EAU CLAIRE
LANDMARKS COMMISSION

Meeting of April 4, 2011

Members Present: Jenny Ebert, Barbara Lozar, Katrinka Bourne, David Klinkhammer, Patrick Kurtenbach, Karen Nusbaum

Members Absent:    Carrie Ronnander

Minutes.    The minutes of the March 14, 2011 meeting were approved as written.

The meeting was chaired by Jenny Ebert.

1. Consideration of an Application for Certificate of Appropriateness for 616 Graham Avenue.

Pat Ivory provided an overview of an application for Certificate of Appropriateness to construct an addition to the southeast corner of 616 Graham Avenue (Masonic Temple) for an elevator (lift).  The addition would provide handicapped accessibility to their Learning Center, which is located on a lower mezzanine level of the building.  The Commission reviewed preliminary plans for the project on July 12, 2010.  The building is on the National Register of Historic Places as well as being a local landmark property. 

Pat noted that this entrance serves as the primary entrance for the building.  The addition would have a stone veneer to match the 1960s addition located to the west.  Windows would replicate those on the south and east side of the main portion of the building. At the July meeting, the Commission gave preliminary approval of the plans, but indicated that the proposed setback of the addition of 1.5 feet back from the façade of the main portion of the building should be increased by one foot if feasible. 

The plans show a setback of 1.5 feet, but representatives of the project have determined that there is room to add an additional one foot to the setback to make it a total of 2.5 feet.  This is noted on the plan.  No landscape plans were included with the submittal.

Mr. Randy Ellifson, representing the Masonic Temple, was present at the meeting speaking in support of the application.  Mr. Ellifson discussed the proposed addition and its importance to provide handicapped accessibility to the mezzanine level of the building.

The Commission discussed the plans and questioned how the area around the addition would be landscaped and designed.  They noted that the preliminary submittal showed extensive landscaping with a walkway extending to Graham Avenue.  Mr. Ellifson indicated that the plans for the landscaping and exterior site layout were still being prepared and that the preliminary site layout presented to the Commission in July was only conceptual.

ACTION TAKEN:  Katrinka Bourne moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness with the 2.5’ setback from the primary façade of the main building and that a landscaping plan and a site plan for the exterior of the addition be submitted for approval from the Commission.  David Klinkhammer seconded the motion.  All votes were in favor.  Motion carried.

2. Review and Discussion of Commission Mission Statement.

The Commission continued their discussion on the wording of the mission statement for the Commission.  Several changes were suggested and Jenny Ebert stated that she would incorporate the changes into a revised mission statement for discussion at the April meeting of the Commission.

3. Review and Discussion of Historic Preservation Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan.

The Commission reviewed the draft wording to update policy #7 on page 6 of the Historic Preservation Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan relating to the status of the opted-out properties.  At the March meeting of the Commission, the Commission directed staff to draft a stronger narrative pertaining to the need to reinstate the opted-out properties to comply with provisions of the Wisconsin Historical Society and the goals of the Historic Preservation Chapter.  Several wording changes were suggested.

ACTION TAKEN:  Katrinka Bourne moved that the Commission approve the revised policy statement with the changes noted by the Commission.  Karen Nusbaum seconded the motion.  All votes were in favor.  Motion carried.

4. Discussion of Third Ward Landmark District Report to the City Manager.

The Commission reviewed and discussed the draft report to the City Manager summarizing the findings of the Commission relating to the questionnaire, public meeting, and research completed by the Commission relating to the Third Ward Historic District.  This report will be forwarded to the City Manager’s office.  He will in turn forward it to the members of the City Council in one of their informational packets. 

The Commission stated that part B under the “Review of Landmarks Ordinance” should be revised to include a time period where properties are reinstated back into the district if not sold.  They suggested that the time period should be set somewhere between 5 to 10 years. 

The Commission also discussed the section relating to property values.  Jenny Ebert stated that she felt that it may be beneficial to add some specific numbers documenting that property sale values in the Third Ward have been stable.  Other Commissioners questioned whether this was necessary.  Jenny indicated that she would do some research on sales in the district and report back to the Commission in May.
David Klinkhammer noted that he felt that the report was well written.

5. Update on Landmark Activities and Properties.

A.  Preservation Month Project.  The Commission discussed possible projects for Preservation Month.  Projects discussed included: a clean-up project of a Downtown historic site in conjunction with the Downtown spring clean-up, assisting in the Bike to Work week bicycle ride featuring historic sites, selling pie and ice cream at one of the City Band concerts, and expanding upon the presentation at the Chippewa Valley Museum on researching the history of properties.  The Commission decided to pursue the pie and ice cream social at one of the City Band concerts at Owen Park.

B. Update from the Eau Claire Historic Preservation Foundation.  Pat Kurtenbach provided an update of Foundation activities, which included their annual meeting on April 11th, and home tour on May 14th. 
 
C. Chippewa Valley Museum Cultural Vision of Eau Claire County.  Barbara Lozar provided an overview of the meeting that was held on March 29th to develop a cultural vision of Eau Claire County. 

D. Commission Membership – David Klinkhammer.  David Klinkhammer informed the Commission that his term as City Council representative for the Commission would be ending. Commission members thanked him for his work on Commission projects and his valuable input on Commission issues. 

There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m.  

Submitted by,

Patrick Kurtenbach, Secretary