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2018-07-12 Historic Preservation Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION SUMMARY MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING July 12, 2018 CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Raetzloff called the meeting of the Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission to order at 5:30 p.m. in the 3rd Floor Conference Room of City Hall, 121 — 5' Avenue North. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT Tim Raetzloff, Chair Laura Johnson, Vice Chair Chris Deiner-Karr Kate Kelly David Preston Emily Scott Steve Waite Kristiana Johnson, City Council Member (Participating via telephone) COMMISSIONERS ABSENT Larry Vogel (excused) APPROVAL OF MINUTES STAFF PRESENT Rob Chave, Planning Division Manager Kernen Lien, Environmental Programs Manager Diane Cunningham, Administrative Assistant OTHERS PRESENT Richard and Sharon Erickson Sandra Allbery Anthony Palatini COMMISSIONER SCOTT MOVED THAT THE MINUTES OF JUNE 14, 2018 BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED. COMMISSIONER PRESTON SECONDED THE MOTION, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. AGENDA ADDITIONS/CHANGES The agenda was adjusted to add a review of the Gerdon House plaque prototype, an update on the Edmonds Museum windows, and a discussion about Commission exterior communications under New Business. The remainder of the agenda was accepted as presented. REQUESTS FROM THE AUDIENCE There were no audience comments. PUBLIC HEARING TO DETERMINE THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 645 FIR STREET FOR LISTING ON THE EDMONDS REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES (FILE NO. PLN20180005) Mr. Lien presented the Staff Report, noting that the house is located at 645 Fir Street and was constructed in 1910. The original occupants were the Scalf family. He reviewed the criteria the Commission must consider when reviewing nominations for the Register as follows: 1. Significantly associated with the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering or cultural heritage of Edmonds. This house is associated with the early pioneer history and general development of the City of Edmonds. 2. Has integrity. The house is a well-preserved, simple Victorian two-story residence, and the only apparent alterations appear to be a new foundation and patterned guardrail on the front porch. The deck was also redone. None of the alternations distracts from the historic character of the residence. 3. Age at least 50 years old or has exceptional importance if less than 50 years old. The building was constructed in 1910 and is 108 years old. Mr. Lien advised that in addition to the above criteria, the property must fall into at least one of the 11 Designation Categories. The subject property is consistent with Designation Category b: b. Embodies the distinctive architectural characteristics of a type, period, style or method of design or construction, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction. The house is significant for being a well-preserved simple Victorian early residence of the City of Edmonds. Mr. Lien provided several photographs of the house taken at different time periods. He explained that the house is significant for its intact early residential structure. The house is a rectangular -shaped, simple Victorian residence. All of the windows appear to be original, and there are not a lot of extra features on the home. He recommended the Commission find the residence meets the criteria for designation on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places and make a recommendation to the City Council for listing it on the Register. Anthony ??, Edmonds, asked if placing the subject property on the Register would change or impact the neighborhood. Mr. Lien answered that the designation would be honorary and a plaque would be placed on the house or closer to the street. There would be no additional restrictions on neighboring properties, but the owners of the subject property would be required to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before doing any work on the exterior of the home to ensure the changes do not alter the significant features of the home. Mr. ?? described the deplorable condition of the home and property over the past several years and said he had hoped that designating the property on the Register would improve the situation. Mr. Lien advised that designating the property on the Register would not obligate the property owner to clean up or improve the property's appearance. At the request of Mr. ??, Commissioner Waite briefly explained the tax benefits associated with placing a property on the Register. Commissioner Johnson said her property looks directly at the subject property, and she believes the owners have done a beautiful job restoring the exterior. The landscaping is more natural than manicured, but there is nothing in the backyard that is significantly different from the neighboring properties. She suggested that the problems are more of a neighborhood concern rather than caused by this one property. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON MOVED THAT THE COMMISSION FIND THE RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 645 FIR STREET (SCALE HOUSE) MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION ON THE EDMONDS REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND RECOMMEND THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE LISTING AS PRESENTED IN THE STAFF REPORT. COMMISSIONER DEINER-KARR SECONDED THE MOTION, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NEW BUSINESS Edmonds Museum Windows Update Commissioner Waite reported on his meeting with the City's Public Facilities Manager, Tom Sullivan, regarding the windows at the Edmonds Museum. He advised that the City obtained grant funding for 12 windows, and all but two will be done inhouse. Mr. Lien pointed out that the Certificate of Appropriateness that was approved by the Commission only included the three windows on the eastern fagade. The Commission still needs to review and approve the additional window replacement proposals. Holmes Corner Sign Placement Historic Preservation Commission Minutes July 12, 2018 Page 2 The Commission discussed that the placement of the Holmes Corner sign is not historically accurate, and the actual