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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5. Non-Residential Paint Guidelines Development Services Department 250 Madison, Suite 3 Port Townsend, WA 98368 360-379-5095 Fax 360-344-4619 HISTORIC DESIGN GUIDELINES For Exterior Color Schemes PURPOSE These GUIDELINES are established for the following purposes: To supplement land use regulations which encourage and promote public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Port Townsend. To provide guidance on appropriate color schemes which maintain historical authenticity and character throughout the National Historic Landmark District. To allow for timely approval of color scheme design review applications. To assist decision-making by the Historic Preservation Committee, Planning Commission, and City Council in the review of development applications. INTRODUCTION A new coat of paint is great for a building’s appearance and essential for its maintenance. Surfaces must be prepared by removing the old paint, and color schemes should be carefully considered. Although color choice is largely a matter of personal taste, within the Port Townsend's Historic Overlay District paint schemes should be appropriate to the building materials and style of the subject property, as well as to other buildings in the district. A "palette" of exterior colors for use (where applicable) in the Historic Overlay District was first developed and used by the City Council in 1992. The palette was developed by the City's advisory board in these matters, Historic Preservation Committee (HPC). As approved by Council, it originally applied to just portions of the downtown commercial core of Port Townsend's National Historic Landmark District (NHLD). Its applicability has since been expanded to include other commercial and maritime trade areas of the NHLD, as well as any non-residential structure lying within that is subject to the City's historic design review process. The color palette was expanded by Council in 2009 and is shown in Exhibit A. REVIEW PROCESS Consistent with Council's direction, the following review procedures for exterior colors in the Historic Overlay District is established: The following is exempt from historic design review: Normal maintenance and repainting of existing buildings without color changes; The following is subject to an administrative, staff-level only review: Exterior colors selected from the approved color palette. In these instances, the building owner/contractor shall complete a no-cost Exterior Paint Registration Form. These are available at the City's DSD office. The following is subject to submittal of a historic design review application, including review and recommendation by the HPC to the DSD Director for a final decision: The use of exterior colors other than those found on the approved palette. GUIDELINES Exterior colors shall be selected from the approved color palettes and from affinity charts for sash and side walls. There are two color palettes: one for frame buildings and another for buildings that are a combination of materials, such as brick, wood, and cast iron. Three exterior colors (body, trim and sash) shall be permitted for frame buildings. Four exterior colors (body, major trim, minor trim and sash) shall be permitted for buildings of other construction. Exterior brick walls which are in an unfinished or natural state shall not be painted. Painted brick walls shall be repainted to approximate the color of the natural material; mortar joints may be suggested in a color approximating the natural color of the material. The use of a pure white to imitate natural mortar color shall be prohibited. Consistent with the above-mentioned guideline, side walls of a previously painted brick or masonry building shall be re-painted to suggest the original color of the structural material of the wall, or shall be re-painted with a side wall color listed on the approved color palette. Front and side wall junctions should be treated sensitively, with the color of the front façade reflecting the thickness of the façade construction on the building’s side. General Color Guidelines Color choice for building exteriors may express individual taste but should always contribute to the historic character of the National Landmark Historic District and should be based upon historical precedent. Exterior colors should harmonize with other colors on the same building and on the streetscape. Exterior colors should complement the colors of neighboring buildings and should not produce an effect of visual competition or discord. Exterior colors should be selected to be mutually supportive and beneficial to the overall historic character of the streetscape. Paint colors that were not produced or used during the late nineteenth century are not recommended for commercial buildings in the Water Street Historic District. This includes bright colors and pastels. Neither are a part of the Port Townsend color tradition; their use would be incongruous with the historic setting. Acceptable colors are termed “tertiary” colors and are produced by mixing two “secondary” colors on the standard color wheel. High gloss paints, other than for sash application, are not recommended. Distribution of color on the primary façade: it is recommended that the base color be applied to all of the walls and to the piers flanking the storefront, unless this upper wall is natural brick or stone. If so, the piers might be painted a color resembling the natural material. The major trim color would be applied to cornice, window caps, window frames, storefront cornice and columns and bulkheads. The minor color would trim doors, storefront frame and possible small details on cornices, window hoods and bulkheads. The window sash could be the minor trim color, but historically it was dark green, red or brown. This makes the windows appear to recede and gives the building a richness of depth.