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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-18 HPC MIN HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING December 18, 2019 7:00 P.M. Chairwoman Mino called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chairman Mino, Commissioners Finwall, Krakowski, Larson, Steinwall, Thueson, Walls Absent: Council Representative Junker Staff: City Planner Wittman APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of minutes of November 20, 2019 Meetings Motion by Commissioner Steinwall, seconded by Commissioner Walls, to approve the minutes of the November 20, 2019 special meeting. Motion passed, 7-0. Commissioner Finwall asked how the City formats minutes, noting that some comments are summarized but not others. Ms. Wittman agreed to ask the City Clerk to clarify for the next meeting. Motion by Commissioner Finwall, seconded by Commissioner Larson, to approve the minutes of the November 20, 2019 regular meeting. Motion passed, 7-0. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA Resolution HPC 2019-01, Adopting Findings of Fact for HPC Case No. 2019-21 Motion by Commissioner Thueson, seconded by Commissioner Finwall, to adopt the Consent Agenda. Motion passed, 7-0. PUBLIC HEARING There were no public hearings. NEW BUSINESS Case No. 2019-29: Consideration of a Design Permit for exterior changes at the property located at 217 2nd Street North in the Downtown Design Review District. Midnight Real Estate, property owners. City Planner Wittman explained the application. During construction of the Hotel Crosby, Midnight Real Estate LLC acquired the property at 217 2nd Street North to be used as a construction headquarters. After the hotel opened, the building was converted from office space to mixed use and hotel guests were permitted to utilize the building for private events. The applicants are requesting a design permit for: 1. The redesign of the main entrance to include a recessed entryway to accommodate an out-swinging, metal door finished in dark bronze; 2. The installation of a new metal and glass storefront on the rear of the building. The metal is to be finished in dark bronze; and 3. The installation of a 20.7’ by 30’ raised patio in the back portion of the property. The patio has been created from retaining blocks and pavers. A wheelchair lift will be installed. Staff finds the proposed alteration is consistent with the guidelines and recommends approval with five conditions. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting December 18, 2019 Page 2 of 4 Commissioner Steinwall asked if all work is complete except the wheelchair lift. Chris Diebo, Midnight Real Estate, replied that the new front door is not installed yet; it will be set in but the front façade will not change and the existing brick shouldn’t be damaged. Commissioner Larson pointed out this application is an after-the-fact request. Mr. Diebo explained that once the hotel was complete, offices were moved to the hotel. The back of building was a mess so a retaining wall was installed and they started using it for meeting spaces and events in conjunction with the hotel. After using it for about 8 months they were approached by the City saying there was not a permit for that use. The wheelchair lift will be installed in the spring. They are still researching what will work best. They put up a steel hand rail to accommodate the previous use but will have to add onto it in the spring. Commissioner Larson said his biggest concern is the unknown of what the lift will look like and whether it will be visually intrusive. Ms. Wittman suggested that condition #2 be changed to require that the application be brought back at the time the wheelchair lift design has been determined. Motion by Commissioner Larson, seconded by Commissioner Krakowski, to approve Case No. 2019-29, Design Permit for exterior changes at the property located at 217 2nd Street North, with the five conditions recommended by staff, and modifying Condition #2 to read: “Prior to the installation of the lift, the final design will be brought back to the HPC for review.” Motion passed, 7-0. Case No. 2019-30: Consideration of a Design Permit for an exterior vent pipe on the property located at 123 2nd Street North in the Downtown Design Review District. Judd Sather representing Frederick Real Estate Group, LLC, property owners and Sara Jesperson, applicant. Ms. Wittman stated that in May 2019, Sara Jespersen of the Lumberjack Bar requested a Design Permit for modifications to the building at 123 2nd Street North. The modifications included the installation of a fireplace inside the building, necessitating the installation of a fireplace vent on the east façade. The HPC conditionally approved Case No. 2019-06; a condition of approval was that “any exterior venting shall be painted to match existing stone or brick.” As noted in the May, 2019 staff report, the fireplace may not vent on the eastern property line. As a result, the applicant has amended the design for the fireplace vent and is requesting a Design Permit for the installation of a fireplace vent and ducting on the exterior of the building. Staff finds the proposed alteration is consistent with the guidelines and recommends approval of fireplace vent and ducting with six conditions. However it has come to light today that this design may not work with the chosen fireplace unit, so the applicant is still exploring design alternatives. They are still exploring a flush mounted option, or another option going through the second and third story tenant spaces and out the roof which is the least desirable for the property owner. The applicant and property owner are unable to be here tonight. Commissioner Larson asked if the vent will be coming out of the door opening or poked through the stone. Ms. Wittman replied in the graphic it is shown coming out the stone belt but it may come out the doorway and go along the stone. Commissioner Larson responded that he would not like to see the venting run along the stone belt of the building. He asked about running the vent inside the building to come out the south side. Ms. Wittman replied that the door is common space that accesses the upstairs unit so they are unable to punch it through the interior stairwell because of code requirements. The HVAC installer and the Building Department are seeing design challenges. City staff cannot design it for them. Commissioner Thueson pointed out with the alley being cleaned up, this side of the building will be more visible. The vent would be less intrusive if it were against the brick instead of the stone band. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting December 18, 2019 Page 3 of 4 Chairwoman Mino agreed it would look better against the brick. Commissioner Larson said he would like the Commission to consider whether it should be allowed at all. There have been a lot of mechanical attachments to buildings brought before the Commission lately. The best solution would be if they could recess the door sufficiently so they would not have to run it to either façade and stay off the property line. Commissioner Finwall asked if the applicant could install an electric fireplace instead. She feels as proposed, the venting would have a significant impact on the building. If approved, it would look better in brick area, but she would be inclined to deny the application. She also noted that when this location came before the Commission previously, they were going to use decorative doorway brackets and that never happened. Ms. Wittman said she will take a look at that issue. Motion by Commissioner Larson, seconded by Commissioner Thueson, to table Case No. 2019-30, Design Permit for an exterior vent pipe on the property located at 123 2nd Street North, suggesting the applicant look for alternatives. Motion passed, 7-0. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS Statewide Historic Preservation Plan Meeting in a Box Ms. Wittman informed the Commission that as part of updating the Statewide Historic Preservation Plan, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has requested the Stillwater HPC devote a part of a meeting to host a Meeting in a Box, a small group gathering to generate conversation and solicit feedback on the Preservation Plan for Minnesota. She reviewed four worksheets used to help guide discussion. In general, the Commission ranked the top threats to historic preservation: private economic considerations, site vulnerability, public understanding of the value of historic preservation, and too much emphasis on development. Ways to address the threats are: education, investment incentives, carrots, better ordinances, exploration of codes that govern historic rehabilitation, more flexibility in administration of historic tax credits, possibly the creation of a fast track application of historic tax credits for smaller projects. Reasons that illustrate why historic preservation is important: preservation of authenticity, economic vitality, learning/teaching others about Minnesota’s history. Ways that the importance of historic preservation could be better promoted: having better laws and economic incentives, streamlining governmental processes, promoting more examples of success stories from small scale to large scale, and telling the stories of everyday people. Ms. Wittman asked the Commissioners to consider outside of the meeting how a statewide preservation plan could assist individuals, organizations or local governments. FYI Statewide Preservation Conference Ms. Wittman asked the Commission’s thoughts on session proposals for the Conference. One might be neighborhood conservation districts since there are a lot of questions from other communities about this. She has ideas for at least six other sessions that she would like to discuss with a small group. The HPC will have a 1.5 hour meeting in the morning in early January to focus on sessions. A top priority of the January meeting will be determining committees and resources that will be needed. Historic Property Tax Records Ms. Wittman said Commissioner Thueson discovered that there are gaps in the library’s historic tax assessors’ records. He determined which rolls were missing and obtained a grant for the City to acquire the Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting December 18, 2019 Page 4 of 4 missing microfilm records from the State. The City will donate them to the library. Ms. Wittman invited Commissioners to reach out if they see other community needs. Ms. Wittman also stated that Commissioner Thueson will give her a tour of how to research house histories. Architect Mark Balay has offered to do house history research. Guidelines will be developed to help people obtain the information and it may be incorporated into the heirloom homes program. The Heirloom Homes web site will be updated after January 1. Project Updates Ms. Wittman reported that the Third Street house is stable but no work has been done on the site. The sign ordinance is being updated to provide clarification. For instance, the public administration and village commercial districts do not have a signage allotment. The new ordinance also will allow for electronic reader boards along the Highway 36 corridor. She is advocating for minimal to no changes in the Central Business District. Commissioner Finwall suggested that neon strips be addressed in the ordinance, and that it be clarified whether they are considered to be signage. She also would like the ordinance to address dynamic displays. If allowed, there should be a requirement that they stay constant and steady for a certain amount of time, to avoid from the blinking effect which is a distraction to drivers. Commissioner Larson noted that the area near the Main Street stairs now looks like precast concrete. Ms. Wittman replied that project, which is a City project, will come before the HPC in January to determine whether it conforms to standards. She asked the work to be stopped when she learned that the precast wall had been completed. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Walls, seconded by Commissioner Steinwall, to adjourn. Motion passed, 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Amy Mino, Chairwoman ATTEST: Abbi Wittman, City Planner