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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-09-08 HPC Packet AGENDA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD HERITAGE PRESERVATIONS COMMISSION 7:00 P.M Thursday,September 8,2016 City Hall, Council Chambers A.CALL TO ORDER B.ROLL CALL C.APPROVAL OF AGENDA D.APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.June 9, 2016Meeting 2.July 14, 2016 Meeting E.NEW BUSINESS 1.Lookout Park signage F.UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1.Gladstone Savanna –Phase IIIImprovements 2.Century Homes Program G.VISITOR PRESENTATIONS 1.Maplewood Area Historical Society Update H.COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS 1.60 Stories –Commissioner Gilbertson I.STAFF PRESENTATIONS 1.September 14 Commission Appreciation Event 2.Two open positions on HPC 3.Joy Park Interpretive Signage 4.Statewide Preservation Conference J.ADJOURNMENT RULES OF CIVILITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND OUR COMMUNITY Following are rulesof civility the City of Maplewood expects of everyone appearing at Commission Meetings -elected officials, staff and citizens. It is hoped that by following these simple rules, everyone’s opinions can be heard and understood in a reasonable manner. We appreciate the fact that when appearing at Commission meetings, it is understood that everyone will follow these principles: Speak only for yourself, not for other Commissionmembers or citizens -unless specifically tasked by your colleagues to speak for the group or for citizens in the form of a petition. Show respect during comments and/or discussions, listen actively and do not interrupt or talk amongst each other. Be respectful of the process, keeping order and decorum. Do not be critical of Commissionmembers, staff or others in public. Be respectful of each other’s timekeeping remarks brief, to the point and non-repetitive. MINUTES D1 MAPLEWOOD HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION 7:00p.m., Thursday, June 9, 2016 Council Chambers, City Hall A.CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Heritage PreservationCommission was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and called to order byChair Boulayat7:00p.m. B.ROLL CALL Commissioners Chairperson Peter Boulay Present Commissioner Bob Cardinal Present Commissioner Richard Currie Present Commissioner John Gaspar Present Commissioner Frank Gilbertson Present Staff Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor Present C.APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA CommissionerCurriemoved to approve the agenda. Seconded by CommissionerCardinal Ayes – All The motion passed. D.APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.April 14, 2016HPC MeetingMinutes CommissionerCardinal moved to approve the April 14, 2016HPC Meeting Minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Gilbertson Ayes – All The motion passed. E.NEW BUSINESS 1.Swearing in of Commissioners Currie and Gilbertson Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor, swore in new Heritage Preservation Commissioners Currieand Gilbertson. 2.Swearing in of Chair and Vice-Chair Commissioner Cardinal moved to renew appointment of Chair Boulay and Vice- Chair Currie. Seconded by Commissioner Gaspar Ayes – All The motion passed. Thursday, June 9, 2016 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes D1 3.Resolution of Appreciation for Commissioner Creager CommissionerCardinal moved to approve Resolution of Appreciation for Commissioner Creager. Seconded by ChairpersonBoulay. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4.Resolution of Appreciation for Commissioner Rudberg Commissioner Cardinal moved to approve Resolution of Appreciation for Commissioner Rudberg. Seconded by Commissioner Currie. Ayes – All The motion is passed. Commissioner Gilbertson requests amendment to note Commissioner Rudberg has gone well beyond the requirements of a commissioner to do work outside the commission on their behalf. 5.Option to Change Meeting Time Commissioner Currie moved to keep same meeting time at 19:00. Seconded by Commissioner Gaspar. Ayes – All The motion is passed. F.UnfinishedBusiness 1.Century Homes Program Natural Resources CoordinatorGinny Gaynor discussed the Century Homes Program with the commission. Commissioner Gaspar shared his contribution in the Century Homes Program with the commission. 2.Goal Status Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor, discussed the goal status with the commission. G.VISITOR PRESENTATION 1. Maplewood Area Historical Society Maplewood Area Historical Society President, Bob Jensen, updated the commission on theupcoming events at the Maplewood Area Historical Society. H.COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS Thursday, June 9, 2016 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes D1 I.STAFFPRESENTATIONS J.ADJOURNMENT Chair Boulay movedto adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Gilbertson Ayes – All The motion passed. The meeting was adjournedat 8:04PM. Next meeting isJuly 14,2016. Thursday, June 9, 2016 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes D2 MINUTES MAPLEWOOD HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION 7:00p.m., Thursday, July 14, 2016 Council Chambers, City Hall A.CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Heritage Preservation Commission was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and