Heritage Preservation Commission

Meetings

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

HPC meeting

Thursday, July 8, 2021 Agenda Packet

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.

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

City Meeting Archives Opens in new window
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

Name Title Term expiration
Alice Thomas
 Member December 31, 2022
Michael Meehan
 Member December 31, 2022
Barbara Evans
 Chair December 31, 2021
Cliff Clark Member December 31, 2023
Jason Menard
 Vice Chair December 31, 2021
Jan Gilblom Member December 31, 2021
Baird Jarman Member December 31, 2023
Anna Neseth Youth Representative (voting member)
 2021-2022 school year
Jackson Hessian Youth Representative (non-voting member) 2021-2022 school year

Liaisons

Name Title Phone number
Mikayla Schmidt City Planner 507-645-3059
Kari Bonde Administrative Associate 507-645-3036

Heritage Preservation Site Designation

Northfield Depot

Save the Northfield Depot has submitted an application to designate the Northfield Depot building as a heritage preservation site. Below are the supporting documents for the application. 

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

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 36, 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. 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