2024-12-12 Historic Preservation Commission PacketAgenda
Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission
REGULAR MEETING
BRACKETT ROOM
121 5TH AVE N, CITY HALL - 3RD FLOOR, EDMONDS, WA 98020
DECEMBER 12, 2024, 5:30 PM
REMOTE MEETING INFORMATION:
Remote meeting link: https://edmondswa-
gov.zoom.us/j/87419346600?pwd=YmVIV1JQMjhiMjIrS25pUjY1Wk9BUT09 Meeting ID: 874 1934
6600 Passcode: 629853 This is a Hybrid meeting. The public may attend in -person or on-line. The
physical location of the meeting is at Edmonds City Hall 1215th Avenue N., 3rd floor Brackett Room.
You may call in to meeting:US: +1 253 205 0468 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 408
6380968
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We acknowledge the original inhabitants of this place, the Sdohobsh (Snohomish) people and
their successors the Tulalip Tribes, who since time immemorial have hunted, fished, gathered, and
taken care of these lands. We respect their sovereignty, their right to self-determination, and we
honor their sacred spiritual connection with the land and water.
Flag Salute
Statement: The mission of the Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission is to promote historic
preservation and encourage the owners of historically significant properties to voluntarily add them
to the Edmonds Register of Historic Places in order to raise awareness and appreciation of local
history.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Roll Call
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Previous meeting minutes
3. REQUESTS FROM THE AUDIENCE/COMMENTS
4. NEW BUSINESS
A. Historic Preservation Commission Monthly Meeting
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
6. ACTION ITEMS
7. COMMISSION CHAIR COMMENTS
8. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission Agenda
December 12, 2024
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9. ADJOURNMENT
Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission Agenda
December 12, 2024
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Historic Preservation Commission Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 12/12/2024
Previous meeting minutes
Staff Lead: Rose Haas
Department: Planning & Development
Prepared By: Michelle Martin
Background/History
N/A
Staff Recommendation
Review and approve minutes from November 14th meeting.
Narrative
Draft minutes attached.
Attachments:
HPC 11142024_Draft
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CITY OF EDMONDS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Summary Minutes of Regular Meeting
November 14, 2024
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Vogel called the meeting of the Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission to order at 5:35 p.m.
Commissioners Present
Larry Vogel (Chair)
Sam Spencer (Vice Chair)
Karen Brown
David Preston (Remote)
Tim Raetzloff
Doug Trost
MINUTES:
Staff Present
Rose Hass, City Liaison
Others Present
Michelle Thompson, CLG Coordinator, DAHP (online)
Michelle Dotsch, Council Representative
Steve Johnson, Johnson Oak Leaf Architecture
Jennifer Harris (with ASL interpreter)
Approval of October 9, 2024 HPC Minutes
The October 9, 2024 HPC minutes were approved as presented.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/CHANGES
NEW BUSINESS
Chair Vogel updated the Admin Register of Historic Places on the website. It was discovered that the
ordinances were not indexed by date or by subject. It was suggested that they be linked out. The dates of the
ordinances was changed from approval dates to effective dates. Everyone accepted the Old English script at
the top. A list was passed around of people who have plaques and members updated the list so that it could be
updated on the website.
Edmond's Garden Tour is planned for this coming July and the Chairperson, Patty Fleming wants to do it in
historic home gardens. Plans are underway. Flier distribution and ideas were discussed. They could be stuffed
into ticket booklets and/or set out on tables.
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The proof of the calendar was discussed. It will take five days to print 1000 calendars. There were no big
changes or formatting changes. It was suggested that someone read it over one more time before it goes to print
to check for misprints or any fatal flaws. Michelle commented on the descriptions written about the buildings,
that they should focus on the buildings being architecturally intact in the exterior and interior from their original
versions of 1910.
REQUESTS FROM THE AUDIENCE/COMMENTS
Steve Johnson from Johnson Oak Leaf Architecture presented with Jennifer Harris to make a public comment
regarding planning and conceptual alternatives to the Edmonds Historical Museum. Steve presented with the
goal of addressing the committee's concerns, He stated that they have done several things in planning to date:
They surveyed what the museum needs in terms of meeting its mission, what it has in its collection and
how it wants to move forward. He discussed the museum's layout and alteration history. The museum's
mission and how the planned changes centered around the mission was discussed. Steve explained that
one thing that the museum does not do right now is present all of its collection. There are some 30,000
items in storage. They want to expand that and provide more exhibits. Steve explained that they worked
on programming with the museum.
