HPC Meeting Date: February 7, 2024
To: Members of the Heritage Preservation Commission
From: Mikayla Schmidt, City Planner
Title
Bridge Square Design and Plans Update.
Body
Action Requested:
No action is requested from the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) at this time.
Summary Report:
The MN State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) sent back positive comments (see attached) on the 60% plans, stating:
Based on our review of the submitted documentation, we are pleased to see that the design has been refined in response to comments received from our office, the Northfield Heritage Preservation Commission, and Northfield community members. In our opinion, the current design is much more compatible with the forms of both Riverside Park and Bridge Square, and we have determined that the project, as currently proposed in the 60% construction documents, has been designed in accordance with the SOI Standards. We look forward to reviewing the 90% construction documents when they become available.
Staff and 106 Group are working with SHPO to clarify their concerns about Archaeological Resources. Specifically, SHPO is recommending additional investigation, but it is unclear if a Phase II evaluation or archaeological monitoring would meet their recommendation. Staff missed attaching the October 2023 Phase I Archaeology Report for the Bridge Sq. project, which may explain SHPOs initial comments on 106 Group's deliverables. City staff and 106 Group are working to clarify this with SHPO and have sent them the current Phase I report.
Staff will update the HPC again when we have more comments back from SHPO.
*Same staff report from Dec. 6, 2023*
The City Council approved the final concept plan for Bridge Square on June 21, 2022 and hired Damon Farber to lead the design of the Bridge Square Improvements. Damon Farber and their team below, are about 60% complete and staff wanted to provide the HPC with an update on the project. The City Council received an upda...
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