HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-28-12 •
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City of Farmington Mission Statement
430 Third Street Through teamwork and cooperation,
Farmington,MN 55024 the City of Farmington provides quality
services that preserve our proud past and
foster a promising future.
AGENDA
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
February 28,2012
6:00 P.M.
CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM#169
1. Call to order
2. Approval of agenda
3. Approval of minutes of October 25,2011 regular meeting
4. Public Hearings
None
5. New Business
a. HPC 2012 Officer Appointments
b. HPC 2012 Goals and Objectives—Attachment A—2011 Goals and Objectives
c. Historic Preservation Month—May
i. City Council Proclamation—May 7,2012
ii. Heritage Preservation Award(s)Presented at City Council—May 21,2012
d. 2030 Comprehensive Plan—2011 Amendment—HPC Chapter 11 —Attachment B
6. Continued Business
a. Role of Preservation in Revitalizing the Downtown Area
i. Downtown Street&Way Finding Signs
b. Update—Legacy Grant Application for Heritage Resource Interpretation Plan
7. Reports&Plans
a. A New Season—Preservation Plan for Minnesota's Historic Properties 2012-2017—copies to be
provided at meeting
8. Miscellaneous
a. 2012 Meeting dates—Attachment C
b. Commission vacancies
9. Adjourn
City of Farmington Mission Statement
430 Third Street Through teamwork and cooperation,
Farmington,MN 55024 the City of Farmington provides quality
services that preserve our proud past and
foster a promising future
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
October 25,2011
6:00 P.M.
CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM#169
1. Call to order at 6:00 p.m.
Present: Members Franceschelli,Preece,Dooley,McMillen,Consultant Robert Vogel,Assistant City Planner
Wippler.
Absent: None
Also Present: Kim and James Dralle
2. Approval of agenda
Motion by Preece,second by Dooley to approve the agenda. APIF,Motion passed.
3. Approval of the minutes from August 23,2011.
Motion by Preece,second by Dooley to approve the minutes from August 23,2011. APIF,Motion passed.
4. Public Hearings-None
5. New Business
a. Cadwell House—Kim and James Dralle(413 Spruce Street)
Kim and James Dralle came before the commission to express concern over the condition of the Cadwell
House located at 409 Spruce Street. They are neighbors of this property and are upset that the exterior
work on this house is taking so long. The owners of the house have been working on it for close to
eighteen years and it seems to be getting worse. Consultant Vogel stated that there is little if anything that
this commission can do to improve the condition of the structure. The fact that the work is taking a long
time does not diminish the structures historic integrity.
Discussion occurred regarding the possibility of taking the picture of the Cadwell house off of the
Landmarks brochure when the time comes to print additional brochures. It was the consensus of the
committee to have the picture removed from the brochure.
Discussion was held concerning maintenance codes. The City currently does not have such a code. This
topic has been discussed with previous City Council's and it was determined to be too costly to
implement. The neighbors can certainly petition this City Council to gauge what their reaction to such an
ordinance would be.
6. Continued Business
a. Role of Preservation in Revitalizing the Downtown Area
Trying to figure out the vision for downtown is key. Couple things that the HPC could do is the HPC
should imprint their vision on the downtown and move forward with the branding/street sign ideas.
Additionally,the HPC could focus on especially areas of the City specifically the Third and Oak Street
area. The HPC will likely have to take the lead on the revitalization effort for the downtown.
Consultant Vogel will have renderings made up for proposed street signs and will bring them to a future
HPC meeting. There may be the opportunity to utilize Legacy money to buy the signs.Get a package put
together of what the HPC is proposing and then bring it to Council to see if they are willing to move
forward with the idea of signage in the downtown.
b. Update—Legacy Grant Application for Heritage Resource Interpretation Plan
State staff mentioned there are two possibilities for the interpretation plan funding. The HPC could apply
for a state grant that could be submitted in either December or January or utilize federal funding. If we
were to go with the federal funding the project wouldn't be able to start until late 2012. Consultant Vogel
should apply for both the state grant and federal money.
c. September 1'Preservation Workshop @ Farmers' Market recap
Consultant Vogel and his team of preservation professionals were present at the Farmers'Market on
September 1g for the second installment of Historic Preservation Night. It was a nice turn out with some
good questions asked by property owners.
December Pis the Dakota Valley Art show as part of the Dazzle Day festival. This could be another
opportunity to have an HPC display hosted by Consultant Vogel and his team. Commissioner Preece will
forward the specific information onto consultant Vogel.
d. State Preservation Conference recap
Commissioner Dooley recently attended the State Preservation Conference in Faribault and brought back
information to be disseminated to the other commissioners. Commissioner Dooley thought the
conference was extremely beneficial and particularly liked the idea of Main Street Program. Assistant
Planner Wippler will make copies of all the information and get it to the other commission members.
7. Reports
a. 2011 Annual Report
Consultant Vogel stated the yearly report is ready to be submitted to the State and distributed the
document around for the Commission to review. An annual report should be put together for the Council.
