12-14-2000 HPC MIN MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
• HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2000
•
Members Present: Jeff Gongoll, Kurt Kragness, James Nord, Cindy Olson, and
Bruce Penner
Members Absent: Pat Dwyer and Bud Houlton
Staff Present: Stephen Rohlf and Catherine Mehelich
1. Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the Elk River
Heritage Preservation Commission was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. Consider 12/14/00 Agenda
COMMISSION NORD MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
COMMISSION PENNER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION
CARRIED 4-0.
3. Consider 11/9/00 Minutes
• COMMISSIONER OLSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE 11/9/00 HPC
MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. COMMISSIONER NORD SECONDED THE
MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5 TO 0.
4. Consider Items on Planning Commission 12/27/00 Agenda
The Commission reviewed the items on the 12/27/00 Planning Commission
agenda and felt there were no conflicts or issues regarding the preservation of the
city's heritage, referencing the staff memo from Stephen Rohlf, dated 12/14/00.
5. Consider HRA Downtown Redevelopment Plan
Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic Development for the city, explained
the HRA's proposed Redevelopment Plan to the Commission. The HPC is being
asked to identify places and structures of historic significance in the Downtown
area as part of this plan. The Commission decided that the seven standards in
Section 900.10 (21) (C) of the City of Elk River Code of Ordinances be used to
review the historical significance of the buildings in the Downtown area. The
Commission also identified the need to complete a"Context Study" for Elk River,
identifying historic themes, in order to rank how historically significant
something is. The context study can't be completed by the April 2000 deadline
for getting information into the HRA's study, but the Commission felt it should
• follow in a timely manner; summer or fall of 2000.
6. Discuss Restoration of the Old First National Bank Building
• Cliff Lundberg was present at the meeting for this issue. The Commission
decided that although this would be a good project,the timing to initiate it was
wrong. Other steps, like becoming a Certified Local Government to be eligible
for funding, need to be completed first. This issue was tabled until a future
meeting. The Commission asked Mr. Lundberg to continue coming to the HPC
meetings on a regular basis to act as a liaison between them and the Rivers Edge
Group. Mr. Lundberg indicated that he would do so.
7. Consider Arrow Building Center's Proposal
It was noted that one of the buildings proposed to be torn down may be part of the
livery stable of the Blanchete Hotel. The Commission concluded, that even if the
structure was part of the Blanchete Hotel's livery stable, it had lost its integrity.
The shed was no longer on its original site and had been greatly altered
structurally and therefore, was not of historical significances. It was decided that
more research was needed on the other structures proposed to be razed for this
project and that this issue should be tabled until next month's meeting.
8. Consider City of Elk River's Status as a Certified Local Government(CLG)
All of the information needed for the CLG application has been assembled. Bruce
• Penner will follow up with mailing the application.
9. Discuss Elk River Area Rotary's Plan to Restore the Handke Stadium
Kurt Kragness reported that the School District is supporting the restoration. The
HPC unanimously express the desire to aid the Rotary in having the Handke
Stadium listed as eligible for the National Register. This will make the project
eligible for the State Capital Project Grant-in-Aid Program. Cliff Lundberg was at
the meeting representing the Rivers Edge Group.
10. Prioritize HPC Workload
The Commission decided that priority shall be given to completing a context
study of Elk River identifying historical themes, which is the first step in
compiling a written history of the community. Because of timing, the HPC's
decided that the HRA's Downtown Redevelopment Plan is also a priority. The
commission noted that the context study is needed to accurately give the HRA the
information on significant historical structures in the Downtown area they
requested. The Commission further felt that protecting high priority areas of
historic significance,potentially through public ownership, is also one of their
priorities.
1110
11. Other Business
1111 Jeff Gongoll brought up to the Commission that Wes Hunt was selling his feed
mill on Highway 10. The Commission decided to research the historical
significance of this building and talk about it at their next meeting.
Stephen Rohlf discussed the proposal to raze the single-family home just to the
west of the Hitching Post to build a duplex. The Commission unanimously voted
to recommend that this structure be maintained on its current location. They
referenced Section 900.10 (21) (C) (viii) of the City of Elk River Code of
Ordinances for their finding, which states: "Its unique location or singular
physical characteristics represents an established and familiar visual feature of a
neighborhood, community, or the City of Elk River". The Commission noted that
this house is on its original site and that it is virtually structurally unchanged since
the 1890s when it was first constructed.
12. Discuss Items to be on the January 11 th HPC Agenda
It was the consensus of the group that the following issues be on the January HPC
agenda: HRA Downtown Redevelopment Plan, Arrow Building Center's
proposal, the Rotary's plan to restore the Handke Stadium, and discussion on the
Hunt Feed Mill.
13. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting of the Elk River HPC was adjourned
at 8:52 p.m.
S