[0:00] Reservation

[0:07] Commission meeting to order. >> Roll call, please.

[0:15] » Phillips, >> present.

[0:17] » Place >> present.

[0:18] » And chairperson Snyder >> present.

[0:22] All right, that moves us on to item number three, which is adopting the

[0:25] agenda. Has everyone had a chance to review the agenda for today? Yes.

[0:30] » All right. Would anybody like to make a motion?

[0:32] » I will motion. I will motion to adopt the agenda.

[0:35] » All right. Motion by Commissioner Nagasetti. We get a second.

[0:39] » I will second. >> All right. Seconded by Commissioner

[0:42] Phillips to adopt the agenda. Agenda. All in favor say I.

[0:47] » I. >> I.

[0:48] » And all opposed? Hearing none. The motion carries to move

[0:53] us into item number four, which is visitor presentations. Uh, is there

[0:58] anyone in the audience that would like to present today? Uh, Liz, do we have

[1:01] anyone online? >> No, there's no one.

[1:04] » All right, great. That's going to move us on to item number five, which is

[1:07] approving the previous meeting minutes. Has everybody had a chance to review the

[1:12] minutes is from August 5th, 2025? >> Yes.

[1:16] » Yes. >> All right. Can I get a motion?

[1:19] » I will move to approve the minutes. >> Okay. Motion by Commissioner Phillips.

[1:23] » I can second that. and seconded by Commissioner Nagasetti. All in favor say

[1:28] I. >> I. And any opposed?

[1:33] Great. Hearing none, the motion will carry. And that moves us into item

[1:36] number six, which is the consent agenda. And there are no items on under the

[1:41] consent or action items. So that moves us to number eight, which is discussion

[1:45] items. We have one item under discussion items today, which is our 2026 goals.

[1:50] Liz, could you please introduce this item?

[1:53] » Yes. Thank you. So, I'm going to share my screen just so we can see the goals

[1:57] in front of us that I've drafted. Um, not necessarily

[2:03] the ones you need to act on or officially accept as your 2026 goals,

[2:09] but ones that uh have been previous goals um in other years. So, some of

[2:16] those are carried over, some are uh lingering projects that are out there.

[2:21] Um, so I did list out four different goals uh to maybe have our eyes on for

[2:27] the year of 2026, but also in maybe future years as well. Um the first one

[2:34] um is nomination of three properties that um we

[2:41] had Alyssa Bidwell who was a graduate student from the U of M um research last

[2:47] year and put together nomination forms um basically for properties on the west

[2:52] side of Highway 41 that have been identified by uh the HPC and previous

[2:59] HPC members uh to look into further. Um so kind of the next step in in that

[3:07] process is to locally designate those three properties. Um I will say that

[3:12] much of that um effort really comes from myself or from city staff to move that

[3:18] along. Um but a goal for all of us to shoot for and hopefully accomplish this

[3:26] year um is getting that process started. Um so hopefully we can um get the

[3:33] necessary agencies reviewing that and then in front of you guys to formally uh

[3:40] designate or give that recommendation to our council um who can formally

[3:44] designate those three properties. Um your part will come in um to hold the

[3:52] public hearing when we give that recommendation to city council. So

[3:56] that's a pretty big step in the nomination process. Um and then giving

[4:01] any further comments that we or you guys may have on uh designating those

[4:07] properties if any. Um so that's the first one. I think that one um has been

[4:13] a long-standing one, but I think we've made some progress in the last year just

[4:17] getting that the information put together for those three properties.

[4:22] Um the second goal is kind of goes in hand uh with the first one. um which is

[4:30] doing additional research um for our local designation list and seeing if

[4:35] more properties can be identified and added to that list. Um much of our

[4:41] efforts were on the west side of Highway 41 when we kind of did our walkthroughs

[4:45] and pointing out um homes and buildings that are of importance. Um we haven't

[4:52] done that on the east side of Highway 41. So, I'm hoping maybe this year um

[4:56] once it warms up, we can kind of shift those efforts on the east side and start

[5:02] to add even further um to that local designation list and kind of go through

[5:07] that same process that we did with the other three and seeing if we can get,

[5:12] you know, additional help uh from the U or whatever programs exist out there uh

[5:18] with students and research. Um the third goal is updating

[5:25] um historical documents or um context studies um that pertain to our historic

[5:33] downtown. Uh so we have the historic context study which was done in the

[5:38] early thousands. Um so there are those um studies out there

[5:44] that you know have been helpful um but are due up for updates every so often

[5:51] just to make sure that um with any changes that have occurred within

[5:55] downtown or you know some goals and objectives that have been outlined

[5:59] either in our comprehensive plan um and hopefully an update to our downtown

[6:03] master plan um we'll be able to um kind of reflect that and the documents that

[6:09] kind of shape how we review things here within the HPC.

