HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-02-1992Minutes of the Meeting of April Z, 1992
1. Roll
The Meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chairman Simacek.
Present: Commissioners Coutu, Fuchs, Malm, Smith, Thorsen,
Goderstad and Simacek.
2. Minutes of Meeting of January 15, 1992
Mr Smith moved and Mr Thorsen seconded approval of minutes as
printed. Motion carried, 3-0.
Consider proposed garage at 409 2nd St. W. (Mairs House)
A building permit for a new garage at this National Register Site
was submitted for review. As Mr and Mrs Coutu own the property,
Commissioner Coutu declared conflict of interest and did not
participate in the discussion and vote, other than to answer
questions by the other commissioners.
After discussion, Mr Malm moved and Mr Smith seconded approval of
the plans with contingencies below. Motion carried, 6-0; one
abstention.
1. The siding will be wood or hardboard lap siding with 4"
exposure as seen on the house. The HPC would prefer cedar lap
siding.
2. Ail windows will be double hung two
prefinished sash. The decorative detail shown
required or expected.
pane, painted or
on the plan is not
3. A decorative fan may be installed on the front gable peak
at the discretion of the owner.
4. The shingles of the garage and the house are to match. This
could mean the house will eventually have to be reshingled to match
the garage.
5. Colors are to be submitted to staff for review before
painting. As for shingles, house colors will have to be coordinated
with the garage.
At 7:00, the Citizens City Hall Committee joined the HPC for review
of Courthouse rennovation plans.
4. Consider proposed changes to former Dakota County Courthouse
The Courthouse was built in 1870-71; the first dome and interior
were removed and rebuilt in 1912. The annex was added in 1955 and
the jail in 1962. The County completed the move to the Government
C@nter b~twee~ 1974 and I9~8. The city purchased the property for
city hall and police department uses in 1990. The Courthouse only
was placed on the National Register in 1977, the annex and the jail
are not considered historically or architecturally significant at
the time.
The city plans the rehabilitation/remodeling of the courthouse as
part of the new city hall. Lindberg-Pierce is the project architect
and Miller-Dunwiddie is their historic consultant, reviewing the
plans for conformance with the Secretary of Interior's standards
for historic rehabilitation. The plans and specifications were not
complete but the concept drawings made the proposed changes clear.
Plans were available at City Hall.
The citizen's Committee were also updated at this meeting. They
worked with the architects for many months. Preserving the historic
character of the property has been one of their major concerns. Mr
Malm and Mr Smith of the HPC are also committee members.
The Mr Pierce described the changes to be made on the Courthouse
building and the proposed changes to the annex, the "link" between
the courthouse and the annex, and the landscaping. Changes to the
exterior of the Courthouse were minor. The major interior change
was removing three existing rooms on the ground floor for a new
council chamber. The landscaping design changed the appearance of
the area a great deal.
Mr Malm asked if the landscape plan could be eliminated or changed
to be less elaborate. The round windows on the tower may have to
become vents for the air handling equipment. This is preferred to
making new holes in the original walls because it is not
irreversible. New windows in the courthouse will be copies of the
originals, and will be factory clad.
After the presentation and questions, Mr Malm moved and Mrs Coutu
seconded approval of the changes described during the meeting, with
the following conditions. Motion carried, 7-0.
1. That the State Historic Preservation Office review the
plans as they are completed.
2. That the colors, fixtures and furnishings of these areas
should reflect what we know of the 1912 remodeling and style of
that period: courtroom, administrators office, mayors office,
library, old board room, rotunda area, north stair case, corridors.
5. Adjournment
Mr Smith moved and Mr Thorsen seconded adjournment. Motion carried,
7-0.