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Heritage Preservation Commission
Meeting day, time and location
First Wednesday of each month
6:00 p.m.
2023 Meeting Schedule and Applicant Submission Deadlines
Special meetings are occasionally called.
City Hall, Council Chambers
801 Washington Street
Northfield, MN 55057
Agendas and minutes
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:
Comments may be submitted until noon on the day of the meeting.
Members
Name | Title | Term expiration |
---|---|---|
Sean Allen | Member | December 31, 2025 |
Cliff Clark | Member | December 31, 2023 |
Barbara Evans | Chair | December 31, 2024 |
Baird Jarman | Member | December 31, 2023 |
Michael Meehan | Vice-Chair | December 31, 2025 |
Robert Stangler | Member | December 31, 2024 |
Jesse Steed | Member | December 31, 2024 |
Anna Forbord | Youth Representative (non-voting) | 2023-2024 school year |
Cameron McMillan | Youth Representative (non-voting) | 2023-2024 school year |
Contacting the commission
If you have questions or comments, you can email the commission. Each member will receive your email. When replying to your email, a commission member cannot reply to all members, only to you. This avoids violating the open meeting law.
Please note that emailing the commission is not the same as a public comment. To make a formal public comment, there are several options: attending the meeting, using the eComment feature, emailing, calling, or sending a letter to City Planner Mikayla Schmidt (City of Northfield, 801 Washington Street, Northfield, MN 55057), specifying that the communication is for public comment.
Email the Heritage Preservation Commission
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.
Name | Title | Phone number |
---|---|---|
Mikayla Schmidt | City Planner | 507-645-3059 |
Kari Bonde | Administrative Associate | 507-645-3036 |
Overview
The City of Northfield Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) seeks to safeguard the heritage of Northfield by preserving sites and structures, 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
Membership requirements and commission information
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.
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.
Reviewing projects
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
Certificate of Appropriateness application
Projects
Bridge Square Master Planning Project
Northfield Commercial Historic District Survey Revision Project
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
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 $75.00 fee to process the application. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact staff to discuss a sign application before submitting and before ordering a sign.
Important documents and links
Land Development Code (LDC) Chapter 34
Northfield Commercial Historic District Survey Revision Project (PDF)
Municipal Heritage Preservation Statute 471.193 (PDF)
Preservation Specialists Directory
Commission documents
Board and Commission Rules of Business and Meeting Rules
Heritage Preservation Action Plan 2022