Committee Minutes
Meeting Minutes
April 14, 2009
7:00 p.m.
City Hall A101
Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Sharon Bures, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger,
Ted Jelliff, Melinda Leach, Cory Lien, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater
Others: Peg O’Leary
Gunderson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.; a quorum was present.
Motion:
to approve the minutes of the March 24, 2009, meeting as presented.
(Jelliff, Slater)
Motion carries.
Public Hearing
Gunderson: I declare the Public Hearing on amending the Grand Forks Near Southside Historic District to include 1019 Reeves Drive as a contributing feature is now open. Anyone wishing to comment, please step forward, state your name and address, and present your comments or questions.
No public comment.
Gunderson: Hearing none, the Public Meeting is closed.
Motion:
to forward the Near Southside Historic District amendment, to include 1019 Reeves Drive as a contributing element, to the State Historic Preservation Office for review and comment. (Leach, Jelliff)
Motion carries unanimously.
Infill Housing Committee
– Chuck Flemmer
Flemmer is the Commission representative on the Affordable Infill Housing Committee, which also includes the director of Urban Development and Council Member Kreun. The Committee recently reviewed proposals for nine lots. Three lots received no proposals, presumably because of odd configuration and/or less desirable locations; these will be readvertized. Six lots received multiple proposals. Proposals were reviewed for completeness, design, budget, and track record of proposers. All the proposals are for spec houses and were fairly typical of previous affordable infill housing builds. Flemmer said that reasonable proposals were found for each of the six lots. O’Leary noted that the topic had raised little or no comment at the Committee of the Whole on 9/13/08.
Gunderson noted that foundation work has begun for a large new house at 1502 Belmont Road. Proposals for the Belmont/Chestnut/Walnut Place infill lots are reviewed by an infill committee on which she sits.
Smiley Water Tower
– Gordon Iseminger
Iseminger quoted from Chapter 17, Article 3 of the Grand Forks City Code of 1987 which states, with regard to the Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission, the purpose “…is to promote historic districts and landmarks for the educational, cultural, economic, and general welfare of the public through the preservation, protection and regulation of buildings, sites, monuments, structures, and areas of historic interest or importance within the City of Grand Forks; to safeguard the heritage of the city by preserving and regulating historic landmarks, and districts which reflect elements of its cultural, social, economic, political, and architectural history;…” Iseminger said he believes the water tower reflects an element of Grand Forks history, in that it was put up to support the railroad and its roundhouse. He said he would like the Commission to support the young people, particularly Kyle Beck and other high school students, who are trying to save the tower. He commended them for taking an interest in the history of the city. Gunderson noted that the Commission is on record, at the Sept. 9, 2008, meeting, as supporting the preservation of the tower. Bures said that any contract issued for demolition will have a clause preventing the demo until the Peregrine Falcons leave the nest in the fall.
Motion:
to send a letter of encouragement to the high school students for their efforts to preserve Grand Forks history and to copy the Mayor. (Iseminger, Bures)
Discussion:
Flemmer suggested that the focus of the letter be on the students’ interest in history and willingness to speak out for preservation.
Motion carries.
Chair Report
– Marsha Gunderson
None
Coordinator Report
– Peg O’Leary
UND Nomination – Michelle Dennis is working on revisions. O’Leary will be meeting with Adam Jonasson, GF Engineering, to discuss the map.
Riverside Historic District Plaque – Another proof has been sent to Erie Landmark Company. This should be the last proof necessary.
Calvary Cemetery Board Meeting – O’Leary attended the board meeting earlier this evening. The board members asked several questions but are now comfortable with the nomination of the stone structures within the cemetery.
NTHP Nomination – O’Leary wrote a personal check for the $25 nomination fee.
Motion:
to authorize reimbursement of the $25 nomination fee. (Leach, Slater)
Motion carries.
Meeting adjourned.
8:30 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 28, 2009, room A101, City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Peg O’Leary, Coordinator