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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-09-05 HPC Packet• llwater • THE BIRTHPLACE OF MINNESOTA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION HERITAGE PRESERVATION MEETING NOTICE THE STILLWATER HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION WILL MEET WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2001 700PM CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL 216 NORTH FOURTH STREET AGENDA Approval of August 6, 2001 minutes - 1 Case No DR/01-34 Design review of an exterior deck for Northern Vineyards at 223 North Main Street Robin Partch, applicant Other items _ a Registration for 22nd Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Conference' b b Review of Public Works Building - c Survey information for the Churchill, Nelson& Slaughter Addition (West half) - d = Newspaper vending machine discussion CITY HALL 216 NORTH FOURTH STILLWATER, MINNESOTA 55082 PHONE 651-430-8800 1 • • • • City of Stillwater Hentage Preservation Comnussion August 6, 2001 Present Howard Lieberman, chairperson Beth Diem, Phil Eastwood, Jeff Johnson and Diane Hark Others Planner Sue Fitzgerald Absent Roger Tomten Mr Lieberman called the meeting to order at 7 05 p m Approval of minutes Mr Johnson, seconded by Mr Eastwood, moved approval of the mmutes of July 2, 2001, motion passed unanimously Correspondence received from Mr Tomten, but not provided to members at this point, indicated that the wording m the discussion regardmg bubble awnings in Case o, DR/01-21 should be changed from "bubble style awnings are appropnate, especially if they accent an arched opening" to bubble style awmngs are appropnate only if " Case No DR/V/00-19 Design review of extenor modifications of trash enclosure for boat ticket office at 525 S Main St Mark Balay, applicant Mr Balay explained that the onginal request was to have an enclosed dumpster located near the Dock Cafe dumpster Since that time, the location of the dumpster has moved to the location of an existmg shed on the to the north of the new Andiamo ticket office The shed will be demolished and the existing slab used for the new enclosure for a self-contained compactor The structure will be galvanized siding with red metal roof The structure will have to be open on the south side Mr Johnson asked if the structure was going to be 115 square foot as indicated m the agenda Mr Balay said the actual size is about 32 x 12' The building will be 13. feet high, but only about three feet will be visible from the parking lot, Mr Balay said Mr Johnson asked about the use of galvamzed siding/metal roof vs the matenals used for the ticket office Mr Balay said that was a cost consideration, but suggested that 90 percent of the public won't notice any difference between the two buildings Mr Balay also stated that the intent is to change the approved landscaping plan, changing three bushes to three crab trees to act as a screen for the west side of the structure Mr Johnson, seconded by Ms Hark, moved approval as submitted and conditioned Motion passed unanimously Case No DR/01-29 Design review of extenor modifications at 222 Commercial St Mark Balay, applicant Mark Balay and building owner, Lee Bjerk, were present Mr Balay explained that the building is a rental property with two leased office spaces and one upstairs apartment The proposed 1 • • • City of Stillwater Hentage Preservation Commission August 6, 2001 changes, egress windows for the apartment, renovation of an abandoned entrance, the addition of a window at the southwest corner of the building and office window on the east elevation, will not change the architecture of the building he said Signage will be requested as tenants occupy the space, and color has not been decided at this point, he said Mr Johnson asked about the siding, Mr Balay said it will probably continue to be metal siding, but that won't be known until the extent of required repairs are known Mr Johnson asked about the roofing for the entries, whether the matenal would be asphalt, Mr Balay responded m the affirmative Mr Lieberman, seconded by Ms Diem, moved approval as conditioned Mr Balay asked if staff could approve color or make the decision that the HPC needed to review the color That was acceptable to Mr Lieberman and Ms Diem and motion amended to reflect that Amended motion passed unanimously Mr Balay presented a request, not on the agenda, for approval of a change in signage at the car dealership at the former Hardee's location Mr Balay said the only change in the plan previously approved by the HPC is the inclusion of the Auburn msigma on the signage Mr Johnson moved approval of the requested change with the sign to be green, black with an off-white background, that the sign be no higher or larger than permitted by ordinance, that the existing change order board be removed, and the applicant bring the final design to Ms Fitzgerald for confirmation Mr Eastwood seconded the motion, motion passed unanimously Case No DR/01-30 Design review for "concept only" for renovated and new office buildings at 207 Nelson St E John R Low and Partners, applicants Steve Bremer was present Mr Bremer stated he had teed to purchase the property in question and is currently working with the new owners of the property to provide road access to the Vittono's complex Plans include converting an existing stable building for office use, possible construction of a new office building similar to the existing stable and removal of an existing shed There was discussion regarding demolition of the shed building Mr Bremer noted that one block wall is close to falling down Ms Fitzgerald said the City's building official also has stated the building is in very poor shape Mr Johnson questioned the dormer shown on the east elevation of the office buildings and the sash wmdows in the roof on the west elevation Mr Bremer said perhaps the elevations were mislabeled and said the applicant was seeking concept approval only at this time Mr Johnson made a motion stating the HPC recognizes the shed building as potentially significant but approves demolition due to the condition of the structure, giving concept approval to the plans for the red stable building with the exception of the roof windows on the west elevation, with further plans to be brought back to the HPC Ms Hark seconded the motion Mr • • • City of Stillwater Hentage Preservation Commission August 6, 2001 Lieberman questioned whether the HPC could approve demolition of the shed at this time, noting that according to the City's ordinance any structure over 50 years old is considered potentially histoncally sigmficant and reviews that the permit and review process be followed Mr Johnson made a second motion stating the HPC determines the east/west (shed) concrete block building to be potentially histoncally sigmficant, that the reuse proposed for the existing stable building be given concept approval except for the west facing windows, and that the proposed second building to match the stable building is considered an mappropnate replication with further consideration to given to those plans Mr Lieberman seconded the motion Mr Johnson withdrew his first motion The second motion passed unanimously Case No SUP/DR/01-23 Design review of extenor modifications for 402 S Main St Steve Bremer, applicant It was noted the HPC could not act on this request until the demolition review is completed for the shed building in the case above Mr Lieberman, seconded by Mr Eastwood, moved to give concept approval pending final determination on the demolition of the shed building Case No DR/01-07 Design review of extenor modifications at Tom Thumb, 2601 Orleans St W This item was for information only and no action taken Case No DR/01-31 Design review of new signage for Washington County Histoncal Society, 602 N Main St Rebecca Ostrom, applicant Ms Ostrom was present Mr Johnson questioned whether the changeable lettermg portion of the proposed sign was allowed by the City's ordinance Ms Fitzgerald suggested that portion of the sign might be considered a public service Mr Lieberman, seconded by Ms Diem, moved approval as conditioned Motion passed 4-0-1, with Mr Eastwood abstaining Case No DR/01-32 Design review of canopy at 129 S Main St Steve Thoreson, applicant The applicant was present Mr Eastwood asked whether the canopy met the size parameters of the ordinance Ms Fitzgerald stated the size is within the ordinance The valance will not include the business name Mr Lieberman, seconded by Mr Eastwood, moved approval as conditioned, motion passed unammously Case No DEM/01-00 Demotion review — Creamery at 1135 W St Croix Ave David Newman, representing Bancor Group Present were Mr Newman and Ed Simonet, attorney representing the applicant Mr Newman explained the company plans for the Amundson property The plans include 19 new home sites • • • City of Stillwater Hentage Preservation Commission August 6, 2001 The former farmhouse is being retained, and plans were designed to do that, he said Mr Newman provided photos He noted there are zomng issues, as well as cost issues involved in the demolition request Mr Newman stated a newspaper ad had been placed offering the creamery building for sale, there had been three phone calls, but no one further expressions of interest m the structure Mr Johnson asked if there were other old buildings on the property Mr Newman stated there is an