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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-04-04 City of Farmington 325 Oak Street Farmington, MN 55024 Mission Statement Through teamwork and cooperation, the City of Farmington provides quality services that preserve our proud past and foster a promising future. AGENDA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 4, 2004 7:00 P.M. THE AKIN HOUSE 1, Call to order 2. Approval of agenda 3. Approval of minutes of September 16, 2004, regular meeting 4. Public Hearings - none 5. Reports a. Findings of Significance - Two Historic Properties b. Certified Local Government Annual Report for Federal Fiscal Year 2004 6. Unfinished Business 7. New Business a. Tour of the Akin House 8. Miscellaneous 9. Adjourn HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES September 16, 2004 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Fortney called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Present: John Fortney, Bev Preece, Edgar Samuelson, Tim Burke, John Robertson (arrived 7:15 p.m.) Absent: Patrick Garofalo Also Present: Robert Vogel, Consultant; Lisa Shadick, Administrative Services Director; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Preece, second by Samuelson to approve the agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (July 22, 2004) MOTION by Burke, second by Preece to approve the July 22, 2004 Minutes. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None 5. REPORTS a) Rural Study - Final Report Consultant Vogel informed the Commission that the rural study results were disappointing as he thought there was more in the rural area. The study covered 2,000 acres. He expected to see more older structures. There have not been family farms in the area for a long time. The Donnelly's own 1500 acres and is considered a non- farm farm. It is more like an agricultural factory with employees. New farm equipment does not fit in the old buildings so much of what was there is gone. A lot of the older farmers are no longer farming and are getting ready to sell their land for development. Consultant Vogel did not speak with the owners of the properties found eligible for Heritage Landmark designation at this time. The report recommends the Commission find five properties significant for landmark designation. He suggested the developers do a study of the land as part of the Development Contract. Properties zoned as landmarks are preserved. Two properties found historically significant and determined to be eligible for designation are the Wurdeman House, 5827 210th Street, and the Historic Curry House and Barn, 6040 21th Street. A GIS map should be prepared showing the locations of the significant properties. The Commission needs to issue findings of significance for the properties and proceed with the landmark nomination. MOTION by Burke, second by Preece to haveyConsultant Vogel prepare reports for the two properties for landmark designation for the next HPC meeting. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. HPC Minutes September 16, 2004 Page 2 Consultant Vogel has a complete file of properties. He will copy the information for the City's files. Copies of the report should be provided to Council. Consultant Vogel gave the process for designation: 1. Identify properties. 2. Evaluation of properties - HPC decides if they meet the criteria. 3. Registration 4. HPC meets with owners of properties and interested owners in the area. 5, Council holds a public hearing, HPC nominates properties for landmark designation and the Council designates them. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Middle Creek Historic Cemetery - Boy Scout Project Administrative Services Director Shadick went to the Middle Creek Cemetery with the parks supervisor. The plants looked good. The Boy Scouts are willing to clear a path to the cemetery, but they need direction as to what is wanted. It was determined they should clear the entrance, clear the path, remove the wire fence, place a trail sign that is made of wood, low in height, and rustic. Member Samuelson's son, Bill, would be doing this for his Eagle Scout project. He would obtain the workers, raise the funds, and obtain materials and do the work. It was suggested to place a sign at the entrance, at the left turn, and at the cemetery. The next step would be for Bill to take the plan to the Eagle Scout Board of Review for approval. Bill will take digital pictures of what needs to be done. He will bring his plan to the next HPC meeting for approval and then to the Board of Review. b. Church of the Advent - Possible Renovation The church has not submitted any plans yet, and nothing will be done in the immediate future. The renovations will not be to the sanctuary, just the newer addition. This would have no connection with the HPC. 8. MISCELLANEOUS Administrative Services Director Shadick had the footprint map updated to extend to 6th Street. This map shows the dates of when buildings were built. Member Preece had a question about the demolition of older properties. City ordinance states if buildings are more than 50 years old, the demolition permit should be held and the HPC should be consulted before demolition. Administrative Services Director Shadick talked to the owner of the Lyric Theater building and he is not interested in heritage landmark designation. Consultant Vogel would like to do a reuse study of the building. Regarding the B&B at 520 Oak Street, the Commission requested staff find out how close they are to opening. The next meeting will be November 4, 2004, at 7:00 p,m. Member Preece will report on the conference, HPC Minutes September 16, 2004 Page 3 9. ADJOURN MOTION by Samuelson, second by Burke to adjourn at 8:09 