Our reporting for this year is complete.
8. Miscellaneous
a. Jackie Dooley
Commissioner Dooley mentioned that her basement is wet and has been since this spring. It is ground
water getting into her basement. Commissioner Dooley was interested in knowing if this is a new or
common issue or if it can be expected to get worse. The Commission was not sure exactly what would be
causing this to happen. It could have been caused by the Walnut Reconstruction project last year.
b. Assistant Planner Wippler mentioned that at this time there is no meeting scheduled for December. The
next scheduled meeting would be February 28,2012. The Commission was fine with not holding a
meeting in December.
9. Adjourn
Motion by McMillen,second by Dooley,to adjourn at 7:30 p.m.APIF,Motion passed.
Submitted by,
Tony Wippler,A sistant City Planner
A
FARMINGTON HPC
2011 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
1. Print&display a Preservation Month (May)poster
2. Apply for Legacy grants to revise and update the Historic Preservation Handbook, develop a city-wide
heritage interpretation plan, prepare plans and specifications for historical markers,and digitize
historic records&photographs
3. Sponsor a workshop for historic property owners(Farmers'Market).
4. Develop a marketing campaign for the historic downtown and commercial properties
5. Work with the School District to develop a preservation strategy for the historic high school.
Farmington 2030 Comprehensive Plan—2011 Amendment
CHAPTER 11
HERITAGE PRESERVATION ELEMENT
The City of Farmington faces a challenge that will become increasingly important in the
coming years: How will we preserve,protect, and use the historic buildings and sites that
give our community its essential historic character?
The primary goal of the city preservation program is conservation of significant,scarce,non-
renewable heritage resources.To achieve this goal,we must accept stewardship of heritage
properties as a shared responsibility between the public and the private sector. Heritage
preservation is an important local government service, and the time, effort, and financial
resources we spend on heritage preservation is one of the community's wisest investments,
returning multiple benefits from modest expenditures on research, planning, protective
measures,technical assistance,and education.
To preserve and protect Farmington's significant heritage resources,the City Council has
enacted Title 2, Chapter 11 of the City Code,which establishes the city heritage resources
preservation program.As the City's principal heritage preservation organization,the Heritage
Preservation Commission (HPC) has responsibility for oversight of heritage resource
preservation activities.The primary objectives of the city historic preservation program are:
• Preservation of significant historical,architectural,and archaeological resources;
• Fostering the wise use of Farmington's heritage resources through comprehensive
planning and education;
• Facilitating public participation in preservation planning;and
• Dissemination of information about Farmington's heritage.
The City Historic Preservation Program also promotes the goals of the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966,as amended,and is an active participant in the federal-state-local
government preservation partnership known as the Certified Local Government (CLG)
program.
The preservation philosophy behind the city heritage resources preservation program rests
upon four basic assumptions:
1) Heritage properties are scarce,non-renewable community resources,the preservation,
protection, and use of which are critical to the public welfare. When historical,
architectural,and archeological resources are destroyed,they are gone forever.
2) Heritage preservation is an important public service and a legitimate responsibility of
city government.Historic buildings,sites,and districts give Farmington much of its
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special character and community identity,yet some of the leading causes of heritage
resource loss are institutional actions, such as residential and commercial
development,that are governed by city laws,regulations,and procedures.
3) Not everything that is old is worth preserving,nor is heritage preservation concerned
primarily with the creation of museums or other public attractions.To be considered
for preservation,a property must be demonstrably significant in history,architecture
or archaeology,and it must also be adaptable to modern needs and uses.
4) Heritage preservation is entirely compatible with economic development and growth.
Preservation pays and everybody profits by recycling historically significant buildings
and adapting them to new,economically viable uses.
An important function of the city heritage resources preservation program is education.
Farmington has a heritage that is as rich as that of any other city of comparable size and a
strong community preservation program offers an effective tool for fostering good citizenship
and civic pride. Preserved historic buildings and sites offer a valuable supplement to the
written record and provide a unique three-dimensional learning experience.The preservation
and interpretation of Farmington's heritage resources will unquestionably contribute to the
overall education and cultural development of our fellow citizens.
GOALS AND POLICIES
City heritage preservation goals and policies are organized around seven basic program areas:
preservation planning,identification,evaluation,registration,design review,public education
and disaster management.Preservation goals are derived from the city's heritage preservation
ordinance and reflect a conservative approach to heritage resources management. The
policies which follow the program goals provide the pragmatic framework for implementing
the goals.
Preservation Planning
Heritage preservation planning is a dynamic process that organizes preservation activities in
a logical sequence and assures that decisions about heritage resources are based on the best
possible information. Planning determines when an area needs to be surveyed for heritage
resources, whether a particular property is historically significant, and how an individual
historic property should be treated.
Preservation Planning Goals:
• The city heritage resources preservation program is managed in a manner consistent
with the goals,policies,and procedures established by the comprehensive plan.
• Comprehensive preservation planning uses the needs assessment process to develop
goals and objectives and to establish priorities for program activities.
