed to come back in October with project ideas. IV. NEXT MEETING DATE: Tuesday, September 18, 1990, 6:30 p.m. V. ADJOURNMENT• The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Joyce Repya, Associate Planner