[6:14] Um, and then the fourth and final one is staying engaged uh with any projects

[6:21] that really have some overlap with HPC's review. Um, so the City Square West

[6:28] project has been kind of a long-standing goal that we've kept on our goal list.

[6:33] Um, since it's right in downtown, it's one of our redevelopment sites, kind of

[6:38] the the final redevelopment site that was identified in our downtown master

[6:43] plan to move forward with. Um, all the other redevelopment projects identified

[6:49] in our downtown master plan have been achieved and constructed.

[6:54] That's the last remaining one. Um, that hopefully will get kicked off

[7:00] soon. It's all pretty dependent on funding being available from

[7:05] legislation. We continue to do bond tours um with those representatives to

[7:12] keep that keep that project in front of them um to hopefully uh be a part of a a

[7:18] future funding bill. Um so that could happen as soon as this year. Um

[7:26] but again it it has been a few years since we received our first funding bill

[7:31] for the project. So we may be waiting a few more years uh following this to get

[7:38] that kicked or started with um with us and everyone who gets involved with

[7:44] that. Uh so those are the ones that I've listed out for 2026. Um, if there's, you

[7:51] know, this isn't a set list, so we can still, you know, make deletions or even

[7:55] additions to this. If you guys feel like there's anything that's missing or you

[7:59] don't really want to prioritize your your time and attention to a certain

[8:03] thing, this is kind of the the time to discuss that and hear any other ideas.

[8:13] Um, I think the to nominate those um, locations, that the houses specifically,

[8:19] I think that's great. I think the the work that was done was really awesome on

[8:23] that. And I think that hearing some of the stories was kind of the coolest part

[8:28] of that whole thing. So, I wonder if there's maybe a way for us to um, do a

[8:32] little bit more work in kind of telling those stories as opposed to just

[8:36] nominating them, but like is there is there an avenue for us to do a little

[8:39] bit more of that? um because I think that was the most interesting part of

[8:43] that whole process is is coming up with those like really nuance specific things

[8:47] that you'd never know if we hadn't done that study. So I think that was really

[8:51] interesting. And then you had mentioned um trying to do something similar again

[8:56] this year. Is that the expectation? Is that the goal? Like do we have any any

[9:01] sort of sense if we'll do that again or if it'll be available?

[9:05] Yeah, right now it's hard to say if we'll have um that same program

[9:10] available. Um I do think what is achievable this year is starting to

[9:17] identify properties in other parts of downtown um to add to that list. um and

[9:24] hope, you know, I'm pretty hopeful that um there is uh interest and um

[9:32] students available that would be able to do that work. It's just kind of aligning

[9:36] the timelines and um uh getting someone on board and kind of going through that

[9:42] process to, you know, kickstart the real tangible research on on those

[9:47] properties. But at least we can take steps to kind of get there and set that

[9:51] up for whoever would be interested in taking it on.

[10:02] » I think all these goals uh look great. For number four, uh the City Square West

[10:07] project. I think that's incredibly exciting just for the city at large. And

[10:10] you know, I want to recognize the city for all of their efforts to date for

[10:14] just preserving the character and the atmosphere of downtown. And I think it's

[10:19] awfully important to continue to maintain that momentum in any new

[10:22] development. So, I'm looking forward to our role as well as the the rest of the

[10:26] organizations involved to continue to kind of help influence that just to

[10:30] preserve the nature and the the architectural and history of Chaska as

[10:35] we think about that really exciting project.

[10:41] U probably one item on that first school that you mentioned a community hearing.

[10:44] So is that at the city council meeting or is that at this meeting that that

[10:48] would be or is that a separate meeting when you'd have like a community hearing

[10:52] for those sites or review process whatever that is

[10:56] » for the three properties? Yeah. >> Um so yeah the public hearing is kind of

[11:01] a formality in our process to designate those properties. So, um that would have

[11:09] to happen at your level at the HPC meeting level. And basically it would um

[11:16] for the three properties it would have kind of a notification radius around

[11:21] each of those properties that are getting nominated within 500 ft I think

[11:25] is our um limit or our radius uh required for designation.

