2008-09-11 Historic Preservation Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
SUMMARY MINUTES
September 11, 2008
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Deiner-Karr called the meeting of the Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission to order at 4:30 p.m. in the 3rd Floor
Conference Room of City Hall, 121 — 5th Avenue North.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Christine Deiner-Karr, Chair
Steve Waite
Norma Bruns
Andrew Eccleshal
Daniel Kerege
Larry Vogel
Sue Bauer
Jenny Anttila (left at 5:35 p.m.)
Michael Plunkett
READING/APPROVAL OF MINUTES
STAFF PRESENT
Rob Chave, Planning and Development Services Manager
Diane Cunningham, Planning and Dev. Services
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Rob VanTassell, Vice Chair (excused)
COMMISSIONER BAUER MOVED THE COMMISSION APPROVE THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 14, 2008 AS
CORRECTED. COMMISSIONER ECCLESHAL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF AGENDA
No changes were made to the agenda.
REQUESTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
There was no one in the audience who expressed a desire to address the Commission. Chair Deiner-Karr noted that Marilyn
Lindbergh was in the audience, and she attended the meeting as a result of a notice she saw in the newspaper.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Registration Committee
Commissioner Bauer reported that the Registration Committee sent letters to the property owners who already have their
properties identified on the State's Register of Historic Places. The letter asked the property owners to consider adding their
properties to the Edmonds Register of Historic Places. They received two responses back; one from the owner of a House on
9"' Avenue North and the other from the owner of the Reliable Floors Building on Main Street. The Registration Committee
plans to contact the owners of all properties identified on the BOLA Inventory List, as well. They would like to invite the
interested property owners to an open house where they could ask the City staff and Historic Preservation Commissioners
specific questions about the advantages of placing their properties on the register.
The Commission discussed their ideas for how to proceed once property owners have indicated an interest. The Commission
agreed that rather than having an open house, interested property owners could be invited to meet individually with City staff
and the Registration Committee to discuss the technical aspects of listing their properties on the register. It was agreed that
members of the Registration Committee would also meet with staff in the near future to review the advantages of and the
process for nominating properties. It was also discussed that it would be more appropriate to conduct an open house after
they get several more properties on the Register.
Chair Deiner-Karr summarized the nomination process as follows: The Registration Committee would forward an
application, letter and response card to each property owners. When someone responds, staff and the Registration
Committee would meet one-on-one with the property owner. If the property owner agrees to move forward, the application
would be evaluated by the Preservation Planning Committee and then the Historic Preservation Commission would conduct a
public hearing and forward a recommendation to the City Council. Once the review process has been completed and the City
Council has determined the property is eligible for the Register, the property owner would be contacted for permission to add
the property to the Register and erect an identification plaque.
Education and Outreach Committee
Commissioner Eccleshal reported that the Education and Outreach Committee discussed the possibility of creating an insert
for the local newspaper to provide stories and report on properties that are being listed on the Register. The Committee felt
this would be a great way to raise awareness for historic preservation. Commissioner Vogel provided a format of what the
insert might look like. He invited the Commissioners to forward their comments on the draft to him as soon as possible. He
suggested the Commission could invite local businesses to sponsor the monthly inserts.
Preservation Planning Committee
Commissioner Waite reported that the Preservation Planning Committee would continue to focus their efforts on the
municipal ordinances related to historic preservation. Their next task would be figuring out how to integrate the efforts of all
of the organizations and stakeholders who have an interest in historic preservation. They would work to develop a plan to
help organizations and individuals learn to value their heritage from both an aesthetic and economic standpoint.
Commissioner Bauer reported that there is currently a regulation in the zoning code that would prevent the ground floor of an
older home on 4th Avenue (Arts Corridor) from being converted to a commercial use. The City Council will be considering
some emergency provisions to address the problem, but the situation emphasizes how important it is for the Commission to
have a clear understanding of the zoning regulations that apply to historic properties and recommend changes when
appropriate. Commissioner Waite said the Preservation Planning Committee has made staff aware of the Commission's
position on Historic Preservation. Mr. Chave added that staff tries to represent the Commission's position as much as
possible.
Edmonds South Snohomish County Historical Society
Commissioner Bruns reminded the Commission that a lot of information about historic structures and artifacts can be found
at the Museum. She reported that a plaque would be installed at Holmes Corner in the near future. She advised that a new
exhibit of photographs of businesses in Edmonds would open at the Museum in October. Lastly, she advised that someone
from the Museum has been working to digitize and index old photographs of properties in Edmonds.
