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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Historic Preservation Commission - 9/8/2008 APPROVED MINUTES ORO VALLEY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION REGULAR SESSION September 8, 2008 ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 11000 N. LA CANADA DRIVE I. Call to Order: at or after 5:00 p.m. II. Roll Call. PRESENT: Chair Bob Baughman Vice Chair Dan Zwiener Commissioner Pat Spoerl Commissioner Patrick Foley Commissioner Valerie Pullara Commissioner Lois Nagy Also present: Salette Latas, Council Member Bill Adler, Planning & Zoning Commissioner Scott Nelson, Special Projects Coordinator Diane Chapman, Senior Office Specialist III. Call to the Audience. Opened and closed with no speakers. IV. Approval of August 11, 2008, minutes. Chair Baughman stated that in reviewing the minutes, the description of Mr. Garrison's presentation needed some clarification. He would like to defer approval of the minutes to the next meeting. Commissioner Spoerl will work with Ms. Chapman on wording. MOTION: Vice Chair Zwiener MOVED to delay approval of the August 11, 2008, minutes to the next meeting. Commissioner Pullara seconded the motion. Motion carried, 6:0. V. Discussion and possible action regarding the Oro Valley Historical Society presentation for a historical garden at Steam Pump Ranch. Commissioner Spoerl said the Steam Pump Master Plan outlined a pre-opening phase to last from 2009 to 2012, which includes limited public access to the site for guided tours and other specific activities. One activity is a historic garden project proposed by the Oro Valley Historical Society (OVHS). Commissioner Spoerl introduced Joyce Rychener, who developed the idea and who is a member of the OVHS on the Education Committee. The board has approved the proposal that Ms. Rychener developed and it has been reviewed on the grounds several times with Scott Nelson. We are in the process of attempting to secure funding for materials and soil preparation for the historic gardens. They have met with Karn Boyce with the Water Utility Department about grant September 8, 2008 Approved Historic Preservation Commission meeting minutes possibilities for water conservation and harvesting. The Town and the Commission have not yet developed specific review and approval procedures related to Steam Pump Ranch. The purpose of this evening's presentation is for information and to receive comments. Ms. Rychener said in order to get public interest in this project, suggested the idea of starting historic gardens. They are proposing to create gardens from the Arizona territorial period, 1834-1912, using researched plot plans and heirloom seeds typical of that period, and also to recreate demonstration gardens similar to those of Native American tribes of the Steam Pump Ranch vicinity. Ms. Rychener showed slides of proposed garden locations. The gardens would provide a place for students to come and learn about planting heirloom seeds, transplanting, water harvesting and other related items. The garden would have a 30 x 60 foot chain link and steel post fence possibly with mesquite branches woven in the chain link. Gates would be willow arch gates. The garden would be seasonal. Steps to begin: conduct soil analysis and correct any deficiencies, turn soil, add compost, mark out plots, install drip or other irrigation, construct rainwater harvesting system, and plant appropriate researched heirloom seeds. That would be followed by maintaining the garden, educating the community, distributing the harvest, and repeating the process in spring, summer and fall. A core of volunteers will help maintain the gardens. Estimated cost: $3,000 for each garden. List of possible resources: Native Seed Search, AZ Sonoran Desert Museum, Arbico Organics, Tohono Chul Park, AZ Historical Society, AZ State Museum, San Xavier Cooperative Farms, Father Kino Tree Project, AAA Landscaping, Tucson Audubon Society, and Seed Savers Exchange Questions and comments: - What about signage? Response: It will be well signed and educational. - Drip irrigation seems inappropriate for the time frame. Response: Drip from harvested water may be the only practical way to water. - Could fencing be more appropriate for the time period? Response: May weave mesquite or willow branches in to make it look more authentic. They will need something to keep the animals out. They are still researching fences. - If too many modern things are used, you are only growing heirloom produce; it is not really historical. - One of the challenges planning this is historically there is very little information. - Steam pump may have been used to help with irrigation. - Find out when cellar was built. It may have been used to store seeds. - Do a program for saving heirloom seeds and keeping them pure. Signage should be self-educating. - Consider temporary fences that can go up at night and down during the day. 2 September 8, 