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Downtown Redevelopment Plan Task Force Minutes Page 2 April 9, 2007 ------------------------------------------ Community Development Director Scott Clark asked the presenters to expand on the mechanics of local historic designations. Ms. McDonald answered that not every building within a designated area has to contribute to the designation. Mr. Koop added that building owners in designated areas are not required to preserve their buildings but when they chose to change or improve their buildings, the HPC would have to be involved. Task Force Member Stewart Wilson asked Ms. McDonald to expand on facade easements. Ms. McDonald stated that building owners provide her organization (or whatever organization has a façade easement program) with their easement rights, which discounts the facade improvement costs since the easement constitutes as a donation. Mr. Wilson asked if the easements affect property values. Ms. McDonald was unsure but stated that these types of programs have been around since 1971 and that her organization has offered their program since 1985. Task Force Member Molly Nadeau asked the typical cost of a survey of historic properties. Mr. Koop answered that grants are available but the cost to complete a survey of Elk River’s “greater” downtown would probably be $5,000. Mr. Koop added that since the Elk River HRA funded the Historic Contexts Study back in 2002, the City may have a better chance of obtaining a grant to conduct a survey. Task Force Member Lieser asked if the Elk River HPC would complete local historic designations and be involved in developing preservation guidelines. Mr. Koop said that the HPC would probably hire a consultant to complete the work. Ms. Lieser also asked about the statistics in Mr. Koop’s presentation regarding the relationship between energy cost savings and preservation projects. Mr. Koop responded with an example that new buildings rot faster than old buildings and that may be the reason for the savings. The Task Force had no further questions, so Ms. Kvilvang thanked Mr. Koop and Ms. McDonald for their time. 5. Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) Recommendations to Task Force Task Force Member and HPC Chair Lance Lindberg provided a PowerPoint presentation highlighting a document entitled “Elk River Heritage Preservation Commission Policy Recommendations”, which was distributed to the Task Force in their April 9, 2007 meeting packet. Ms. Kvilvang asked Mr. Lindberg for clarification that the HPC suggests that no changes be made in the redevelopment study area. Mr. Lindberg stated “yes”. 6. Task Force Member Reports Task Force Member and Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Chair Stewart Wilson th summarized the HRA’s discussion at their March 5 regular meeting regarding whether or not the Task Force’s would want to add the “Quinn area” to their redevelopment study area. Chair Wilson said that the HRA prefers that the “Quinn area” be added now instead of later since the Redevelopment Plan has not been completed yet. Community Development Director Scott Clark recommended that the Task Force not add the “Quinn area” since the dynamics of the area do not “fit” with the rest of the study area. Assistant Director of Economic Development added that the study area is already 728 parcels in size and that the Task Force should take that into consideration. MOVED BY TASK FORCE MEMBER DAN TVEITE AND SECONDED BY TASK FORCE MEMBER DANA ANDERSON, THE TASK FORCE AGREED TO ADD THE “QUINN AREA” TO THE REDEVELOPMENT STUDY AREA. THE MOTION CARRIED 11–1. TASK FORCE MEMBER DAVE RYMANOWSKI OPPOSED.