Heritage Preservation Commission

Heritage Preservation Committee 2021

Meetings

Second Thursday of each month
4:00 p.m.

HPC meeting

The HPC Meeting for 1-13-2022 has been canceled. 

01-13-2022 HPC Agenda Packet

01-13-2022 HPC Supplemental Memo No. 1

eComment

The City of Northfield has an electronic comment (eComment) feature for HPC meetings. eComment provides an easy way for residents to add their voices to the process and makes participation in public meetings convenient when it may be difficult to the attend the meeting in person.

Once the agenda is published, the eComment link will be active. Residents can review agenda items details, indicate their position on an item and leave feedback by clicking on the eComment tab on the HPC meeting page:

City of Northfield - HPC

Comments may be submitted until 2:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Archer House

Certificate of Appropriateness Application for the Demolition of the Archer House

On November 12, 2020, the Archer House sustained a fire, which began a series of events that leads to the condition the building is in today.

The Archer House is located in the Northfield Downtown Historic District and is on the National Register. The property owner therefore needs approval to demolish the building by the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) through a certificate of appropriateness application.

The HPC will hold a public hearing on Thursday, October 14 at 4:00pm on the proposed demolition to give the public the opportunity comment on the application. Comments can be submitted online via eComment once the agenda packet is published, comments can be emailed to Mikayla Schmidt, you can call Mikayla Schmidt at 507-645-3059 or send a letter to City Hall, 801 Washington St.

The building is proposed to be demolished with private funds and therefore is not subject to review by the MN State Historic Preservation Office.

Below is documentation submitted by the applicant analyzing the building’s current condition:

Questions or comments? Contact Mikayla Schmidt (507-645-3059)

Downtown Preservation Design Guidelines

The Downtown Preservation Design Guidelines provide information to property owners and the HPC on exterior building improvements and signage in the historic district.

View Downtown Preservation Design Guidelines

Heritage Preservation Sign Regulations

The Downtown Historic District has specific rules for projecting and wall signs. Signs are reviewed by staff and presented to the Heritage Preservation Commission for approval. There is a $50.00 fee to process the application.

Sign Permit Application (Historic District)

Agendas and Minutes

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The City meeting archives contain agendas, minutes, handouts and additional information.

  1. City Meeting Portal Opens in new window
    The City meeting portal allows you to view live streamed meetings and agendas with clickable links.

Members

NameTitleTerm expiration
Cliff Clark
Member
December 31, 2023
Barbara Evans
2021 ChairDecember 31, 2024
Baird Jarman
Member
December 31, 2023
Michael MeehanMemberDecember 31, 2022
Robert StanglerMemberDecember 31, 2024
Jesse SteedMemberDecember 31, 2024
Alice Thomas
Member
December 31, 2022
Jackson Hessian
Youth Representative (non-voting member)
2021-2022 school year
Anna NesethYouth Representative (non-voting member)2021-2022 school year


Liaisons

For general information about the commission, please contact a staff liaison. Also, if you have questions or comments for the commission, contact a staff liaison and they will assist.

NameTitlePhone number
Mikayla SchmidtCity Planner507-645-3059
Kari BondeAdministrative Associate507-645-3036

Overview

Special meetings are occasionally called.

For transaction of business at any meeting, four members constitute a quorum. It is desired that members make every attempt to be present at all meetings.

The City of Northfield Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) seeks to safeguard the heritage of Northfield by preserving sites and structure, which reflect elements of the city’s cultural, social, economic, political, visual, or architectural history. Additional goals of the commission include:

  • Protect and enhance the City of Northfield’s appeal to residents, visitors, and tourists
  • Serve as a support and stimulus to business and industry
  • Foster civic pride in the beauty and notable accomplishments of the past
  • Promote the preservation and continued use of historic sites and structures for the education and general welfare of the people of the City of Northfield

HPC review

Unless otherwise exempted in Section 4.8.3, Exemptions, in the H-O district no zoning certificate or building permit for construction, exterior alteration or rehabilitation, moving, or demolition of a building or structure on a heritage preservation site shall be issued until the project has been submitted to, and received approval of a certificate of appropriateness from the heritage preservation commission.

Certificates of appropriateness shall be subject to the Type 3 review procedure.

Type 3 review procedure (Chapter 34, Sec 8.4.6)

Applicants should consult staff prior to completing the application, as individual projects may have different submittal requirements. All signs in the Downtown Historic District need a certificate of appropriateness from the HPC.

Sign permit for Historic District application

Heritage Preservation in Northfield

One of downtown Northfield’s greatest resources is its unique concentration of historic and architecturally interesting buildings.

Heritage Preservation in Northfield

Projects

Bridge Square Master Planning Project

Northfield Commercial Historic District Survey Revision Project

Membership requirements 

The commission consists of seven members, appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Each member serves a three-year term, and may serve three consecutive terms. Members do not receive monetary compensation.

Applying

  1. You can apply to more than one.

    Apply for a board, commission, or task force

    Applications are also available at:

    City Hall
    801 Washington Street
    Northfield, MN 55057

    Northfield Public Library
    210 Washington Street
    Northfield, MN 55057

2020 accomplishments

  • Took the next steps in getting four new properties through the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office and onto the National Register of Historic Places using grants to fund that work
    • The nomination to the National Register of Historic Places also included an updated nomination or catalog of the properties currently on the National Register
  • Revised our strategic plan to align with state and national preservation standards and wording
    • Complete revision, adding details and deadlines of our strategic plan that will coincide with goals of the City and deadlines to align with City budgets and for grants and other funds available to accomplish HPC tasks moving toward strategic goals, so ideas were aligned and then paired with funding timelines; advancing our plan has been challenging during the pandemic and virtual meetings
  • Worked to expand collaboration with other city and civic groups; we try to collaborate with other boards and commissions where our goals and responsibilities overlap
    • Coordinated with various government entities to repair the wall of the Ames Mill
    • Worked with the Arts Council when needed on specific projects
    • Worked with the EDA on their Façade Improvement Program