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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-21-02 City of Farmington 325 Oak Street Farmington, MN 55024 Mission Statement Through teamwork and cooperation. the City ofF annington provides quality services that preserve our proud past and foster a promisingfuture. AGENDA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING November 21, 2002 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of agenda 3. Approval of minutes of September 26, 2002, regular meeting 4. Public hearings - none 5. Reports a. Certified Local Government annual report 6, Unfinished Business a. Middle Creek Cemetery heritage landmark nomination 7. New Business a. Review draft bed & breakfast ordinance b. Church of the Advent - adaptive reuse possibilities 8. Miscellane~s \..-G1lo~?..;P Adjourn 9. MINUTES HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION September 26, 2002 1. CALL TO ORDER - Chairperson Strachan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m, Present: Susan Strachan, George Flynn, Jackie Dooley, Beverly Preece, Tim Rice Absent: Harbee Tharaldson Also Present: Bob Vogel, Consultant; Karen Finstuen, Administrative Services Director; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant 2. APPROVE AGENDA Under New Business Mr, Vogel added Landmark Designations, and Member Dooley added Proposed Displays, and Request from an Albert Lea resident for HPC information. MOTION by Preece, second by Rice to approve the agenda, APIF, MOTION CARRIED, 3. APPROVE MINUTES - MOTION by Preece, second by Rice, approving the minutes of July 18 and July 30,2002, APIF, MOTION CARRIED, 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS - none 5. REPORTS a. Comments from Seminar Members Dooley and Rice attended the Annual Historical Preservation Committee Meeting in Owatonna and gave an overview ofthe meeting to the HPC, They attended very informative sessions and interesting tours. Some of the sessions dealt with the open meeting law, and that HPC meetings are an important part of the governmental process. Member Dooley received information on open meeting laws from the LMC, Members also received a good overview of what historical preservation commissions are trying to preserve. Member Rice will be joining the MN Design Team which provides design advice and planning, The first meeting will be held October 19,2002. 6. PROJECT UPDATE - none 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Plan for Middle Creek Estates Historic Cemetery It was agreed to drop "Estates" from the name of the cemetery, Mr. Vogel presented a draft documentation supporting heritage landmark designation of the Middle Creek Historic Cemetery. The purpose of the designation is so the city will have a record of how it became a landmark and why. A public hearing, which requires 30-day notice, will be set at the November 4, 2002 Council meeting, to be held at the December 2, 2002 Council meeting. The HPC needs to determine signage, plantings for the boundary, and a covering for the path to enable people to get to the cemetery. MOTION by Rice, second by Dooley, to move forward with the heritage designation process. APIF, MOTION CARRIED, 8. NEW BUSINESS a. Reporting Responsibility - City Council, Planning Commission The Planning Commission deals with the use of a property, and the HPC deals with the design and how the surrounding area will be affected, These two commissions need to confer with each other so all aspects of a project are considered, The scope of the city that the HPC covers needs to be conveyed to the Council. According to city code 2-11-5 D) the HPC recommendation shall be forwarded to the Planning Commission for consideration in making their recommendation to the City Council. The HPC should advise Council on what visual effects would replace a structure so they would blend in with the surrounding area, b. HPC's Role in Development Process The HPC would like to have more input in the beginning of the development process which is allowed in the current ordinances, An ordinance is a textbook dealing with the law ofthe land and property rights, The HPC felt they need to educate all involved parties in historic preservation and to promote discussions by those affected, One way to do this would be to have HPC meetings televised, c. Landmark Designations Mr. Vogel stated he is ready to move forward with the landmark designation process for the three properties on the National Register of Historic Places - the Exchange Bank Building, 344 3rd Street; Daniel F, Akin House, 19185 Akin . Road; and the Church ofthe Advent, 412 Oak Street. It was suggested the HPC should meet with all the owners together. Mr. Loren Schulz, 500 Spruce Street, would like to have his property designated as a heritage landmark, and two residents on Oak Street are