old block garage, but the garage doesn't meet the timelines of the demolition ordinance Mr Newman also stated the company would be wilting to accept offers on the creamery building until construction starts in two weeks Mr Johnson noted the applicant had done a good job m meeting the demolition ordinance requirements Mr Johnson, seconded by Mr Lieberman, moved approval of the permit Mr Lieberman asked about incorporating Mr Tomten's idea regarding some type of commemorative plaque Mr Newman stated the Amundson family has asked that the required park dedication be named for the family and suggested that the park would be an appropnate location for such a commemorative/educational plaque Motion for approval of the permit passed unanimously Case No DR/01-33 Design review of extenor signage for DiaSonn Inc at 1990 Industrial Blvd Ross Buschman, representing DiaSonn Mr Johnson asked if the existing monument sign on Industnal Boulevard will remain Mr Buschman stated the monument will remain as the mam building is for sale and the new tenant likely will use that sign Mr Buschman noted there are two entrances off Northwestern Avenue, "Amencan Standard Co " also will be removed from the north entry sign on Northwestern The relocated sign will be of the same lettenng as the Industnal Boulevard sign Mr Eastwood, seconded by Mr Lieberman, moved approval as conditioned, motion passed unammously Case No V/DR/01-39 Design review of "Memonal to Stillwater High School Veterans" located in the parking lot north of Pine Street between Third and Fourth streets Bnan Larson, applicant Present for the discussion were Bnan Larson, architect with Larson and Brenner, and several members of the Veterans Memorial Committee, mcluding Dave Swanson, John Kraemer, Gary Weissbauer and Julie Kink Mr Larson reviewed the history of the project as well as the vanous design elements He said the intent is to provide a focal point m general as well as to mform and educate visitors about the role local people have played in this country's vanous wars The memonal itself will feature an eight -foot stone base, open on all four sides The memonal will be constructed of a transparent, light weight metallic matenal, and eventually be vine covered The proportion of the memonal is nearly identical to the City's church steeples, he said r • • • City of Stillwater Heritage Preservation Commission August 6, 2001 Mr Johnson asked if the arches from the ongmal high school would be mcluded Mr Larson said that was part of the ongmal design competition However, he said the arches are not part of the project at this time Mr Kraemer explained that the status of the arches is unclear There was discussion regarding lighting Mr Larson said the intent is to have recessed ground hghts The flag must be lighted if flown at night, the lighting would be by sharp cut-off lights, he said Regarding maintenance, Mr Kraemer said the intent is to establish an endowment fund to pay for maintenance costs, however, he suggested the City might be asked to help with snow removal, etc As for landscaping, Mr Kraemer said several garden clubs have expressed interest in helping maintain plantings Mr Eastwood, seconded by Mr Johnson, moved approval of the design subject to review of final landscapmg and lighting plans Motion passed unanimously Other business Community Development Director Steve Russell informed the Commission that the City is requesting additional RFPs for the Temtonal Pnson site Mr Lieberman then invited Mr Russell to the table to discuss concems regarding the proposed parking structure at the Maple Island lot site After discussion, Mr Lieberman summed up the Commission's position the Commission is supportive of the plaza concept but would prefer that any parking structure not impact the view shed to the river A question was raised about the status of the condominium project on North Main Street Ms Fitzgerald said the applicant has encountered some engineering difficulties There was a general discussion of the Demolition Ordinance Ms Fitzgerald said the owner of Shoppe of Enlightenment, located in the former Cameo Costume location on Chestnut Street, is planning to paint and requested approval of the selected color The consensus was to have the applicant appear before the HPC with the request The meeting was adjourned at 10 15 p m Respectfully submitted, Sharon Baker Recording Secretary I • • • H P C APPLICATION REVIEW FORM CASE NO DR/01-34 Hentage Preservation Date September 5, 2001 Project Location 223 North Main Street Comprehensive Plan Distnct Central Business District Zoning District CBD Applicant's Name Robin Partch Type of Application Design Review Project Descnption Design review of an extenor deck planned for the east side of Northern Vineyards Winery at the above address The deck 26' by 28' would be on the second floor of the winery A wooden deck would be constructed over the existing steel I-beam structure (see attached photos) A 42 "high railing will be installed, similar to the one recently completed at Valley Booksellers at the south end to the Maple Island building There are two existing 6' French doors for access and two existing internal stairways Handicap accessibility would be from an elevator at the south end of the building The deck will be used for special wine related events and for customer use at other times, in accordance with the Farm Winery license for the state of Minnesota The project will not need to apply for a vanance from the Planning Commission since the steel I-beam construction is the existing infra structure for the deck Discussion The request is for design review of a proposed patio Conditions of Approval 1 All revisions to the approved plan be reviewed and approved by the Hentage Preservation 2 Patio will not be lit 3 No additional signage Recommendation Approval as conditioned Findings The request meets the intent of the Downtown Design Guidelines Attachments Application Form/Letter from Applicant/Site Plan/Detailed Elevations l.1 I Y ur 5I ILLWATER PAGE 02 Case No Date Filed Receipt No 9p 3S • Fee. $25 00 DESIGN REVIEW APPLICATION FORM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CITY OF STILLWATER 216 NORTH FOURTH STREET STILLWATER, MN 55082 The applicant is responsible for the completeness and accuracy of all forms and supporting material submitted in connection with any application All supporting material (e e photos, sketches, etc) submitted with apphcabon becomes the property of the City of Stillwater PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION Address of Project 22 3 /V Y 14 % a., r Si -tee -it —Assessor's Parcel No Zoning District CPS i7 Description of Project deck. • "! hereby state the foregoing statements and all data, information and evidence submitted herewith in all respects, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true and correct I further certify I will comply with the permit If It Is granted and used " Property Owner in Rl l•t,itnigr`ower5 ��4ep`resontatzve I"��1"L� i.-, �cx.�'?� M Z rig Address Z 3 �e�/! /� �io�, �, j� Mailing Address 2-2- 3 iV MI.-, me City State Zip -S ��//w o- tvj fl'l iS/ . t 2_ City State Zip —3 //cir x_ /' % 4, S V d L Telephone No s 4(bC) — ! 32 Telephone No C6 31) y —fc 3 a Signature Revised September 16, 7998 • Signature z—/4‹ IIIW R2OW RI9W R_W R_IW R.OW Vicinity Map 0 128 Scale in Feet Tft•1_ arm, MOiv g... .,��, awe Ca.. ... ti� — a Carey b • wdwm.Come/ s.._ o1,• ▪ OYU ▪ OM baud al Mt* niernuum errant ..� A.. n SO mo... o= MO • • • Community Development Department City of Stillwater 216 North Fourth Street Stillwater, Minnesota 55082 This proposal is for a 26' by 28' deck at Northern Vineyards Winery, 223 North Main Street This deck would be constructed of treated lumber on top of an existing steel I-beam structure (see photographs) on the east side of our building facing Water Street and the river Deck construction, including a rim joist and 42" high railing, would be similar to the deck recently completed at Valley Booksellers at the south end of the Maple Island Building There are two existing 6' French doors for access and two existing internal stairways plus handicapped access from the south part of the building The deck would be used for special winery -related events and for customer use at other times, in accordance with our Farm Winery License from the state of Minnesota It would require a variance of 6' in setback from the existing sidewalk along Water Street, the rim joist and rail on the east side would be at 24' from the edge of the sidewalk submitted by Robin Partch, Winemaker for the Minnesota Winegrowers Cooperative dba Northern Vineyards Winery 223 North Main Street Stillwater, Minnesota 55082 (651)430-1032 • • • R2IW R2OW RI9W rN r2N T3IN T3IN Ri�W R_IW R2OW vicinity Map I I 0 21 Scale in Feet n, e..,*9 w u M1Pa <dMelhe Tu ONwtl b• SM1nrc• mryn�tleMOM1Dbb an U::acorrae::"N OS M Bwuu Wu �• Iv 1 amee >ertei Cau W W m A9 m Namuea mm mret AupMW. m mo WO P`]G9 • { Li L • I I wrk4: I Pwgr • I j 11TT T TIT' I I I �1 I`'ilO POS =�C D�C-� s i T or 1 Yo %f-r 4e p4/ 1)//17. yA,Pos 1 - 1 - L -L- _ __---- -- - - -I -- --- -�—--�--�-- — - - --— - a JIM/ - if tr Irma/ E115 MiiinraswA - -�pW_A IM arc - r- -1 E2 7-5- LA 411P 1 -r- -- - �i- M=MN ..R= IIMIIIMMIIIM MIMES iiimilWIIIIVAIIIIMIt= NW= Maill IIMMIIMIIMMUIIIIIME ME=MI IN MIME aer■r1rrTar4iwgir slinimoui i1:Y,1� _ ��■� _=V ■ NM= ■W■EWE iMI i� ■�■■ �■NEW:r rra7.111 s�►1, o���r�ar�.