called to order by Chair Boulay at 7:20 p.m. B.ROLL CALL Commissioners Chairperson Peter Boulay Present Commissioner Bob Cardinal Present Commissioner Richard Currie Present Commissioner John Gaspar Present Commissioner Frank Gilbertson Absent Staff Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor Present C.APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Commissioner Currie requested that I2 be movedto E4, 2017-2021 Capital Improvement Projects. Staff requested that minutes be tabled. ChairpersonBoulaymoved to approve the agendaas amended. Seconded by CommissionerCardinal Ayes – All The motion passed. D.APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.June 9, 2016 HPC Meeting Minutes The approval of minutes for HPC meeting on June 9, 2016 will be tabled until the next meeting. E.NEW BUSINESS 1.Gladstone Savanna – Phase III Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor, presented information on Gladstone Savanna Phase III andthe commissiondiscussed the project. 2.Statewide PreservationConference Commissioners wishing to take advantage of the grant to attend annual conferenceshould inform staff by the end of July. 3.Ramsey County Historical Society Membership Thursday, July 14, 2016 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes D2 MINUTES MAPLEWOOD HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION 7:00p.m., Thursday, July 14, 2016 Council Chambers, City Hall ChairpersonBoulaywill be the representative to Ramsey County Historical Society. 4.2017-2021Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Commission discussed memo from City Manager regarding CIP process. F.Unfinished Business 1.Century Homes Commissioner Gaspar presented ideas for maps for the Century Homesproject. Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor, will have IT create map of century homes. G.VISITOR PRESENTATION 1.Maplewood Area Historical Society(MAHS) Business Plan Maplewood Area Historical Society President, Bob Jensen, presented the MAHS Business Plan. 2.Maplewood Area Historical Society(MAHS) Maplewood Area Historical Society President, Bob Jensen, updated the commission on the upcoming events. H.COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS 1.60 Stories – Commissioner Gilbertson The presentation of 60 Stories will be tabled until the next meeting. I.STAFF PRESENTATIONS 1.August HPC Meeting August meeting will be cancelled if there are no time sensitive matters. J.ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Cardinalmoved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Gaspar Ayes – All The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45PM. Next meeting is August 11, 2016. Thursday, July 14, 2016 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes E1 MEMORANDUM TO:Heritage Preservation Commission FROM:Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator/HPC Liaison DATE:September 8, 2016 SUBJECT:Lookout Park Signage Introduction Maplewood is installing an interpretive sign at Lookout Park. TheHeritage Preservation Commission (HPC) will review text for the sign. Discussion One of the HPC’s 2016 goals is to install an interpretive sign at Lookout Park, Maplewood’s first park.Maplewood Area Historical Society has provided historic photographs and HPC Chair Boulay submitted the following site history to use on the sign. This tiny triangular park was platted in 1884 by Emmanuel Good and his business partner, John Schurmeier in the middle of a 23-acre housing development namedLakeside Park Addition. The two were partners in a woolens business and Schurmeier also owned a wagon manufacturing firm near downtown St Paul. In 1897, Schurmeier was a director of Second National Bank and described as one of the biggest taxpayers in St Paul. An 1888 advertisement describes how the park received its name: “A fine observatory, 55 feet high, is also built in Lookout Park in this Addition, the highest story of which is 275 feet higher than \[the Merchants Hotel at Third and Jackson Streets in St Paul\]. From this observatory the city \[St Paul\], North St Paul, New Canada \[township\], State fair grounds, Minneapolis and the whole surrounding country can be splendidly viewed.” This wooden tower probably was dismantled about 1908. Time and the growth oftrees and homes have limited the vista this park once had. One can envision the wooden lookout tower and the view of the surroundingfarms. This small park remains as a remnant of the enthusiasm boosters had for the Gladstone area and is Maplewood's oldest park. The city is getting quotes from a graphic designer and sign maker. Staff anticipates the text above will be shortened, and staff hopes to add a few sentences with stories from the neighborhood. If the design is ready for the October HPC meeting, commissioners will have a chance to review the layout. If not, staff will ask Chair Boulay to review the draft layout before the sign is produced. Our goal is to install the sign this fall. The HPC shall review text for the Lookout Park interpretive sign and provide input. Recommendation No action is required. MEMORANDUM TO:Heritage Preservation Commission FROM:Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator/HPC Liaison DATE:September 8, 2016 SUBJECT:Gladstone Savanna –Phase III Introduction Maplewood is beginning work on Phase III improvements at Gladstone Savanna Neighborhood Preserve. Staff and history consultant will update the