also interested in having their properties designated. There are 10 properties determined eligible for nomination as a Heritage Landmark, and these owners should also be invited to a meeting to determine their interest and explain the process, The HPC would like to do 4-5 designations a year. d. Proposed Display at the Library Member Dooley was given permission to put up a bulletin board at the library showing a survey map and the historic district. She would like visual items to make it interesting for children, The Preservation Alliance ofMN would like to bring a display to City Hall, making people aware of historic designation. It will be brought to City Hall after November I, and will be on display for approximately 1 month. It will be placed by the building inspections entrance, d. Request from Albert Lea Resident During the Annual Historic Preservation Conference, Member Dooley received a request from Jonathan Green, an Albert Lea resident, asking for information on Farmington's HPc. Information will be compiled and mailed to him. 9. MISCELLANEOUS The next meeting will be held November 21,2002. The agenda will include: Schedule a timeline for the cemetery Nomination documents for Old St. Michael's Church Annual government report Annual meeting 10. ADJOURN MOTION by Dooley, second by Preece, to adjourn at 9: 14 p,m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, ;~~~;h-?~ ,-/ Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant D- AFT DOCUMENTATION SUPPORTING HERITAGE LANDMARK DESIGNATION OF THE MIDDLE CREEK HISTORIC CEMETERY COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE PRESBYTERIAN CEMETERY Heritage Landmark Planning Report Prepared by Robert C, Vogel Preservation Planning Consultant September 26, 2002 INTRODUCTION This report documents the historical and architectural significance of the Middle Creek Historic Cemetery, commonly known as the Presbyterian Cemetery and makes the case for the property's eligibility for designation as a Farmington Heritage Landmark pursuant to ~2-11-4 ofthe Farmington City Code. Farmington Heritage Landmarks are the buildings, sites, and districts so designated by the City Council . in recognition of their historical, architectural, archeological, and cultural significance, Properties are nominated by Heritage Landmark designation by the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) following a public hearing. Under state law, the Minnesota Historical Society must also review each nomination. Once a property has been designated a Fatmington Heritage Landmark, this report becomes part of the official designation and is used to guide planning for the preservation, protection, and use of the' historic property. The Heritage Landmark Planning Report is based on the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, For more information about registration standards and guidelines for preparing the report, please refer to the National Park Service publication, How to Complete ,the National Register Registration Form; and the Historic Preservation chapter ofthe City.of Farmington Comprehensive Plan, :" I, " , .ADMINISTRATIVE DATA Name of Property: The official name of the property nominated for landmark designation is the MIddle Creek Hi~oric Cemetery. The site is also commonly known as the Presbyterian Cemetery, \ \ Location: Southeast quarter of Section 25, Township 114 North Range 20 West, irhmedjatelynorth of the Middle Creek Estates subdivision. I ' ',1 ,;1 J Owner: On December 17, 2001, the Farmington City Council accepted the cemetery from the First United Presbyterian Church, the owner of record (Resolution Rl14-01), DRAFT HPC Determination of Eligibility: The Farmington Heritage Preservation Commission evaluated the cemetery and found that it meets the criteria for heritage landmark eligibility, A fInding of significance was issued by the HPC on De~IP,be,~,,6, 2001. ,,',1 , (t ,",; ~ State Historic Preservation Office Review: In accordance with Minnesota Statutes g471.193, the Minnesota Historical Society will be sent a copy of this report for review and comment before the nomination is heard by the ~arhungtbn,Cit~ Council. , Classification: For preservation planning purpose~,the property is conside,red a historic site. ; \' '; 11 'd Historic and Current Function/Use: HistoricalIy, ,the sit~ ~~ u~d as a cemetery. It currently functions as open space. " DESCRIPTION '/' , Site Classification: Abandont1d rural cemetery. , , , , Boundaries: The boundaries of the heritage landmark are those of the parcel historically associated with the cemetery. Narrative Description: / ' The historic cemetery is situated on the summit of low, wooded hill (elev. 956 ft. above sea level) near the intersection of Akin Road and Eve's Way, immediately north of the Middle Creek Estates Subdivision. The burial ground encompasses