Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-19 HPC MINAter IMF IIOENPLA CE Of NIOOEEOfA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING August 19, 2020 7:00 P.M. Chairwoman Mino called the meeting to order via Zoom at 7:02 p.m. Present: Chair Mino, Commissioners Finwall, Krakowski, Larson, Thueson, Walls, Council Representative Junker Absent: Commissioner Heimdahl Staff: City Planner Wittman APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of minutes of July 15, 2020 Meeting Motion by Commissioner Krakowski, seconded by Commissioner Thueson, to approve the minutes of the July 15, 2020 meeting. All in favor. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA Case No. 2020-20: Consideration of Design permit for a new 17' x 17.25' onerator building on the property located at 1850 Tower Drive in the West Business Park, City of Stillwater, property wner. City Water Board. alplicant. Motion by Commissioner Larson, seconded by Commissioner Krakowski, to adopt the Consent Agenda. All in favor. PUBLIC HEARING There were no public hearings. NEW BUSINESS base No. 2020-21: Consideration of a Design Permit for new Liftbridge Cowork signage to be located at 109 Myrtle reet [cast in the Downtown De ' n e i w-Dis-trict Jill Kadenberg representing St. Cr ix Enterprises LLC, property owner and applicant. City Planner Wittman explained that Liftbridge Cowork, 109 Myrtle Street East, is requesting a Design Permit for the installation of: 1) an 8.7 square foot freestanding pole hanging sign to be made of painted wood with vinyl lettering and graphics including the business name and logo; and 2) a 4.9 square foot projecting real estate sign to be made of painted wood with vinyl lettering and graphics. Staff finds with certain conditions the proposed signage conforms to the standards set forth for design review and therefore recommends approval with six conditions. Chairwoman Mino asked, what is the Commission's standard regarding websites on signage? City Planner Wittman replied the guidelines state signs shall include business name and product offered only. Real estate signs have generally been allowed, on the assumption that once a building is fully leased the sign will be removed. Commissioner Thueson pointed out the real estate sign could be there indefinitely because of the nature of the space being co -work space. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting August 19, 2020 Chairwoman Mino expressed concern that allowing the website on the real estate sign could set a precedent prompting others to ask for their website to be on their signs as well. Commissioner Finwall said she finds the sign attractive and has no issue with it. Commissioner Larson said that if the Commission typically has not allowed contact information it would be hard to justify now. He agreed with Commissioner Finwall that it is an attractive sign but he does not want to open the floodgates to websites on signage. The applicant can do whatever they want in windows so they could put contact info there. He feels it is reasonable to continue to discourage websites on signs. Motion by Chairwoman Mino, seconded by Commissioner Larson, to approve Case No. 2020-21, Design Permit for new Liftbridge Cowork signage to be located at 109 Myrtle Street East, with the six staff - recommended conditions, adding Condition #7, "The business contact information shall not be utilized on either sign." All in favor. Case No. 2020-22: Consideration of a preferred Chestnut Street Plaza preliminary design alternative. City of Stillwater. applicant. Minnesota Department of Transportation, owner. Ms. Wittman stated that with the closing of the historic lift bridge to vehicular traffic, the Chestnut Street approach to the bridge is no longer needed to support vehicular traffic. In collaboration with MnDOT which will continue to own the right-of-way, the City will convert the street between Main and the lift bridge concourse to a non -motorized civic plaza. Three design concepts have been developed by the City's TKDA consulting team in harmony with community interaction from two visioning sessions and an on-line survey. It is hoped that a preferred design concept will emerge with the guidance of the community and Heritage Preservation Commission, that can be submitted to the City Council and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in September. Future design considerations will be brought back before the Commission prior to finalizing the construction documents. Staff finds each of the concepts substantially conform to the adopted standards and guidelines and would recommend the HPC determine a preferred alternative and make recommendation to the Council for preliminary design approval. Kathleen Anglo, TKDA, reviewed Concepts 1, 2 and 3. Chairwoman Mino asked if bicyclists would need to get off their bike and walk in some of the concepts, especially Concepts 1 and 3. Councilmember Junker remarked he is not fond of Concept 2 because of the bike trail that cuts right through the pedestrian plaza. There is currently a lot of traffic going on and off the bridge. Bikes and people and strollers and kids don't mix well. Commissioner Krakowski agreed with Councilmember Junker, he would prefer Concept 1. Commissioner Thueson stated the fundamental question is whether this plaza should accommodate bike traffic or not. It's hard to consider all three designs without considering how bikes will connect with residential areas. Ms. Wittman recognized the challenge is how to balance the interests of bikes and other users. Concept 3 suggests there may be a way to get people to slow down, but it is not necessarily dedicated for bikes. Commissioner Larson commented that whatever is decided, it will need to be flexible. He likes Concept 1 because its design is simple and flexible and allows for gatherings of people. If a channel is created for bikes, that works against gatherings. He asked about the requirements for emergency vehicle access. Page 2 of 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting August 19, 2020 Ms. Wittman replied that emergency vehicles need to have access to the bridge. Down the middle is probably preferable. Ms. Anglo also said that emergency