Heritage Preservation Commission(HPC) on the projectand solicit input. Discussion Gladstone Savanna NeighborhoodPreserve is a 24-acre park and preserve managed by Maplewood’s Parksand Recreation Department. It was formerly the site of the Gladstone Shops of the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad. The last of the historic shops buildings were removed from the site in 1979, but some foundations from the facility exist underground. The Master Plan for the site was approved by City Council in 2011, after apublic park planning process, includingrecommendationby the HPC.The site plan celebrates the site’s industrial history and Maplewood natural resources. Phase III Improvements include: 1) Install playground, 2) Install additional trees and landscape features, and 3) Develop and install interpretation for the preserve. Playground.On June 27, 2016, City Council approved contracting with Flagship/Landscape Structuresfor design and installation of theplayground. The playground theme will reflect the railroad history of the site and possiblythe site’s natural history. On August 15, a public meeting was held to gather ideas for the playground. A second meeting to present concepts is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 6:00 p.m., at Gladstone Fire Station, on Clarence Street. HPC members are encouraged to attend. The Parks and Recreation Commission willreview and make a recommendation on the playground. Interpretive Signage.Nancy Wagner O’Brien, a historian that has done research on the Gladstone area for Maplewood Area Historical Society,has been hired to develop a sign plan for the site. Thedraft sign plan isattached (Attachment 1). Ms. O’Brien will attend the HPC meeting to present the draft planand gather input from the HPC. Landscape Features.KimleyHorn, the firm that did the landscape design work for Phase II, has been contracted to prepare landscape design for three features. City staff will present the design concepts at the HPC meeting. Preliminaryconcepts are attached (Attachment 2). The HPC’s role is to ensure the design celebratesthe site history and doesnot negatively impact underground historic foundations. Well InterpretiveArea.This area is in the location of the former welland will include seating and interpretive signage. The roof of the kiosk will reflect the roof of the former well house on the site. The kiosk would be supported on a floating concrete base (a 12”-15” concrete slab). There would be no need for deeper footings. This structure would not impact any underground foundations, sinceit is inanarea that was capped with two feet of soil during soil remediation. Rail Feature.The Master Plan calls for a railfeature. A photograph of this type of feature at another site is included in the landscapedesign packet. Staff has written to theState Historic Preservation Officeto determine whether it is appropriate to use rails on the site and has not received a reply. Building corners.The Master Plan includes designating the corners of some of the former shop buildings. The design concept for this shows the use of limestone boulders to indicate where the corners were. Recommendation The HPC shallreview preliminary concepts for the interpretive sign plan and landscape features and provide input.No action is required. Attachments 1.Concepts for Sign Plan 2.Concepts for Landscape design feature F1, Attachment 1 GLADSTONE SAVANNA 8/31/16 Signage Plan – draft I A plan for the historic and natural interpretation elements at the Gladstone Savanna, Maplewood, MN Bluestem Heritage Group, St. Paul F1, Attachment 1 Gladstone Savanna Gladstone Savanna SIGNAGE PLAN – DRAFT I Overarching theme: The Gladstone Savanna offers the opportunity to explore a complex history of the universal cycles of growth, death, and regeneration- both natural and human settlement. This site offers glimpses of moments in Maplewood’s past, and encourages visitors to consider the impact of the past, the constantly changing nature of the present, and the consequences of our actions in the future. RegenerationGrowth Death Page 1 F1, Attachment 1 Gladstone Savanna THEME I: LAYERS AND CYCLES OF HISTORY Though the landscape appears untouched and unchanged, this park has undergone dramatic transformations over the past 150 years. When we expand our sense of history beyond that, we appreciate the even greater changes that have occurred. Sub-theme A: Land and Water Deep beneath the surface of the ground lie layers of limestone and sandstone- remnants of ancient seabeds from the Cambrian and Ordovician time periods. Between i these layers lay a series of aquifers. Resting upon these layers are hundreds of feet of glacial drift; enormous deposits of gravel and sand deposited by the last glaciers. Over thousands of years, this drift settled, and rain and rivers formed the lakes and streams. This park area remained a fairly flat, high area, slowly draining to Lake Phalen and then to the Mississippi river. Over thousands of years, a rich soil developed. The good soil and drainage created a fertile zone for plants and animals. By the 1800s, the vegetation had developed into an ii oak barrens- small patches of oak forest surrounded by prairie. Numerous big wood animals such as deer, beaver, and fox were present. Fish, waterfowl, wild rice, and acorns were good food sources for the Dakota and other Indians. Sub-theme B: Nature to Agriculture to Industry to Nature In the mid 