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Farmington 2030 Comprehensive Plan—2011 Amendment
■ The city continues to participate in the Certified Local Government(CLG)program
pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966,as amended.
Preservation Planning Policies:
• The heritage preservation element of the comprehensive plan shall be the
authoritative guide for city heritage preservation policy decisions.
• The HPC shall periodically review and update the heritage preservation plan.
• Preservation planning shall be integrated with other city planning, such as zoning,
economic development,and public works.
• The city has adopted the Secretary of the Interior's standards for historic preservation
planning,identification,evaluation,registration,and treatment.
• Heritage preservation planning data shall be made available to usable form to all City
departments,other public agencies,developers,property owners,and the citizens of
Farmington.
■ The comprehensive heritage preservation plan will be coordinated with the statewide
historic preservation plan developed by the Minnesota SHPO, and with the
preservation plans of other government agencies,such as the Metropolitan Council
and Dakota County.
Identification
In preservation planning, heritage resources are identified through the process known as
survey. Survey activities include planning and background research,field survey(i.e.,the
physical search for and recording of heritage resources on the ground), organization and
presentation of survey data,and the development of an heritage resources inventory(i.e.,a
compilation of information on individual heritage resources).
Identification Goals:
• A comprehensive, city-wide survey identifies all historical, architectural,
archeological,and cultural resources in the City of Farmington.
■ Survey data are integrated into the preservation planning process to insure that
decisions are based upon the best available information.
• The results of surveys are made available to city officials and the general public.
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Identification Policies:
• Heritage resource surveys will be planned so that the level of effort and the kinds of
information obtained are consistent with the heritage preservation needs of the city.
■ Whenever possible, identification of heritage resources will be based upon data
obtained from primary,rather than secondary sources, or intensive field survey,or
both.
• The HPC will maintain an inventory of all significant heritage properties using
geographic information system(GIS)technology.
Evaluation
Evaluation applies defined criteria of historical, architectural, archeological and cultural
significance to determine whether a property is eligible for designation as a Farmington
Heritage Landmark. Generally, to be considered significant (and therefore worthy of
preservation)a property must meet at least one of the following criteria:(a)association with
an important historical event or pattern of events;(b)association with important people;(c)
be representative of a style or period of architecture,or the work of an important architect or
builder;(d)contain information of value in answering questions important to prehistory or
history.
Evaluation Goals:
• All historic properties identified by survey are evaluated by the HPC and its staff to
determine their eligibility for registration as Farmington Heritage Landmarks.
Evaluation Policies:
• In evaluating the significance of any historic property, the HPC shall apply the
criteria for eligibility for designation as a Farmington Heritage Landmark or the
National Register of Historic Places.
• For a property to qualify for designation as a Farmington Heritage Landmark,it must
meet one of the ordinance criteria for eligibility by being associated with an
important historic context and retaining historic integrity of those physical features
necessary to convey its significance.
■ In determining whether or not a property is eligible for heritage landmark
designation,its age or date of construction shall not be the primary factor in assessing
its historic preservation value.
■ The HPC shall issue a written finding of significance for each property that is
determined eligible for designation as a heritage landmark.
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Registration
For preservation purposes,the city council formally recognizes properties of historical and
architectural importance through the process called registration.Historic districts,individual
buildings, prehistoric and historic archaeological sites, and cemeteries are examples of
heritage resource types that can be designated Farmington Heritage Landmarks.
In 2009, the City received a CLG grant to complete a minimum of five Heritage
Landmark Planning reports. The five reports were completed in 2010 and with that
the HPC began the recruiting process for registering the five properties identified in the
planning reports as Heritage Landmarks. Through the registration process,two of the
five property owners agreed to have their properties designated as Farmington
Heritage Landmarks. As of 2011, the City has designated a total of 16 properties as
Heritage Landmarks.
Registration Goals:
▪ All heritage resources which have been evaluated as significant are registered as
Farmington Heritage Landmarks,with the appropriate studies conducted and public
hearings held.
Registration Policies:
• Information on all heritage resources nominated for registration as Farmington
Heritage Landmarks shall be made available to the public in advance of any public
meeting at which the nomination is to be discussed.
• Prior to City Council action designating a Farmington Heritage Landmark, a
preservation planning report will be prepared which summarizes the registration
documentation and recommends a preservation concept plan.
• Information about Farmington Heritage Landmarks shall be made available to the
general public.
• The locations of Farmington Heritage Landmarks shall be noted on the official
zoning map of the City.
Design Review
The HPC is charged with carrying out the design review provisions contained in
Farmington's preservation ordinance, which requires mandatory review of applications for
certain types of city permits affecting significant heritage resources. Property owners are
required to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish or move a historic building,
and for new construction that affects heritage resources. The HPC is empowered only to
advise property owners on exterior changes, alterations, and other improvements to
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designated heritage landmarks.Working in conjunction with the Planning Commission,the
HPC also reviews development projects involving heritage resources.
