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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-10 HPC Agenda ! McCarron’s Water Treatment Plant Improvements Section 106 Consultation - Summary of Work to Date Project Summary The Saint Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS) is planning to undertake improvements at the existing McCarrons Water Treatment Plant at 1900 Rice Street in Maplewood. This project proposes to demolish portions of the existing Purification and Filtration Plant and construct new additions to this building. Additionally, the project proposes to modify portions of the site through tree removal, replacement of buried pipelines, construction of temporary berms, and construction of temporary and permanent roadways and parking. SPRWS began archaeological and architectural history studies in May 2020. Identification of Historic Properties Area of Potential Effect September 20, 2021: SPRWS initiated consultation with the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), defined the undertaking, and recommended the Area of Potential Effects (APE). See document titled Area of Potential Effect Rationale for the McCarrons Water Treatment Plant Improvements, Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota (September 2021, 106 Group). October 20, 2021: SHPO concurred with the APE. Archaeology August 3, 2020: An archaeological literature review and assessment of the proposed project area was conducted by 106 Group and submitted to SHPO. The analysis did not identify any known archaeological sites within the proposed project area and recommended that there is a low likelihood for intact archaeological resources to be present within the proposed project area. See document titled Archaeological Literature Review and Assessment for the McCarrons Water Treatment Plant Project, Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota (June 2020, 106 Group). August 31, 2020: SHPO concurred with this finding. September 21, 2021: As SPRWS continued with the design development process, the project area was revised from what was initially submitted to SHPO in August 2020. Therefore, an addendum archaeological assessment was conducted by 106 Group and submitted to SHPO. The analysis recommended that there is a low likelihood for intact archaeological resources to be present within the proposed project area. See document titled Archaeological Assessment Addendum, McCarrons Water Treatment Plant, Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota (September 17, 2021, 106 Group). October 20, 2021: SHPO concurred with this finding. No further archaeological work is needed. Architectural History August 3, 2020: An intensive architectural history survey of the entire water treatment plant was conducted by 106 Group and submitted to SHPO. The McCarrons Water Treatment Plant (historically called the St. Paul Water Works, RA-MWC-0275) was recommended eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion A in the area of Community Planning and Development. The construction of a water treatment facility was an essential public health milestone in the development of a successful municipal water supply and distribution system. Not only did water treatment processes significantly improve water quality, but the McCarrons Water Treatment Plant included additional storage facilities to bolster the water supply for Saint Paul and surrounding suburbs. The period of significance is from 1916 to 1979. The district contains 11 contributing resources (including the largest building, the Purification and Filtration Plant) and 10 non-contributing resources. See document titled Intensive Architectural History Survey of the McCarrons Water Treatment Plant, Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota (July 2020 \[Revised September 2020\], 106 Group). If interested, see also inventory forms prepared for each surveyed property. August 31, 2020: SHPO concurred that the McCarrons Water Treatment Plant is eligible for listing in the NRHP and requested minor revisions to the report, which were completed in September 2020. January 13, 2022: With the APE defined, a reconnaissance architectural history survey of adjacent properties to the water treatment plant was conducted by 106 Group and submitted to SHPO. Within the APE, 32 properties are 45 years of age or older and met the criteria for survey, including one property that was previously inventoried. All 32 properties are not recommended for further intensive survey due to a lack of historical significance and/or a loss of historical integrity. See document titled Reconnaissance Architectural History Survey and Assessment of Effects Study for the McCarrons Water Treatment Plant Improvements, Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota (January 2022, 106 Group). If interested, see also inventory forms prepared for each surveyed property. This report is currently under review by SHPO. No additional architectural history survey is anticipated. Assessment of Effects Based on the studies mentioned above, there is one historic property within the APE: the McCarrons Water Treatment Plant. An assessment of effects analysis was conducted by 106 Group and submitted to SHPO on January 13, 2022, as part of the reconnaissance architectural history survey report. Due to the extent of proposed demolition and new construction, specifically on the Purification and Filtration Plant, the project will result in an Adverse Effect to the McCarrons Water Treatment Plant such that it will no longer be able to convey its historical significance. See document titled Reconnaissance Architectural History Survey and Assessment of Effects Study for the McCarrons Water Treatment Plant Improvements, Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota (January 2022, 106 Group) This report is currently under review by SHPO. Consulting Parties In November 2021, SPRWS sent invitations to the 11 Federally recognized American Indian Tribes with reservations in Minnesota and relevant municipal and community organizations. The following have accepted: Ramsey County Historical Society, Maplewood Area Historical Society, and Maplewood Historic Preservation Commission. The first consulting parties meeting will be held in February 2022.