Heritage Preservation Commission Meetings and Work Sessions

City of Excelsior Hennepin County, Minnesota Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission Monday, October 8, 2018 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Macpherson called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Commissioners Present: Reece, Caron, Chair Macpherson, Brabec, Finch Commissioners Absent: Bolles, Salita Also Present: Planning Consultant Richards and City Planner Becker 2. AGENDA APPROVAL Commissioner Finch moved, Commissioner Caron seconded, to approve agenda. Motion carried 5/0. 3. DISCUSSION ITEMS a) Administrative Approvals Process – Painting, Mechanical Units, Maintenance vs. Replacement There was discussion about whether mechanical rooftop equipment should be administratively approved. Commissioner Caron pointed out that normally such equipment would not be original to the building. Commissioner Reece suggested that two estimates be obtained in order to evaluate if placing the unit in a discreet location would in fact be an unreasonable cost burden to an applicant. Caron also added that it may be helpful to get information from a contractor in order to assess if low profile units exist and determine feasibility. It was also discussed that there should be clarification in the ordinance on what constitutes an emergency and who should determine that. There was general consensus that administrative approval can be granted for replacing a unit that is of the same size and same color. Additionally, if it is determined that generally units need to be increased by a certain height in order to update them, such a request can be approved administratively. Commissioner Reece volunteered, with Commissioner Finch, to contact contractors to obtain this information. They will then draft a policy based on this information. The Commission then went on to discuss site alterations that can be approved administratively: 1. Painting. Chair Macpherson stated that HPC-01 should be updated to clarify that any masonry should not be painted without Commission approval and that the policy should also clarify language about murals. Commissioners Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission (enter date) Page 2 of 2 Brabec and Macpherson volunteered to form a subcommittee focusing on paint colors. 2. Roof. There needs to be clarification on when review by the Commission is necessary. 3. Windows. Commissioners Caron and Mcpherson volunteered to draft a policy on when window replacement can be administratively approved. 4. Landscaping and garbage and recycling enclosures. Commissioner Caron volunteered to draft a policy on parameters for administrative approval. 5. Exterior lighting. Commissioner Bolles was volunteered to draft a policy on administrative approval. 6. Sign. The current policy should be updated. There was general consensus that the ordinance needs to better outline consequences for failure to comply with the Historic Preservation ordinance. 4. ADJOURNMENT The work session adjourned at 9:40 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Emily Becker City Planner