2009-01-09 Historic Preservation Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
SUMMARY MINUTES
January 9, 2009
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Eccleshal 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
Andrew Eccleshal, Chair
Jenny Anttila
Christine Deiner-Karr
Andrew Eccleshal
Daniel Kerege
Alan MacFarlane
Larry Vogel
Steve Waite
Michael Plunkett (arrived at 4:45 p.m.)
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Sue Bauer (excused)
READING/APPROVAL OF MINUTES
STAFF PRESENT
Rob Chave, Planning and Development Services Manager
COMMISSIONER VOGEL MOVED THE COMMISSION APPROVE THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 11, 2008
AS SUBMITTED. COMMISSIONER DEINER-KARR SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/CHANGES
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 during this portion of the meeting.
ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR
COMMISSIONER DEINER-KARR MOVED THAT COMMISSIONER VOGEL BE ELECTED AS VICE CHAIR
OF THE COMMISSION. COMMISSIONER KEREGE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Registration Committee
Commissioner Anttila reported that the Registration Committee prepared a letter, which would accompany applications that
are sent to property owners. The letter outlines the registration process and requests the owner's written consent to proceed.
In addition, the committee updated the document that outlines the nomination process, and a draft would be forwarded to
each Commissioner for review and comment. She further reported that the Registration Committee briefly reviewed 12
additional properties for nomination. Their plan is to research these properties and then send letters and applications to the
owners. This list includes the following properties: Edmonds Baptist Church, Gerdon House, Princess Theater, Beeson
Building, Powers House, Yost House, Railroad Station, Red Shed and four houses on Sunset Avenue.
Commissioner Deiner-Karr agreed to research more information about the Boys and Girls Club property, particularly the
City's current lease with the Edmonds School District.
The Commission also discussed three historic properties that are owned by the City: the Edmonds Memorial Cemetery, the
Log Cabin, and Brackett's Landing. They particularly discussed that Bracketts Landing and the Edmonds Memorial
Cemetery are historic sites with no buildings. Chair Eccleshal suggested that the cemetery might be different because what
makes it historic are the people who are buried there, the gravestones and the trees.
Chair Eccleshal pointed out that the Railroad Station has a large model layout of the historic railroad on display, and this
should be preserved.
Education and Outreach Committee
Vice Chair Vogel reported that the Education and Outreach Committee is preparing the next edition of "The Preservationist,"
and the main feature article would be the Ingalls Pub. Commissioner Kerege is currently researching the property and
preparing the article for publication. Vice Chair Vogel summarized that the newsletter would probably be ready in the next
few weeks, and he would distribute it amongst the Commissioners via email. He advised that the newsletter would also be
available as a PDF file on the Commission's website, as are all of the newspaper articles that have been published recently.
Vice Chair Vogel briefly reviewed the new web page design, which is intended to be more user-friendly. He invited the
Commissioners to review the site and forward their editorial comments to him as soon as possible. The Commission agreed
it would be appropriate to notify the Edmonds School District and encourage them to use the site to teach kids about
Edmonds' history. The Commission discussed the possibility of putting together a Power Point presentation about the
history of Edmonds for the school district and other local groups to use for educational purposes. Council Member Plunkett
reminded the Commission that Nathan Proudfoot, a former Edmonds/Woodway High School Student, put together a film on
the history of Edmonds as part of a school project. The Commission agreed it would be appropriate to make this film
available via their website, as well.
Preservation Planning Committee
The Commission further discussed how they could get historic sites that are owned by the City (i.e. Bracketts Landing and
the Edmonds Memorial Cemetery) included on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places. It was noted that Mayor
Haakenson has previously expressed some concern that placing City -owned sites on the Register would require the City to
obtain Historic Preservation Commission approval before adding any structures.