� Eli IIIIIIIIIIIII �M= = HENN ad IIMINM11111111111LIMEIWAVEN =meg rilyistiim_.-4 mom INA....L__:_..___ M11.1.11111E0 sv■Ipdrlw WN/k Ii 1INt 1 1 I I I 111111linu1� , , MINIM In1111n1 i , , 1 ► r�1__NM _ ■■■ns ■■■■■.....mum■■■■mi■ ■■.. HIIIIIIIIIUUYM1 ,�/ ■■■■■i■i■■■wu■i. � ■n■■■n■■■■si ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■o■■aRmrw■ 111n1n11111HIn11' ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ M 1 MEN■■■■■11■■ ■■■■■■■■■■ 1-■■■■■■■■n■■■■■■■Y■ -1 ■■�■ EM L Cat L I - r 1 • • ' i • • • HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION Name E-mail Phone Beth Diem fe110058@tc umn edu 651 430-1404 Phil Eastwood peastwood(a,cbburnet com 651 329-1872 Diane Hark mikence@pressenter com 651 275-1550 JeffJohnson jeffdebjohnson@qwest net 651439-2179 Howard Lieberman hlieberman@lieberman-nelson com 612 3382432 (W) 651430-9136 (H) Brent Peterson btp2001@aol com 651439-5956 (W) 651439-8445 (H) Roger Tomten rogertomten@usfamily net 651 439-3482 Sharon Baker - recording sec fax 651439-4468 Sue Fitzgerald - staff sfitzgerald@ci stillwater mn us FEATURE An Introduction to Design Guidelines i WHAT ARE DESIGN GUIDELINES? growing number of commu- nes are using design guidelines as a basis for decisions related to urban design Some of the types of design guidelines you might encounter range from landscaping and buffering to the design of commercial, industnal, or mul- tiple family buildings, to ideas for a towns public roads and sidewalks A community may have several different design guidehne documents differentiat- ed by neighborhood boundanes or by the type of development This article is the first in a two-part senes on design guidelines It deals with the questions • What are design guidelines for? Anklow do they fit into a communitys lannmg toolbox"? • What are some charactenstics of design guidelines? and • How can guidelines be written to increase the chances of success in implementation? In the next issue of the Planning Com missioners Journal, 111 take a closer look at questions related to urban design, and to the importance of buildmg communi- ty understanding and support of design pnnciples • The same building bef re and after renovations based on design guidelines Note the focus on the street corner architectural detailing entries increased win dow area on the ground floor lighting and awnings over doorways by Ilene Watson WHY BOTHER? Driving down the road a planning commissioner suddenly catches sight of ` that place " She stares at a long flat wall with a few windows, a small door, and no landscaping in sight Cnnging slightly she thinks "That is not what we thought would be there when the town rezoned the property A developer stands forlornly on the steps of City Hall He has just picked up a copy of the towns design requirements that he must incorporate into his plans for an apartment development In his hands are a few sheets of paper vaguely referring to maintaining community character" and being visually appeal- ing " He says "But what does that mean?" A business person looks past the carefully arranged shelves through the artful window display, and out the inviting entrance of his store Next door at a construction site a square building of bare concrete brick is taking its mono- hthic shape He thinks "Why do I try to make my place appealing? No one else seems to care " People may not recognize or be able to define "design" as an issue at first Our first introduction to good design and its importance is often when we notice it's missing It may start with a sense that the area where we live or work just doesn't feel, function or look nght While there are,mviung places that we like, there are also places we pass by and wrinkle our noses at When we take the time to con- sider our reactions, we begin to realize that good design often makes the differ- ence in how we respond WHAT CAN DESIGN GUIDELINES Do FOR A COMMUNITY? The idea of having design guidelines gained popularity in the 1970 s and 1980s as a result of communities want- ing greater control over the appearance and fit of new development Design guidelines are one way of achieving this They can serve to • assure the community that good design features and visual quality will be required whenever new development is proposed continued on page 16 PLANNING COMMISSIONERS JOURNAL / NUMBER 41 / WINTER 2001 n rF ' How Goals, . .. _ t Objectives �,. -j {' & Guidelines4s-- , Relate -to Each Other Y- , r , Goals and objectives provide context H -. $ , and clanty for the actual design guide- _�{ '-' lines Usually goals are more conceptual L and broad in nature Objective`s break ,-Y� ,. down each goal into something detailed 'ts 1 ...a -r enough to use as a basis for distinct -'�xw vi y t` .A X 'R L iy�} rr. .%` ,.,1 Z= design ideas _Design guidelines are usual-: 5.' ly the least conceptualrmospragmatic s. 3r part - .e ` --!„..1.,--,,`w� ,-.::,,,,,,..2,, iK41`—F y - T"f'X 1lf `:44 Y -a-' fs,au, - he ways oactually wnting goal~t, 1 Ya,.�c ".,fr,_-.._,,,,, - objectives,eand desgn"guidelinesrarevr-4i - twally unlinked The_follow naisonetr n- - guideline document for commercial .."1:-. 4 7,4 k. buildings m °a traditi nal downiown"�`=� 4 - ' r A % ,- Goal -Provide for a plant pedestn ,i 3 r -e` S J 34 an expenenr._,�-,w,� , , _ From this nnght,,come the objects=-�,r,; d tic { Ensure buildiAl-rings have complexity at+�i ;,: street level at a human scale Kwhich call `Z.. 3 be enjoyed atta pedestrian pace-" v 17'Y From that objective might come f._=- v, h k v� guidelines (only summanzed here) sup- ..,,_ a�_porting . -- . -- -t �i architectural expression (defined as a„ £- i� distinct change m the building form) at Y street level especially around entrances ��-4 ;F' windows where the building meets the' �� 1 far , K v.. �.,CK' sidewalk and between the first story:... i jj K# 1 1t and those above - -;,* s _ 4- .Y } enhance$ true and architectural detail �Ls - .'c y l- c}a:,`" - -k h �-- �. � 3L�^-A at street level usi� change��stt�ii-n color+=• an- ...1 atena_, y �.as signs and`awnmgs of certaip. atenals r h'r'�t colors and/or size)to hang from_ the -building above the'sidewallc;� `� y'''� -'detailed building surface textu a and' - . surface p Mtttgerns atMfreet level- f sObviously tlus ii s not an exhaustive , s..z.��hit of they jecaves an guide ti'ets sou `'r j an important�goal might generate Jt does , ',e ho w, ever oho dens iig g'oa1s and ob ectives can hel to clan— thee intent oor the guidelimes` ,Sze �., t ,j , t fit F, .,/Y`"'``''`11t _ ` r4 K.,s.-``--'sr as P { t,1Cam'"`Ysi'l fr�"f 4. `A` l -4V'R Y.ti11tCCr -� f t, : 12. 1 s i, r is h - 1 1-'y'�i , ,, ,� as ', ? r PLANNING -COMMISSIONERS JOURNAL 7,^ ; , 3 - '£ - - F / ' - ' - 7 Design Guidelines continued from page 15 • establish pnnciples for appearance in portions of a city or town • establish design principles for the interaction between uses (for example, between private and public spaces such as a storefront and a pedestrian sidewalk) • help re-establish or create better design where the community has identified a need for improvement, and • provide the foundation and support for making design decisions How DO DESIGN GUIDELINES FIT INTO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FRAMEWORK? Most towns have a comprehensive plan that indicates the broad vision of the community potential land use loca- tions and some cntena for development decisions In addition to the comprehen- sive plan there is the zoning bylaw (or code) The zoning bylaw sets out stnct regulations that properties must meet such as density use and setbacks The comprehensive plan is usually broad in nature The zoning bylaw is much more specific Design guidelines provide a more detailed image than the broad goals of the comprehensive plan yet they allow greater flexibility and creativity in addressing design issues than is typncdlly found in a zoning bylaw It is cntical that any design guide- lines be clear enough to be understood by the public - not just by professional architects or planners This mea should avoid jargon whenever possi e clearly explain any technical terms and avoid vague language such as calking for a building to "be consistent" with those around it Creating clear and under- standable guidelines is also important for ensunng that they are legally defen- sible WHAT ARE SOME KEY FEATURES OF DESIGN GUIDELINES? There are certain things that all design guidelines should contain, at least to some degree 1 A community vision (design goals) Design guidelines should reflect what each community sees as most important to its identity They should be an expression of the community One common method is to establish a com- munity vision and then break that down to a series of design goals fr. which the guidehnes will evolve This process serves the dual purpose of not only establishing some direction for the design guidelines, but also build - mg awareness and understanding of the concepts of design in the community 2 Clear and understandable design goals, objectives, and policies How many tunes have you read a document where it was unclear what a particular policy was intended to achieve? How often have you seen a worthy goal wntten down, but searched in vain for the policies tell would make it happen? A town can create design guidelines for infrastructure such as sidewalk details lighting and street furniture Note the simple renovation on the building includes roof detailing and a building projection over the sidewalk / NUMBER 41 / WINTER 2001 -C -+ J Design guidelines can require landscaping and indicate how it is to be used Here landscaping softens and humanizes the harsh expanse of a mall parking lot and separates the major traffic collector lanes from parking areas and minor lanes Goals and objectives are stated for the sake of providing context and clanty Design guidelines by their very nature, often require understanding the related design objectives and goals in order to interpret them well ) How Goals Objec uses & Guidelines Relate to Each Other 3 Illustrations IA picture is worth a thousand words " Pictures increase our under- standing of what a guidehne >s intended to do Illustrations can include pho- tographs, simple line drawings showing applied design guidelines, and before and after examples The key is that a design guideline document should be loaded with clear visual representations of what a commumty wants to see hap- pen and how the design guidelines look when applied 4 Definition of design terms If the design guidelines use terms that might not be readily understood, those terms should be defined What does an objective of maintaining the "rhythm" of buildings and entrances along a street mean? The defirution can use words or drawings but often a com- bination of the two creates the best derstanding The design guideline ument needs to create a common perception of some basic design words and ideas THE GREAT DILEMMA! There is one question continually faced by those involved in writing design guidelines Where is that fine line between guidelines being so exact they are rigid and stifling and guidelines being so subjective they become hard to interpret and enforce? This is the dilemma between pre- scnpuve guidelines which are regulatory and rigid, and descriptive guidelines which are focused on providing input into the design process and flexibility Descriptive guidelines allow more creativity and are adaptable to the condi- tions of the site, but can be so open to interpretation that it can be difficult to refuse a development that shows only a mammal response to design issues This type of guideline often indicates that a certam response to a design issue is only encouraged" or ' discouraged " Prescriptive guidehnes are less open to interpretation, but can inhibit explor- mg vanous design options — and some- times may even prohibit a good creative design solution This type of guideline usually has a requirement that must be incorporated into a projects plans There as no magic answer to the dilemma of prescnpuve versus descrip- tive design guidelines Each town will reach its own conclusions about what continued on page 18 PLANNING COMMISSIONERS JOURNAL / NUMBER - ' Style rsu_-s �wry ti Character ,�, ,-- $,ter t • 1,_ „� Its important to understand y r-= the difference between a certain style tc - S; of buildings versus the character" that e l� _ - comes from the"design of the buildings k* 5 , -`Some areas [ha[ have iestncted them= - 1� - >;selves to a particular `style such as$ Old " 4 • West" or "Bavanan" have succeeded "`'"'�r o -zs' v ��g -s� s r� { - Many have not since adopting a certain e-"' -.. =F -'sue ,'.gr �c I-,--,).� e 2,-- -R style with its comprehensive restncuons S r v-` ' ,} i ,"„h �t vrsF, •V.lit"., 3 A_,1flt of site layout matenals architecture ,-4,-,-, S " 3...�K._ s,. '*"- '1,--^ may' -�'/✓- `Yr . --`color and sox on can be quite ngid s: ' r " - 3 Another way` to approach the idea xiss- , ,-- -� �. N �- �."4, . „/�,., T army te ' -`:to identify essential design elements, :_that create characteiand assure those ele - menu are reflected in new buildings" For . , t tho e particular eleme e> may,be _' ngid guidelines while more freeddom,is ,. permitted mother parts of the design4- r u :1S. 2'-'...a. - .. - .rw .,-- ^ *et-'L, m a , .. .- n example of a character related we " design guidehiie might involve an oldeP. fr "town which is plainly identified by and Fv - admired for the distinctive steep roof? _ +r 14 4 lines of its buildings Design guideline 7 - might therefore require'steep pitched_ ,0.- • roofs uicluduig a stated minimum (and -,� 7z k „ - perhaps -maximum) roof pitch Oilier ..'''- ~-`- asp cts_of building form might have{ , guidelines that are morefle able � s • re r} 1 s ; .2e.�.k ,. ? ▪ ^ ,ram • n:- .-�r �,„ fir. ,- r , -s-rw 41 Thanks! Our thanks to the followmg individuals for commenting on articles appeanng in this issue Al Arnold, Alida Baker Jeanette Carr Thomas Dabareiner Alan E Duke Mary R. English Betsy Fitzgerald, Sarah Flahs Kimberly Flick Lany Frey Larry Fronk Silvia Gagnon Douglas C Hageman, Roy Hales Rob Hammons Aaron Henson Kent E Holm Abby Jordan Michelle Kimball King Leonard, Neill F McDonald, Ross Moldoff Christine Mueller J Wayne Oldroyd, Larry Pflueger Denny Rafdal Martin Sanchez, James A Segedy Scott Shannon Larry Smith Debra Stein Barbara Sweet William Thornton Eric Toll Frank Wash Linda Weber Lindsley Williams if you would like to assist us by reviewing draft articles complete the sign up form at our PlannersWeb site wwwplannersweb com/updates html 1,4 4-014, Tdre +�Vf .A1 �r7 4 se -,, .ate ti- - y i... /" x { - 2i ▪ . +`r �� �/Y / W1NTER`�-,2001 , ^-_,-A1-,-`- r.413, • EDITOR'S, NOTE + Ky C �w. ty D yes F .. P stern g Conumvuti CF reeve /" X { Vermont has -also recognized the-difficultylandscaping ` r¢ e�i"%T" - -.Words} -,& PicturesF s As Ilene Watson - pomts out too often planners forget they power illustrations M ._can have to_explam°� words Images can gr • be especially useful ✓ in helpmg_to clanfyy architectural or `f� design concepts and guidehnes The inset _ to the nght s from Preserving Communi X ty Character in Hun-` r tendon County " A l x _ 2. Open space also Id be located within pablre rfe. to Increase ell ymem and utility Premed open spec eho Id include areas located along pubh roads and ther public place. Strategically located m these arms• open space offal eel reef m bulls -op arch and preserve sum vies When u se public open space, u else Id provide amble, tone cruelly located access. 3. hew devel meats sh Id Include a pede trlaoorknted atreetseape which Includes narrow streets, tb placement of h sees doee to th tweet, trot tree, and diverse housing a di to d uses. A pednuuu-f endly en smnment frames firs and foremost o the design and amtman of th strectscape. Narrow road slow down traffi and proud a safer envtmmnrnt for wallnng and bicycling Homes the are stunted dose to the sect or odeoah are belting and promote social imencnon. Vaned bosomg styles and footprints and an integrated nun of land sees provide visual drmaty and mtcrest. 4. Significant Wash structure, Idmtllled m Its municipal master plan aboald be preserved so that they remain er becom oh Sy dominant homers m the landscape. New constructs should be sated whew it does not abstnst views of old stone walls, aping house, bum, dos, sad farmhouses Boas pubh roads. Such structures become ptm®ent feamm t the entrance m new developments, along pduomvbtcyde paths, or m dal sated open space area tyT �b#r G J {r lies :ti7`c?iY/c4� Community Design Iiaridbooh prepared by- ; (and mterpretauon) of some of the design r the Hunterdon County New Jersey Plan xis related standardscontamed m the Git}'s'- ling Board in December 1999 Our thanks aZ zoning code To help deal with this prob- '� �' r, to Principal Planner Linda Weber for pro -- lem planning and zoning department staff-' x vidmg us with a copy of this excellent - = have prepared several single slices hand - y t� =r - z,^ r ♦i.`re i handbook. For-moremformation you can outs on a variety of design -related ques= contact Weber at 908 788-1490 tons including sign regulation parking ti My own hometown of Burlmgton layout outdoor hghting util nes'and 4L P g �s;v''s permit applicants .-especially those who _ , Of particular note thesehandouts. , do not regularly submit development pro- - contain numerous photograplis and draw h - .y ,. at e.rF51r,r posals - have m-,understandmgthe - mgs to illustrate the intent of design stan- `meaning � g dards For more informauoi-contacti a .a._•• P. .�� �eo�� yr. ev e vr,' max= t �7 i.- s fi � Glynis Jordan ofth urlmg tali g rLz. Depart_nent a[ 802 865 7188 gt rest 9�e.*IrF�" �l r=.%r t w.� DESIGN REVIEW GUIDE .�- lurfin_ten ® {Jt171tieS'and,Oilie -E5Sentiats --- .._.r.. .a.. ..: —.a.1.. _._�._.�.,.... : .... -... �s... else a.�a.._,.9......................... a..P e.aa.0. .4. ...�a.......g0.y..w.f.. er.r....4.......... ........w. .live.` ..m..a.. _.;....e :vies � ever.. .. rev ..4....e.w...er.,a.r�.. P.M. 990.. ��T • I III'. R... ...tee �'{f'' we..po. ti.YW JP .. P.. �rr.m.A.�..� Issas ....w... vest r ..es. .".:rive ..°.=... ...®...mom. ,..:.,. m .., e........a... .`', .. "`mow.. sere . es Kb. Ts se elf ...�..� r....e me.. '..""� Taos. Oweam �.:.v�i....:. Sere'~ 80 . ...M ..Sas �e.,.,a... rya e. .. vs so ..aa.e" _ .........se elm' a.... ; t: '. Sr CANNING iwtt 4� r.e. we.. w4•m.v�..�. KI:3 ,- -3,f, .