vehicles and maintenance trucks need to have access to bridge. The planning team is still trying to flesh out how many feet are needed for emergency access. Commissioner Larson stated that he doesn't like the rigidity of Concept 2. He gets the river theme of Concept 3 but it doesn't feel like as much a part of the urban fabric as Concept 1. The element he likes about Concept 3 is the big turnaround that will slow down the bikes and make everyone figure out what they will do at that point. He is open to modern furniture and also likes the idea of timber furniture in Concept 2. Commissioner Krakowski agreed with Commissioner Larson's comments. Councilmember Junker spoke about the material to be used in the plaza, whether stamped concrete or pavers. The City's existing pedestrian plaza, which is smooth concrete, is almost turning into a skateboard park, so anything that can be done to make it coarse and paver -like to discourage skateboard activity would be good. Commissioner Walls responded that would make it less of a multi -use space. Councilmember Junker said there are other areas designed for skateboards. Commissioner Walls noted if this promenade is made non -bike, bicyclists have nowhere to continue to ride their bike after crossing the bridge. They would have to dismount and walk the bike for 1-2 blocks either north, west or south. So the City has a beautiful bike trail but no way to connect to it to keep riding. Essentially that would mean reducing the multi uses to just a general purpose walking promenade. Commissioner Thueson said there is also the question of bike access in regard to the trail and to Main Street. If it doesn't go through, that changes the nature of Chestnut Street as a bike corridor. Commissioner Larson asked, is it reasonable to set aside a block of town where bicyclists are not allowed to ride their bikes? At some point, some things have to be excluded in terms of flexibility. He likes the flexible scheme as it leaves it open to how it might be used. If riders had to dismount their bike and walk 1-2 blocks, he feels that is a reasonable compromise. Ms. Wittman pointed out that the use isn't really under the Commission's purview, just the design. Commissioner Walls said the discussion is about the design, whether it limits use of bikes or not. Ms. Wittman summarized that several of the Commissioners are saying that even though it's important to be bike friendly, this very bisecting design may give too much right of way to cyclists. Chair Mino remarked she is not sure she completely agrees with that. Commissioner Finwall agreed that there should not be a designated bike path through there. She likes Concept 3 with its natural features. She wondered if all alternatives require that Water Street be closed. Ms. Wittman replied there have been discussions about the possibility of closing Water Street. Consultants are still looking at that but it would be hard for delivery trucks and emergency vehicles. Commissioner Finwall pointed out the Commission is discussing bike traffic but there would be road traffic driving right through a pedestrian corridor on Water Street and that is a bigger concern. Bikes come off the bridge really fast. She likes the roundabout that slows bike traffic down. There are opportunities for bikes to go north or south. This is the opportunity to make this a pedestrian corridor. Page 3 of 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting August 19, 2020 Commissioner Thueson opined that the design is so informed by the use requirements that use is a central question. He asked what is planned for Sam Bloomer Way. Ms. Wittman stated the hope is that Sam Bloomer Way would eventually become pedestrian only. Commissioner Larson summarized that he prefers Concept 1, keeping the furniture within tree lines, keeping the middle open for large gatherings, and it could possibly become a bicycle way through the middle. He favors a large cul de sac, open in the middle. Chair Mino said she agrees the design should be flexible and Concept 1 lends itself best. She likes the idea of more modern furniture. Commissioners Krakowski and Thueson agreed. Ms. Wittman said it comes down to how to support the uses in a safe manner. The Council will have to ultimately decide. She believes that everybody on the Commission likes the idea of a circle that slows down people down; there may be some desire to not give bikes precedence while at the same time considering how they can get to those other bike trails safely; and some sort of grid pattern that carries a sidewalk look on the edges. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS Preservation Ordinance Amendment Recommendation Ms. Wittman reviewed in summary the final version of preservation ordinance amendments for consideration. Staff is seeking a recommendation from the HPC to forward to the Planning Commission who will consider the matter in a public hearing on August 26 and then make recommendation to the City Council for their consideration on September 1 and 15. She asked Commissioners to review and submit comments to her. NAPC Forum Discussion and Attendance Reporting Ms. Wittman asked the Commissioners who were awarded scholarships and attended the NAPC Conference to submit to her the forms showing what sessions they attended. MNHS_and SHP0 Ordinance Amendment Grant Reporting Ms. Wittman stated she will be sending email asking Commissioners to sign a form to close out the reports for the ordinance amendments. FYI South Main Street Retaining Wall Ms. Wittman led discussion of the Main Street wall sample. Commissioner Larson showed photos of what the stone sample looks like. The color looks fairly good. He suggested asking the contractor if there is a way to make the mortar look older/darker. Meetings Ms. Wittman suggested going back to the normally scheduled third Wednesday of the month, which would make the next meeting September 16. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Walls, seconded by Commissioner Thueson, to adjourn. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8:39 p.m. Page 4 of 5 Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting ATTEST: Abbi Wittman, City Planner August 19, 2020 r--a /Ay MiXhair Page 5 of 5