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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHist Pres Minutes 05-17-2005CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION MAY 17, 2005 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of theAdvisory Committee on Historic Preservation was duly held at City Hall 7516 – 80th Street South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on the 17th day of May 2005. Vice Chair Frances Ratzlaff called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Frances Ratzlaff, Glen Brown, Aaron Rolloff, Mickey McBride, Herb Japs, Nannette LaChapelle MEMBERS ABSENT: Beverly Gross OTHERS PRESENT: Senior Planner John M. Burbank Council Member Myron Bailey Community Development Director Howard Blin APPROVAL OF AGENDA Approved as Submitted. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Brown moved to approve the minutes of February 15, 2005 as mailed, Ratzlaff seconded the Motion, Motion carried unanimously. OPEN FORUM None OLD BUSINESS East Ravine Update Blin gave an update on the East Ravine planning Process. He identified that the plan calls for realigning Military Road (County Road 20) from the current route to an alignment that would follow Jamaica Avenue and 70th Street. Blin stated that the realignment is being planned for two reasons. First, the current alignment bisects the Neighborhood 1 area of the East Ravine. When considered together with Jamaica Avenue, 70th Street, and the future Ravine Parkway, this provides more arterial roadways than are necessary to meet the traffic demand of the area. He stated further that the diagonal route of Military Road would also detract from the future design of Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation Minutes May 17, 2005 Page 2 of 4 residential neighborhoods in the Neighborhood 1 area, and that a county road running through the center of the area would not only create negative impacts from high speed traffic, but will also require greater setbacks for homes to mitigate some of these impacts. Blin stated that the second reason for the realignment involves the existing substandard intersection of Military Road and Keats Avenue (CR 19), and that transportation plans have shown the best means to address this problem has been to eliminate the Military Road intersection and realign CR 20 along 70th Street. Ratzlaff questioned the proposed realignment, and that in addition to the aspects of the removal of the historic alignment of old Military Road, the concerns also include the removal of a direct route from Keats Avenue to the northwest. Blin indicated that Military Road has been realigned between Point Douglas and Cottage Grove many times over the years, and that to preserve the historic alignment, the East Ravine Master Plan calls for creating a trail corridor along Military Road that would be designed to replicate the original wagon trail and include historical markers to describe the history of Military Road and recognize the historic nature of the corridor. Ratzlaff reiterated her concern about the realignment of Military Road, and that people were not aware of the plan, especially in and around old Cottage Grove. Blin indicated that a neighborhood meeting would be scheduled for the residents of Old Cottage Grove. Brown questioned the recent county improvements to the road. Japs questioned if traffic circles would be an option. Rolloff questioned the intersection spacing and future designs. There was additional general discussion about Military Road and how the plan should take the roadway’s history into consideration in the final design, and that alternatives should be explored. As a result of the discussion, the committee expressed the following recommendations to the City Council. 1. Military Road should be preserved in its historic route. 2. Realignment is not preservation. 3. None of the reasons heard for eliminating any portion of Military Road have persuaded the ACHP. 4. Strongly explore the option of utilizing a roundabout intersection to solve traffic engineering deficiencies of the current intersections. 5. Maintain Military Road as a continuous historic arterial roadway. Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation Minutes May 17, 2005 Page 3 of 4 6. A segmented roadway is not the same as a continuous traveled roadway. 7. Explore the use of a right in/right out intersection at the intersection of Military Road and Keats Avenue, if it is not a full intersection. 8. Explore the use of historic themed road names in the East Ravine, with input from the ACHP and other City commissions. 9. Protect Cedarhurst and associated buildings, and have surrounding development be sensitive to the historic nature of the buildings. 10. In the Cedarhurst district, utilize themed lights, landscaping, and other architectural features that are reflective of the existing historic features, but not a direct copy. 11. Recognize other older structures in the East Ravine during the development process; document them at a minimum and preserve them when feasible. 12. Protect historic vegetative landscapes/bedrock knobs and other prominent glacial features. 13. Complete a Phase I archeological study of all areas of the East Ravine that will be impacted by development. 14. Explore ground water tower design options as a part of preserving view sheds. 15. Utilize trees such as oaks, black hickory, and other species historically found in Cottage Grove as a part of new planting schemes. 16. Hold an East Ravine informational meeting with residents of old Cottage Grove. 17. New development in the East Ravine should be transitional and sensitive to Old Cottage Grove. 18. Old Cottage Grove should be a historic, commercial, and social central focal point of future development areas to the east of the East Ravine Planning District. 19. The ACHP should provide input during the development process of the East Ravine. 20. Future plans like the East Ravine should involve the ACHP early on. Brown moved the recommendations, Rolloff seconded the motion, Motion carried unanimously. Preservationists of the year Burbank explained that at the last committee meeting, that the committee had discussed awarding the historic preservationist award to both nominees, but that there was not a quorum. There was unanimous consensus of the Committee to recommend that the Council award two preservationists of the year. The first is Dan and Patricia Hackl for their recent siding and roof work on 7405 Lamar Avenue, which is the Historic Steen house. The second award would go to E. Katie Holm for her historic research and photography of the Atkinson cemetery. Historic Playing Cards The ACHP began work on identifying subject material for the historic playing card project. After a productive discussion, the item was continued. NEW BUSINESS Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation Minutes May 17, 2005 Page 4 of 4 Given the absence of the chair, and the time of the evening Burbank summarized the new business items, and recommended that they be addressed on another date. COUNCIL COMMENTS None COMMISSION COMMENTS Japs discussed commission liaisons. STAFF COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn was made by Japs and seconded by Brown. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.