-, T ' ',',..' ... i r4 - .... F;:teqr.61 COMMISSIONERS JOURNAL: /.e,NUMByE, R '*7 e w \,a `s-s cT 1 Design Guidelines ♦ continued from page 17 the appropnate mix should be The following are some factors to consider 1 Are there a few hey *- oriented issues the community places a high pnonty on? There may be a few high pn- ority design characteristics which your community finds important Clear predetermined design cntena that are more pre- scnptive in nature can be used to absolutely ensure that a design meets a specified stan- dard Perhaps there is a walkway beside a nver weaving through town that the community wishes to see enhanced as a focal point As a result there may be some prescnptive design guidelines requinng adjacent buildings to relate well to this feature An example might be requinng at least one public door in each commercial umt to be on- ented toward that waterway space - or calling for a certain amount of win w ik to wall ratio on the ground floor f the nver walkway 2 Does the area have a design history that is to say hey histoncal or architectur- al strengths to preserve? Certain places have a history that is evident in the buildings or in the layout of the town Often residents feel a keen need to preserve their past and maintain that character in new construction Having some prescnptive design guide- lines can help maintain the essential character of a particular area ) Style versus Character p 17 3 What degree of subjectivity and interpretation are the users of the design guidelines comfortable with? It makes no sense to write design guidelines that people cannot use The process for the development of design guidelines should include a strong edu- cational component about urban design That part of the process will help clan the balance that the people using document are comfortable with Design guidelines may need to be 41 / WINTER 2001 m re fixed or regulatory in nature if major users don t have the confidence or commitment to interpret design oriented statements It is important to remember that a move to avoid some of the subjec- ma nature of design guidelines may only 1111Pear to make things easier Unfortu- nately, the trade-off is less ability to look at options and be creative yet remain within the guidelines 4 What is the staffs capability and expertise? The staffs capability to use design guidelines is important to successful implementation Staff plays a crucial role in the mterpretauon of the design guide- lines It is important that staff work very closely with developers even before the application is made If staff has no back- ground in design guidelines they should be required to improve their knowledge — or it may be necessary to hire someone with appropriate expertise Another option is to retain outside expertise to provide advice when there are questions of mterpretauon SUMMING UP It isn't necessary for a commumty to feel helpless or hopeless when faced with poor design decisions Design can be a difficult topic to understand, but there are methods and processes that can help demystify urban design issues Well writ- ten design guidelines can provide a com- munity with a design concept for their town along with an understandable framework for makmg decisions I hope that this article contributes to making your guidelines use- able and successful O Ilene Watson has been employed with the Central Okanagan Regional Dis tnct Planning Department in Kelowna British Columbia for twelve years She is currently working on special projects including guidelines a town centre strategic plan large neighborhood master planning projects and a new zoning bylaw Ilene is a registered professional landscape archi tect in Canada (CAA) and is registered to practice planning in both Canada and the United States On -Line Comments "I thmk its important to be clear on the relationship between the com prehensive plan zoning and design guide Imes Design guidelines result from the directives of the comprehensive plan and its vision for the future They are at the micro scale more specific than zomnp and often lipply to a small area street comdor neigh borhood or particular project Design guide lines often take the shape of a overlay zone within a plan (Mam Street projects are a good example where design guidelines are used) and establish specific cntena that new devel opment and/or redevelopment needs to meet in order to preserve and mamtam a desired community form and character " —Silvia Gagnon AICP/MCIP planning consul tant Vctona, British Columbia "Ms Watson article hits the nail on the head when suggestmg that commumues have a clear picture of how design guidelines are to be used as well as where they are best suited I have found design guidelines to be a hard sell m the commumues 1 have worked They typically work best in specific areas or dis 'nets or in communities that have the sense of place or identity that Ms Watson alludes to I thank that is vital m creating the political will for accepting and adoptmg design guide lines Gettmg them adopted at a county level is often an extremely difficult process due to the larger area and the diversity between "yeas within it I also strongly agree with Ms Watsons notion of incorporating flexibility into the design guidehnes so that the more problemat is situations can still be dealt with m a cre auve and mnovauve manner rather than through strict compliance It is easier to bang the developer on board when there are viable options and alternatives available that still meet the intent of the design guidehnes Of course a pnmary goal of creating design guidelines should always include strategies on how to bnng various stakeholders on board and to agree on the positives such as the potential to enhance property values or preservation of hentage or cultural aspects " — Larry P Frey AICP Community Development Manager Citrus County Florida "As much as local officials dishke the sta tus quo of development they are reluctant to be creative in planning and design Some comniumues are too busy with development applications Others simple do not have the money for new plans and consultants and their staff planners do not have a sufficient background in design (this is a real problem) Also many local officials equate design with aesthetics and subjectivity They feel that design standards complicate the planning process and are either illegal or place an unfair burden on property owners and devel opers We need to dispel these myths and promote design as a win win approach to land use planning " — Linda B Weber AICP/PP Pnnapal Planner Hunterdon County New Jersey "As we struggled to define a senes of guidelines for a new office complex we realized that the developer made constant reference to another project indicating that the proposal for our community would be as good as or better than the existing complex Since both staff and commissioners agreed that the aesthetics and character were what we wanted as well the design guidelines incorporated in the zoning change were The extenor architectural style of the office build ings shall be similar in qualiq to the Center Simplistic maybe but understand able and acceptable to all parties " —J Wayne Oldroyd, AICP Director Community Development City of Maryland Heights Missoun "Design Guidelines can be an effective tool when properly administered Our Town ship has several distinct nooks of urban development each with its own feel and character From a landscape level com prehensive planning standpoint design guidelines can help to mold urbanization towards the goals of the master plan If your Planning Commission is interested m build mg' neighborhoods design guidelines are essential However design guidehnes should also follow the general impulse of the free market, or they may be resisted strenuously by the development commumty In other words do your economic development and demographic analysis homework BEFORE delving into design guidelines " — Frank Wash Alpine Township Planning Director and City of Coopersville Michigan Planning Commissioner PLANNING COMMISSIONERS JOURNAL / NUMBER 41 / WINTER 2001 u x� axis, ` �." �'.�1�C4: I`'�'i�i, 'rrw,,,7 ;. ..,., , - :➢a-`i3r- w N�, .r, ,,,,..ro 3 ry ^7i- — — fr�w.. 4`' ��r'L1".i'y'F ?' c � y t-'� "'ti u'"¢? .c7. u-a,yti,{5'���.A o�.Y-"`�3� �`�t �'� M3'S _'1-� �1^�f= _ =s � _'_ ..� ..si _ -_ .,a — MINNESOTA'S NATIONAL REGISTER PROPERTIES More than 1 500 Minnesota listings encompassing over 6 000 properties from all counties in the state can be found on the National Register of Histonc Places (NRHP) the nation s official list of properties deemed worthy of preservation In Minnesota the National Register program is administered by the Society's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) To explore properties important to Minnesota s history and prehistory choose one of the featured themes for a tour of selected properties SELECT AN AREA OF THE STATE TO VIEW SITES BY LOCATION • SEARCH FOR A PROPERTY • ABOUT THIS PROJECT • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS • LIST OF ALL MINNESOTA REOISTER PROPERTIES EXPLORE OTHER REGISTER PROPERTIES ON MHS SITE: Now You Can Visit Minnesota's Most Significant Historic Properties on the Webl This summer the State Historic Preservation Office unlocks a treasure trove of information about Minnesotas cultural henttge with the launch of its new National Register web site ; i Featuring some of the 1,500 Minnesota properties on the National Register of Historic Places, the site brings to the public for tle first time a wealth of data on the state s most important historic resources From the grand to the humble, the typical to the Ii unique and even the quirky - these buildings neighborhood structures and sites have rich stories to tell about Minnesota4 past You II find I • • A Minnesota Sampler Tour some of the states architectural �� R--4 landmarks 6 .pThe Iron Range Region Explore Minnesotas industrial h�-itage x '■ Getaways through the Years Revisit the places where Mmnesotansphave spent their leisure time r,- - i Minnesota from the Railroad Look at how a major Fir - transportation network helped shape Minnesota s countryside'o K zz J Ready for the tour? Sit back, grab your mouse and click on http //nrhp mnhs org1 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE 345 KELLOGG BOULEVARD WEST SAINT PAUL MINNESOTA 55102 1906 Non profit organizatM U S Postar PAID St Paul MN Permit No 854 Stillwater Heritage Preserva• tion Commission, zi6 4th St N ---�rpAx Y Stillwater, MN S5o8z�,48o7yj1 ,-2`' ? , r' uP ,- e F r r s cj ' cc' . Y t ..tiros �F`' 7 _ 'S ytgF4h �b}� 'Iu-'i;llt' ttll 1 1 tll II itt I • twitii21�1t � �►ccec n�acn�cu nc uecercu a euec rtis r, wr ohs'rJ ,71 x A4 �wt. .