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, ~{~ ;y/~~ Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant MEMORANDUM 26 October 2004 TO: Farmington Heritage Preservation Commission FR: Robert Vogel, Preservation Planning Consultant RE: Request HPC "Finding of Significance" for Two Historic Properties Under authority of Title 2, Chapter 11 of the City Code, significant historic properties may be designated as Farmington Heritage Landmarks (the local equivalent of the National Register of Historic Places). The Historic Preservation Element of the Farmington 2020 Comprehensive Plan Update describes the policies and procedures under which the heritage landmark program operates. In 2003-2004, the city conducted a reconnaissance or "windshield" survey to compile an inventory historic resources located in Farmington's rural service area. This survey collected information on 17 buildings and groups of buildings more than 50 years old; of these, two properties were recommended as eligible for designation as Farmington Heritage Landmarks: . The Wurdeman House at 5827 - 210th St. (state historic property inventory no. DK-FMC-036); and . The Historic Curry House and Barn at 6040 - 212th St. (state historic property inventory no. DK-FMC-030, By ordinance, it is the responsibility of the HPC to issue a "finding of significance" whenever it determines a historic property should be considered worthy of protection under the city's preservation code. This finding initiates the heritage landmark nomination process by signaling the HPC's intent to collect the information needed to prepare a formal landmark nomination study. Before it can be designated a Farmington Heritage Landmark, the HPC will also hold one or more informal meetings with the property owners and other interested parties; after the landmark nomination study is approved by the HPC, the City Council holds a public hearing on the proposed designation and makes the final decision on whether or not the property will be re-zoned for historic preservation. Built in 1911, the Wurdeman House is a well preserved example of Craftsman Style (Arts & Crafts Movement) residential architecture in a rural setting. Craftsman or bungalow architecture is well represented by houses in Farmington's older "urban" neighborhoods; the style was popular between about 1905 and 1925 and reflects the early twentieth century revolution in domestic architecture and home life. This particular house is individually significant because of its age and rural location: not only is it one of the 1 oldest "Arts & Crafts" period homes within the city limits, it is the sole surviving example of an intact Craftsman Style farm dwelling. Though somewhat altered from its historic appearance, the house retains all of the Craftsman details necessary to convey its significance in architectural history. The property historically known as the Curry farm consists of a farmhouse constructed around 1880 and a dairy barn built in 1925. It is recommended that the two buildings be treated (for preservation purposes) as one historic resource because of their functional and historical relationship to each other. The property meets the Farmington Heritage Landmark eligibility criteria for historical significance by being associated with the broad pattern of rural development in the Farmington area (including areas annexed from Lakeville Township). When evaluated in comparison to other old farmhouses and bams, these buildings are among the best preserved and retain historic integrity of those features necessary to convey significance as specimens of traditional rural architecture; in other words, the farmhouse and barn clearly possess the design details, materials, and other physical characteristics required to strongly represent the theme of Agriculture and Rural Lifeways (the relevant local historic context). I recommend that the HPC issue findings of significance for the two historic properties. The finding should take the form of a simple motion stating the names and addresses of the subject properties, with a statement to the effect that the HPC feels they meet the ordinance criteria for Heritage Landmark eligibility. This will have the effect of placing them on a list of properties that will need to be intensively surveyed. (Intensive survey, as the name implies, is a close and careful examination of a particular historic property designed to produce all the information needed to prepare a Heritage Landmark nomination. Intensive survey generally involves detailed background research, a thorough inspection of the building(s) and site, and interviews with the property owners and neighbors.) For your information, I have attached the current list of historic properties for which the HPC has issued findings of significance, including the properties which have been rezoned as Farmington Heritage Landmarks. 2 FARMINGTON HISTORIC RESOURCES LIST (As of October, 2004) Properties that have been determined eligible for nomination as Farmington Heritage Landmarks by Heritage Preservation Commission finding of significance -- . Lyric Theater Building, 314 Oak St. . St. Michael's Catholic Church, 5th and Spruce Sts. [demolished] . Old St. Michael's Catholic Church, 104 Elm St. . House, 408 Oak St. . House, 421 Oak St. . House, 509 Oak St. . House, 521 Oak St. . House, 409 Spruce St. . House, 500 Spruce St. Properties that have been designated (rezoned) as Farmington Heritage Landmarks by City Council resolution -- . Exchange Bank Building, 344 - 3rd St. . Daniel F, Akin House, 19185 Akin Rd. . Church of the Advent, 412 Oak St. . Fletcher Building, 345 - 3rd St. . Farmington State Bank Building, 320 - 3rd St. . Masonic Temple Building, 324 - 3rd St. . Hamilton Clay House, 621 Oak St. . Middle Creek (presbyterian) Cemetery