1800s, settlers started to arrive and stake claims on this land. Initially, the land was used for agricultural purposes. By the 1870s, immigrant farmers such as the Ides, Frosts, Reuters, Scharfbilligs, and Underleiters were raising dairy and growing market iii crops. In 1887, the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad purchased this land for $4,876 in order to iv construct a new railroad shop. For over three decades, men worked to construct and repair massive engines and cars. Eventually, the railroad company abandoned their shops, and the land was leased for storage space to the Seeger Refrigeration Company in 1949. The buildings were torn down one by one, with the final building demolished in 1979. The site’s industrial history and polluted soils put off many developers. The land lay vacant until 1995, when the City of Maplewood purchased it. Since then, the City has worked to remove the restore and preserve the site- creating a peaceful oasis that echoes the natural environment of over 150 years ago. Look for monarch butterflies, goldfinches, and moles in this savanna. Page 2 F1, Attachment 1 Gladstone Savanna THEME II: TRAINS (RAILROAD, ROUNDHOUSE, SHOPS) For decades, the Gladstone Shops were a bustling center of activity and growth. The shops played a critical role in the development of the small community of Gladstone, and served in an important role in the broader development of the transportation network in the region. Sub-theme A: Life in the Shops For decades, these hills echoed with the screech of metal wheels, the chugging of steam engines, and the clanging of hammers, and banging of axes. This site was loud, grimy, smelly, and dangerous- severe injuries and deaths were fairly common. An enormous 1903 fire consumed about 200 tons of coal, burning for nearly a day and creating heat v that melted the metal railroad cars. The Shops were made up of a series of different buildings with specialized purposes. There was the Roundhouse, Machine Shops, Paint House, Woodworking House, and office, as well as a variety of shacks, the water tower, and large pieces of equipment. In 1887, an extremely deep, 750-foot well was dug for the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad vi Company for the cost of $2553.79.This well cut down into the Prairie du Chein, Jordan, St. Lawrence, and Franconia layers. Initially, the well had technical problems: silt partially filled up the well, making the depth 640. Additional technical problems required frequent repairs. In 1891, a master mechanic devised a new method of pumping the water that was safer and more effective. For decades, the well worked fine. In 1979, the well was initially sealed and the property vacated. When the City purchased the land in 1995, documentation on the well was weak, and there were concerns the well was not sealed at all. After six years of efforts, the well was finally located. Excavation revealed the well had been improperly sealed. The well was cleaned out to a depth of 568 feet, and filled with 155 sacks of cement. Sealing the well was needed not only to protect park users, but also to protect the water quality of the aquifers. Sub-theme B: Role in Gladstone’s growth Before the arrival of the rail lines in 1868 and 1884, this area remained a fairly quite one. But a real estate boom began in 1887, when the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad decided to build their Shops here. The arrival of the shops created jobs, spurred housing, triggered the creating of similar industries and put Gladstone on the map. Sub-theme C: Broader role in regional railroad economy The Gladstone Shops were created to repair and construct cars for the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad. These shops were one of many similar shops scattered across the Twin Cities. The shops were located here due to the availability of land, the property’s fairly level ground, and the short distance and fairly gradual rise from Saint Paul. As the industry developed and consolidated, the shops were eventually abandoned for better locations. Page 3 F1, Attachment 1 POTENTIAL THEMATIC LOCATIONS Different Buildings Loud, grimy, smelly and dangerous Role in Gladstone’s growth Broader role in region Aquifers Rich soil developed New method of pumping Agriculture Sealing the well Preserve and Restore Final number, Location, and format for signage dependent on budget. F1, Attachment 1 F1, Attachment 1 FOOTNOTES i “Groundwater Provinces,” DNR. http://dnr.state.mn.us/groundwater/provinces/index.htmlCarlton College Geology 110 Field Trip Notes, http://www.people.carleton.edu/~cdavidso/Geo110/TaylorsFalls.pdf ii The land surveyor described this as “Land Hilly Soil with Timber Scattering Bur B & W Oak.” Original th Land Survey Notes, 4 PM - 1831 MN/WI Twp. 029.0N-022.0W” Volume I4165, page 204, 1847. Accessed at: Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records. http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/details/fieldnote/default.aspx?dm_id=232135&s_dm_id=108927&sid =i2sxrjfw.1nm iii 1874 Map. 1875 Census. iv Report of the Railroad and Warehouse Commission of Minnesota, St. Paul, The Pioneer Press Co., 1888, pages 494 and 495. v The Saint Paul Globe. April 11, 1903, Page 12. vi Report of the Railroad and Warehouse Commission of Minnesota, St. Paul, The Pioneer Press Co., 1888, pages 494 and 495. American Engineer and Railroad Journal January 1893, p. 27. F1, Attachment 