Heritage Preservation Commission Meetings and Work Sessions

City of Excelsior Hennepin County, Minnesota Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission Tuesday, April 20, 2021 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Macpherson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Commissioners Present: Macpherson, Bolles, Caron, Finch, Salita, Tyler, Brabec Commissioners Absent: None Also Present: City Planner Becker 2. AGENDA APPROVAL Motion by Caron, seconded by Bolles to approve the agenda. Motion carried 7/0. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) March 16, 2021 Commissioner Bolles moved, Commissioner Tyler seconded, to approve the minutes for the March 16, 2021 meeting. Motion carried 6/0 with Brabec abstaining. 4. CITIZEN COMMENTS OR REPORTS Peter Hartwich, 186 George Street, commented on the house located at 200 Lake Street and felt that it towers over the arborvitae. He also felt that the house that was moved to 7 George Street was too massive and hopes that the Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission 4/20/2021 Page 2 of 5 City can move towards requiring 3D imaging. 5. DISCUSSION ITEMS a) Review and Comment on Pavers and Signs in the Commons (HPC No. 21-09) Commissioner Salita recused himself from the conversation and explained more about the proposal. Becky Salita also commented on the proposal. Bolles asked if the City would be laying the patio pavers, and Salita answered that they would be purchasing and laying the pavers, but that the City has agreed to plant the grass seed. Brabec wanted it to have a professional look. Bolles wanted to know if the pavers would connect with the existing pavers, and Salita answered that there would be two separate areas and that they would not connect. Bolles felt that a path of pavers should connect the two areas. Macpherson wanted to know if the pavers would be placed in the same area of the kayak rack and if it would interfere with the root system, and Salita replied that it would be 16’X16’ and it would not impact the root system. Tyler asked if the pavers could possibly be permeable, and Salita said that she would look into it but that the proposed pavers were chosen because they were similar to what exists there currently. Brabec commented that permeable pavers require professional installation. Bolles suggested putting space in between pavers. Commissioner Salita wanted to clarify that they would be working with the Public Works Superintendent to ensure that everything was installed properly. Commissioner Salita explained that the signage was meant to direct people attending baseball games to Tommy’s Tonka Trolleys since the concession stand Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission 4/20/2021 Page 3 of 5 will be closed and because the City gets a percentage of the profits from Tommy’s Tonka Trolleys. It was explained that the signs were now proposed to be sandwich boards. It was thought that the signs would be acceptable with two sides, but that the signs need to be cohesive with Tommy’s Tonka Trolleys and not reflect the City of Excelsior’s branding. Motion by Caron to approve a red brick or red brick appearance patio block not to exceed 16’X16’ in the location of the former stands for the kayaks as well as up to two of the sandwich board “wood-looking” signs with messages reflecting the Tommy’s Tonka Trolley logo in the proximity of the old concession building (approximately 2’X5’). They also were not opposed to the planters to define the patio building but recommended that the applicant go with something deeper in order to put some kind of concrete block so that they would withstand the wind. They were comfortable with up to six planters, no more than three feet tall and four feet long (nominally), either wood or metal, that appeared historical as determined by a subcommittee. Seconded by Finch. Finch was concerned about the statement regarding the location of the signs. Motion carried 6/0 with Salita abstaining. b) 234 Water Street Signage (HPC No. 21-04) Becker presented the report. Nelson clarified that the Lobby sign may be different in font. Macpherson clarified that the signs were not installed in to the mortar joints. Caron didn’t feel that there could approval without a plan with how the signs would be mounted and a plan as to how the sign would be mounted. Finch suggested that a subcommittee approve how the signs be mounted. Bolles suggested that the existing signage remain as is so as not to cause further Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission 4/20/2021 Page 4 of 5 damage and be able to support the weight of the sign. Motion by Salita to keep signage as is and that new signage go into the mortar, and that the findings state that there is an acknowledgment that there was a mistake with the placement of the joints of the two signs but that a subcommittee meet to ensure that the new sign is placed into the mortar joints. Motion carried 6/1 with Finch as the dissenting vote. Also, the wall signs were approved, but the hand painted signs would be preferable to any other material. c) Goals and Objectives for 2021 Salita wanted to know how the HPC could have more control over dilapidated properties. Caron wanted to add three additional goals: consider what action to recommend to the council in relation to neglected properties and demolition by neglect; study the ballfield seating for a potential restoration project (WPA seating area); and determine if the Christian Science Church should be recommended for designation (this would not be a 2021 goal but more of an immediate action). Caron recommended that this be put as a placeholder on the next meeting. There was suggestion that a subcommittee be put together. Bolles wanted to add investigate reasons for reluctance of the residents in pursuing landmark designations as well as review status of HPC recognition awards. Macpherson said that the HPC should review the work of the Residential Review Board and make recommendations to the City Council on what should potentially be changed. Everyone was in agreement that these are the goals that should be added to the 2021 goals for the HPC. 6. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Salita, seconded by Bolles, to adjourn at 8:35 p.m. Motion carried 7/0. Minutes Heritage Preservation Commission 4/20/2021 Page 5 of 5 Respectfully submitted, Emily Becker City Planner