2008 Approved Historic Preservation Commission meeting minutes Mr. Nelson said there are still safety issues at the ranch. A temporary way of protecting the gardens needs to be considered if this starts soon. Vice Chair Zwiener voiced that he would like to continue working with Ms. Rychener on this project. Mr. Nelson asked if the Commission was endorsing the gardens. Chair Baughman said the purpose of this is for information. There is a lot of research and decisions that need to be made before this begins. Commissioner Spoerl said the intent in developing this was to have a means for people to see Steam Pump Ranch in the next year or two before the official opening, once the Town considers it safe. The Master Plan does reference a garden and includes a large area for crops. Purpose now is to get started so small groups of children can come out. They would like to start with a spring garden, so the work would have to start in the next couple of months. This should not have an impact on our nomination to the National Registrar. Commissioner Latas said she would have to defer to the legal council, but did not perceive any objections to this. This has always been an anticipated use to the property. HPC has no authority now, but endorsement may be okay. Mr. Nelson agreed there was little or no harm in endorsing. Before the next meeting we can research and see if it needs to go to Council. Break from 5:55 to 6:05 p.m. VI. Discussion and possible action regarding Steam Pump Ranch. HPC decided at the last meeting to consider Steam Pump Ranch for the Centennial project. Commissioner Nagy volunteered to give a presentation of whether SPR would fit in the criteria for the Centennial project. Mr. Nelson reported that the fireplace and chimney on the second floor collapsed in the last storm. Emergency stabilization has been completed and the walls protected. Rainwater has been channeled away from that wall. This will qualify for emergency stabilization funds from the 2004 bonds. The structural engineer and consultant have been out to the Ranch. Next week will work to put together the construction docs which SHPO will need to review prior to repairing the wall. There is around $90,000 bond funding left. VII. Discussion and possible action regarding HPC Work Plan. a. CLG Application Mr. Nelson reported there has not been any correspondence from Mr. Garrison regarding the CLG application since he was at the last HPC meeting. 3 September 8, 2008 Approved Historic Preservation Commission meeting minutes Vice Chair Zwiener recommended staff contact Mr. Garrison on this item. Commissioner Spoerl suggested not making contact yet as it has not been 30 days. b. Cultural Resource Inventory Plan - Commissioners Spoerl and Nagy Mr. Nelson said we are at the point of putting together an RFP to see what firm might be able to conduct a survey for the Town. He will check with SHPO to see if they already have a form to use and will keep Commissioners Spoerl and Nagy information of his progress. c. Budget - Chair Baughman and Vice Chair Zwiener d. Community Outreach - Commissioner Pullara Commissioner Pullara will look at how to develop ways the Commission can become better known to the community. e. Process Plan for Historic Designation - Chair Baughman f. Role of the HPC Salette Latas, Council Member, worked on this when she was on the HPC. There is a section in the ordinance regarding this and it is evolving all the time. MOTION: Commissioner Nagy MOVED to remove the role of the Historic Preservation Commission from the work plan. Commissioner Spoerl seconded the motion. Motion carried, 6:0. g. Training Commissioner Foley volunteered to work with Mr. Nelson to identify training opportunities and scheduling. h. Santa Cruz Heritage Alliance Commissioner Latas has indicated a willingness to continue as a liaison, and a member of the Commission should also be in that capacity. Commissioner Pullara volunteered to work with the Santa Cruz Heritage Alliance. MOTION: Commissioner Foley MOVED to approve Commissioner Pullara as the government liaison to the Santa Cruz Heritage Alliance. Commissioner Nagy seconded the motion. Motion carried, 6:0. VIII. Discussion and possible action regarding National Alliance of Historic Commissions. 4 September 8, 2008 Approved Historic Preservation Commission meeting minutes Scott Nelson will see about getting a contact person changed from Pamela Pelletier to a Commissioner. Commissioner Spoerl suggested membership needs a password to be able to access the online data base. Mr. Nelson would be the logical contact person. IX. Announcements. There were no announcements. X. Items for future agendas. - Implementation of Honey Bee Village Preserve Concept Plan. XI. Adjourn. MOTION: Vice Chair Zwiener MOVED to adjourn the HPC meeting. Commissioner Spoerl seconded the motion. Motion carried, 6:0. Meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m. Prepared by: Diane Chapman Senior Office Specialist • 5