�.� aF s,� ^ a. fit` 7. -�.. #, " "Yl ^'�C • Funding for this project was approved by the Minnesota Legislature (1999 Laws, Ch 231, Sec 16, Subd 5 (all as recommended by the 11. Legislat,ve Comnnss on on Minnesota Resources from the Minnesota Trust Fund i=� -C _ �.."'�i�r `' ,r '��. s _ ; � fir? L� t ,try 4 Cat t• 11.� :r :� Yy ^ _ - ib „J-ram{a Y-� �-•..� i y?Y��n-,g�s r s L • ..... .� .�J _Zk .r5 f�v - - - �'3, 73_ - .=. t:'^ ex.ra ..'a 'J ....3 ._ :2 .- L "Y'_ 1 s pooMuaID to ayj X aDoS leDiiolsIH Auno) adod a141 sloeuyoxy Jo elnUlsul ueouewy eta Io Maims y AnIJOS rIVOIIIOZSIII BlOS2U U I W VIV viosamm iw Xq paiosuods ti ... -C--• =,f,.4. ...-z4e a :.•.thta.iK.., '�w►t"..' +tir tl ".ti4 .b7 1C7_ . ..tC Y"�' r , taer� r114?- ' 9`7S, r_„:''"I' V ' 1 4' rry4M ��..iY,,;;„.r.... �,F� 4 S?..1Mnst - � rW i ,W' '''4R':r YS 1 ti .rt T -F1 � r, y .:ley 1, '.t �'�t 1iit,. ' , . .0,0 + I{!, r',,,,y„ti�� r ' Ir 3( �• , 1 I,�'" s tinia ����A����da��l�syilrillli:il�?+iiil'IIIIIuuI ? rrt s 1 ti '�_ .,+ t. . rI Y �,1'hF t Ii t114 I I s. 44t1 ih {, p r7 �47k'. ;fit re ;npfrr , t� ISt'Fn, ,l Vk t• F b (u,g,r.t 1 4.. e ,t j � }T7,�r 'is{,s$y .�v<.1 ltfPeVmC r4.,114;4'14t''14,1 a1)u,aialuoytUOItPMaSald HapIMaIS IenuudpuZZ1a41rk" 'I'")i t,u ,(iAqlL7Re4f„,,,A44,� L3 oJy[+.� lt�.. ,y P"`'i� i �'1�• MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE 345 KELLOGG BOULEVARD WEST SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA 55102 1906 Non Profit Organization U S Postage PAID St Paul, MN Permit No 854 ***********3-DIGIT 550 Sue Fitzgerald Stillwater Heritage Preservation Commission Stillwater City Hall 216 4th St N Stillwater, MN 55082-4807 I1ItI1•I1I.II111I11I111I,I1I..II1 hII111I111I11•II1II..1I11II Genealogy classes at the Minnesota History Center Explore sources and strategies for researching family history r, hese one session classes at the Minnesota History Center in St Paul a`e offered by Jim and Paula Stuart Warren, nationally recognized genealogical researchers and lecturers For registration and costs, call Warren Research at 651-644-6581 or e mail warren@spacestar com Discover Your Family History Workshop Sept 24, IO am to 12 30 p m Designed for beginners, this workshop surveys basic repositories for genealogical research Twentieth -Century Research Sept 24, 130 to 3 p m Famihes that break up or move ▪ Minnesota History linterpreter is published nine tirites ayyearby the frequently are just two of the many challenges facing researchers m 20th century records Learn how electronic finding aids can help Writing Your Family History in Small, Manageable Pieces Oct 6,/0to1130am This class offers practical, "write as - you -go" methods for preserving and sharing your research results Salt Lake City! Using Resources of the Family History Library from Near or Far Oct 6, 12 30 to 2 p m Salt Lake City's Family History Library contains more than 2 5 million rolls of microfilmed mdexes and records from archives, churches courthouses and all vital records offices worldwide Electronic search tools and a network of local family history centers make access easy Vital Records and Substitutes Fundamental Tools for Family History Oct 8, 10 to 1130 am Learn how to streamline your research m birth, death and marriage records using online databases U S Census Records Beyond the Basics Oct 8, 12 30 to 2 p m Explore the wealth of data m U S census records for the years 1790 1930 Highhghts include online mdexes and special census schedules Historic Preservation Field Services and Grants Department of the fdknnesota f Historical Society f : x 4 ▪ Reactors ererrtvttedia tutu -pit #rifdtmatiori for - pablicatjon 'o br considered'item, must st n reach the e,thtnir by the tli `pf tfie month, ▪ two months}ibefore publicatiora Send to interpreter Hi$toncal $o 1ety 345150099,(Il . WSt P kil MN k b5102-i5Q& �'d` s .lcaF ,c ti z ed wit the far yrs rdi'itline- R .prints ti pgrmisslon froi'n f "11nesvf ,J#stotY / Interpreter, epiember 2001r Vol. XXIX. l'fo 7, pubbrsbetibheIVIATesota Hisfonical S3ciet r Abtidtlepttnt rtetenal taken horn ▪ anatther:\14 ce w pe illSittcrt On re�s x ` • M „ 3 a quest, this publication iaavailable.Iif - alternative formates audidtap' u. Iaige printer cainpitter rl ski f - „ For address corrections a -snail michele decker@mnhs.org or call 651296- r 543,42For6ther matter(tall Tirrt Giines at 651 96-5460 or email tiinoothyglines@mnhs.org Brttta Bloo„mberg,,Head n Historic Preservation, Field Services and Grantsbetiartrnent Tim Glrnes, Manager, Outreach Services Mary Ann Nord Editor Kate Raver Layout www mnhs org 1�1 MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY 345 Kellogg Boulevard West Saint Paul Minnesota 55102 1906 Address service requested ****************5-DIGIT 55082 Stillwater Heritage Pres Comm 8 Sti114tiaterCm Hall Sue Fitzgerald 2164THSTN STILLWATER MN 55082-4807 • Non -Profit Organization US Postage PAID St.Paul, MN Permit No 854 • INSIDEry y Page - w Small scalefundraisers fill budget -gaps .page 7 r Dates'to'remember field workshops grant deadlines / 4^ x �M H M N▪ k { Published by the Minnesota Historical Society for county and local historical societies and heritage preservation commissions A recent exhibit at the Murray County Historical Society documented a century of change in downtown Slayton The city s oldest building the State Bank of Slayton served as a post office and community center when it was built in 1884 Since then it has housed a clothing store jewelry shop newspaper office hardware store beauty salon and photography studio The changing face of downtown Murray County project contrasts past, present alse fronts Fires Fmancial ' pressions There are many reasons or the changing appearance of a town s main street Sometimes the changes are so profound that residents have httle sense of what once constituted the heart of their community It was just those dramatic changes that the Murray County Historical Society sought to capture in an ambitious interpretive program titled "Downtown Murray County - Just a Memory?" Part exhibit, part videotape, part walking tour, the project aimed to foster an understanding of how and why downtown landscapes change and to instill m residents concern for the future of their urban centers Funded by a grant from the Minnesota Historical Society, the project came to fruition with the help of matching funds raised m the community Changing face continued on page 2 _' There's more than - one"way to advertise' W # the Usinwg"mordembers to spread Adapted from 'Curators Corner' byMaureer Galvin in the Sprang 2001 Issue ofHeritage Herald „ newsletter of the WrightCouniyx Historical Society N ' x To drawpeople to Our "wo iderhil Wright County lJenttge meter, We need to `'g t the word out But H `advertising and pioinotion ,fan be an expensive utndcrtaking Ne vspaper ads, outdoor signs aind a booth at the local business expo all come with a,price wy 7 4• ,1'o stitch out,prontotioxi- • dollars, we've joined forces - Witlji three other useuts in s r thF otinty (theAnes-Elonida- �{ tq Douse hMinnesota N ` • PlorieerPa ktaind €lie Cokato Museurh andAkerlund Studio) to place a cooperative ad several times a years the ,,o• bfty ne ispaperand its k # weekly` a"dventising kN �y • supplement This i a simile A „gray dot all of ns to afford - C newspaper advertising for our spring and summer programming Advertise continued on page 2 itlrlrrltltllllir(�r11rrtlt'!