a rectangular shaped parcel measuring approximately 264 by 165 ft. and oriented east-west. Historically, the site was unplatted but removed from routine farming activities. It was in use until the early twentieth century, when it was abandoned and fell into neglect. It does not appear to have been enclosed with any kind of fence. The traditional nineteenth century graveyard ornamental trees, such as pines or cedars, are absent and there is no evidence of any hedgerows, shrubbery, or grave plantings. Near the center of the historic site there is a small open area with a cluster of stone grave makers and scattered fragments of broken gravestones, The largest of these is a marble tablet inscribed in low relief with the names of Charles Seward, S. Anderson, and Caroline Seward. The other stones and stone fragments lack readable inscriptions. The is evidence of an old trail or lane leading to the cemetery from Akin Road, but at present public access to the site is over a pedestrian trail from the city's Pine Knoll lift station. Information about the persons interred at the cemetery is sketchy. According to the 1881 narrative history of Dakota County, the fIrst burial, that of Ada Bacon, occurred in 1859, and in June, 1868, the plot of land was donated by Samuel Osborne to the Trustees of the Farmington Presbyterian Church for use as a cemetery. Charles Seward's obituary in the March 8, 1901, issue of the Dakota County Tribune, notes that he was 2 ~ ". DAFT buried in the "old cemetery in Judson's Grove." The obituary written for his wife, Jane Osborne Seward, printed in the Tribune on November 13, 1903, states that she was "interred in the Presbyterian cemetery" alongside her husband and two of their children, The cemetery is located on the map of Farmington published in 1896 but it does not appear on any modem topographical or street map. Local genealogists have documented at least twenty-four burials, including several members of the Seward and Witherell families, and suggest that the cemetery was no longer used after about 1906. The site is visible as a clearing surrounded by farmland on an aerial photograph flown in 1937 and the cemetery is noted on the Farmington Quadrangle USGS topographic map published in 1974. A grave robber is purported to have disturbed at least one grave in 1980, Except for occasional notice in local newspapers and a brief article in the county historical society's newsletter, the cemetery was largely forgotten until 2001, when Arcon Development and D. R. Horton proposed to build a residential subdivision called Middle Creek Estates on a 40.74 acre parcel west of Akin Road, The abandoned cemetery appeared on the site plan as an unregistered parcel of vacant land adjacent to the north boundary of the subdivision. The Heritage Preservation Commission reviewed the Middle Creek Estates preliminary plat application and on October 18, 2001, recommended that the developer survey the cemetery, stake the boundaries, and fence the site as a condition of plat approval. When the Council approved the preliminary plat on December 17, 2001, a contingency of approval stated that the developer had to "re-survey the cemetery site to ensure no additional markers lie outside the property and to identifY the property comers." EVALUATION Applicable Heritage Landmark Criteria: The Middle Creek Cemetery is eligible for Heritage Landmark designation because of its documented association with specific patterns of events which have made a significant contribution to Farmington history (City Code S2-11-4A), Local Historic Context: The property was evaluated within the local historic context, "Churches and Cemeteries," as delineated in the 1995 historic context study, Area ofSignific~nce: Social history. Period of Significance: 1859 to ca. 1906. Narrative Statement of Significance: The Middle Creek Cemetery is a vernacular landscape site that was used as a burial ground by residents of Farmington between 1859 and ca, 1906. Evaluated within the local historic context "Churches and Cemeteries," it is historically significant for its aSsociation with the First Presbyterian Church (est. 1865) and the broad pattern of nineteenth century cultural values and funerary practices in rural Farmington. The site is distinguishable from its surroundings by the presence of gravestones and shallow depressions in the surface of the ground which are interpreted as graves. Its historic 3 .' - DRAFT function as a cemetery has also influenced the character and composition of surrounding development, both agricultural (1850s through 1960s) and suburban (1970s to the present). , The Middle Creek Cemetery is a representative example of the small buri~l grounds which are scattered across Minnesota's rural landscape. As a cultural relic, the site represents a distinctive folk tradition and helps to tell