NEW BUSINESS
Community Historic Preservation Events
The Commission discussed ideas for having a "Historic Day" in Edmonds such as a scavenger hunt of historic properties, a
day where people could dress up in clothing from a particular era, etc; They also discussed the possibility of conducting a
tour of the inside of historic structures in Edmonds as a fundraising event. The Commission agreed this would be a good
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
September 11, 2008 Page 2
concept to pursue because it would help bring recognition to historic preservation. It was suggested the event could be held
as part of National Historic Preservation Week or as part of the Edmonds South Snohomish County Historical Society's
Summer Market Program. Commissioner Kerege agreed to put together a list of ideas, and the Commission could then
appoint a committee to move the concept forward.
Media Events
Commissioner Vogel said he would work with Commissioner Bauer to select a date for the plaque installation on her
property. He said he plans to publish the event via the media.
Historic Register and Whether to Control Interior Spaces of Structures
Commissioner Bauer asked if the Commission would be interested in having some control over the change that take place in
the interior of a structure that is listed on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places. Chair Deiner-Karr explained that the
nomination application indicates the portions of the structure that have historic significance, which can include both inside
and outside elements. The Commission only has the ability to control changes to elements identified on the nomination as
historically significant.
Transferable Development Rights and Form -Based Design Effects on Historic Preservation
Commissioner Bauer described the concept of Transferable Development Rights (TDR's), which would allow owners of
property on the Edmonds Register of Historic Properties to sell their rights to build as high as they could under the existing
code to somebody in another section of town. She advised that in order to make a program of this type work, the City would
have to decide where greater density would be desirable and which historic properties it wants to protect. Implementing a
TDR program would require the City to tighten their zoning regulations for the historic area of the BD1 zone and direct
higher development elsewhere in the City. She pointed out there is some community support for the program, and she
suggested the Commission invite someone to provide an in-depth presentation at a future meeting.
The Commission discussed the concept of form -based design and how it would impact historic preservation efforts. It was
noted that the draft form -based design guidelines that are currently being considered for the BD1 zone represent an
alternative to the Commission's recommendation for a historic overlay.
Council Member Plunkett agreed to research the concepts of TDR's and form -based design and provide some thoughts and
ideas about how the Commission could encourage the Planning Board and City Council to consider the concepts as part of
their effort to re -write the Development Code. Commissioner Bauer agreed to provide additional information on both
concepts to Council Member Plunkett.
Website Maintenance
Mr. Chave encouraged Commissioner Vogel to contact the City's website manager directly to discuss updating the
Commission's web site.
Planning Board Update
Mr. Chave reported that the draft Downtown BD1 Design Standards would be presented to the City Council for final review
and approval on September 161h. He reminded the Commission that the Planning Board would like to work further with the
Historic Preservation Commission to address items such as the proposed name for the zone, the demolition waiting period,
and possible changes to the design review process. He encouraged the Preservation Planning Committee to contact the
Planning Board Chair to schedule an opportunity to discuss these items.
Bettinuer House Status
Commissioner Eccleshal reported that he spoke to one of the owners of the property located at 555 Main Street and learned
they are still looking at options for relocating the structure. Three property owners have indicated an interest: one in the
bowl area near the Edmonds Performing Arts Center, one in the Yost Park area, and one in Sequim. The interested party
from the bowl area is currently working with City staff to subdivide the lot and resolve the height issue.
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
September 11, 2008 Page 3
ACTION ITEMS
News Article "Then and Now"
Commissioner Eccleshal reported that the next "Then and Now" article would be regarding the Powers House at 554 Main
Street. The Education and Outreach Committee felt it would be appropriate to raise public awareness of the property, since
there is some indication it could change ownership in the near future. He invited the Commissioners to review and provide
comments on the draft article.
Contact List
Commissioner Vogel provided a contact list and invited the Commissioners to recommend additional contacts. He said he
would incorporate changes as they are received.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION CHAIR COMMENTSI
Chair Deiner-Karr did not provide any comments during this portion of the meeting.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Bruns thanked Commissioner Vogel for providing a packet of the information he collected at the National
Alliance for Preservation Commissions Conference.
Commissioner Eccleshal thanked Commissioners Bauer and Antilla for the extra work they did over the past few months to
move the Commission's efforts forward. The remainder of the Commission concurred.
Commissioner Kerege said he is excited about the "history day" concept.
Ms. Cunningham informed the Commission that their October 9th meeting would be held in the Fourtner Room, as the
Brackett Room would not be available on that date.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission meeting was adjourned at 5:58 p.m.
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
September 11, 2008 Page 4