He mentioned that staff offices, exhibit prep areas, workshops areas, onsite storage areas, archival
storage areas, a gift shop, an archival research area, and accessible restrooms are things that are not
currently on site, but should be considered as an addition. He discussed significant building code
deficiencies that were noncompliant such as exiting and accessibility. There is only one accessible
restroom on the first floor. Steve explained that they do have a structural firm that specializes in historic
preservation working with them on this.
2. Steve explained that they looked at several ways to expand and change the museum and presented
several proposals for changes such as maintaining parking on the site, an improved entrance walkway,
adding functional additions, and meeting program requirements. Changes included updating the
windows, updating and changing mechanical structures and electrical fixtures, improving exhibit
presentation areas, adding more natural lighting, changes with the walls such as color scheme, and
modification of the existing entrance. Proposed additions of a new reception area, and a gift shop, a
workshop, a roll up door, an exhibit prep area, and an addition/update of the stairwell and updates to the
handrails were proposed. Changes to the storage areas and utility room, current fire exits, and
modifications of the kitchen area were area changes that they were proposing. Sketches of the changes
and how they would were presented to the group. The goal of Johnson Oak Leaf Architecture is that
they are proposing changes to the museum in such a way that when the casual passerby sees the museum
that they understand and realize that they're passing a historic building and would be able to distinguish
which buildings are historical and which are not.
A PowerPoint was presented:
Questions about the expansion and changes were answered.
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Q: Any hint of the architecture of the old building transferred to the back in terms of a theme, such as the band
shaped windows? Is there anything that is going to tie the two together?
A: It is invisible. There is an 8' high fence, houses, trees, garage. No one walks up the alley. We don't have
enough distance minimum requirement on the fagade. Looking this as a blank wall. Our intent would be to
leave it as a simple wall vegetated.
Q: Is miniature rail road station going to be preserved or going away?
A: It will stay. Having more light there would be a plus, so we might move it elsewhere in the building.
Q: Was the elevator the only accessibility inside?
A: That is the only way between the two floors inside.
Q: What about outside?
A: Main entrance is accessible.
Q. Experience of someone coming in the lower area? If they go up the stairwell will they experience the
grandeur?
A: When coming in you get a visual cue here there's a building above you. Information about what's going on
is there.
Q: In addition to materials on south and east side, what are you seeing right now?
A: It's a concrete cement based panel compatible with the base of the building. Would not emulate the detail
and brick.
Q: Materials on entrance doors. Door handles or hardware? I hardware original.
A: Some of it's original, there are some ironwork, gates.
Q: How is the southern addition attached to the museum?
A: Not attaching is the goal, and make a waterproof seam connection. Patching it in the future is not impossible.
Need to get attachment to the masonry correct.
Q: Appreciate the skylight connection. Great idea. In the future, can we have conversation about profiles of
the window, especially on the gift shop.
A: We wanted to show floor plan and intention. Absolutely but we're not there yet. We don't have a lot of
documentations in its various evolutions.
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Larry stated that things look pretty good and there is no reason why they shouldn't move forward. All in
agreement. Steve said that his approach is clearly acceptable, but the details are clearly unresolved, but he hears
the concerns and will address those.
Michelle stated that she did not see any red flags as of right now. Following the Secretary of the Interior
standards, how do we differentiate the historic with the new but also making them compatible. The
differentiation is there but when we get into more materials, etc. we can have more conversation about how to
make them compatible. Steve left his contact information for everyone in case they have any additional
questions. Steve gave permission for Rose to share the PDFs/Power Points with the members.
ACTION ITEMS
COMMISSION CHAIR COMMENTS
Larry stated that he really appreciated this presentation. It was a wonderful overview of the project. It gave the
committee a lot to think about.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Sam Spencer mentioned the railroad museum. Pacific Fast Mail was one of the early and main distributors of
mail order model railroad across the entire country.
A copy of the Secretary of Interior Standard was available for anyone who wants to take it home and browse it.
Please make sure to bring it back. It was also sent to everyone as a PDF via email.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
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Historic Preservation Commission Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 12/12/2024
Historic Preservation Commission Monthly Meeting
Staff Lead: Rose Haas
Department: Planning Division
Prepared By: Rose Haas
Background/History
N/A
Staff Recommendation
Informal discussion regarding budget constraints and upcoming elections.
Narrative
City Council has proposed pausing some boards and commissions for the next two years. The proposal is
not finalized and this meeting should be conducted in the regular fashion. We can discuss options for
continuing HPC under the new budget year, options for special meetings for design review (e.g.,
upcoming certificate of appropriateness for Carnegie Library building). We should also discuss electing a
new chair and vice chair for 2025.
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