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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