Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-12-08 HPC Packet AGENDA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD HERITAGE PRESERVATIONCOMMISSION 7:00 P.M Thursday, December 8, 2016 City Hall, Council Chambers A.CALL TO ORDER B.ROLL CALL C.APPROVAL OF AGENDA D.APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.November 10, 2016 E.NEW BUSINESS F.UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1.Nominations for Heritage Preservation Award 2.Gladstone Savanna Well and Interpretive Sitting Area 3.Local Designation G.VISITOR PRESENTATIONS 1.Maplewood Area Historical Society Update H.COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS I.STAFF PRESENTATIONS J.ADJOURNMENT RULES OF CIVILITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND OUR COMMUNITY Following are rules of 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. D1 MINUTES MAPLEWOOD HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION 7:00p.m., Thursday, November 10, 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 7:02 p.m. B.ROLL CALL Commissioners Chairperson Peter BoulayPresent Commissioner Bob CardinalPresent Commissioner Richard CurriePresent Commissioner John GasparPresent Commissioner Frank GilbertsonPresent Staff Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny GaynorPresent C.APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Commissioner Curriemoved to approve the agenda. Seconded by Commissioner GasparAyes – All The motion passed. D.APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.October 13, 2016 HPC Meeting Minutes Commissioner Gaspar documented the correct on Agenda Item C. It indicated that Commissioner Gaspar made the motion and seconded it. Staff will refer back to notes and video to correct this error. Commissioner Currie moved to approve the minutes from the October 13, 2016 HPC Meeting as amended. Seconded by CommissionerGasparAyes – All The motion passed. E.NEW BUSINESS 1.Nomination for Heritage Preservation Award Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor, discussed the Nomination for Heritage Preservation Award with the commission. Thursday, November 10, 2016 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes D1 MINUTES MAPLEWOOD HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION 7:00p.m., Thursday, November 10, 2016 Council Chambers, City Hall Chair Boulay moved to approvethe nominees for the 2016 Heritage Preservation Award. Seconded by Commissioner CurrieAyes – All The motion passed. F.UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1.Gladstone Savanna Landscape Design Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor, updated the commission on Phase III Gladstone Savanna Project. Commissioner Currie moved topostpone the Gladstone Savanna Landscape Design until the commission receives more information on the well and the commission is able to obtain publicinput. Seconded by Commissioner Gaspar Ayes – All The motion passed. 2.HPC Training Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor, informed the commission on the upcoming HPC Training. 3.Local Designationfor Gladstone Savanna Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor, discussed the Local Designation for Gladstone Designation with the commission. 4.2016 Heritage Preservation Commission Goals Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor, discussed the 2016 Heritage Preservation Commission Goals with the commission. G.VISITORPRESENTATION 1.Maplewood Area Historical Society(MAHS) Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor, updated the commission on the upcomingMAHSevents. H.COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS 1. I.STAFF PRESENTATIONS th 1.60Anniversary Reservation Confirmed for 2/24/2017 at MCC. th Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor, discussed the 60Anniversary Reservation with the commission. Thursday, November 10, 2016 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes D1 MINUTES MAPLEWOOD HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION 7:00p.m., Thursday, November 10, 2016 Council Chambers, City Hall J.ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Curriemoved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner GasparAyes – All The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00PM. Next meeting isDecember 8, 2016. Thursday, November 10, 2016 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes F1 MEMORANDUM TO:Heritage Preservation Commission FROM:Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator/HPC Staff Liaison DATE:December 8, 2016 SUBJECT:Nominations for Heritage Preservation Award Introduction The Maplewood Heritage Award is an annual award recognizing an individual who has positively influenced Maplewood’spast or significantly contributed tothe preservation of the city’s history. Discussion At the November 10, 2016Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting, commissioners nominated several candidates for the 2016 MaplewoodHeritage Award. Since that meeting, Chair Boulay has requested that we remove him as a nominee,and he has nominated Mr. Al Galbraith. An overview of each nominee’s contributions is listed below. Nominees for the 2016 Maplewood Heritage Award Lois Behm Instrumental in kicking off the commission andthe society in the early 1990's Helped rescue the New Canada township records, understood their importance Tookthe minutes for the commission for the first 15 years or so Treasurer of MAHS for many years and was instrumental keeping the society on track for its formative years Joe Fox Involved in trying to start the Maplewood Area Historical Society (MAHS) at the Ostergren farm MAHS member Maplewood Parks and Recreation Commission 1970-1985. This period saw the establishment of the PAC Fund and of Maplewood Nature Center. Ramsey County FairBoard – member for 50 years and manager for 30 years Ramsey County Historical Society memberand Gibbs Farm board member Active member of numerous civic groups (see Attachment 1) Albert E. Galbraith Jr. First president of the Maplewood Area Historical Society and Commission MAHS member F1 Worked for the Minnesota Historical Society in charge of historical sites. Started Northeast Soccer Association Gladstone Redevelopment Task Force Member Bruce Mogren Was instrumental in preserving the Bruentrup Farm Has supported Maplewood Area Historical Society fundraising efforts and Johnny Appleseed Days Brenda Rudberg HPC member April 2011-May 2016 Left the HPC when she moved to St. Paul, but continued to work on the 60 Stories project MAHS member Learned aboutpreservation planning requirements and opportunities and helped guide commission on what its next steps should be Staff and HPCappreciated her thoughtfulness, knowledge, and willingness to take on history projects outside the HPC meetings Came up with the idea for the 60 Stories project and wrote several stories for the series,manyof which required research Prepared first draftofthe grant for the Historic Context Study Organized a meetingwithRamsey County Historical Society(RCHS), which led to a partnership with RCHSon the Fish Creek Archeology Project Recommendation The HPC shall vote on a recommendation for the 2016 Maplewood Heritage Award. Attachments 1.Notes from Commissioner Cardinal on Nominee Joe Fox F1, Attachment 1 F2 MEMORANDUM TO:Heritage Preservation Commission FROM:Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator/HPC Liaison DATE:December 8, 2016 SUBJECT:Gladstone SavannaWelland Interpretive Sitting Area Introduction Maplewood is workingon Phase III improvements at Gladstone Savanna Neighborhood Preserve, which includes a sitting and interpretive area at the location of the well. At the DecemberHeritage Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting, staff will present information on the well and the commission will discuss the proposed landscape concept for the well. Discussion Gladstone Savanna NeighborhoodPreserve is apark and preserve managed by Maplewood’s Parksand Recreation Department. It was formerly the site of the Gladstone Shopsof theSt. Paul and Duluth Railroad. No historic buildings remain on the site. However, there are several historic foundations underground. City Council approved the Site Master Planin 2011 (Attachment 1), after a public planning process, includingrecommendationby the HPC. At the November 10, 2016 HPC meeting, commissioners reviewed a concept design for the interpretive/sitting area near the well(Attachment 2).During the meeting staff suggested changing the circular bench in the design conceptto a planting circle. Commissioners requested that staff provide additional information on the wellprior to the taking action on the landscape concept. TheHistoric Well The Gladstone Sign Plan(approved by HPC in September2016) provides the following summary of the well. In 1887, an extremely deep, 750-foot well was dug for the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad 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 2002, the City partnered with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)to locate and seal the well. An article published by the Minnesota Ground Water Association (MGWA) provides details on how the well waslocated and how it was sealed. This document isattached (Attachment 3). Photographs in theMGWA article are helpful