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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-08-07 HPC MINHERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION Aug. 7, 1995 Present: Katherine Francis, Robert Kimbrel, Howard Lieberman, Jay Michels and Roger Tomten Others: Steve Russell, community development director; Susan Fitzgerald, planning Absent: Chairman Jeff Johnson and Brent Peterson Todd Remington Acting chairman Robert Kimbrel called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Approval of minutes corrected to indicate the HPC take no ac commission had no correction; Katherine Case DP/95-13.- i Mr. Kimbrel asked that the July 5, 1995, minutes be that at the June 5, 1995, meeting he suggested that tion on the Lumber Barons Hotel project because the plans to review. Mr. Tomten moved to make that Francis seconded the motion. All in favor. case was continued. Case DP /SUP /V/95 -60. This case was continued. Case DP /SUP/95 -64. Design review and special use permit and design permit for a new collision repair facility located at 2000 Curve Crest Blvd. Jim Kellison, applicant. Mr. Kellison and the business owner, Mr. Schoonover, appeared regarding the request. Mr. Kellison asked that the commission reconsider a condition of approval that the fence be moved in 10 feet from the property line around the rear parking area to allow landscaping to be outside of the fencing. Mr. Kellison said the fence needs to be kept at the property line to provide for overnight parking and snow storage. Mr. Schoonover suggested a compromise -- a zig- zagged fence along the property line, with alcoves where landscaping could be planted. Mr. Tomten moved approval as conditioned - , changing condition of approval L_ No. 3 to indicate that landscaping must be in place by June 1, 1996, if weather conditions prohibit landscaping earlier and with the additional condition that the landscaping, fencing and lighting plans be reviewed by the HPC at its next meeting. Ms. Francis seconded the motion. Mr. Michels suggested adding that the signage plan is also to be reviewed at the next meeting. Mr. Tomten accepted Mr. Michels' amendment to his motion. Motion passed unanimously. Case DP/V/95 -65. Design permit and variance for the construction of an attached garage and brick veneer of north wall of house at 315 S. Third St. Marlin Eiklenborg applicant. Mr. Eiklenborg appeared regarding the request. There was some discussion of drainage and how Mr. Nolde's plans for the property immediately to the north might impact the grade /drainage. Mr. Eiklenborg said he will be in contact with Mr. Nolde. Mr. Michels, seconded by Mr. Lieberman, moved approval as conditioned. All in favor. Follow -up review of Larry's Floor storefront design. Judd Orff appeared before the commission. He explained that the window placement was due to a steel beam that runs through the interior which prohibited the placement as originally shown in plans. He also said structural difficulties made it impossible to put the air conditioning unit on the roof or interior of the building. Mr. Tomten noted that design guidelines call for screening of air conditioning units as much as possible. He said he understood the hardship but asked Mr. Orff to look at screening the unit in some fashion. Mr. Tomten moved to accept the revised plan with the condition that Mr. Orff /building owners prepare some screening ideas for approval by city staff. Ms. Francis seconded the motion; all in favor. Follow -up review of Staples Mill reconstruction. Monty Brine and Mark Balay were present. Mr. Balay explained that the building is being restored to its condition prior to the fire and therefore doesn't require any design review. Follow -up review of Lumber Barons Hotel. City Attorney David Magnuson, Mayor Jay Kimble and Councilman Terry Zoller were present for this discussion, as were the developers -- Duane Hubbs, John Berglund and Chuck Dougherty. r Mr. Kimbrel stated his position that the HPC should rescind its actions of the June 5, 1995, meeting because the action was based on information that turned out to be false. Mr. Tomten agreed that based on information given to the HPC, the commission didn't do as thorough a review as possible. He said he would like to set the record straight and do a thorough review based on the information the HPC now has. Mr. Lieberman said he thought the original plan for the hotel was outstanding. He said the HPC actions in June were based on the understanding that revisions were due to federal mandates. He also said he would not like the HPC to underutilize or overstep its . authority. He later called for moving forward with a spirit of good will and cooperation to make sure the product/process maintains the highest level of integrity. Mr. Michels asked Mr. Magnuson to address the question of the HPC's authority. Mr. Magnuson said the question of the HPC's authority is a contradictory area. He said the whole process has never been tested before; he further suggested the process is flawed and needs to be reworked. From a legal standpoint, he said, the HPC /city may not be able to force changes because the project is so far along. Mr. Berglund reiterated the developers' position that they thought they were in compliance with the process -- that they had submitted the revised plan to city staff in July 1994. Mayor Kimble urged the two groups to "bury the hatchet and move forward." He said the situation was a case of misunderstanding and provides an opportunity for the city to learn from its mistakes, improve communication with its commissions, and refine the process. "The blame is with the system," he said. Mr. Lieberman suggested the HPC and developers articulate a joint statement that they had reached consensus on the building. Members and developers then held an at- the -table review of plans. Mr. Tomten and Mr. Kimbrel again expressed concern about the Water Street elevation of the building. Mr. Tomten suggested the possibility of planters to make the Water Street elevation more pedestrian - friendly. The developers later agreed to the use of planters if the city is willing to vacate a portion of the sidewalk. The discussion closed with Mr. Lieberman making a motion to formulate a joint statement that the HPC and St. Croix Preservation Co. agree that the r project conforms to both federal and HPC and St. Croix Preservation Co. on the future development of the seconded the motion; all in favor. developers. local design guidelines, and that the look forward to continued cooperation Lumber Barons Hotel. Ms. Francis The statement was agreeable to the In a separate motion, Mr. Lieberman, seconded by Mr. Michels, moved to encourage the city to consider vacating two feet of sidewalk (on Water Street) to allow for the use of planters to be maintained by the developers. All in favor. Review of downtown Christmas lights. Kristin Klemetsrud and Sharon Stepan, representing the City of Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, reviewed plans for Christmas lights /decorations in the downtown area. The decorations will incorporate the new city banners. They said the intent is to do as much as possible this year, depending on funding. Mr. Kimbrel, seconded by Mr. Lieberman, moved to support the plans as presented; all in favor. Bridge update. Mr. Michels gave an update on the design for the new river crossing. He also noted that MnDOT is now changing its position and will not be leading the charge to preserve the old lift bridge. He suggested that the city, along with SHPO and the Minnesota Historical Society will have to play a lead role in preserving the lift bridge. Update on downtown /Lowell Park light fixtures. Ms. Fitzgerald and Mr. Russell showed graphics of the proposed fixtures. The fixtures in the park will be acorn style and placed at a height of 15 feet due to concerns about vandalism. The street fixtures will be lantern style and placed at a height of 12 -13 feet. Ms. Francis said she preferred the lower placement in the pedestrian area. Design review of Andersen WindowCare Center entrance sian. This was an informational item and no action was necessary. Mr. Lieberman, seconded by Ms. Francis, moved to adjourn the meeting at 11 p.m. All in favor. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Baker Recording Secretary