►rr/1tr►r(llrt'ii��tillaf7Fklrltr�l Changing face continued from page 1 Work began in 1999 with research in the county society s photo and newspaper collections as staff and student mterns assembled a visual record of 100 years of changes in downtown Slayton, the county seat Then volunteer photographers were dispatched to record the appearance of present-day Slayton The resulting photographic exhibit contrasted the two eras past and present, offering a chronology of selected buildings and their changing owners and uses An inaugural showing at the Murray County Historical Society and Museum drew Slayton residents young and old and proved popular with visiting school groups Designed to be portable, the exhibit will be displayed in other community venues Adding a dimension to the exhibit was a videotape that compiled old home movies and shdes from the society s collection and paired them with recent footage of the townscapc, accompanied by a scnpt based on interviews with longtime residents Both projects served an archival as well as an educational purpose All photos, shdes and films used m the exhibit were copied and the originals returned to storage under improved conditions Advertise continued from page 1 But there s another important way we advertise our events and services - and it s absolutely free We count on our members to help us spread the word Here s what we tell them Talk to people about the museum and the hbrary Mention us in your conversations with fnends Your promotion of our meetings, The photographic exhibit about Slayton past and present spurred discussions among three generations of residents For newcomers to town and others who missed the exhibit, society staff produced a brochure for self guided walking tours of Slayton, featuring line drawings and a brief history of a dozen historic downtown structures Building on the success of the Slayton program, county society staff moved on to other cities in the county Downtown Fulda was the subject of an exhibit developed in the spring of 2000 with the help of local sixth -grade students Also on the agenda, as time and funds allow are Chandler, Currie, Dovray, Hadley, Iona and Lake Wilson workshops, education programs, exhibits and hbrary resources will benefit all of us m the long run If you re too busy to volunteer in other ways or hve too far away or don t get around as well as you used to, you can still help Call your friends and acquaintances Encourage them to become members Let them know what they re missing Your enthusiasm "This project was a great way for residents to discover that there is more history all around them than they realized, said Carol Busman, director of the Murray County Historical Society "Our senior cite were eager to share their knowledge and our sixth graders studying Minnesota history were amazed to learn that Slayton once had its own - hotel and train depot" For more information about "Downtown Murray County" and advice on designing a similar project, call Busman at 507-836-6533 or e mail society@frontiernet net can be infectious Think about it - if you tell two people and they tell two people there s no telling where it will end All those good words are the kind of advertising that money can t buy - testimonials from our loyal members that will serve more effectively than any other means® broaden our history community here in Wright County So keep talking! • Annandale paintings seek new home e Local buyer preferred hen a building was damaged *inter at Mmnesota Pioneer Park andale, staff had to find other storage for several large items Among them were four oil paintings by Minnesota artist Marione Pinkham Commissioned in 1969 by the Annandale State Bank and later donated to the museum, the five foot square pamtings depict local scenes - Fairhaven Village, Pleasant Lake, a church and a farm scene "Unfortunately we don t have the resources to properly store or exhibit the paintings; said Juha Barkley, vice president of the Pioneer Park board "We hope to keep them together as a Field workshops set fiou ll have three opportunities next spring to attend a Mmnesota Historical Sdciety field workshop It s not too soon to mark your calendars! • March 22, 2002 Scott County Government Center, Shakopee • April 12 Waseca County Histoncal Society, Waseca • May 3 Bigwood Event Center, Fergus Falls Workshop sessions and other activities will focus on the topic of exhibits Using the theme "Telling the Story," presenters will explore how to interpret Minnesota history in lively, engaging ways without big budgets or even a profusion of artifacts Watch for details in future issues of the Interpreter set and keep them here in the Big Woods area for the enjoyment of future generations" But uutial attempts to find a local buyer have turned up empty If no one steps forward, the paintings will be consigned to a Minneapolis art gallery For more information about the artworks, call Barkley at 320-274-5219 or Minnesota Pioneer Park at 320-274-8489 for spring 2002 An 80 year history Society sponsored histoncal assembhes themselves have a story to tell It was 80 years ago that Minnesota histonans gathered for the first state historical convention, held in Duluth in the summer of 1992 With improved automobiles and highways making travel easier, Twm Cities attendees gathered in St Paul for the day long drive to the port city, stopping in several towns along the way At the St Louis County Courthouse, joined by others interested in local history, they heard papers on "Early French Explorers of Northern Mmnesota, 1660-1743" and "The Story of Grand Portage " Four months later local residents formed the St Louis County Historical Society If you have suggestions for this year s field workshops agenda call Tim Gimes, manager of outreach Pleasant Lake by Minnesota artist Marjorie Pinkham is one of four paintings of Wright County scenes in search of a buyer Winter 2002 grant deadlines PlannRng to apply for a greotthis winter? Deadlines for state grants in 7, 1. aid anti Certiflad Local Govergh enl ,, grants are t • Jan „18 2002' Pre, pplIcatioor due Feb 22 Grantapplicatloon due "' April:4 Grants [ievlew Committee,,` fr ��rt,e$ts �� �.; ��'� '� ,� w hn x e Application #Orrney are aVella1Sle onlbrer , at viw mnhs orglabaut/grantsj n stgra✓ts html Fionk snore jliformatione cart grans assrstefl. David Gtabits1cgza 651297416 or a rrtaik y claurcfgrabltska@mnhsotg Y ' A n A, a� u,c. services, at 651 297 5460 or David Grabitske, grants and field services assistant, at 651297-4416 Thanks to Alan Woolworth for his article "Origins of the North Shore Historical Assembly " in the Spring 2001 issue of Overlook newsletter of the Cook County Historical Society 2 Minnesota History Interpreter September 2001 , Minnesota death records now in new formats Older records can be accessed online he Minnesota Department of Health - long the official repository for state birth and death records - now maintains a computenzed system for records dating after 1996 When the system is fully automated, no new paper records will be created Rather, all birth and death records will be digitally recorded and stored That transition to electronic files prompted researchers to question whether access to older records in the care of the Department of Health - those dating from 1908 - will change The answer is yes, but only in ways that will make it easier for researchers to use them The Minnesota Historical Society and the Genealogical Society of Utah have undertaken a joint project to microfilm the older death records When completed, microfilm copies will be available for purchase or through interlibrary loan In addition, the Department of Health and the Minnesota Histoncal Society are creating a database index for death records from 1908 to 1955 In July the database for records from 1908 through 1946 went up on the Society s web site Researchers can now access the records at http //people mnhs org/dci The years 1947 through 1955 will be added as microfilming is completed, in a few years the mdex will be expanded to 1996 The database allows a records search by name alone, it is no longer • •The local history apprentice necessary to know the year or place of death The database also allows, through a Soundex option, searches based on how a name sounds phonetically rather than how it is spelled For deaths before 1908, researchers must still contact the county in wluch the person died Creation of the microfilmed records and database does not mean that local governments will dispose of the death records in their custody State law requires authorization from Minnesota s Records Disposition Panel before any vital records can be destroyed So far, no local authonties have sought permission to dispose of birth or death records Minnesota Place Names expanded, updated Classic guide available in print and on the web C c PJ)(t f F,;nt .lint rtf:d4(rrrmi Generations of readers have turned to Warren Upham s Minnesota Place Names for the reasons behind such curious monikers as Rat Root River, Man Trap Lake and Cucumber Island Upham, a geologist, archaeologist, hbrarian and inveterate collector of minutiae, amassed the compendium of place names durmg his fieldwork doing geological surveys in the 1880s and 1890s Pubhshed originally in 1920, the book was a pioneering effort in place name hterature Now the Minnesota Historical Society has pubhshed a new, enlarged edition of this classic guide, Minnesota Place Names A Geographical Encyclopedia For the revised edition Society staff combed recent literature and databases to update entries and add new names The result more than 20,000 names of towns and cities townships and counties, lakes and rivers - and the stories behind them For the new generation of • computer savvy history buffs and - researchers, the Society has gone a step further, using the book as the basis for a new web site, http //mnplaces mnhs org/upham Here s your chance to add to the lore about Minnesota place names the site contains a way for people to send in stones and submit place names not covered in the book Cost $49 95 Cloth, 736 pp , maps and index ISBN 0-87351 396-7 To order by phone, call toll free 1-800-647 7827, in Minneapohs/St Paul call 651 297 3243, or fax orders to 651 297 1345 Order on the web a• www mnhs org/mhspress by Carol Kammen here are many routes people take to become a local histonan Some are born to the position, inheriting a passion for history from a parent or grandparent Others find it thrust upon them, stepping m to fill a void with the passing of an older generation For still others - teachers genealogists, architecture buffs, newcomers to town - curiosity leads them to investigate some facet of their community and, before they know