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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-20 HPC MINj 1 water THE SIRTHRLACE Of MINNESOTA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING March 20, 2024 REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Chairman Thueson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chairman Thueson, Commissioners Finwall, Heimdahl, Holmes, Larson, Mino, Summers, Councilmember Dunker Absent: None Staff: Planning Manager Gutknecht, Assistant City Planner Molasky APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of minutes of January 17. 2024 regular meeting Chair Thueson requested this addition on page 3: "the illustrated guidelines thatgo with" in reference to his comment on consulting the Secretary of the Interior Standards. Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Finwall, to approve the minutes of the January 17, 2024 meeting as amended. All in favor. Possible approval of minutes of February 21. 2024 workshop meeting Motion by Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to approve the minutes of the February 21, 2024 workshop meeting. All in favor. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA Case No. CD 2024-10: 225 Main St N (River Siren Brewery) Design Review for Mobile Food Unit (The Good Egg) Motion by Commissioner Summers, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to adopt the Consent Agenda. All in favor. PUBLIC HEARINGS There were no public hearings. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. NEW BUSINESS Case No. CD 2024-01: 324 Main St S (Grand Garage) Design Review for Masonry Repair and Window Replacement Planning Manager Gutknecht reviewed the case. Applicant Robert Griffin (Dominionaire Contracting) has submitted a building permit application for tuck pointing and brick repair/replacement including repairs/replacement to parapet, walls, and base of the east, north and south facades and other maintenance items. While only a portion of the building is identified as a contributing building to the Stillwater Commercial Historic District, the applicant proposes to make repairs in accordance with the Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting March 20, 2024 Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. The Stillwater Design Guidelines and Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation encourage repair/rehabilitation over replacement, but do not prevent full replacement. The applicant is committed to coordinating with staff to maintain historic integrity of the brick exterior consistent with the goals and standards outlined in the Design Guidelines. Staff finds the repairs are necessary to the continued preservation of the structure, and recommends approval with ten conditions. Commissioner Summers asked if there are plans to ensure the mural is not further eroded or damaged. Joe Conti, Principle, Arc Castle Studio, answered that the lower half brick work will be repaired but no painting or redoing of the artwork is planned. Chairman Thueson asked if the City, the historical society or library has any info about the mural's history, and Mr. Gutknecht replied that staff did not find any in the property files, but will look further. As far back as 1992, he could not find anything that indicated it had been repainted. Commissioner Larson asked about the vertical expansion joints, and Mr. Conti replied they plan to include a vertical expansion joint every 25-30 feet on the east side to alleviate any additional cracking. Commissioner Larson asked what will be done to repair the stone base damage, and Mr. Conti replied the damaged stone will be replaced with similar stone. Commissioner Larson noted there is significant deterioration around the top of the building and in some locations metal flashing has been placed on the top of the wall. He doesn't see any notes about using coping or top flashing in the future to prevent moisture from getting in. Mr. Conti responded that the project scope grew over time. Due to the snow that was up there at the time, it was determined that a more thorough assessment would be needed as far as how much coping and where it should start and stop. The specifics are yet to be determined with the owner. Commissioner Larson pointed out that the color to be used will determine the visual impact of the flashing. Once determined, he would like the HPC or staff to be notified of the proposed extent of additional work. Mr. Conti explained that if the flashing needs replacing, it will be replaced with flashing of a consistent, agreed -upon color all the way around the building and that process would occur during the construction stage in coordination with City staff. Commissioner Larson asked about the vertical control joints on the east elevation, and Mr. Conti explained that the damaged grout work must be repaired but providing a control joint at that location would also facilitate any movement and address the condition. Commissioner Holmes voiced a similar concern about cutting a control joint into the face brick on the south elevation, which may not provide the relief that it needs. He asked why at this point in the history of the building should control joints be introduced? Mr. Conti said he is following the contractor's expertise and recommendations. It's not unusual when brick is applied in this manner to provide a control joint every 25 feet. The cracking indicates something has gone wrong - water penetration or not enough room - they are trying to address that. Commissioner Finwall noted the sign frame on the southeast corner has been vacant for many years, is collecting rust and likely causing further damage to the building. Mr. Gutknecht said staff can research whether the sign has historical relevance. Page 2 of 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting March 20, 2024 Commissioner Summers remarked that a quick Google search finds the artwork for Wrigley gum is dated between 1925-1940. He asked if it is within the HPC's scope to require the owner to protect the mural as part of this process. Mr. Gutknecht agreed to re -consult the design guidelines about when murals can and should be preserved; perhaps it could be an additional condition. Commissioner Finwall noted that the HPC is working with staff on establishing guidelines for murals downtown including preserving historic murals. Commissioner Mino located a 2012 newspaper article about the mural painter, who was born in 1951 and who started the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery, which if accurate indicates the mural is newer. Chairman Thueson said some older murals around town have been repainted with their original design. Commissioner Larson suggested adding a condition of approval to protect and preserve the mural. Commissioner Holmes asked how to determine if a control joint will solve the problem of vertical cracking. He wants to avoid inadvertently causing a problem by cutting through soft brick every 20- 25 feet of a building which prior to this has not had vertical control joints. Chairman Thueson said it would be valuable to see where exactly those joints would be located and an example of what they would look like. Commissioner Holmes agreed; he would like to see examples of what the contractor has done in other situations. Mr. Conti commented that there is serious brick damage on the south elevation that he feels is potentially dangerous, so they want to address those situations as soon