in understanding the structure of the well. In addition, a photograph from William Schwietz shows the well house (Attachment 4), and also attachedis a diagram of the well pump (Attachment 5).The well house no longer exists. It F2 covered the well pit, which is about 8’ diameter, about 35’ deep, and has walls of limestone block.Below the well pit isan 8”-diameter steel well casing to depth of 259’, and a 4” liner casing is present from 139’ to 237’. Historically the wellwas an open hole in bedrock from 258- 568’. When the well was sealedin 2002, a tremie pipe was installed to the bottom of the well and cement grout was pumped in to seal the well. The MGWA article explains in detail how the well was located and sealed. The limestone walls of the well pit were intact, but the pit was full of demolition debris fromthe repair shops.The debris was removed and the pit was filled with soil and the excavation holes were filled in. Ten years after the well was sealed, the soil in the well pit had sunk and there was a depression in the landscape here. There was a small hole and part of the well wall couldbe seen through this. The 2012 archeological investigation at Gladstone Savannadocumented this as Feature 11, with the following description: Feature 11 (F11) is a depression in the location of the sitewell as depicted on historical maps ofthe projectarea (see Figure 3). The depression measures approximately 3.1 meters (10.2 feet) east-west by 2.9 meters (9.5 feet) north-south and is approximately 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) deep. In 2001, the well was sealed in accordance with Minnesota regulations in an effort to protect groundwater resources (Minnesota Ground Water Association 2003:4). A small portion of the original well wall as well as modern reinforcing blockswere visible during the survey (Figure 10). The well cuts through three aquifers. This provides an interesting glimpse ofthe geologic history of this site: Interval (in feet)Geologic formation 0-248 Glacial drift 248-371 Prairie du Chien limestone (aquifer) 371-471 Jordan sandstone (aquifer) 471-508 St. Lawrence formation (confining layer) 508-573 Franconia sandstone (aquifer) Design Concept for the Well Interpretive Sitting Area Installation of an interpretive sitting area at the well is part of Phase III improvements at Gladstone Savanna. At the November HPC meeting, staff presented the design concept for this area (Attachment 2). In addition to requesting more information on the well, commissioners asked whether the well could be excavated and exposed so the public can view it.Thisis not feasible due to contaminatedsoils inthis area. In 2008, consultants prepared a Phase II assessment of the Gladstone Savanna site to identify areas of contaminated soil, taking soil borings throughout the site. Results indicated soil contamination exceeded health standards and the city prepared a soil remediation plan.The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) approved the City’s Response Action Plan and Construction Contingency Plan Addendum and Revised Grading Plan in 2012. This plan outlines the remediation to bedone.It includedremoval of soil in one area and capping areas of the site with 2’ or 3’ of soil. The soil remediation map from theplan is attached (Attachment 6). This is an official agreement between the City and the MPCA. The well is in an area that required cappingwith 2’ of soil.The city complied with the required remediation, completing it in 2012. F2 Historians or archeologists that have worked with the city on projects have advised staff and the HPC tonot leavearcheological featuresexposed on site.These featureshave value beneath the soil and are better protectedthere.This concept was discussed at public meetings and HPC meetings duringpreparation of the master plan and the approved master plan reflects this approach. At the November HPC meeting, somecommissionersexpressed concern that paving over the well would prevent potential future archeological work on the well. Staff thusproposed doing a planting bed over the well, instead of pavement supportinga limestone bench. This would alleviate concerns about the well not being accessible should someone someday wish to access it. Staff would like HPC to review and discuss the following design concept for the well interpretive area: 1.Make the following changes to the designconcept presented in Attachment 2: 1) Replacethe circular bench over the well with plantings. There would be no pavement or hardscape over the well. The planting design would have mostly native plants, similar to the plantings at the Savanna entries. 