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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-07-01 HPC MININS IINTNNEA Si OF MINNESOTA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING July 1, 2013 7:00 P.M. Chairman Larson called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. Present: Chairman Larson, Commissioners Johnson, Welty, Brach (arrived at 7:50 p.m.), Council Representative Menikheim Absent: Commissioners Goodman and Krakowski Staff: Community Development Director Turnblad, City Planner Wittman OTHER BUSINESS Discussion of conceptual re -use plan for the Wolf Brewery Building - Mark Finneman, owner's representative Community Development Director Turnblad explained that Mark Finneman has been retained by a group interested in purchasing the Wolf Brewery property and converting it into a boutique hotel. Mark Finneman of Finn Daniels Architects, St. Paul, introduced himself and explained the intent to convert the Joseph Wolf Brewery Building into a hotel with about 40 rooms. A historical consultant will guide the project through the State historic preservation process. A structural analysis is underway and a feasibility study will be done to address the marketability of the project and assess the impact of potential tax credits. The building is quite complicated with many levels. A schematic design will be done in about a week. He would like to learn about the City approval process and proceed as quickly as possible. Commissioner Johnson explained the review process and the possibility of convening a subcommittee to review the concept in order to accommodate the applicant's timelines. City Planner Wittman agreed to facilitate a subcommittee meeting to begin concept review. HPC training materials Community Development Director Turnblad informed the Commission that a CD is being provided to each Commissioner with materials related to the Commission's roles, duties and responsibilities. Review will take place after a new Commissioner is on board. Chairman Larson reminded Commissioners to recruit candidates interested in serving on the Commission. Staff updates on utility markers, lighting on plaza, and new member advertisement. City Planner Wittman updated the Commission on a number of projects: staff has forwarded the pedestrian plaza lighting inquiry to the Public Works Department and the contractor is researching alternative lighting options. The Public Works Department has been informed of the optic fiber locator markers located on Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting July 1, 2013 public property. They have spoken with the contractor and most in the urban core have been removed. The City has published the HPC vacancy and has not received any letters of interest to date. Discussion on status and future of 114 Chestnut Street West Council Representative Menikheim noted the building is reportedly the oldest building in the City. He expressed concern about its deterioration. It is for sale by an LLC. He asked if the City has a desire to try to save it. Commissioner Johnson asked if there is opportunity for grant funding to improve the facade. Community Development Director Turnblad responded that grant funding would take special legislation. There may be other tools for the City to become involved. It is just outside the downtown historic district, so is not a contributing structure. A local historic designation cannot be done if the property owner doesn't agree to it. However the Commission could make a recommendation that it is an important building and strongly encourage the Council to take action to save it. Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Brach, to direct staff to draft a statement for consideration at the next meeting, encouraging the City to become involved. All in favor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of June 3, 2013 meeting minutes Commissioner Johnson noted that on page 4, the motion for Case No. DR/2013 -32 should have included a condition setting a maximum height of six feet to meet sign height restrictions. The podcast presentation inquiry on page 4 was made by Commissioner Johnson. The motion for appointment of the new chair on page 1 was by Johnson, seconded by Brach. Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Welty, to approve the minutes of the June 3, 2013 meeting as amended. All in favor. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. PUBLIC HEARINGS Case No. DR/2013 -17. Design review of proposed signage and facade repair for Osaka Express located at 108 Main Street North in the CBD, Central Business District. Sean Flynn, Northstar Sign, applicant. City Planner Wittman explained that on June 14, staff received a request from Cameron Kelly, representing Osaka, for the suspension of the application review indicating the applicant requires more time to prepare materials for a complete submission. Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Brach, to table the design review of the proposed signage and facade repair for Osaka Express located at 108 Main Street North, Case No. DR/2013 -17 until the August 5, 2013 HPC meeting. All in favor. Page 2 of 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting July 1, 2013 DESIGN REVIEWS Case No. DR/2013 -34. Design review of proposed signage for Crew Outfitters located at 1709 Greeley Street South in the BP -I, Business Park Industrial District. Jeff Lundeen, applicant. City Planner Wittman stated the applicant is requesting approval of a design for a 60 square foot (five feet tall by 12 feet wide) black awning sign to read "Crew Outfitters." The sign will be lit with fluorescent lighting located under the awning. Staff recommends approval. Applicant Jeff Lundeen indicated the signage will be no more than half the total size of the awning per regulations. There will be hook -type lighting above the logo rather than below, which will add more character to the front of the building. He asked if the words Luggage and Backpacks could be included on the awning. City Planner Wittman replied that additional words would be considered to be part of the total allowable square footage, and the Commission would need to approve the change. Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Brach, to approve signage for Crew Outfitters located at 1709 Greeley Street South, Case No. DR/2013 -34, as conditioned, with the additional clarification that the signage will be 60 square feet or less, that it will amount to less than half the square footage of the awning; and that lighting will be down -lit above the awning and that a photo of the lighting shall be submitted as part of the application. All in favor. Case No. DR/2013 -35. Amendment to the Stillwater Marketplace Comprehensive Sign Plan. KFP Investment Properties, LLC, Jay Feider, applicant. City Planner Wittman explained that the applicant is requesting an amendment to the multi -tenant sign plan for Stillwater Marketplace. The amendment would permit businesses to have the option of using raised plastic letters instead of the already approved lit lettering style. Staff recommends approval. Jay Feider, owner of the building at 1754 Market Drive, said he is requesting the change for this building only, not for the other buildings that are considered part of Stillwater Markeplace. Commissioner Johnson said he would prefer if the amendment would apply to everything within Stillwater Marketplace rather than just one structure. There was discussion about what properties are included in the original Stillwater Marketplace. Community Development Director Turnblad noted that staff can look through the sign plans on record to find geographic areas tied to those sign plans. Motion by Commissioner Brach, seconded by Commissioner Welty, to approve the amendment to the Stillwater Marketplace Comprehensive Sign Plan permitting businesses to have the additional option of using raised plastic letters instead of the already approved lit lettering style, noting that it applies only to 1754 Market Drive, as opposed to all of Stillwater Marketplace, Case No. DR/2013 -35, as conditioned. All in favor. Case No. DR/2013 -36. Design review of signage for Glitter & Gabby located at 1754 Market Drive in the BP- C, Business Park Commercial District, DeMars Sign, applicant. Page 3 of 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting July 1, 2013 City Planner Wittman reviewed the request. The applicant is requesting approval of a 9.76 square foot sign (46.5 inches wide by 30.25 inches tall), with unlit raised acrylic plastic letters that read "G & G it's play time." Staff recommends approval. Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Welty, to approve signage for Glitter & Gabby located at 1754 Market Drive, Case No. DR/2013 -36, as conditioned with the suggestions that the "G & G" be outlined for better delineation, and that a different font and a more consistent color scheme be used, and with the understanding that the sign is not lit. All in favor. Case No. DR/2013 -37. Design review for the installation of two HVAC rooftop units located at 214 Main Street South in the CBD, Central Business District, HAF Architects, applicant. City Planner Wittman explained that the applicant is requesting approval for the installation of two five -ton HVAC rooftop units. Although the units are screened from Main Street, they will be visible from the hillside and bluffline. The two units will be finished in a matte dark gray, matching the five existing rooftop units. Staff recommends approval. Larson noted that most rooftop units downtown that are not screened, and questioned when the Commission will start requiring screening Community Development Director Turnblad replied that screening is really addressed case by case. More options for placement of mechanical structures are available with new construction; retrofits are more difficult to place and screening can make the visibility worse. Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Welty, to approve the installation of two HVAC rooftop units located at 214 Main Street South, Case No. DR/2013 -37, as conditioned, with the additional condition that ductwork be painted matte dark gray to match the color of the unit. All in favor. Case No. DR/2013 -38. Design review of trash enclosure for the Water Street Inn located at 127 Water Street South in the CBD, Central Business District, City of Stillwater, applicant. City Planner Wittman reviewed the request. The applicant is requesting approval for a 96 square foot trash enclosure (eight feet deep by 12 feet wide) to be faced with brick, with a pre - finished painted metal paneled gate. The enclosure will be located in the southeast corner of the parking lot upon completion of parking lot improvements. Staff recommends approval. Community Development Director Turnblad noted that the City is applying for the review as part of a 2011 development agreement that provided, in conjunction with the pedestrian plaza project, that the City would pay half the cost of the trash enclosure. Commissioner Johnson commented that the space proposed is an extremely visible area and would be no better than where trash is now on the opposite corner of the parking lot, noting that the trash area is not well tended. He feels the proposed location is not appropriate. He suggested the area behind the green plywood patio bar area where there is space right outside the kitchen door. Commissioner Larson expressed concern about pedestrian safety considering the view angles when turning the corner. City Planner Wittman pointed out there is just as much pedestrian traffic on any other corner of the parking lot. Page 4 of 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting July 1, 2013 Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Brach, to table approval of the trash enclosure for the Water Street Inn located at 127 Water Street South, Case No. DR/2013 -38, for a new site plan, with the suggestion it be located adjacent to the building, preferably on the northeast corner of the building, with service access to Water Street. All in favor. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. OTHER BUSINESS continued Approval of CLG projects Dan Hoisington reviewed a brochure he created as part of the podcast project. Commissioners provided input on the brochure content and design. He also reviewed materials on the local designation district project. Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Brach, to approve work that has been done to date on the podcasts and the local designation district project, and direct Commission members to provide any additional comments to Mr. Hoisington by July 9. All in favor. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Brach, seconded by Commissioner Welty, to adjourn. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink Recording Secretary Page 5 of 5