Everett Historical Commission

Everett Historical Commission Meeting Summary August 25, 2020 Commissioners City Staff Guests Steve Fox, Chair Karen Stewart Dave Koenig Arnold Morrison David Stalheim Matthew & Andrea Hubbard Dave Ramstad Rachel Downes Glenn Hunter (absent) Applicant/Presenter Todd Bullock Amelia Hieb Elizabeth Kohl, Housing Hope Dan Nelson Jack O’Donnell Kim Williams, Design NW Paula Townsell Thomas Feeney Laura Brent Patrick Hall Carol Duvall Andrea Tucker Ashley O’Brien Sims Neil Anderson (excused) Dan Nelson Laura Cameron-Behee (excused) Ken Ries Jim Dean Elizabeth Koenig Greg & Andrea Meuret Kat Bartanen Ted Mausshardt Gregg Williams The virtual meeting convened at 6:30 pm with Chair Fox beginning the meeting with Commissioners’ introductions, followed by staff, presenters and guests. He let everyone know that the meeting was being recorded. Staff reported that the meeting summary for the July Historical Commission meeting will be reviewed at the September meeting. Citizen Comments Dave Koenig described comments he submitted in an August 24th letter on Rethink Zoning and encouraged the Commissioners to review any changes to the draft code chapters relating to the public notification, definitions and purpose statements of the Historical Commission. Chair Fox said that they would discuss later in the meeting during Commissioner and Staff Comments. Housing Hope request to amend historic overlay zoning boundary Staff reviewed their memo dated August 14 describing Housing Hope’s request to remove a portion of the school district-owned site known as the Norton playfields from the historic overlay zone as shown in the figure to the left. 1 The issue that is before the Historical Commission is to review and comment to the Planning Commission on the request to modify the Norton-Grand Historic Overlay Zone. Housing Hope seeks this boundary change to allow taller buildings for the multi-family portion of the proposed residential development. The proposed building heights would exceed the maximum heights allowed in the historic overlay zone. Staff noted that the development plans will require additional review by the Historical Commission at a later date. After the staff report, Elizabeth Kohl, Chief Operating Officer of Housing Hope introduced the project architect Kim Williams who gave a presentation about the development proposal. Chair Fox opened the public comment portion of the meeting item and invited individuals to share their comments with the Commission. Nine individuals spoke and letters/emails submitted prior to the meeting were given to the Commissioners for their review. After public comments were given, the applicant and their representative answered several questions. Next, the Commissioners discussed the proposal and their opinions on the merits. A motion to recommend reduction of the historic overlay zone as requested by the applicant was made by Commissioner Hall and seconded by Commissioner Ramstad. The motion failed on a vote of 6 against, 2 in favor. After additional discussion, Commissioner Feeney made a motion to not reduce the historic overlay zone which was seconded by Commissioner Tucker. The motion was approved on a vote of 6 in favor, 1 against, 1 abstain. The Commission discussed the desire to write a letter to the Planning Commission explaining the rationale behind their recommendation to deny the request to reduce the historic overlay zone boundary. Because of the open meeting restrictions, it was agreed that Commissioner Hieb, with assistance from Commissioner Feeney, would draft a letter to submit as individuals not representing the entire Historical Commission. Historical Commissioner Comments The Commission heard an explanation from staff addressing the comments on the proposed code changes brought up by Dave Koenig. The Commission discussed concerns about the proposed process change for demolitions of structures on the Everett Historic Register. Commissioner Hall made a motion to not approve the proposal in Rethink Zoning that the recommendation from the Historical Commission regarding proposed demos of Everett Historic Register properties go to the Planning Director and no longer to the City Council to make the decision. Commissioner Hall’s motion was seconded by Commissioner Tucker and approved unanimously. The next meeting of the Historical Commission will be Tuesday, September 22 at 6:30 pm. The meeting will be a virtual one using MS Teams. A motion to adjourn at 9:30 p.m. was made by Commissioner Tucker and seconded by Commissioner Feeney, with unanimous agreement. 2