Heritage Commission

City Hall City of Olympia 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Contact: Michelle Sadlier Meeting Minutes 360.753.8031 Heritage Commission Wednesday, October 23, 2013 6:30 PM Room 207 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Davies called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. 1.A ROLL CALL Present: 7 - Chair Holly Davies, Commissioner Dwayne Harkness, Commissioner Benjamin Helle, Commissioner Luke Howard, Commissioner Rachel Newmann, Commissioner Deborah J Ross, and Commissioner Nicholas Vann Excused: 3 - Commissioner Mary Coacher, Commissioner Garner Miller, and Commissioner Mark Rentfrow 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved with a change to next year's agenda. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.A 13-0802 Approval of September 25, 2013 Heritage Commission Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved as amended with two abstentions. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT- None 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS The Commission discussed the vacancy of Commissioner Chrisanne Beckner. Councilmember Roe identified that a runner-up from the previous call for Commission members will be the choice of the Commission if she is available. Commissioner Newmann announced her Neighborhood Association received a neighborhood grant to bring in Jack Mackie who will be working with the neighborhood to create transitions between the South Capital Neighborhood and the Capital Campus. City of Olympia Page 1 Heritage Commission Meeting Minutes October 23, 2013 Tonight was the last meeting with Community Planning & Development staff member Jennifer Kenny, who is moving to Portland, Oregon. Commissioners expressed appreciation for her hard work and diligence, and discussed how her position will be filled. 6. BUSINESS ITEMS 6.A 13-0838 Review and Recommendation of Special Valuation Tax Application for 2020 Water St SW Discussion of application was as follows: -The old floor, an oak species which was not seen by the Commission, had been determined by the owners to be original and was replaced. Commissioner Harkness commented that fir was more usual as a floor during the period the house was built and it may have been damaged. The report states that other floors in the house were refinished. It was pointed out that like-for-like does qualify for application of tax valuation. A further comment was made that because of the softness of fir wood it would be very difficult to replace and the fir grown today is not comparable or sustainable. -It was noted that windows were replaced with wood without getting permits, however they did keep some of the original windows on the Water St. side. Getting credit for this is determined to be appropriate and it is not a question of whether they should have done it, but whether they should get tax credits for what they have done. -Commissioners had questions about gutters and downspouts, and siding replacement. It was noted that the front and back porches were replaced with new materials. Commissioners had questions about materials used for the back porch. It also was noted the interior stair treads were replaced with hardwood. -Commissioners discussed how special tax valuation/credit eligibility for items should be consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards on restoring the original structure. Discussion noted approval can be given for changes but that does not indicate actual restoration of the original structure. The object is to enable and support folks to live in historic property so the requirements need to be flexible, and it is not always practical or possible to replace like with like. -Commissioners asked if pictures would be part of the process of documentation when the property is visited. Commissioner Harkness moved, seconded by Commissioner Newmann, to give full tax valuation credit. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 7 - Chair Davies, Commissioner Harkness, Commissioner Helle, Commissioner Howard, Commissioner Newmann, Commissioner Ross and Commissioner Vann Excused: 3 - Commissioner Coacher, Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Rentfrow City of Olympia Page 2 Heritage Commission Meeting Minutes October 23, 2013 6.B 13-0837 Public Hearing - Olympia Heritage Register Application for 135 Cushing St Chair Davies opened the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. No members of the public were present so the public hearing was closed. Discussion of the Olympia Heritage Register application was as follows: -The Thurston County Assessor records often indicate 1901 as the year a property was built. Because this was a convenient practice, if records state 1901 was the year built, it is not necessarily reliable. Consensus is this house is at least that old. -Commissioners observed the property is in good condition. -A comment was made that owners are thinking about how to connect it with the new pocket park in the neighborhood. Commissioner Ross moved, seconded by Commissioner Harkness, to place the property on the historic register. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 7 - Chair Davies, Commissioner Harkness, Commissioner Helle, Commissioner Howard, Commissioner Newmann, Commissioner Ross and Commissioner Vann Excused: 3 - Commissioner Coacher, Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Rentfrow 7. REPORTS Downtown Committee Moving ahead with the Downtown Master Plan is pending until budget decisions are made. Outreach Committee The Outreach Committee met with Ed regarding the African American brochure. They have finalized priority #1 which outlines Westside historic properties. The brochure will illustrate seventeen walkable sites in the area and characterize a sampling of total historic properties. A Native American brochure is also being developed. How brochures are destributed to the public was discussed. Brochures are currently displayed at the Farmers Market site, the Governors Hotel, the Olympia Downtown Association, and the Visitors Center. Other suggestions were the Legislature, the Capital gift shop and tables at events, where the Heritage Commission has been effective in the past. A popular brochure that the Commission distributes at events is City of Olympia Page 3 Heritage Commission Meeting Minutes October 23, 2013 "Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Wood Windows But Were Afraid To Ask". Heritage Review Committee The Committee visited a house owned by Boeing and used primarily for their lobbyist. A fairly recent remodel had included the kitchen, storm windows, and R39 attic insulation. The property owner wanted to do an "all efficiency" remodel to replace the windows. During the visit a vinyl window installer told a Commission he had done hundreds of replacements in the neighborhood and had never needed a permit. The windows had been purchased and were on site. The owner was told not to do the replacement installation because the windows did not need to be replaced. The contractor wanted to show the Commission another window. In order to justify not replacing the windows, the Commission needs to communicate the code, and explain how these nationally accepted standards give the Commission authority to assert these determinations. Because code enforcement officers are stretched thin in Olympia it has been difficult to enforce these codes. Simply removing these properties from the Register is not a hindrance for residents who want to proceed without approval because there is no punishment for a violation and not being on the Register allows owners to remodel without any oversight at all. The status of the 1230 4th Ave building was discussed. A meeting has been scheduled with enforcement and historic staff to revisit the property and determine compliance. The question of noise ordinance was raised because the music is so loud, the tables shake in the shop next door. Is there a lower decibel level for historic buildings and could this be a civil suit issue? The Commission does not want to consider any other replacement at this time and believes this property is in violation of code. Youth Committee Commissioner Coacher was absent and there was no report. Maintenance Committee Rebuilding Together Thurston County has been contacted to request collaboration with the Commission to work together on building issues. 8. OTHER TOPICS Councilmember Roe spoke about the possibility of staff doing monthly meetings , rather than bi-monthly, if the budget is approved. As the economy improves there will be more applications and requests that will be better accommodated by this change. City of Olympia Page 4 Heritage Commission Meeting Minutes October 23, 2013 The retreat in January is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, January 25 at the Bigelow House. The Commission needs a representative to attend an upcoming meeting with the Council and Chair Davies will be out of town. Commissioner Ross volunteered. How to counter the popular perception that new vinyl windows are desirable? The Sears Building will be reviewed by both the Heritage Commission and Design Review Board, and Commissioners Harkness and Newmann agreed to attend in addition to the Commissioners scheduled. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 p.m. City of Olympia Page 5