Design Review Goals:
• No significant heritage preservation resource is destroyed,damaged,or defaced as a
result of any action permitted, licensed, funded, or assisted by the City of
Farmington.
• Every reasonable effort is made to preserve and protect heritage resources of
historical, architectural, archeological, and cultural significance, including those
properties which have been found eligible for registration but which may not have
been designated as heritage landmarks.
Design Review Policies:
• Every application for a City permit to demolish a significant heritage preservation
resource shall be reviewed by the HPC, and no demolition permit in relation to a
Farmington Heritage Landmark will be issued without a signed Certificate of
Appropriateness from the HPC.
• Every application for a City permit to move a significant historic building or structure
shall be reviewed by the HPC, and no permit for moving a Farmington Heritage
Landmark will be issued without a signed Certificate of Appropriateness from the
HPC.
• Every application for a City permit for new construction at a significant heritage
preservation resource shall be reviewed by the HPC, and no permit for new
construction at a Farmington Heritage Landmark will be issued without a signed
Certificate of Appropriateness from the HPC.
• Every application for a preliminary plat,rezoning,tax increment financing district,
conditional use permit,or variance from the zoning ordinance will be reviewed by the
HPC,which shall advise the Planning Commission whether or not the project will
have an adverse affect on significant heritage resources.The Planning Commission
may deny issuance of permits or approve applications with conditions based upon the
recommendations of the HPC.
• All plans for acquiring, repairing, expanding, constructing, or reconstructing city
public works shall be reviewed by the HPC.No public works project in relation to a
significant heritage preservation resource may proceed without a signed Certificate of
Appropriateness.
• In reviewing permits and development projects,the HPC will apply the Secretary of
the Interior's Standards for the treatment of historic properties.
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■ The HPC will review permits for demolition,moving,and new construction within
30 days.If a project is simple or will have no adverse effect on a designated heritage
landmark, the Certificate of Appropriateness may be approved by city staff in
consultation with the HPC chairperson.
• All Certificate of Appropriateness decisions can be appealed to the city council.
• The City reserves its right to review and comment on projects licensed or assisted by
the Federal government under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
or other relevant environmental protection legislation.
Public Education
Preservation planning, identification, evaluation, registration and design review includes
public participation to develop informed public involvement in the decision making process.
The city actively promotes heritage preservation through education programs,preservation
plans,heritage tourism,and publications.
Education Goals:
• City heritage preservation program activities heighten awareness of heritage
landmarks and educate property owners on how to preserve,rehabilitate,restore,and
reconstruct their significant buildings,structures,landscapes,and sites.
• Education leads to voluntary compliance with heritage resource treatment standards.
Education Policies:
■ The HPC will develop and deliver programs to enhance public awareness of the
city's heritage preservation program.
• The HPC will provide education,insight,and knowledge of preservation techniques
to city officials and property owners.
• Preservation programs will link heritage education and tourism to encourage
investment in heritage preservation resources in all parts of the city.
• Every effort will be made to encourage the general maintenance, repair and
enhancement of properties designated or determined eligible for designation as
heritage landmarks.
Disaster Management
Because historic buildings and sites can be damaged or destroyed as the result of structure
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fires,tornadoes,wind storms, lightning,winter storms, floods,hazardous materials spills,
and other disasters, the city needs to consider the special problems inherent in disaster
response and emergency management situations involving heritage resources.
Disaster Management Goals
• The city emergency management plan includes disaster preparedness and disaster
response procedures for significant heritage resources.
Disaster Management Policies:
• The city's disaster management plan and policies will clearly define the role of
heritage preservation in disaster preparedness,response,and recovery.
• Members of the city disaster management team will be provided with concise,
accurate,and up-to-date information on heritage resources and preservation priorities.
• The city will identify a heritage resources disaster response team of qualified
preservation professionals.
• Premature or unnecessary demolition of damaged historic buildings and structures
will be avoided during disaster response and recovery.
• The Heritage Preservation Commission will perform a risk assessment to identify the
types of disasters likely to occur and evaluate the vulnerability of specific heritage
preservation resources.
HERITAGE RESOURCES INVENTORY
As used in heritage preservation,survey refers to the process of identifying the buildings,
sites, structures, objects, and districts that need to be considered as heritage resources. It
includes field survey (the physical search for and recording of heritage resources on the
ground) as well as planning and background research. The data generated by the survey
includes written information,photographs,maps,and other documentation that is compiled
and organized to produce an inventory. The Farmington heritage resources inventory
documents properties that have been evaluated as significant as well as those which may not
be eligible for landmark designation. To avoid duplication of effort and to minimize
confusion in future project planning, the Farmington heritage resources inventory also
incorporates the results of heritage preservation surveys conducted before the establishment
of the city preservation program in 1992, as well as the data on Farmington properties
produced by surveys carried out under the auspices of state and federal government agencies.