it, they find themselves known as the local "expert" Whatever road people take, they share a common fate Once they are established as a local history authority, many assume a posture of immortahty • That is, they fail to take mto consideration the fact that they will not last forever While local histonans work tirelessly to collect, protect, research, educate and exhibit about the history of a place, rarely do they take time to plan for who will carry on when they re gone Training others to step in can be a daunting task It s easier to assume that those who come after us will find their way into local history in the same way we did And it might happen Preparing for the future Wouldn t it be far better if, instead of relying on chance, we prepare for the future while we re still here? What a gift it would be to our successors to know that they don't need to learn everything all over again, as we had to do They could come prepared - knowing how to conduct local research, how to ask • good questions about a place, how to put that place into a regional or even a national context In other words, wouldn t it be a good idea if local historians took on apprentices? My own solution is to create the Adult Local History Workshop I plan to invite a limited number of people to join, there s no cost and they re expected to stay in the class for one year Participants may be long rooted in the community or they may be recent arrivals All I require is interest and dedication Teaching others how to learn The group will be given a number of broad topics to consider - race and ethnicity, for example, or the Depression of the 1930s or the pohtical history of our county Once a topic has been decided on, participants will do background reading create a work plan and assign research tasks This research phase will take several months as vanous aspects of the topic are explored and reported to the group Along the way, we ll discuss what else we need to know, where to find additional information and how best to communicate the results of our work Throughout our yearlong journey, we will be guided by our three goals to understand the topic, to develop our research expertise and to foster thinking about ways to educate others With the groundwork laid, imagine how much easier it will be for us local historians to step aside down the road, knowing that there are trained individuals who can comfortably and confidently take over researching and communicating our local history Barbara Grover heft) and Rachel Barduson pasttanii present directors of the Douglas County Historical Society $ • Afsmooth transition Throughout Minnesota the staffs Of county and local historical �. organizations face the challenge of their -own sucCe$sion Recently Barbara Grovel longtune director of H the Douglas County Hrstoncal Society in'Alexandria passed the baton of " leadership to Rachel Barduson Careful planning ensured that the transition would be as smooth as possible Hired in January Barduson served six months as assistant director under Grover°s guidance �rr before taking over m july Barduson's cin the job training - along with her background ni education and journalism, her lifelong passion for fi history and her roots in the cc mrnunity - will serve her well as she prepares to guide the a©unty society through the years ahead z' Carol Kammen teaches history at Cornell University Ithaca N Y A longer version of her article appeared originally in the Winter 2001 issue of History News the publication of the American Association for State and Local History 1717 Church St Nashville TN 37203 2991 Adapted with permission 6 Minnesota History Interpreter September 2001 i Goodhue County society takes day camps on the road Program features ethnic cultures ast year kids came to the Goodhue County Historical Museum for a one week day camp This year county society staff took the program on the road, hosting seven one -day sessions in six cities around the county Attendance soared thanks to arrangements with community education departments that handled program promotion and registration in each city "It was a great way to reach families with children," said Gabnela Fosado, a summer intern from the College of St Benedict m St Joseph, Mmn , who helped plan camp activities The focus of this year s camp was the county s ethnic cultures Sessions vaned from city to city, with activities - music and dance, storytelling, languages, foods and a dose of innrnigration history - featuring the ethnic and cultural groups important to the history of each venue Fosado s mternship, funded by a Partners Internship Program grant through the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs, included time for background research She also recruited volunteers in each community "There were so many willing participants, she said "This was my best summer job expenence ever" To learn more about these multicultural day camps, call Cheryl Working all the angles Small-scale fund-raisers fill budget gaps ,teach year the Brown County -.�Iistoncal Society must raise enough ...coney to cover one third of its operating expenses Memberships, donations and grants account for most of that total Twenty percent comes from fund raisers Always on the lookout for new opportunities, staff, board and friends of the museum have put together a year round array of activities that generate income There are bratwurst stands at local grocery stores in the summer and at Oktoberfest in the fall There s a flea market, a book sale, a silent auction, store coupons and a wishing well at the Marketplatz Mall And of course, there's the donation box at the museum mvitmg visitors to make a modest contribution "We see these fund raisers as more than ways to bring m money," says BCHS director Bob Burgess "They provide other kinds of payback, too Each one helps us raise our community profile by giving people a chance to talk to us about our programs and services We always have member brochures on hand for Volunteer Emily Christianson helps campers make Norwegian ornaments using woven paper in place of the traditional straw Fmnegan, GCHS educator and volunteer coordinator, at 651388-6024 • one step at a time • people who wish to join And the fund raisers are good for broadening our base of volunteers "At the end of the year our board evaluates each event by measuring the monetary return against time spent," Burgess explains "Some ideas we've dropped because they didn t bring in enough money Our biggest success' No contest - the Oktoberfest brat stand" For details on how they make it all work, call Burgess at 507 233 2616 ore mail bchs@newulmtel net • St James group begins Opera House restoration vhe scope of the work to be done ddaunting and its timetable long But ine vision of the volunteers behind the St James Opera House Restoration Project remains strong to return the 1892 building to its ongmal role as the social and cultural center of the community It will be the first restoration of a histoncal building undertaken in St James To drum up local support for the project and apply for grants a dedicated group of citizens formed a nonprofit organization that will guide the restoration With a grant from the Minnesota Historical Society, the group has taken the first step uncovering the building s ongmal ilk arched entrance, which had been Mir bricked over in the 1950s Takmg on the task of restoring such a large building has been an education for the group s board and committee members But as Robert Sorensen explained m the grant application, educating the community has been a much larger task Group members talked about the project with the city council, civic and service clubs, and other community organizations Then they held an open house so that townspeople - the curious and the skeptical alike - could see for themselves the promise that the project holds Though local support has been slow to build, the committee remains convinced that restoration of this grand old building will one day be a source of community pride and will serve to awaken the need for preserving the city s historical resources Video project brings Edina history to life ast summer in Hennepm County, the v4ommunity of Edina was founded h anew - on videotape, that is, as volunteers reenacted the 1888 town meeting where citizens voted to become a village It was one of three historical reenactments filmed for a video that premiered at the Edina Historical Society s Fourth of July open house Other vignettes depict a ca 1900 school day m the one room Cahill School and the adventures of two teenagers from Fort Snelling who canoed up Minnehaha Creek in 1822 to the site that, 30 years later, would become a thriving milling community Funded by a generous donor to honor his late wife who was an EHS charter member, the program will be shown to museum visitors and school In 1892 (above left) the St James Opera House building housed a bank on the ground level and the opera house above 1950s alteration bricked over the storefronts and covered the upper story with paint Last year restorers began uncovering the original arched entrance (above right) A groups "It s a great educational tool," says EHS executive director Kay Wetherall, "even though, at 60 minutes, it s quite long We re making a shorter version to take out to the schools" For more information about how the production took shape, call Wetherall at 952 928-4577 4 Minnesota History Interpreter September 2001