the stories of the area's earliest settlers and their rural way of life, The rural setting is evocative. of the early period of settlement and the surviving gravemarker is typical.. of the period. Interwoven with the site's landscape history are the lives of the individuals who are buried there. , Heritage landmark designation is only a step in the preservation of the historic site, which should be reclaimed for public use as conservancy open space. The Heritage Preservation Commission has recommended that the burial ground be marked with four freestanding masonry columns or obelisks, set approximately 100 ft. apart. The comers should also be staked. Signs and markers would be helpful in informing visitors of the site's historical significance and natural heritage, It should not be necessary to reset fallen gravestones or replace lost monuments with new markers, though it is recommended that the city remove all fallen tree branches, buckthorn, and other undesirable plant material. Routine pruning of trees and shrubs, weeding, and mowing are the keys to historic site maintenance and the natural beauty of the site could be enhanced through appropriate landscaping, Well maintained site and appropriate interpretation will demonstrate the city's commitment to preserving a respectable environment for public use. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties are the required basis for historic site preservation and rehabilitation work, and the National Park Service has also issued guidelines for the treatment of cultural landscapes which are applicable to historic cemeteries. BIBLIOGRAPHY "The Abandoned Cemetery of Farmington Village." Over the Years vol. 32 (Winter 1992), Agricultural Adjustment Administration. Dakota County, Minnesota, aerial survey photographs, 1937. Borchert Map Library, University of Minnesota, Birnbaum, Charles A., and Christine Capella Peters. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes. Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1996, History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, by Rev, Edward D. Neill, and Outlines of the History of Minnesota, by J Fletcher Williams, Minneapolis: North Star Pub. Co., 1881. 4 DRAFT Pinkney, B. F. Plat Book of Dakota County, Minnesota. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co" 1896, Potter, Elizabeth Walton and Beth M. Boland. Guidelines for Evaluating and Registerif!g Cemeteries and Burial Places. National Register Bulletin 41. Washington: U~. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1992. Sloan, David Charles. The Last Great Necessity: Cemeteries. in American History. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991: V ogel, Robert C. Farmington Historic Context Document: Final Report of the Historic Context Study, 1994-1995. Unpublished report prepared for the,; Farmington Heritage Preservation Commission, July, 1995, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION I, USGS Farmington Quadrangle topographic map. 2. Middle Creek Estates site plan. , 3. Photographs of historic site, 5 i' ~ 968 ' --f" .J" ...el Plt__ -, . .1- lI) ;j9~ ..~~\ / 1;:0\ ',,- / "r)x~ It' ,/ \ II/',,- ,.If -'> ' / " / 9'6 4943OOOm.N. 35 ," / / '. " Gravel Pit' 925 T 114 N /~~ ...'" ~::> eg Il. << i:: XII .* '\:~c~?~,,!. ?!L _ _ oF3~,!i? !o~.er Cl Cl: CD Cl ~ ~ ... o ~ ii: ?OCKJ 5W ~4 000 '86 1 MilE GI[OLOG'C"'~ SUl'IIVEY. AI[STON. VIRGINIA 1993 .89....,E. ! CASTLE ROCK 6 MI, l FARIBAUL T 25 MI. ROAD CLASSI FICATION ~L MAP ACCURACY STANDARDS OLOGICAL SURVEY 1 RESTON, VIRGINIA 22092 Revisions shown in purple and woodland compiled in cooperation with ,NO SYMBOLS IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST State of Minnesota agencies from aerial photographs taken 1990 and other sources, Contours not revised, This information not field checked, Map edited 1993 Purple tint indicates extension of urban areas Ec QUADRANGLE LOCATION Primary highway, hard surface. Secondary highway, hard surface ' o Interstate Route Light-duty road, hard or improved surface '1> .....'1,. "'..0 ~"""O<-'<:) \S'~~ '000 5000 6000 . 7000 FEET 1 ~llOME~t~E ~) II If ,;/ ~, t'" VAL 10 FEET 'T 5.FOOT CONTOURS "GAL DATUM OF 1929 Unimproved road ""'.." o U. S, Route 0 State Route FARMINGTON, MINN, NW/<4 FARMINGTON IS' QUADRANGLE 44093-F2-TF-024 1974 REVISED 1993 DMA 7373 II NW . SERIES V872 .*.. I' un n tlUIlI :~t: ;1 !!H ;IJ H"m I ~ ! lB} J!~ Halll I'. h tlrln! JUt'ill It II HI'1I111 P I r! 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J ~ .. ., " ~ ~ ! ~-oo L____ - ::::0 0 Zrrlr G)rrrl -I~o 0- zZ::::O v )> rrl :::>",,::::Orrl ~-<^ Z z-orrl rrlr(/) tf))>-I oz)> -1(/)-1 )> U1 :-J?l!J':I"!--'t-J;-- O"U"U"UfTI"U(") VI fTI;o;o;o~;oo I ~~~~~~;i'i ~ F3:3:3:z3:;o --i VlZZZClZVI ~~~8~Ri ~ -<-<-<z-<~ Q rcClO"U ~::!