The Commission agreed that a more appropriate approach would be to make a decision on a case -by -case basis as to whether
Historic Preservation Commission review would be required for historic sites. The decision could be made based on the
elements of the site that are deemed historic. Mr. Chave pointed out that most major City projects are approved through a
master plan process, and those that are substantial go through an Architectural Design Board review, as well. Therefore, the
Historic Preservation Commission would be notified of proposals to change historic sites, and they could then provide input
as part of the master plan process. Mr. Chave cautioned that the Commission's concerns should focus on historic issues
rather than design issues. The Commission agreed it would be advantageous to have historic sites on the Register so that
developers would be required to acknowledge the historic nature of a site as part of the application. The Historic
Preservation Commission could then be notified and invited to provide input during the review process.
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Edmonds South Snohomish County Historical Society
Commissioner MacFarlane introduced himself to the Commission and expressed a keen interest in learning more about how
the Commission operates and the subjects they discuss. He stated that he would have plenty of material for the next meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Explanation of Overlays and Districts
Mr. Chave explained that a historic district would define the character of the area and identify all of the buildings that are
significant from a historic standpoint. Historic districts must comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Historic Standards,
which are administered through the State. An overlay is a zoning tool that allows the City a much broader zoning authority.
They can be created in many shapes and forms and regulated to the minimal or maximum degree. Zoning overlays must be
adopted by the City Council, and they would typically go through a Planning Board hearing process. He noted it is possible
for residents to approach the Planning Board with a proposal to establish an overlay district.
Chair Eccleshal provided information he obtained from the Everett Historic Preservation Commission regarding their historic
overlay and the process and codes that were used to create the overlay. He recalled that the Registration Commission
previously discussed the option of having a special workshop discussion outside of the regular Commission meeting to
discuss whether or not they want to pursue the overlay concept in 2009.
Chair Eccleshal reported that he would meet with Frances White Chapin in a few weeks to discuss the 41h Avenue Arts
Corridor and the possibility of this area becoming the City's first historic overlay. Mr. Chave agreed that the Commission
should monitor the 4th Avenue Arts Corridor process and depending on the recommendation, suggest the potential of creating
a historic district or overlay. He suggested an overlay would likely be the best approach because there are not likely enough
buildings to create a district. Overlays also provide more flexibility, and the residents would be able to decide how much
they want to regulate the properties. Mr. Chave suggested the Commission invite Ms. White -Chapin to make a presentation
regarding their recommendations for the 4th Avenue Arts Corridor, and the Commission concurred.
Yost Garage Building — Possible Eligibility for Nomination
The Commission discussed the Yost garage building with reference to its suitability for inclusion on the Register. It was
thought that the historic integrity of the building had been altered so much that it could no longer be eligible as a structure,
but that it may be eligible as a site. They agreed to consider the site in the future as applications for the Register continue to
be processed and submitted.
Discussion of a "Special Session" for Further Investigation of Overlays, Districts and Other Ideas for Historic
Preservation in Edmonds
The Commission discussed the possibility of conducting a special workshop meeting to further investigate the option of
creating a historic overlay or district, as well as other ideas for historic preservation in Edmonds. They agreed to make a
decision regarding the special meeting at a later date.
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Bettinger House Status
It was discussed that the Bettinger House status was largely unchanged from the last meeting. The property is for sale and the
owner has stated that, though someone had shown interest in the property, he felt that it was more likely to be leased for the
next year.
ACTION ITEMS
News Article "Then & Now"
Chair Eccleshal announced that the next "Then & Now" Article would feature The Princess Theater (Edmonds Theater).
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January 8, 2009 Page 3
Media Events
The Commission discussed the option of holding a Media event for the presentation of the plaque for the August Johnston
House. It was agreed that the Education and Outreach Committee would pursue the issue and try to set a date for a media
event/photo opportunity.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION CHAIR COMMENTS
Chair Eccleshal thanked all of the Commission Members for their patience during his first meeting as chair.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
None of the Commissioners provided comments during this portion of the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission meeting was adjourned at 5:58 p.m.
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