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6.0. SR 02-25-2002Item 6. TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM Mayor, City Council and Heritage Preservation Commission Stephen Rohlf, Building and Zoning Administrator February 25, 2002 Joint Meeting Included below are the portions of the Elk River City Code of Ordinances that contain the purpose, powers and duties of the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC). Staff has provided a brief update in italics after each of the powers and duties listed to act as discussion points between the HPC and the City Council. 215.02 - Purpose of Commission The Heritage Preservation Commission is established to review and make recommendation to the City Council on issues pertaining the historical, archeological, engineering and cultural heritage of the City of Elk River. The Commission shall participate in the preservation and acquisition of Elk River's heritage and historical sites. 215.06 - POWERS AND DUTIES The Heritage Preservation Commission shall prepare, hold hearings, and recommend to the City Council such plans, programs, and policies as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this ordinance. Said powers shall include, but are not limited to, the study and recommendation to the City Council on the following: 1. Work for the continuing education of the citizens of Elk River with respect to the historic and architectural heritage of the City. It shall keep current and public a register of designated heritage preservation sites and areas. An understanding ~f a city~s cultural heritage helps t~ instill a sense ~f c~mmunity in its citizens. The first priority of the HPC regarding the goal o~educatin g Elk River's citizens with respect to the historic heritage of the Cizy is to compile a written history of the community. A historic context study, which is currently being conductea~ is the first step towards completing a written history. The Ci~y of Elk River is now a fully "Certified Local Governrnent" (CL G), which makes it eligible for grant money to accomplish this task~ A copy of the letterfrom the US Department of the Interior confirming Elk River's status as a CLG is attached. 2. Conduct a continuing survey of all areas, places, buildings, structures, or similar objects in the City of Elk River which the Commission, on the basis of information available or presented to it, has reason to believe are, or will be, eligible for designation as heritage preservation sites. The work of surveying the City's historical sites has been started by the Sherburne County Historical Society. Additional survey work is being conducted by Carol Zellie,~£o Landsca/~e Research, as ~;art of the "Downtown Redevelopment Study. In an attached le~i'er dated February 20f 2002, Ms. 'Zellie gives an ~pdatdon herprogress. In the future, the HPC will coordinate the surveying of additional areas of the City. 3. Solicit gifts and contributions to be made to the City and to assist in the preparation of applications for grant funds to be made to the City for the purpose of heritage preservation. The most likely source offundingfor this purpose is grant money, which, as previously mentioned, the City is now eligible for. However, the commission will also consider private sources offundingfor special projects, similar to what the Rotary Club is doing to restore the Handke Stadium. An example ora special project is the archeological excavation of the original 1851 sawmill site in the Elk River. A jointproject with the University of Minnesota's Archeology Department has been discussed. 4. Recommend accepting the services on a permanent or part-time basis of technical experts and other such persons as may be required to perform its duties. An example of the HPC performing this duty is when itprepared the request forproposal to hire a consultant forthe context study and historical survey for the Downtown area. 5. Make recommendation that an area, building, district or object be designated a Heritage Preservation Site. Unless in public ownership, it is most likely that a site or building will be considered for designation as a Heritage Preservation Site at the request of the landoun'z~. 7here are certain advantages to such designation. However, the bllK) is vigilant in regards to the loss of potential preservation site and would make recommendation to the Council, if such a loss is proposed. 6. Review and make recommendations relative to requests for Heritage Preservation Site Alteration Permits. So far, this issue has not come up, since there are no sites currently designated as a Heritage Preservation Site. However, each month, the I~C reviews the Planning Commission agenda to discern if there arepotential conflicts with the proposals being considered and the preservation of the City's archeological, cultural or historic sites. In their review, the I-]PC considers the State Historic Preservation O~ce's data, information from the Sherburne County Historical Society, and their own local knowledge of the community. The HPC's recommendations on these issues are incorporated into the Planning Commission's recommendations to the City Council. 7. Recommend making application to the National Register or the Minnesota Historical Society for the designation of a historic site or district. The HPC supported the School Districts successful effort to place the Handke Stadium on the National Register. Additional recommendations for National Register s~atus will be made as sites or buildings are made known to the HPC 8. Make recommendations ort,*the acquisition of sites eligible for designation as a heritage preservation site by gift, negotiation, or eminent domain as provided for in Chapter 117 of Minnesota Statute. The HPC has done a preliminary revie~ of several sites that have historic or cultural significance. One site in particular has a great deal ofhistoric significance and also presents excellent recreational opportunities. Staffhas had preliminary discussions with the property owner who has not ex~essed interest in selling the property at this time, but will considered it in the future. In sensitivity to that proper~y owner, the identity of the site will not be revealed at this meeting. The HPC will continue to review potential sites and make recommendation to the City Council when ~he timing is appropriate. IN REPLY REFI~R TO: H36(2255) United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 DEC 12 200t Dr. Nina M. Archabal Director and State Historic Preservation Officer Milmesota Historical Society 345 Kellogg Boulevard West St. Paul, Minnesota 55102 Dear Dr. Archabal: Thank you for forwarding the documentation concerning the city of Elk River's application for participation in the Certified Local Govermnent (CLG) Program. I have reviewed your submission and am happy to concur in your reconunendation that Elk River be certified under the provisions of Section I 01 (c) of the National Historic Preservation Act. The date of certification will be recorded as the date of this letter. We are providing a copy of this letter to Elk River. If you have any questions, please contact me by phone at (202) 343-6005, by fax at (202) 343-6004 or via e-mail at virginia_freeman~nps.gov. Sincerely, Virginia Freemar~ Virginia Freeman CLG Coordinator CC: Michael Koop, CLG Co~)rdinator Kurt Kragness, CLG Contact L~NDSCAPE RESFARCH 1466 Hythe Street St. Paul, Minnesota 55108 (6Si) 641- 230 February 20,2002 TO: Steven Rohlf Building and Zoning Administrator FROM: Carole Zellile_-,-; RE: Progress on Contexts Study To date we have made good progress on the Elk River historic context study and the Phase I and II evaluation of buildings within the downtown district. Following the meeting with the HPC and HRA on January 17, the following has been completed: Context Study Review of historic maps, photographs, and inventory records and secondary sources. Most of this has been accomplished at MHS and the SHPO office and a visit to Sherburne County Historical Society is pending. Organization of the historic contexts, and a very preliminary first draft in progress. Phase I and II Projects Creation of inventory forms for individual properties, photography of all properties and description of exteriors. Research on properties (in progress). Next steps include significance statements and evaluation of properties. We will be ready to present the findings of the Phase I and II study in early April, as planned. Before any "official" meeting I would like to meet with you and Michelle from Planning to review my recommendations. Although many of the buildings have a current loss of historic integrity because of facade modernizations, there may be a good deal of historic fabric lurking behind. Although none of the buildings appear to be NRHP eligible, new development should address rehabilitation potential. Equally important is the conservation of the features of the historic townsite plan, including the pedestrian-scaled street grid, the once-park, now parking lot, and Main Street's relationship to the river and riverbanks. The mill sites are incorporated into an urban riverfront setting of both ecological and historical significance.