Heritage Preservation Commission

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
Heritage Preservation Committee 2021


Meeting Schedule

First Wednesday of each month
6:00 p.m.

2022 Meeting Schedule & Submission Deadlines

Special meetings are occasionally called.

HPC meeting

12-07-2022 HPC Agenda Packet

Assistance


Hearing Assistance Available

In the Council Chambers, an induction loop system is provided for hearing device users. To use, turn your hearing device to the "T" setting or request a loop receiver.

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 12:00 p.m. (noon) 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 $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.

Sign Permit Application (Historic District)

Sign Checklist for Wall and Projecting Signs

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

NameTitleTerm expiration
Cliff Clark
Member
December 31, 2023
Barbara Evans
ChairDecember 31, 2024
Baird Jarman
Member
December 31, 2023
Michael MeehanVice-ChairDecember 31, 2025
Robert StanglerMemberDecember 31, 2024
Jesse SteedMemberDecember 31, 2024
Alice Thomas
Member
December 31, 2022
VacantYouth Representative (non-voting member)
2022-2023 school year
VacantYouth Representative (non-voting member)2022-2023 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.

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.

NameTitlePhone number
Revee NeedhamAssistant City Planner507-645-3041
Mikayla SchmidtCity Planner507-645-3059
Kari BondeAdministrative Associate507-645-3036

Overview

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.


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

Certificate of Appropriateness 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

2021 accomplishments

  • Reviewed multiple applications for exterior alterations within the downtown historic district including 11 sign permits and 8 certificate of appropriateness applications
  • Designated the Northfield Depot as a local heritage preservation site
  • Continued to make progress on our strategic plan including:
    • Creating a wall sign checklist for applicants to better understand the regulations
  • 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
    • Offering comments on the proposed changes to Bridge Square
    • Reviewing drafts of the Arts & Culture Commission's Mural Policy
    • Monitoring other city board activities 

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 board, commission or task force.

    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