~::i~1 OCOO--iVl ~~zB5 ~ >"UCl ~~~ ~ "Uz> z ~ z z MIDDLE CREEK ESTATES DRAFT MVC-001F.JPG 2002/05/16 18:25:06 DRAFT MVC-010F.JPG 2002/05/16 18:56:36 ; DRAFT MVC-003F.JPG 2002/05/16 18:25:44 Proposed Amendments Section 10-2-1: Definitions (add) Bed and Breakfast: means an owner occupied historically designated residential structure used as a lodging establishment where a guestroom or guestrooms are rented on a nightly basis and in which only breakfast is included as part of the basic compensation. Bed and Breakfast Unit: A room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking or eating purposes. Section 10-5-6: R-1 Low Density Residential District Conditional Use (add) Bed and Breakfast Section 10-5-7: R-2 Low/Medium Density Residential District Conditional Use (add) Bed and Breakfast Section 10-5-11: R-T Downtown Transitional Mixed Use District Conditional Use (add) Bed and Breakfast Section 10-5-12: R-D Downtown Residential District Conditional Use (add) Bed and Breakfast (Add) 10-6-23: Bed and Breakfast Standards: (A) Intent and Purpose: The City recognizes that bed and breakfasts are an asset to the community and help the preservation of historic homes because the expense of owning and maintaining historic homes has made them less suitable for single- family dwellings. Conversion of historic houses into multifamily uses is usually determined by the neighborhood where it is located. It is therefore the intention of the city to limit bed and breakfast uses to those homes where the use would benefit the surrounding area by allowing appropriate adaptive reuse of historic dwellings. Bed and breakfasts are allowed by a conditional use permit, subject to the conditions provided under 10-3-5 and the following conditions in the R-1, R- 2, R- T and R-D zoning districts as regulated in this section, subject to the conditions outlined in section B. (B) Bed and Breakfast Standards: 1. The home is listed on the National Historic Register, designated on the City's list as a Farmington Heritage Landmark or identified as a historically significant property by the Heritage Preservation Commission. 2. The bed and breakfast residence must be owner occupied. 3. At least two off-street parking spaces must be provided onsite for the owner or manager and one additional parking space per rental unit. Parking spaces shall be hard surfaced with concrete or asphalt and shall be well-drained, stripped, and numbered. 4. The dining facilities must not be open to the public and must be used exclusively by the registered guests unless allowed as a separate permitted or special use. 5, Bed and breakfast uses must be located at least 300 feet apart (approximately one block). 6. An identification sign not exceeding four square feet may be located on the site. The sign must match the architectural features of the structure. The sign may be located on the house or five feet from the property line. The sign may not be illuminated. 7. A maximum of five bed and breakfast units may be established in a structure and at least one original bedroom must be reserved by the homeowner(s). 8. The owner of the bed and breakfast shall maintain a guest register showing the name, address, motor vehicle license number, and inclusive dates of visits of all guests. No guest shall be permitted to rent accommodations or remain in occupancy for a period in excess of fourteen (14) calendar days during any consecutive ninety day (90) day period. 9. The structure and performance of the operation of the bed and breakfast and residence shall comply with all local, county, and state regulations. 10, The Planning Commission may modify standards or require additional standards which are site specific in order to assure the compatibility of the bed and breakfast activities with the neighborhood in which it is located. 11, The Planning Commission reserves the right to review the conditional use permit annually and either continue or modify the conditions of the permit. (Andrea Poehler, City Attorney, recommended that the City cannot, on its own initiative, modify CUPs that have already been granted, If the City wants to I r impose certain conditions on such facilities and review them annually, it should license B & B 's and have licenses renewed annually). 12. The Planning Commission reserves the right to terminate the conditional use permit any time the owner fails to adhere to the standards or conditions established by this Section or contained in the conditional use permit. Other recommendations from the City Attorney to consider: ~ The facility shall have a state license for hotel and food, and comply with building and fire codes as may be required or applicable, ~ Must meet a certain minimum square footage, or comply with minimum lot size for district, ~ All rental units must be established within the principal structure. ~ Compliance with applicable screening and landscaping requirements,