location of the Holmes Homestead is where the high school now sits. They also discussed Council Member Teitzel's recommendation that the Commission send a letter or email to the Public Works Director requesting that the sign be relocated to the southwest corner to accurately reflect the history of the area. Mr. Chave suggested the Commission could make a motion of support for relocating the sign, and the minutes from the meeting could be forwarded to the Public Works Director. COMMISSIONER SCOTT MOVED THAT THE COMMISSION OFFER ITS SUPPORT FOR RELOCATING THE HOLMES CORNER SIGN TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION AT 76TH AVENUE AND 212TH STREET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. COMMISSIONER PRESTON SECONDED THE MOTION. Commissioner Deiner-Karr pointed out that the sign was put up under the direction of the Edmonds Museum and not the Historic Preservation Commission. The motion would simply voice support for relocating the sign, and it would be the City's responsibility to move it. Commissioner Scott said the intent of her motion is also to suggest that the sign relocation become a priority for the Public Works Department. Commissioner Kelly said the Edmonds Museum also supports relocation of the sign. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Mr. Chave agreed to forward the meeting minutes to the Public Works Director, specifically noting the motion to relocate the Holmes Corner sign. Gerdon House Plaque Prototype Commissioner Waite reported on his meeting with Tom Sullivan, Public Facilities Manager, regarding construction of the post on which the Gerdon House plaque will be mounted. The post will be delivered to the property owner for installation close to the street within the next month. Commission Exterior Communications Commissioner Waite voiced concern about a letter Chair Raetzloff submitted to the local newspaper that implied the Commission held certain beliefs. He felt that several points did not necessarily represent the position of the Commission as a whole. He suggested that any statements made on behalf of the Commission should be carefully vetted and voted upon before they are released to the public. The remainder of the Commission concurred. Mr. Chave summarized that Commissioners should feel free to express their personal opinions, but he cautioned against tying their opinions to the Commission as a whole without having some official action to base them upon. They had a brief discussion on how to best handle these situations in the future. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Status of 2019 Historic Calendar Commissioner Scott provided a status report on the 2019 Historic Calendar, noting that the goal is to have the draft calendar ready for the Commission's review by the end of August. She reviewed the information she has collected thus far and reminded the Commissioners of their assignments. She encouraged them submit their information to her as soon as possible. Adding New Properties to the Register Ms. Cunningham recalled that last year the Commission updated its list of potential properties for the Register. All of the completed applications were also updated and are now ready for assignment to Commissioners to contact the owners and request their approval to move them forward. ACTION ITEMS Historic Preservation Commission Minutes July 12, 2018 Page 3 Discussion on New Auulication for Dr. Palmer House Located at 820 Manle Street Ms. Cunningham reviewed that the Commission voted to remove the Dr. Palmer House from the Register based on proposed changes that were deemed inappropriate by the Commission. Since then, the Commission has discussed the possibility of listing the site (not the house) on the Register. Commissioner Scott pointed out that the property's historical description was updated based on research done by Edmonds Museum representatives. Commissioner Kelly summarized the new information, particularly facts relative to the home's early occupants. Chair Raetzloff summarized that the property owners are asking that the home be listed on the Register based on its historic occupants rather than the homes historic architecture and appearance. Mr. Chave observed that the property owners purposely changed the windows, knowing that the Commission deemed the changes inappropriate. If the Commission were to now find some other avenue for listing the property on the Register, it could undermine the integrity of all of the historic structures on the Register. It could send the message that the Commission will turn a blind eye to changes that get made. The Commission had a lengthy discussion about the Dr. Palmer House and its potential eligibility to be re -instated on the Register based on the criteria in the code and the Department of the Interior's Standards for designating properties on historic registers. Mr. Chave pointed out that, although the Commission voted to remove the house from the Register, it was never officially removed by the City Council as required by code. He agreed to review the history of the property and verify its status. The Commission postponed a decision on the property until the next meeting. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION CHAIR COMMENTS Chair Raetzloff did not provide any additional comments. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Waite encouraged the Commissioners to seek out additional properties to add to the Register. Commissioner Deiner-Karr suggested the Commission should first review the criteria for determining whether or not a property is eligible for listing on the Register. Commissioner Preston suggested that, rather than a list, it would be helpful to have a map that identifies the highly -probable properties that fit the criteria for inclusion on the Register. He also stressed the need to focus on the rules and procedures that are outlined in the code. Ms. Allbery pointed out a potential property for the Register located at 7t' Avenue and Cedar Street. She agreed to follow up and report back to the Commission. Commissioner Preston said he talked to the property owners on Carey Road, who indicated their intent to sell the house. It is likely the house will be significantly modified by the new owners. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:54 p.m. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes July 12, 2018 Page 4