as possible. Commissioner Holmes asked what mortar mix will be used, and Mr. Conti replied the grout will be specially developed to match the joints, following Department of the Interior Standards. Commissioner Heimdahl suggested a condition that flashing, if needed, be a bronze or copper color. Chairman Thueson asked if there will be any work done on the two metal grates on the Main Street side of the 1882 building, and Mr. Conti said those areas aren't being replaced and will be left as is. Motion by Commissioner Larson, seconded by Commissioner Holmes, to adopt Resolution HPC2024-02, Resolution Granting Design Review Approval in the Downtown Design Review District for 324 Main Street South (Case No. CD2024-01) with the ten staff -recommended condition, plus three additional conditions: 1) to minimize the use of new vertical control joints and coordinate the proposed location for the joints with staff, 2) to coordinate with staff the location of any new metal coping and flashing at the parapet, and the color of all flashing should be a dark color as opposed to the lighter beige currently used in some places; 3) to protect the existing mural on the south side of the building during the construction process. Commissioner Heimdahl suggested adding wording under Condition #6 stating that the new mortar should be vapor permeable and soft or softer than the existing brick. Chairman Thueson offered a friendly amendment that the grates and openings on the east side of the 1880s building will be left as is, not removed nor filled in. All in favor. OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS There were no discussion items. Page 3 of 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting March 20, 2024 FYI Bergstein Shoddy Mill Reuse Mr. Gutknecht presented concept renderings, emphasizing that it is very early in the process and plans will be brought back to the HPC as the design concepts develop. Councilmember Junker explained that since they were moved to the riverfront site, the two buildings have deteriorated. The City received $6 million in State funding for various riverfront improvement projects, whose costs will total about $10.8 million. The cost to adapt and reuse these two buildings could potentially be around $1 million. The upstairs of the Bergstein building is unusable - reinforcing the structure to make it useable would be way out of scope. The stone building needs to be shored up. The City would like to get some type of use out of them and planning is in the very early stages. There is discussion of having the river side be wide open, a picnic table area, along with indoor seating, potentially a kitchen of some sort, maybe a bicycle water refill station. He noted on the second floor of the Bergstein building is an original wheel that was used to get the cotton up to the second floor. Perhaps it could be brought to the first floor to show what it was originally used for. Chairman Thueson said the elevator opening could be reopened so the wheel could be visible. Commissioner Finwall said, if the top floor can't be used, could that floor be removed? Councilmember Junker said he is not sure - it may be desirable to keep some of the character of a two story building. The upstairs could be used for storage but not for public use. Chairman Thueson commented that Secretary of the Interior standards apply to this project. Mr. Gutknecht said staff will review the final proposal with the State Historic Preservation Office also. Chairman Thueson said there is some flexibility, for instance some windows have been covered over on the north side of the building and there are other elements that could bring back some of the original fabric and character of the building. Councilmember Junker summarized the three goals are to keep the integrity, keep the cost down, and make it useable for something. Commissioner Larson stated when doing adaptive reuse, it is helpful to consider the programmatic intent or goals. When a building isn't as flexible as the program is, the challenge is to get those two to work together, to find that line between being as open as possible and a building that really isn't that way. Second is making the landscape and buildings work together. The space between the two buildings might be the most useful of all. He suggests keeping the solidity of the building and keeping its corners, making as many openings possible without jeopardizing the historic adaptive reuse goal. Commissioner Heimdahl noted an open air design becomes obsolete during the winter. He would like to think about how it can retain its functionality all four seasons. Councilmember Junker said the Council's thought was that it would be more of a two or three season building. Additionally, there is a 300 foot boat dock designed for this area on a floating pylon. There would be a ramp zigzagging down to the boat ramp, which could accommodate 8-12 boats. Commissioner Summers said it's interesting that the City is wrestling with same thing many applicants wrestle with: finding a way to use a structure that is respectful without spending too much money. Councilmember Junker responded, except for one difference - these buildings were placed on this land recently. They have significance to the Valley's Jewish history but nothing to do with the river. Page 4 of 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting March 20, 2024 Commissioner Holmes asked if there has been any consideration of introducing a playground element, and Councilmember Junker said that has not been brought up. Mr. Gutknecht summarized that staff will share the comments with the internal team and bring back alternatives for the Commission and Council to consider. Missing Middle Housing Bill (Minnesota Legislature) Design Regulation Impacts Mr. Gutknecht stated that the purpose of this bill is to increase affordability and available of affordable housing options. The biggest impact for HPC is a limitation on aesthetic mandates: that a municipality cannot condition or approve a resident building permit, residential subdivision or PUD based on its design unless it conforms to state or local historic district requirements. Staff will continue monitoring this and updating the HPC. COMMISSIONER REQUESTS Commissioner Heimdahl brought up a co-sponsorship opportunity for an event this summer. A company called Atlas Preservation is conducting hands-on preservation workshops at historic cemeteries in every state. A workshop will be held at Fairview Cemetery on July 27. He asked if the HPC wants to be a co-sponsor. Chairman Thueson asked staff to find out what it might need for HPC to support this in some way. He then asked about the status of the sunken garden. Councilmember Junker replied that the stairs going down are being repaired, along with drinking fountain and tuck work in front. The work has been approved and will be done this summer, retaining the character using comparable stone. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commiss. o, to adjourn. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 p.m. Z" Matt Thueson, Chair ATTEST: Ti m Gladhill, Community Development Director Resolution HPC2024-04, Design Permit to Facilitate the Placement of a Seasonal Food Vending Trailer at 225 Main Street North (River Siren Brewing) (Case No. CD2024- 010) Resolution HPC2024-02, Resolution Granting Design Review Approval in the Downtown Design Review District for 324 Main Street South (Case No. CD2024-01) Page 5 of 5