Heritage Preservation Commission Meetings and Work Sessions

City of Excelsior Hennepin County, Minnesota Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission Tuesday, June 16, 2020 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Macpherson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Commissioners Present: Macpherson, Bolles, Caron, Finch, Brabec, Reece, Salita Commissioners Absent: None Also Present: City Planner Becker 2. AGENDA APPROVAL Motion by Bolles, seconded by Caron to approve the agenda as amended, adding 234 Water Street as a discussion item. Motion carried 7/0. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) May 19, 2020 Commissioner Caron moved, Commissioner Caron seconded, to approve the minutes for the May 19, 2020 meeting as amended. Motion carried 6/0. 4. CITIZEN COMMENTS OR REPORTS None. 5. DISCUSSION ITEMS a) 243 Water Street Tony’s Barber Shop Sign Replacement (HPC No. 20-11) Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission 5/19/20 Page 2 of 4 Becker presented the report. Finch asked if he was changing the support for the sign. Ralph Paro, applicant answered that a picture of the support structure was in the packet and would be painted black. Caron asked why the historical bracket was not being retained. Paro answered that the sign was going to be taken down and hung on the inside wall. Bolles was concerned about the support structure and felt that there was a higher level of probability of the new support structure falling off the building. Paro said that he would be willing to hire a private contractor to hang the sign. Motion by Salita, seconded by Finch, to approve the applicant’s submission as-is. Finch agrees that this is a simple installation and that no professional is required. Paro asked about the awning below the sign and asked if approval was required to take the awning down. He was informed that a Site Alteration Permit would be required to do so. Bolles was concerned about filling the holes in the masonry when the former sign was taken down. Paro said that he would fill the holes. Salita amended the motion, seconded by Finch, to add a condition to fill the holes from the former sign. Motion carried 6-1 with Bolles dissenting because he believes that an experience installer should be required to install the sign. b) Bike Rack in the Commons Caron asked what sort of material was on the bottom of the bike rack. Brabec felt that the look was modern and didn’t fit the historic look of the downtown. Bolles didn’t think it would properly support a bike rack and may cause bikes to fall over. Finch suggested that the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) recommend that the bike rack be installed temporarily given the quick turnaround and recommend that a more appropriate, historical- looking bike rack be installed permanently within a year. Caron suggested editing the suggestion to state that the HPC is supportive of the installation of bike racks but that the design should be vintage and would support tires for individual bikes, holding the bikes upright. Brabec suggested that the proposed design be forwarded on to the HPC in the future in order to give them the opportunity to comment prior to ordering equipment. A majority felt that these were adequate comments to pass on to the City Council. Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission 5/19/20 Page 3 of 4 c) 2020 Preservation Award Becker presented the report. Finch felt that the Excelsior Mill should be awarded for the work that they did on their property, repairing. There was question if 242 First Street had already received an award for the work that was done on his property. Macpherson had said that he would reach out to the owner to see if an award has been granted to this property already by the HPC. Macpherson felt that perhaps the restorations done on the Excelsior Mill and Sanctuary Salon buildings. Macpherson had suggested that the subcommittee come up with a few sentences to acknowledge why each property was awarded an award. Finch had suggested reaching out to Eagle Scouts to work on a project to make a video to promote these projects. He also suggested that the item be continued so that the subcommittee could further discuss the projects and think of ways to promote these projects, thereby promoting historic preservation. Motion by Finch, seconded by Salita, to continue the item to the next meeting so that the subcommittee could meet. Motion carried 7-0. e) 2020 Goals Motion by Salita, seconded by Caron, to adopt the 2020 Goals. Motion carried 7-0. f) 234 Water Street The Commission discussed whether or not to take action on the Site Alteration Permit application for 234 Water Street. Bolles felt that the application should be denied, as the procedure hasn’t been followed. Caron suggested that the HPC deny the application so long as complete application materials have not been received by the end of the week. Salita suggested that it be clear that the Site Alteration Permit is being denied because of a timing issue. Macpherson suggested that it be clear that the subcommittee is willing to meet with him to go over the project. Salita suggested that we include mention that the application is not complete, and it is not expected that it would be complete by the time the deadline has passed for the application. Motion by Macpherson to deny the Site Alteration Permit Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission 5/19/20 Page 4 of 4 application and allow Commissioner Finch to rework the findings for denial. Caron would work with him on this rewriting. Motion carried 7-0. Bolles had asked about setting up a meeting for the Blue Line Ticket Booth. Macpherson had suggested that himself, Bolles, and Al Tollefson meet regarding the posters within the Blue Line Ticket Booth. Becker was to send out an email coordinating a meeting time for those three to meet and notify the rest of those who were originally scheduled to meet to let them know of the time they were meeting. 6. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Finch, seconded by Bolles, to adjourn at 8:19 p.m. Motion carried 7-0. Respectfully submitted, Emily Becker City Planner