HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-043
RESOLUTION NO. 04-043
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND,
WASHINGTON, ADOPTING FINDINGS IN SUPPORT OF ORDINANCE 2862 WHICH
APPROVED HISTORIC PRESERV A TION GUIDELINES ON AN INTERIM BASIS
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Ordinance 2862 on June 21, 2004 which
approved design guidelines established by the City's Historic Preservation Committee (HPC);
and
WHEREAS, the City Council previously (on June 7) had referred the HPC guidelines to
the Planning Commission for review and recommendation to the Council; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on July 29, 2004 and
recommended to the Council that the Council approve the HPC guidelines; and
WHEREAS, state law authorize cities to enact interim regulations to preserve the
status quo while new plans for regulations are considered and prepared, and requires that the
legislative body hold a public hearing on adopted interim regulations and approve findings in
order to continue the interim regulations in effect; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, following regular notice, held a public hearing on whether
to continue the interim regulations and also whether to adopt permanent regulations (as
recommended by the Planning Commission) on August 9, 2004.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Port
Townsend as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings. The City Council hereby adopts the following findings in
support of its adoption of Ordinance 2892 (June 21, 2004) which adopted, on an interim basis,
design guidelines established by the City's Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) pending
review by the City Planning Commission and action by the City Council.
A. The Port Townsend National Landmark Historic District was designated on
May 17,1976.
B. The Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan, Chapter IV - Land Use Element, states
the following:
Goal 15: To preserve historic and cultural resources to retain our connection to the past,
enhance community values, and leave a historical legacy for future generations.
Policy 15.1: Use the expertise of the Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) in
matters that relate to the preservation of Port Townsend's heritage and strategies
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to retain a sense of the past as the City grows and changes. Continue to use the
HPC for all mandatory design reviews of developments within the National
Register Historic District, as specified in the Port Townsend Urban Waterfront
Plan and Chapter 17.38 PTMc.
Policy 15.2: Encourage the retention of significant historic and cultural
resources which foster community identity and pride.
Policy 15.5: Establish historic preservation guidelines in the zoning ordinance to
govern the conservation and preservation of historic murals.
Policy 15.5.2 Consider establishing guidelines that prohibit the repainting,
removal or alteration of historic murals, except for instances where the
structural integrity of the building is at stake or where new development would
obscure an historic mural.
C. The Port Townsend Municipal Code (PTMC) establishes a Historic Preservation
Committee (HPC) to review all proposals to "alter, demolish, construct, reconstruct,
restore, remodel, or make any visible change to the exterior appearance of any structure or
to the public rights-of-way or other public spaces" in the following areas:
D.
1.
2.
3.
The Urban Waterfront Special Overlay District;
The uptown and downtown C-III Historic Commercial Zoning Districts;
P/OS (A) Existing Park and Open Space, P/OS (B) Public Mixed Use, or
P-I Public Infrastructure Districts within the boundaries of the National
Landmark Historic District; and
Conditional uses within the National Landmark Historic District.
4.
The following HPC design guidelines have been previously adopted by ordinance:
1.
The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic
Buildings;
The Urban Waterfront Design Guidelines (from the Urban Waterfront
Plan); and,
The Main Street Streetscape Design Manual.
2.
3.
E. The HPC has developed additional guidelines to provide guidance to applicants on
common types of development applications, these HPC guidelines include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Exterior Paint Colors (approved by HPC in 1992);
Neon Signage; approved May 6, 1992;
Murals, approved by HPC January 26, 1993;
Awnings approved October 12, 1993;
Signs including Sign Fonts, approved August 25, 1999; and
Exterior Mechanical Systems, approved December 12,2002.
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F. On June 7, 2004 the City Council directed the Planning Commission to review the
HPC guidelines and provide a recommendation as to their formal adoption by ordinance.
G. On June 21, 2004 the City Council adopted on an interim basis the HPC
guidelines by Ordinance 2862 to maintain the status quo until the Planning Commission
had completed its review.
H. The City's State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Responsible Official issued a
determination of non-significance on July 14,2004 for the proposed adoption by
ordinance of the historic preservation design guidelines.
I. After timely notice and a public workshop, the Planning Commission on
July 29,2004 held a public hearing to accept public testimony. At the conclusion of the
public hearing the Planning Commission recommended that the Historic Preservation
Design Guidelines be adopted by ordinance and included in a Historic Preservation
Manual available to the public.
J. The City Council held a public hearing on August 9,2004 to consider the
proposed Historic Preservation Design Guidelines, and whether to continue the interim
guidelines in effect. The Council is scheduled to take final action on an ordinance
approving permanent guidelines in September, 2004, and to continue the interim
guidelines without interruption until Council action in September makes sense to avoid
any gap in the applicability ofthe guidelines.
K. The City Council determines that design guidelines for awnings, murals, signs and
sign fonts, neon signs, exterior mechanical elements, and exterior paint colors are
consistent with historic preservation principles and will provide useful guidance to
project applicants.
L. The interim ordinance preserves the status quo by providing for continued use by
HPC of guidelines HPC has been using for a number of years (but which have not been
formally adopted by the Council). Ifthe interim ordinance is not adopted, then certain
process guidelines (allowing for administrative approval of certain routine matters like
vents without individual HPC review and approval) would require individual HPC
approval (taking additional HPC, staff, and applicant time).
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a special business
meeting thereof: held this ninth day of August, 2004. C ~ . 2)goo. . ~
Catharine Robinson, Mayor
Attest: ~
~, CMC, ~
~ed as to form:
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John P. Watts, City Attorney
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