In 1994-1995,the HPC conducted a study which identified twelve local historic contexts for
organizing information about Farmington's heritage resources. One of the products of the
historic context study was establishment of heritage resource identification goals and
priorities for future heritage resource surveys.While background knowledge of Farmington's
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historical development indicated that important heritage resources were most likely to be
concentrated in particular areas(such as the downtown and older residential neighborhoods),
very little survey work had been carried out in the city prior to 1995.In response to the need
to acquire baseline data on the city's heritage resources,preservation planning assumed that a
broad-scale reconnaissance of the entire city would need to be undertaken.To facilitate the
survey effort, the city was subdivided into eighteen heritage preservation planning areas
(HPPAs), half of which were urban, half rural, in order to allow for a systematic, cost-
effective effort to characterize the preservation potential of different parts of the community
(see Map 11.1). The HPPA boundaries are described below. Beginning in 1996,the HPC
began a reconnaissance survey of the city,starting with the Downtown HPPA.A survey of
the Oak Street HPPA,completed in 1997,was followed by reconnaissance-level studies of
the older buildings present in the Main Street HPPA. A reconnaissance of rural heritage
resources outside the urban service area was completed in 2003-2004. In 2009,an intensive
survey of the City's Feely Farm, Ice House, and Seventh Street heritage preservation
planning areas was completed. At the end of 2011, about 20% of the city remained
unsurveyed for above-ground heritage resources. [Robert: do you know where we are at
as far as a percentage at the end of 2011?j However,intensive surveys,which are designed
to produce all of the information needed to fully evaluate individual properties and prepare
landmark nomination studies, have been carried out at less than half of the estimated two
hundred or so buildings within the city limits that are over fifty years old.Surveys for below-
ground heritage resources have been limited to a very small area within the Highway 50 and
Pilot Knob Road highway corridors,where archaeological surveys were conducted under the
auspices of the Minnesota Department of Transportation in the late-1990s.
Management information about properties designated or determined eligible for designation
as Farmington Heritage Landmarks is maintained in a Geographical Information System
(GIS)that is regularly updated by the HPC.
Heritage Preservation Planning Areas(HPPA)
To facilitate planning for heritage preservation surveys,the city has been subdivided into 18
Heritage Preservation Planning Areas(HPPAs). HPPA boundaries are somewhat arbitrary,
the goal being to divide the city into manageable units for architectural history and
archaeological field surveys. Whenever possible, planning area boundaries follow major
thoroughfares and the railroad right-of-way. The names were selected by the Heritage
Preservation Commission in 1995. The following paragraphs briefly describe each HPPA.
Downtown
The Downtown HPPA consists of the traditional central commercial district. Beginning at
the intersection of Elm Street and 4th Street,the boundary runs south along the centerline of
4th to Spruce Street,thence west along Spruce to 3rd Street;it then jogs one block south to
the alley between Spruce and Walnut streets,thence west to the railroad tracks;following the
railroad tracks north to Oak Street, the boundary runs along Oak as far west as 1st Street,
then north on 1st to Elm,which forms the northern boundary.
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Main Street
The Main Street HPPA encompasses the historic mixed commercial-industrial-residential
neighborhood north of Downtown. It is bounded on the south by Elm Street;on the west by
the railroad tracks;and on the north and east by the city limits. It includes a short stretch of
the Vermillion River and the abandoned Hastings&Dakota RR right-of-way.
Oak Street
The Oak Street HPPA describes Farmington's oldest residential neighborhood. It is bounded
on the west by the railroad tracks and the Downtown HPPA;on the north by Elm Street;on
the east by State Highway 3;and on the south by Walnut Street. The HPPA encompasses
about twelve square blocks.
7th Street
The 7th Street HPPA is the residential neighborhood south of the Oak Street HPPA. It is
bounded on the east by Highway 3;on the south by Ash Street; and the western boundary
runs north from Ash on 4th Street as far as Maple Street,then jogs a block east on Maple
before turning back north on 5th to Walnut Street.
Ice House
The Ice House HPPA is another of Farmington's older residential neighborhoods,lying south
of the Downtown and Oak Street HPPAs, west of the 7th Street HPPA, and north of the
county fairgrounds. It is bounded on the south by the city limits;on the west by the railroad
tracks;and on the north by Walnut Street.
Feely Farm
The Feely Farm HPPA is a mixed residential and commercial use area, with some open
space, situated west of the railroad right-of-way. Its northern boundary is defined by the
Rambling River Park;the western boundary follows the centerline of Denmark Avenue.
Rambling River
The focus of the Rambling River HPPA is the city park of the same name and the floodplain
of the Vermillion River. The HPPA also includes some adjacent mixed use lands outside of
the natural floodplain. The railroad right-of-way forms the eastern boundary; Denmark
Avenue marks the western boundary. The floodway district west of Denmark Avenue and
south of CSAH 50 is also included within the Rambling River HPPA.
East Farmington
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The East Farmington HPPA comprises a large area of mixed land uses east of TH 3 and north
of TH 50. The city limits define its northern,eastern,and southern boundaries.
Sunnyside
The Sunnyside HPPA is an area of post-World War II residential development lying south of
Ash Street. This southeastern appendage of the city is surrounded by Castle Rock Township.