2)Put limestone benches on the outside edge of the paved area. The HPC’s role is to ensure the landscape design at Gladstone Savanna does not negatively impact underground archeological features. Staff has found no reason to indicatethatthe above concept for this area would impact archeological features. In addition, the proposed conceptwill provide a welcoming area for visitors to learn about the well and about the site. As indicated in the approved Sign Plan,at this location we have the opportunity to tell the story of the well, to explore geology of the site, and to help people understand what some of the shop buildings looked like and what they were used for. The HPC’s review should answer the questions: 1.Will the proposed concept for the well interpretive area, substituting a planting bed for the limestone bench, alter or damage underground archeological features? 2.Will the sitting area enhance visitors’ understanding of the well and of the site history? Recommendation Staff recommends that HPC discusses and approves moving forward with the planting circle concept for the wellinterpretive sitting area. Attachments 1.Gladstone Savanna Master Plan 2.Concept Design for well siting area 3.MGWA article from 2002 4.Photograph of well house 5.Diagram of well pump 6.Soil remediation map F2, Attachment 1 F2, Attachment 2 F2, Attachment 2 F2, Attachment 3 F2, Attachment 3 F2, Attachment 3 F2, Attachment 3 F2, Attachment 3 Attachment 4 F2, Attachment 5 F2, Attachment 6 TT-3 SEH-12 (3.8') SEH-13 (3.6') B-101/SEH-2 (2.5') DRO: 150 BaP: 1.3 DRO: 9.3 AS: 3.9 AS: 0.85 PB: 26 PB: 1.3 HG: 0.21 TP-1TP-2 TT-2 DRO: 94.3 TT-1 PAH: <1.0 2-Foot Cover SEH-15 (2.5') TP-3TP-4TP-5 DRO: 130 BaP: 1.2 SEH-11 (4') AS: 4.1 HG: 0.17 PB: 5.6 TP-6 TT-4 ASBESTOS PIPE WRAP SEH-18 (2') TT-7 ASBESTOS PIPE WRAP DRO: 42 TT-5 3-Foot Cover TT-6 TP-8 TP-7 AS: 3.4 DRO: 89.4 SEH-6 (4') DRO: 18.7 DRO: 169 PB: 54 DRO: 29 BaP: <1.0 SEH-20 (2') AS: 3.8 SEH-3 (4') SEH-7 (1') PB: 8.6 DRO: 27 AS: 1.8 PB: 5.9 DRO: 64 TP-13 SEH-10 (2') HG: 0.12 AS: 3.1 AS: 2.3 PB: 46 TT-8 PB: 19 HG: 0.11 SEH-4 (3') B-104/SEH-1 (2')DRO: 22 TP-11 TP-12 AS: 2.8 AS: 2.3 PB: 9.3 PB: 9.3 TP-9TP-10 SEH-16 (2') SEH-5 (2') AS: 1.2 SEH-17 (1') PB: 2.1 TT-12 DRO: 72 TT-9 DRO: 10 AS: 2.2 BaP: <1.0 PB: 4.6 SEH-9 (2') TT-11 DRO: 16 TT-10 AS: 2.6 DRO: 35.6 SEH-14 (2.5') BaP: <1.0 DRO: 6 AS: 2.1 SEH-19 (6') PB: 19 SEH-8 (2') DRO: 120 AS: 3.9 TP-18 TP-14TP-15 TP-17 PB: 74 TP-16 Excavate to 4 Feet TP-19TP-20TP-21TP-22TP-23 F3 MEMORANDUM TO: Heritage Preservation Commission FROM: Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator/HPC Staff Liaison DATE: December 8, 2016 RE: Local Designation Introduction Maplewood’s Local Designation Program honors and helps protect historic structures and sites in the city that are significant locally. At the December Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting, staff will update commissioners on local designation projects. Background In 2015, the HPC developed procedures, eligibility criteria, and an application form for the City’s local designation program. This program honors and helps protect historic structures and sites in the city that are significant locally. City staff recently received an inquiry from a resident that is interested in local designation for her home. After discussing the program via phone, we agreed to meet in January 2017. If she decides to proceed,staff will provide more information at an upcoming HPC meeting. This would be a good project for the HPC for 2017. The HPC has been working on designating Gladstone Savanna. At the November 10, 2016 HPC meeting, commissioners reviewed a partial draft of the application for local designation for Gladstone Savanna. The completed draft shouldbeready forthe January 2017 HPC meeting. Staff liaison Gaynor recently discussed designation of GladstoneSavanna with the Parks and Recreation Director and Environmental and Economic Development Director. We confirmed the following process: HPC reviews and recommends designation. Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) reviews and makes recommendation. Since thisis a city-owned preserve, the PRC will want to understand what types of restrictions local designation may present. HPC members will want to attend thismeeting to help garner support for designation. Planning Commission holds public hearing, reviews and makes recommendation. A notification of the public hearing will be published in the local paper at least 10 days prior to the hearing and residents and owners within 500’ of the site will be notified by mail of the hearing. City Council considers therecommendations and makes a decision. Recommendation No action required. Attachments None