2 F1, Attachment 2 F1, Attachment 2 F1, Attachment 2 F2 MEMORANDUM TO:Heritage Preservation Commission FROM:Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator/HPC Liaison DATE:September 8, 2016 SUBJECT:Century Homes Program Introduction The Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC)is reinvigorating the Century Homes program, which identifies and honors homes that are over 100 years old. Discussion At the March and April 2016 HPC meetings, commissioners developed criteriaand procedures for the Century Homes program and decided to honor these 100+ year old atMaplewood’s 60th Anniversary celebration in February 2017.Commissioner Gaspar has gathered Google Earth photos of most of the homes on the list. The schedule for the Century Homes Project is: SeptemberHPC reviews draft letter,Send letters to eligible homeowners, Launch webpage Article about the program in city newsletter(will be submitted in September for October publication) NovemberReplies due DecemberOrder certificates and/or plaques January 2017Send invitations to participants to attend ceremony February2017Presentation of certificates and/or plaques Attached is a draft letter and form for homeowners (Attachment 1). Staff received input from our City Attorney regarding the posting the addresses of Century Homes on the city website. The City does notwant to publish a list of Century Homeaddresses onitswebsite, even thoughinformation on the age of a home is available elsewhere on-line. Somepeople would feel singledout and exposedif we publishtheir addressin an on-line list of Century Homes. Even with written permission from owners to include theirhomes, we think the potential problems outweigh the benefits of publishing the list. We will assemble the photos gathered by Commissioner Gaspar, along with information received from homeowners, into a notebook (hard copy and electronic) like the current Century Homes notebook created in 2003. This information would beavailable to staff, HPC, and Maplewood Area Historical Society(MAHS). Staff encourages the HPC to consider a future project of developing a historic walking tour, with historic information on each site that’s approved by the owner.This tour could include Century Homes with interesting architecture or history. We believe this would be of more interest and value to the publicthan a list of addresses of old homes.MAHS has written text for some of the walking tours it has done. Commissioners shall review the letter and recommend any needed changes. F2 Recommendation No action required. Attachments 1.Draft Letter and Form Attachment 1 DRAFT LETTER Dear Resident, Your home is one of over 125 homes in Maplewood that is over 100 years old. The City of Maplewood and Maplewood’s Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) are proud of its historic homes and celebrate them through our Century Homes program. We would like to honor owners of these older homes with a Century Homes certificate. This fall we are gathering information on Century Homes and we will present certificates in February 2017 at Maplewood’s 60th Anniversary Celebration. All homes over 100 years old are automatically enrolled in the program. However, if you’d like to receive a certificate, we ask that you return the attached form. If your home is over 112 years old, you may have received a certificate and plaque in 2003. This is a continuation of that program and we are providing new certificates to those that received them previously. In the Century Homes program, there is no obligation and there are no restrictions on what you can do to your home. If your home has historic significance besides its age (e.g. architecture or cultural history), you may wish to consider the City’s local designation program for historic structures, which would have some restrictions. Please return the attached form by November 1, 2016. We hope you will participate by th receiving a certificate and joining us at the City’s 60 Anniversary Celebration in February 2017. Information on that event will be available in January 2017. If you have any questions, please contact Ginny Gaynor (651-249-2416, Virginia.gaynor@maplewoodmn.gov). Sincerely, Peter Boulay Heritage Preservation Commission Chair Ginny Gaynor Natural Resources Coordinator/Staff liaison to HPC F2, Attachment 1 MAPLEWOOD CENTURY HOMES PROGRAM Please return this form by November 1, 2016 to: Ginny Gaynor Maplewood Parks and Recreation Department 1902 County Road B East Maplewood, MN 55019 Or email the information below to: Virginia.gaynor@maplewoodmn.gov Your address has been identified as ahome that is over 100 year’s old. We’d like to send you a th Century Homes certificate in honor of this. Certificates will be handed out at the 60 Anniversary Celebration, February 2017, and any not picked up at that event will be mailed. **************************************************************************** Name of Home Owner(s): ______________________________________________________ Address of Home: _____________________________________________ZIP: ____________ Owner’s address if different from above: __________________________________________ ___ Yes, I would like to receive a Century Homes Certificate ___ No, I do not wish to receive a Century Homes Certificate Optional: If you have historic information on your home, such as architectural style, dates of building additions, original and/or previous owners, please provide that.