Hammer
The Hammer HPPA is a mostly rural area adjoining the Feely Farm HPPA on the east. It
comprises most of Section 36 and includes part of the Vermilion River valley. It is bounded
on the north by CSAH 50,on the west by the future Pilot Knob Road right-of-way,and on
the south by the city limits.
Devonshire
The Devonshire HPPA occupies the southwestern corner of the city. Land use is
predominantly rural and the area is drained by a tributary of the Vermillion River. Its
northern boundary is the centerline of CSAH 50; the city limits define its western and
southern boundaries.
Flagstaff
The Flagstaff HPPA is the rural and industrial area north of the Devonshire HPPA in the
western part of the city. Pilot Knob Road forms its eastern boundary; CSAH 50 is the
southern boundary;and the northern boundary follows the section line.
Creek
The Creek HPPA is the rectangular-shaped tract north of the Flagstaff HPPA. It is bounded
on the north by 195th Street,and the quarter-section line of Section 22;it adjoins the City of
Lakeville on the west. A small tributary of the Vermillion River drains the area.
Akin
The Akin HPPA occupies the western half of the northern extension of the city. In terms of
its area,it is the largest HPPA and has varied topography. Land use is primarily suburban
residential. Pilot Knob Road forms the eastern boundary.
Lime Rock
The Lime Rock HPPA occupies the eastern half of the northern extension of the city. It is
bounded on the west by Pilot Knob Road;the section line between Sections 24 and 25 forms
the southern boundary.
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Pine Knoll
The Pine Knoll HPPA comprises the area lying between the Lime Rock, Akin, Creek,
Industrial,and Clay Quarry HPFAs. Its western boundary is Pilot Knob Road;on the east it
is bounded by Akin Road;and on the south by the quarter-section line of Section 25.
Clay Quarry
The Clay Quarry HPPA is located east of Akin Road and north of the Rambling River HPPA,
adjoining Empire Township on the east.
Industrial
The Industrial HPPA is bounded on the east by Akin Road;on the south by CSAH 50;on the
east by Pilot Knob Road;and on the north by the quarter-section line of Section 25. The area
is drained by a tributary of the Vermilion River and includes the city's light industrial
district.
HISTORIC CONTEXTS
To qualify for designation as a Farmington Heritage Landmark,a heritage resource must be
significant,i.e.,it must represent a significant aspect of the history,architecture,archaeology,
or culture of the city;and the significance of a heritage resource can be evaluated only within
its historic context. Historic contexts are those themes or patterns in history by which a
specific event, building, or area is understood and its meaning in made clear—the basic
premise is,that heritage resources do not occur in a vacuum,but reflect and illustrate larger
trends or patterns in local history. The concept of historic context is the cornerstone of the
heritage resource preservation planning process.
The local historic contexts are briefly summarized below. These historic context study units
have been developed on the basis of historical information obtained through documentary
research and heritage resource surveys. The themes,patterns,and resource types described in
these historic context study units are unique to Farmington and the surrounding area,but also
reflect aspects of the history of the state and region as a whole. (The State Historic
Preservation Office has also developed historic contexts as part of its statewide plan for
implementing the National Register program in Minnesota;the city's historic context are
coordinated with the statewide planning efforts.) Some of the context study units are defined
in broad,general terms,while others are more tightly focused on a particular geographical
area or group of related heritage resources. Historic contexts are always subject to new
interpretations and are continually refined, modified, added to, and elaborated on as new
information and interpretations are generated by the ongoing heritage resources survey.
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Prehistoric American Indians
Prior to Euroamerican settlement,American Indians had occupied the Farmington area for
thousands of years. The plainest evidence that prehistoric people lived in and utilized the
natural resources from what is now Minnesota comes from archaeological sites, which
indicate that the ancestral American Indians first appeared in the region about 11,500 years
ago.Undeveloped lands in Farmington,particularly in the northern and western parts of the
city,may contain significant archaeological sites associated with the Paleoindian,Archaic,
Woodland,and Oneota cultural traditions.However,relatively little archaeological work has
been done in the Farmington area and no significant prehistoric heritage preservation
resources have been identified within the city limits.
Historic American Indians
The first European explorers and fur traders appeared in Minnesota about 1650 but more than
150 years passed before they came here to live in significant numbers. Until tribal
sovereignty was extinguished by treaty in 1851,Dakota County was part of the tribal estate
of the Mdewakanton Dakota or Sioux nation. Historical accounts suggest prolonged
Mdewakanton occupation and utilization of the natural resources of the Vermillion River
Valley and there is no reason to believe they were not present within the present-day city
limits up until the Dakota War of 1862.
