2007-05-10 Historic Preservation Commission MinutesHISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
SUMMARY MINUTES
May 10, 2007
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Kindness called the meeting of the Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission to order at 4:04 p.m. in the 3rd Floor
Conference Room of City Hall, 121 — 5' Avenue North.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT STAFF PRESENT
Barbara Kindness, Chair Rob Chave, Planning Division Manager (arrived at 4:06 p.m.)
Christine Deiner-Karr, Vice Chair Diane Cunningham, Planning and Dev. Services
Brian Hall
Norma Bruns COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Rob VanTassell (arrived at 4:08 p.m.) Steve Waite
Michael Plunkett (Council Member) Deborah Binder
Mauri Moore (Council Member)
READING/APPROVAL OF MINUTES
VICE CHAIR DEINER-KARR MOVED THAT THE MINUTES OF APRIL 12, 2007 BE APPROVED AS
AMENDED. COMMISSIONER HALL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF AGENDA
The Commission agreed to add a discussion regarding historic street signs in Edmonds as a new agenda item under New
Business.
REQUESTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
There was no one in the audience who expressed a desire to address the Commission during this portion of the meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no public hearings scheduled on the agenda.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Registration Committee
Mr. Chave reported that he and Commissioner Binder met with the designer to discuss the brochure. The designer has agreed
to provide an initial layout by the middle of next week, and the group plans to meet again on Friday. They expect to have a
draft design to forward to the State later in the month. The draft design should also be available for the Commission to
review at their next meeting. Mr. Chave also reported that the designer is close to having a final design for the Commission's
logo and a proposal for how it could be translated to the plaques.
Education and Outreach Committee
Chair Kindness reported that, while at the Museum, she reviewed a box of tourism brochures that were made by students
from Edmonds Elementary School. The brochures illustrate the children's perspective on Historic Preservation. She
suggested the Commission seek permission from the school to use the brochures in their newspaper editorials. The
remainder of the Commission agreed that Chair Kindness should move forward with this idea.
Vice Chair Deiner-Karr said she has been researching ideas for a treasure hunt/scavenger hunt in Edmonds. She plans to talk
to representatives from the Edmonds Museum and the Chamber of Commerce regarding the concept, as well.
Preservation Planning Committee
Commissioner VanTassell indicated the Preservation Planning Committee would report on their recent activities later on the
agenda as part of the zoning issue.
Chair Kindness reported that the Planning Board has requested the Commissioners meet with them before their May 231
meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mr. Chave explained that the Planning Board is working to update the Edmonds Community
Development Code, and they felt it would be worthwhile to involve the Historic Preservation Commission in their review of
some sections such as the non-conformance standards. Council Member Plunkett said he anticipates the City Council would
have forwarded the draft historic design standards to the Planning Board by that time, as well. The Commission asked Mr.
Chave to provide information to the Commission regarding the agenda for the meeting.
OTHER REPORTS
Edmonds South Snohomish County Historical Society
Commissioner Bruns reported that the new exhibit at the Museum would be a celebration of 50 years of the Edmonds Art
Festival. It should be opened to the public by Saturday, May 121 and would likely run through September. The Summer
Garden Market was opened again last Saturday. The Commission asked Chair Kindness to contact the market sponsors to
arrange for the Commission to set up a table sometime during the summer.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Plaque Program
Again, Mr. Chave reported that the logo designer would work up a couple of alternatives for the Commission to consider for
incorporating the logo onto the historic plaques. Because the logo is round, they are thinking the plaques should also be
round, also. Commissioner Deiner-Karr noted that the Commission has still not resolved the issue of plaque ownership, and
Mr. Chave agreed to contact the City Attorney for direction.
zoning
Commissioner VanTassell referred the Commission to the two documents related to draft conceptual designs standards for a
possible Heritage Neighborhood in Edmonds. He noted that one was prepared by the Preservation Planning Committee and
the other by Council Member Plunkett. He suggested that Mr. Chave combine the two documents into one that could be
presented to the City Council for consideration.
Council Member Plunkett referred to the last paragraph on the yellow document and explained that, currently, a property
owner who is proposing a project that is less than 4,000 square feet, would not be required to go through design review. He
recommended this section be changed so the review process is triggered by any development application without regard to
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size. Mr. Chave suggested the last sentence could be changed to read, "Instead of SEPA, the process shall be triggered by
any development application that significantly alters the streetscape appearance without regard to total square feet effective
or proposed." After further review, the majority of Commissioners felt it would be appropriate to require design review for
all projects in the BD1 zone that impact the streetscape appearance, regardless of size. However, the majority also agreed
they would not be in favor of requiring design review for interior changes that do not alter the fagade of a building.