[11:33] Um, so those properties would be informed that a public hearing is going

[11:36] to be held to for you guys to make uh a review and decision on nominating and

[11:43] designating those properties. Um, which would be recommended to council.

[11:48] So at that time, if there's any property owners that are interested in the

[11:52] project or have questions on the project or have concerns with those nominations,

[11:58] that would be their time to make a formal statement.

[12:04] And I know that we had a couple of other properties that were looked at that

[12:08] either didn't meet the requirements or I think there were a few that we had

[12:12] homeowners that weren't interested >> that is that correct? There were a

[12:16] couple that they just weren't interested in purchasing.

[12:18] » Yeah. Yeah. They just didn't feel comfortable moving forward with

[12:22] additional research or >> uh bringing their property to that

[12:26] level. Were there any that like we had pretty complete research on and they

[12:30] just weren't willing or did we kind of stop the the research portion pretty

[12:33] early? >> Yeah, we didn't go down the avenue of

[12:37] research if we were getting that initial push back.

[12:41] » I just didn't know if there was ones that we had done the work on that we

[12:44] could then, you know, go and and have a conversation with them again because I

[12:47] don't want something to be left off, you know, due to that kind of that earlier

[12:52] conversation and maybe they feel differently now. But if we didn't do the

[12:55] research, then it doesn't. >> Yeah. I I think there is that ability to

[13:00] potentially revisit some of those properties that didn't get as much focus

[13:05] on them um in um subsequent years from now to see if

[13:10] property owners are feeling different or maybe it's someone different who's

[13:15] involved now and has interest in in wanting to bring it to that level. So,

[13:20] um, yeah, I I I feel like we still have quite quite a few properties that we

[13:27] just didn't get too far into the process just because we didn't have, you know,

[13:32] the the bandwidth um just from um Alyssa alone and because yes, there hasn't been

[13:40] that interest uh stated from the property owner to continue.

[13:45] » Sure. Any

[13:51] other comments from anyone on the plans goals?

[13:57] » All right. Um, does anyone have any other business that they'd like to

[14:01] discuss? Liz, any other staff updates?

[14:09] » I don't think so. um other than you know not really pertaining to HPC realm but

[14:16] um you know our uh public safety facility is hopefully

[14:22] going to be opening soon. Um they're putting final touches in there. Um they

[14:28] still have to get a a certificate of occupancy. So that's kind of the the

[14:33] biggest thing before our police and fire can move in there. Um and then soon um

[14:40] we will be breaking ground on our new m municipal services building on Creek

[14:45] Road. Um so that's kind of working itself through its through that process

[14:50] too. So, uh, a lot of, uh, changes happening, um, within that realm, which

[14:56] will ultimately, uh, start the process on kind of the

[15:00] next, um, city building, um, kind of a part of that building

[15:06] improvement program that both the public safety facility and MSB building were a

[15:13] part of. The next one on the list would be the library. and um

[15:20] yeah, basically finding the new location and starting the design process for the

[15:24] new library in downtown. And that one um I bring up just because um it is in

[15:29] downtown and so there may be some overlap too of the HBC

[15:34] » having some part in that. >> So,

[15:37] » the public safety building looks great. It's I drove past it yesterday.

[15:42] » It's really It's coming along. Yes, I just visited the inside of that last

[15:47] week with council because they did a a works uh work session there just to get

[15:52] a tour of the facility before it was all kind of occupied and fully built up. And

[15:58] yeah, it's it's got a lot of progress going on in there

[16:02] and it's it's definitely to the point where it's just barely ready. Um just a

[16:08] few more final touches and then it'll be open. And I believe there will be an

[16:12] open house that's going to be open to the public. So, as soon as we know that

[16:16] information, we'll definitely share with you guys as well.

[16:22] » Um, all right. Would anyone like to make a motion to adjurnn?

[16:30] » I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> All right. Motion by Commissioner Pice.

[16:34] » I will second. >> And seconded by Commissioner Phillips.

[16:37] All in favor say I. >> I.

[16:40] And any opposed? All right. Hearing none, this meeting is adjourned at 7:17.

[16:46] 17.

Chaska Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting 3.3.26

Transcript