Agriculture and Rural Lifeways
For more than a century,farming was the most important enterprise in Dakota County.As a
consequence,the greatest single influence on the development of Farmington between the
1850s and the 1950s was agriculture.The first settlements were made along the Vermillion
River in 1854 and by about 1856 a rural community known as Farmington had evolved.But
the Panic of 1857,the Dakota War of 1862,and the Civil War slowed local development,
and it was not until the late 1860s that Castle Rock and Empire townships began to fill up
with farms.Wheat was the chief crop but its importance diminished after about 1880 and by
the turn of the century local agriculture had become diversified.The town of Farmington was
a transportation nexus and trade center for a prosperous agricultural hinterland, and the
accessibility of Twin Cities markets favored the development of agricultural product
processing, shipping, and storage. The town also had important merchandising,
manufacturing, educational and recreational industries that were heavily dependent upon
agriculture and was the home of the county agricultural fair for many years.
Town Planning and Development
No human activity has been more important in shaping the built environment of Farmington
than urbanization.Platted in 1864,the general plan of the village was based on a model that
had evolved over two centuries in the northeastern United States. Street patterns,lot lines,
and the differentiation between commercial and residential areas have their roots in the pre-
1950 past and essentially define the suburban landscape that emerged during the late
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twentieth century.This historic context uses the concept of historic landscape as a means of
identifying and interpreting historic urban land use patterns and trends.
Commercial Architecture and the Development of Downtown Farmington
Farmington was founded in 1864 as a trade center and its central place functions developed
rapidly. This historic context focuses on the buildings, sites, and streetscapes that give
downtown Farmington its defining historic character and sense of place.The architecture of
the downtown area reflects regional and local patterns of economic development,changing
building styles and construction technologies, and social and cultural change. Individual
buildings document the histories of locally significant business, civic and social
organizations.
Domestic Architecture and the Development of Residential Neighborhoods
This historic context is focused on social and architectural history themes represented by
historic properties found in Farmington's residential districts. Individual houses,
outbuildings, and streetscapes document the histories of families, neighborhoods and the
community as a whole and give each part of the city its unique sense of time and place.The
most important architecture history themes are those represented by well preserved examples
of Late Victorian,Eclectic and late nineteenth and early twentieth century vernacular houses.
Commercial and Industrial Development
Functionally, Farmington was the first link between the agricultural hinterland of Dakota
County and the world market.Agricultural product processing,storage and shipping were the
oldest industries in town,and for a number of years Farmington flourished as a grain market
and shipping point. Between 1865 and 1950, the village became a trading and banking
center, with commercial activity dominated by small-scale family-owned businesses
providing goods and services to rural customers and the villagers themselves.Farmington's
manufacturing sector was modest before 1900; twentieth century industries were more
diversified.Intensive thematic surveys are planned to identify and evaluate individual stores,
shops,mills,and factories.
Transportation
Farmington developed as a transportation nexus and prospered as a shipping point.When
settlers came to Dakota County,the most important overland routes were Native American
trails. The earliest government roadways were laid out in the 1850s and stimulated inland
settlement.Railroads came to Dakota County at a comparatively early date and Farmington
itself was originally platted as a railway village.The village was for many years the junction
of important north-south and east-west rail lines, part of the Milwaukee Road system.
Modern highways signaled the decline of the railroads and produced significant changes in
the built environment,especially after World War II.
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Churches and Other Religious Properties
Churches of several denominations played an important part in the social history of
Farmington.Individual church buildings,parsonages and related structures also represent an
important set of architectural landmarks worthy of preservation for their historical,aesthetic,
cultural and artistic values.
Cemeteries and Burial Grounds
Cemeteries were also an important aspect of historic landscape architecture.Like the study
unit concerning churches, this historic context deals with historic resources not normally
eligible for the National Register of Historic Places,but which may warrant designation as
Farmington Heritage Landmarks.
Education,Public and Private
Schools were closely linked to the growth of Farmington and were both a product and a part
of the town's historical development.A rural schoolhouse was built near Farmington in 1862
and the village's public school system was established in 1868. Public and private schools
played an important part in the development of Farmington and dominated the civic
architecture of the town. Intensive thematic surveys are planned to identify and evaluate
individual school buildings.
Tourism,Recreation and Leisure
While Minnesota had earned a reputation as a summer haven for tourists during the
Territorial period,it was not until the gaslight era of the late nineteenth century that tourism,
sports and recreation became significant in the lives of small inland towns like Farmington.
As the amount of leisure time available to the average person increased, community
investment in sports and recreational activities also increased. The automobile further
expanded families'recreational opportunities and between about 1900 and 1940 Farmington
became something of a minor tourist mecca for both rural and urban folk. Potentially
significant historic property types associated with tourism, recreation and leisure include
tourist campgrounds,cabins,public halls,theaters,athletic fields and skating rinks,as well as
the homes of local sports heroes.
Geographical Features of Historical Interest
Geology, topography, climate and vegetation form the physical context within which
Farmington's historical development has taken place.Landforms,water resources,weather,
soil,plants and animals represent the resource base that forms the background against which
all aspects of Farmington history are viewed. This historic context embraces the physical
geography of Farmington, and as such is an integral part of all other historic contexts.
Potential historic resources include springs,red ocher(vermillion)deposits,and preserved
specimens of natural vegetation.