Council Member Plunkett referred to the "application" section at the top of Page 2 of the yellow document. He explained
that a citizen group suggested that when an applicant submits an application for the BD1 zone, the issues identified in this
section should be evaluated. Mr. Chave said the items are fairly similar to what an applicant is already required to do.
Commissioner Hall suggested the Commission should not get involved in regulating the color of a building. The majority of
Commissioners agreed and decided that the last sentence of the fourth paragraph should be deleted.
The Commission discussed what portions of the two documents should be included in the final product that is forwarded to
the City Council for consideration. They agreed that Mr. Chave should combine both of the documents into a single
document that could be forwarded to the City Council. They further agreed that the "application" and "SEPA" sections
should be added, as modified.
COMMISSIONER VANTASSELL MOVED THAT THE COMMISSION ADOPT FOR RECOMMENDATION TO
THE CITY COUNCIL THE DOCUMENT DATED APRIL 12, 2007 (FIRST PAGE OF YELLOW DOCUMENT),
WHICH WAS PREPARED BY THE PRESERVATION PLANNING COMMITTEE; THE SIMILAR BUT
SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT DOCUMENT DATED APRIL 25, 2007, WHICH WAS PREPARED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER PLUNKETT (WHITE DOCUMENT); AND THE SECOND PAGE OF THE YELLOW DOCUMENT
(APPLICATIONS AND SEPA), WHICH WOULD BE MODIFIED AS FOLLOWS:
• CHANGE THE LAST SENTENCE OF THE SEPA SECTION TO MAKE REFERENCE TO STREETSCAPES
AND SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ON THE EXTERIOR.
• STRIKE THE LANGUAGE IN PARENTHESES IN THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH OF THE APPLICATIONS
SECTION, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE AN APPLICANT TO INCLUDE AN ACTUAL COLOR CHART OR
COLOR SAMPLES.
HE FURTHER MOVED THAT THE COMMISSION AUTHORIZE MR. CHAVE TO COMBINE THE
DOCUMENTS AND PREPARE AN ITEM PAPER TO FORWARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL, TOGETHER WITH
THE DESIGN GUIDELINES DOCUMENT. COMMISSIONER HALL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
WORKSHOP SESSION
Frequently Asked Ouestions
The Commission agreed to schedule time on future agendas to hold workshop discussions related to the Frequently Asked
Questions. They agreed that Chair Kindness would choose two questions for the Commission to consider at each meeting,
and these questions could be emailed to each of the Commissioners prior to the meetings.
NEW BUSINESS
Historical Signs for Edmonds
Commissioner Hall reviewed the document provided by Commissioner Waite related to historic site signage. He said
Commissioner Waite reminds the Commission that the City wants less signage because of the current cluttered appearance
throughout the town. Commissioner Waite reports that he met with Frances Chapin, who is working with a designer to
establish a way finding sign program. They discussed how historical signs could fit in with that program in the future.
Commissioner Waite suggested that, at some point, the Commission should consider the following questions:
• What is the goal relative to the mission of the Historic Preservation Commission?
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• What would the Commission nominate?
• If a sign program is pursued, should different strategies be developed for different location?
• How would the sign program be implemented?
The Commission agreed it is important to keep track of Ms. Chapin's work on a way finding sign program and look for
opportunities to incorporate historical signs. Vice Chair Deiner-Karr agreed to take on this assignment and said she would
contact Ms. Chapin and continue the conversation that was started by Commissioner Waite.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION CHAIR COMMENTS
Chair Kindness reminded the Commission of earlier discussions about contacting the Edmonds Public Facilities District
regarding the old mailboxes that were removed from the old Edmonds High School when it was converted into the new
Performing Arts Center. The Commission expressed interest in turning the old mailboxes into keepsake boxes that could be
sold as a fundraiser. She said the Commission submitted this request, but they never heard back. She said she would
continue to pursue the opportunity.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Mr. Chave advised that staff would forward an agenda for the upcoming joint Planning Board/Historic Preservation
Commission Meeting on May 23rd to each of the Commissioners.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
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