Everett Historical Commission

Everett Historical Commission Meeting Summary September 24, 2019 Commissioners City Staff Guests Steve Fox, Chair Karen Stewart Nathan Mumm Arnold Morrison (excused) Corey Williams Dave Ramstad Matthew Savage Laura Cameron-Behee Dale Cane Amelia Hieb John Sacco Glenn Hunter Jack O’Donnell Thomas Feeney Andrea Tucker Patrick Hall Neil Anderson (absent) The meeting convened at approximately 6:30 pm with Vice Chair Fox leading the meeting. Introductions were made around the room. Commissioner Tucker made a motion to approve the August meeting summary that was seconded by Commissioner Ramstad and approved with Commissioner Hall abstaining. Citizen Comments None. Demolition and Design Review for 2115 and 2117 Grand Ave. The applicant is requesting approval for demolition of a contributing single family home and detached garage located at 2115 Grand Avenue. The design review is of a proposal to construct a three story, multifamily residence with five dwellings and a rooftop community courtyard on 2115 and 2117 Grand Avenue. A 12 stall detached garage with an upstairs infill dwelling unit accessed from the alley is also part of the proposal. This will result in the construction of 6 dwelling units with at least one unit ADA accessible. The applicant, Corey Williams, spoke briefly about growing up in an historic home in the city and Nathan Mumm, representative for the property owners, spoke about the proposal and conversations with neighbors since the meeting in June. Staff referred the commissioners to the staff report and asked if there were any questions. The public hearing was then opened by Chair Fox. The neighbor who lives at 2113 Grand Avenue, Matthew Savage, spoke about his concerns with the proposal that is so close to his property and the near certainty that his home would be damaged during demolition of the structures at 2115 Grand Ave. He also spoke about absentee landlords and problems with former tenants residing at the duplex at 2117 Grand Avenue. He submitted copies of photos of the existing property conditions and written comments to the commission for their review. Dale Cane who stated he lives on Grand Avenue spoke in favor of the project. John Sacco, who lives to the east across the alley from the property spoke about discussions with the developer that addressed his concern about losing views to the west. The redesigned roof with the common open space addressed his primary concern. Commissioner Ramstad made a motion to close the public hearing that was seconded by Commissioner O’Donnell and approved unanimously. Commissioner O’Donnell stated he would be voting against the demolition at 2215 Grand Ave. because he wanted to save a contributing home that is part of the historic overlay zone. Commissioner Fox commented that while the revised design was an improvement from the original building design presented in June, the decks on the second and third stories look like a motor lodge. He expressed that the height and building massing was just too large for the property. Commissioner Tucker wants to maintain the historic overlay and preserve contributing structures. Commissioner Cameron-Behee was concerned about the multi story building blocking sunlight for neighboring properties. Commissioner Feeney felt that the character and structure was a bit too massive for the surrounding neighborhood and that the width of the building might not be consistent with code. Commissioner Ramstad made a motion to allow the demolition of the home at 2115 Grand Ave. to go ahead. There was no second to the motion so it died. Commissioner Feeney made a motion to not support the demolition of the home at 2115 Grand Ave. and Commissioner O’Donnell seconded the motion. Commissioner Ramstad voted no and all other Commissioners voted yes so the motion passed. Commissioner Hall made a motion that Commissioner Fox compile the list of design review comments in a letter to the Planning Director. Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion and discussion continued with the motion on the table. The motion was withdrawn and a substitute motion was proposed by Commissioner Hieb with a second by Commissioner Ramstad that the proposed development design be denied and that the review supplemented by enumeration of specific design features that will be expressed in a letter drafted by Commissioner Fox to the Planning Director. This motion passed unanimously. Actions from 2011 Downtown Historic Preservation Plan With only two meetings remaining for this year’s work plan, it was time to begin to identify and prioritize action items for next year. Commissioners asked that an editable version of this list from 2011 that could be emailed prior to the next meeting so they can make notations to facilitate prioritizing when they come together. Commissioner Hall stated that several of the action items are potential areas of collaboration with the Downtown Everett Association (DEA). He will take the list to discuss with the DEA at an upcoming meeting. Collaboration between the two groups might be useful to complete some of the actions. Several commissioners questioned if the program named in action item #1 still exists—someone will google and report back. The inventory referenced as action item #2 should be posted on-line if it is not already. Action item #3 caught the attention of several commissioners who started discussing guidance for home remodeling, paint schemes, etc. Action item # 5 has been completed. Action item #6 might not be achievable based on Commissioner Hall’s research on criteria for National Register listing. Specifically, because the wharf where the Everett Massacre occurred no longer exists, the site would be judged to have “failed to maintain integrity”. Further discussion will occur at next month’s meeting. Historical Commissioner Comments Roundtable reports by the Commissioners starting with Commissioner Tucker thanking several Commissioners for their help holding another successful Historic Everett Homes Tour. Inquiry about Bernie Webber paintings of City of Everett Mayors that are no longer displayed in the Everett Municipal Building. Commissioner Fox reported on attending the YMCA decommissioning and several members who were unable to attend requested a tour of the old YMCA. Staff said they would ask for a tour with the new owners to hear about their plans to preserve the oldest portions of the building. Next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 22 in a new location at the William E. Moore Old City Hall in the Conference Room. Motion to adjourn at 8:19 p.m. made by Commissioner Ramstad, seconded by Commissioner Cameron- Behee, with unanimous agreement.