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IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
One of the main purposes of the comprehensive preservation plan,if not its sole purpose,is
to chart a course for the future of the city heritage resources preservation program.As part of
the visioning process,the HPC has worked with the city council and staff,federal and state
preservation agency officials,consultants,and members of the public to clarify preservation
issues and to identify long-term policy needs. This section reflects our vision of heritage
preservation as a focal point of community development planning that preserves,protects and
enhances significant historic properties for the benefit of present and future generations.
The following paragraphs provide an outline of an action plan,summarizing and prioritizing
short-term and long-term objectives that will need to be in place by 2030 to achieve
preservation program goals.
Short-term(1-5 years)Implementation Objectives
1. Complete the city-wide heritage resources reconnaissance survey and compile a
comprehensive inventory of all buildings,sites,structures,objects,and districts more
than 50 years old.
2. Continue to provide city officials and the general public with information,education
and training in heritage preservation using the full range of available communications
technology.
3. Continue to advise property owners, developers, and others about appropriate
preservation treatments and provide technical assistance in historic preservation to
city officials involved in preservation projects.
4. Continue to participate fully in the Certified Local Government preservation
partnership.
5. Continue to provide the HPC with adequate professional staff support.
6. Develop stronger working relationships between the HPC,the Planning Commission,
and the Economic Development Authority by reviewing all development plans,
capital improvement plans,and public works projects for their possible impacts on
significant heritage resources.
7. Work with the Economic Development Authority and other stakeholders to create
design standards and economic incentive programs that would promote infill
development that is economically sustainable and architecturally compatible with the
historic character and ambiance of the downtown district.
8. In establishing community development priorities,place more emphasis on preserved
and rehabilitated heritage preservation resources as opportunities for economic
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development.
9. Develop plans for the preservation, rehabilitation, maintenance, and compatible
adaptive use of downtown commercial buildings,including those properties more
than 50 years old that may not be judged eligible for heritage landmark designation.
10.Develop conservancy district overlay zoning to protect the distinctive characteristics
of the city's older residential neighborhoods, such as the size, scale, and mass of
houses,as well as the landscape elements such as streets,boulevards,sidewalks,and
trees that give neighborhoods their distinguishing character.
11.Develop and implement voluntary guidelines for preserving,rehabilitating,restoring,
and reconstructing heritage resources.
12. Establish and adequately fund a historical marker/plaques program to interpret and
commemorate important aspects of community heritage.
13.Develop a website and resource center with listings of historic properties for sale in
Farmington and detailed information about the benefits of living and doing business
in historic buildings.
14.Develop and implement a plan to prevent,respond to,and recover from the effects of
natural and man-made disasters on heritage preservation resources.
15.Invest more in the management of information about heritage preservation resources
and provide greater access to this information through increased use of the Internet
and other media.
16.Adapt the heritage resources inventory for Geographic Information Systems(GIS)
users.
17.Begin an archaeological reconnaissance survey to predict the general location and
establish the likely current condition of prehistoric and historic archaeological
resources within the city limits.
18. Support the creation of state tax incentives for heritage preservation, such as
investment tax credits and property tax relief.
Long-Term Implementation Objectives
19.Revise, update, and improve the comprehensive heritage preservation plan that
identifies Farmington's heritage resources and establishes goals, policies and
procedures for preserving,protecting and enhancing them.
20.Amend the city's historic heritage preservation code as needed to reflect the goals and
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policies contained in the heritage preservation plan.
21.Preserve Farmington's downtown,older residential neighborhoods and rural areas as
distinctive and recognizable parts of the modern city.
22. Complete an archaeological reconnaissance survey of all undeveloped lands within
the city limits.
23.Develop a diverse array of programs to help finance needed improvements in historic
buildings and neighborhoods, such as matching grants or low-interest loans for
financing historically appropriate exterior repairs and rehabilitation of privately
owned heritage preservation resources.
24.Provide better physical connections between Farmington residents and heritage
preservation resources throughout the city.
25.Develop curricula that can be used to teach students of all ages about local history
and heritage preservation.
26.Promote increased and stabilized residential uses of downtown historic buildings to
complement commercial uses.
27.To stimulate education and edification,and to foster civic pride,place an historical
marker,display,exhibit,or other interpretive device in every city park and public
building,along every major public road and trailway,and in all local schools.
28.Establish a Farmington Heritage Trust Fund with the mission of advancing the
preservation of heritage resources through financial, educational, and stewardship
programs.
29.Establish a permanent,reliable source of funding(outside of the city's general fund)
for the city heritage preservation program.
30.Protect,preserve,and use significant heritage resources in a manner that ensures that
by the year 2030, the number of heritage resources designated as Farmington
Heritage Landmarks will have increased to approximately 50 buildings, sites,and
districts; initial heritage resource inventories will be completed for all heritage
preservation planning areas; the environment and character of older residential
neighborhoods will be protected through overlay zoning;and all significant heritage
preservation resources will be in good condition.
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HPC MEETINGS
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