2019-12-12 Historic Preservation Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
SUMMARY MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
December 12, 2019
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Johnson called the special meeting of the Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission to order at 4:30 p.m. in the 3'
Floor Conference Room of City Hall, 121 — 5t' Avenue North.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Laura Johnson, Chair
Kate Kelly, Vice Chair
Chris Deiner-Karr
Tim Raetzloff
Steve Waite
Kristiana Johnson, Edmonds City Council
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
David Preston (excused)
Larry Vogel (excused)
Emily Scott (excused)
Kristiana Johnston, Edmonds City Council (excused)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
No minutes were available for approval.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/CHANGES
STAFF PRESENT
Rob Chave, Planning Division Manager
Kernen Lien, Environmental Programs Manager
OTHERS PRESENT
Heidi Helgeson
The agenda was adjusted to add Election of Officers for 2020 and a discussion of a potential Certificate of Appropriateness
for the Profitt/Astell House at 825 Main Street. The remainder of the agenda was accepted as presented.
REQUESTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
There were no audience comments.
NEW BUSINESS
Discussion for a Potential Certificate of Appropriateness for the Profitt/Astell House at 825 Main Street
Mr. Lien advised that the owner of the Profitt/Astell House approached the City to discuss the idea of doing an addition.
Staff advised her that, because the property is listed on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places, a Certificate of
Appropriateness would be required. He advised that the property owner's representative was present at the meeting to
discuss potential options with the Commission.
Heidi Helgeson shared the two different options that her clients are currently exploring for an addition onto the back of the
house. Option A would be a smaller 1-story addition, and Option B would be a larger 2-story addition that would wrap
around the house. She specifically requested feedback about whether or not either option would disqualify the property from
the Register.
Mr. Lien asked if the roof pitch would change in Option A, and Ms. Helgeson said it appears that the roof would be slightly
modified. However, if that would disqualify the home from the Register, she could explore the possibility of maintaining the
existing roof shape.
Mr. Lien recalled that, in the past, the Commission has discussed that the addition should not match too closely with the
existing residence. Commissioner Waite agreed and commented that will be the biggest challenge. Ms. Helgeson suggested
that perhaps a slightly different siding could be used to make the addition stand apart yet be compatible with the existing
home.
Mr. Lien shared a view of the house from the street, noting the current bump out. The addition would be located primarily on
the back of the house, and neither option would result in a significant change to the home's appearance from the street.
However, the dormer identified in Option A might be visible from the street.
Commissioner Waite asked Ms. Helgeson's opinion on how the massing and scale of the two options would impact the front
fagade. Ms. Helgeson said she personally prefers Option A since the roofline wouldn't be so flat. However, the homeowners
favor Option B, which gives them more space.
The Commissioners indicated support for either option, but without the dormer, which would alter the homes appearance
from the street. However, they emphasized that the addition would need to be clearly distinguished from the existing
structure as discussed earlier. They agreed that neither option would significantly alter the mass and proportions of the
existing structure.
Ms. Helgeson asked if replacing the windows would disqualify the house from the Register, and Commissioner Waite noted
that the existing windows are not original to the house. Ms. Helgeson advised that the windows are currently leaking and the
property owner is interested in replacing them with something that is more efficient but looks like the original windows. Mr.
Lien pointed out that the original windows were double -hung wood.
Mr. Lien advised that, once the property owner has applied for a Building Permit, the application will come before the
Commission for a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Update on Historic Edmonds Calendar
Commissioner Scott was not present to provide an update on the status of the Historic Edmonds Calendar. Mr. Chave noted
that they are running short on time to get the calendar printed by the end of the year or early January. Commissioner Deiner-
Karr agreed to help Commissioner Scott finalize all of the elements of the calendar so it can be sent to the print shop.
ACTION ITEMS
Election of Officers
COMMISSIONER WAITE NOMINATED COMMISSIONER SCOTT AS CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER KELLY
AS VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION IN 2020. COMMISSIONER RAETZLOFF SECONDED THE
MOTION, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION CHAIR COMMENTS
Chair Johnson thanked the Commissioners for their hard work as she served as chair in 2019. Serving as chair as been
education and challenging at times, but she has learned a lot from them.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
The Commissioners thanked Chair Johnson for her service to the Commission, noting that this was her last meeting, as she
would assume her new position as a City Council Member at the beginning of 2020.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:56 p.m.
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