Heritage Preservation Commission Meetings and Work Sessions

City of Excelsior Hennepin County, Minnesota Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission Tuesday, January 15, 2019 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Macpherson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Commissioners Present: Bolles, Finch, Chair Macpherson, Brabec, Salita Commissioners Absent: Reece, Caron Also Present: City Planner Becker 2. AGENDA APPROVAL Commissioner Brabec moved, Commissioner Salita seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5/0. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Brabec moved, Commissioner Salita seconded, to approve the minutes for the December 18, 2018 meeting as amended. Motion carried 5/0. 4. DISCUSSION ITEMS a) 219 East Drive (HPC No. 18-21) Planner Becker presented the report explaining that the applicant has requested a Site Alteration Permit (SAP) for the property located at 219 East Drive for the existing Exceler8 sign. The building is a multi-tenant building, and neither the applicant nor owner have provided a Comprehensive Sign Plan for the other tenants of the building, Lake Effects and Christmasing With You. Macpherson motioned, Salita seconded, to require that the applicant provide a Comprehensive Sign Plan for all tenants. Motion carried 5/0. b) 244 Water Street Discussion (HPC No. 19-1) Planner Becker presented the report explaining that the applicant has requested an SAP for the existing wall sign for Spirit of the Lake Yoga at the back of the building located at 264 Water Street. Motion by Salita, seconded by Brabec, requiring that the applicant provide a Comprehensive Sign Plan for all tenants. c) 464 Second Street (HPC No. 18-17) Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission 1/15/2019 Page 2 of 3 Becker explained that the applicants have withdrawn their application and will need to reapply when/if they want to continue with the window replacement. d) 264 Water Street (HPC No. 19-2) Becker explained that the City had received an SAP for proposed signage at the subject property. The Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the work done on a previous SAP that was issued to the property and had communicated in a previous meeting that they wanted to delay issuing further SAPs until there was time to speak to the City Attorney regarding enforcement options. Brabec did not feel that the tenant should be punished for the work done for the exterior SAP. Brabec motioned, Salita seconded, to approve the proposed signage for “Gray” and “pip&pal”, provided that the brackets are anchored in to the mortar joints of the masonry, and the issue with the cornice will be brought to a future meeting. Motion carried 5/0. e) 420 Second Street (HPC No. 18-21) There was a motion by Bolles, seconded by Salita to move the 420 Second Street item to the agenda, as it was included in the packet but not on the agenda. Motion carried 5/0. Becker presented the report, explaining that the applicant has returned for the third time for a request to erect signs for a multi-tenant building with a Comprehensive Sign Plan for five tenants. The HPC had requested that the proposed signs on the east side of the building be amended to be to the north of the building and arranged in a fashion that be better directed towards the pedestrian. The applicant has proposed two iterations 42” X 14” and 37” X 12.” Tim Brandow, 420 Second Street, reiterated the need for the signs to be located in the proposed locations. Brabec felt that the colored signs were too much and that the signs should be monochromatic. Salita did not see an issue with the signs. There was discussion about the different sizes and their arrangement in relation to the windows. Salita motioned, seconded by Finch, to approve a Comprehensive Sign Plan with four blades in the front, five horizontally arranged signs in the rear, and five 42” X 14” inch colored signs on the east side of the building. Motion carried 3/2, Brabec dissenting because of the colors and size, and Finch dissenting because of the size. f) Excelsior Blue Line Ticket Booth Poster Placement Becker explained that it was requested by the Chamber of Commerce for posters to be put up in the Blue Line Ticket Booth and that Council had approved for two Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission 1/15/2019 Page 3 of 3 posters within vacant spots to be erected. The Council had suggested that the HPC adopt a policy regarding poster placement on the ticket booth. Macpherson stated that there does need to be a policy developed and that it should be part of the sign policy as a whole. Bolles wants it to be clear that the ticket booth is under the review authority of the HPC. Brabec spoke to the disrepair of the ticket booth and wondered who was responsible for maintaining it. Macpherson asked that the agenda be amended so that the sign policy is next on the agenda, as it coincided with this discussion. g) Sign Policy Macpherson introduced the sign policy, explaining that it was a draft of questions that should be answered in order to create the sign policy. These questions should be addressed during the meeting with the City Attorney, which is to take place the following week. Macpherson moved, Salita seconded, to table the Blue Line Ticket Booth and Sign Policy discussion until after the meeting with the City Attorney. h) Ice Castle Discussion Macpherson explained that the report by PVN had indicated that overall continuity of use pattern and active and passive spaces along with the lawn area are character defining features and that the HPC should continue to review any effects Ice Castles may have on the Commons. 5. COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS a) Next City Council Meeting – Monday, January 28, 2019 b) Next HPC Meeting – Tuesday, February 26, 2109 c) Administrative SAP Approvals – Meeting with City Attorney Kevin Staunton Tuesday, January 22, 2019 d) Recent City Council Actions e) Project Updates f) Community for the Commons 6. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Brabec, seconded by Salita to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Motion carried 5/0. Respectfully submitted, Emily Becker City Planner