Historic Preservation Review Board Meeting

Wednesday, July 13, 2011, 7:00 PM

The meeting of the Historic Preservation Review Board was called to order by Acting Chair, Elizabeth Anderson at 7:02 PM at Town Hall.

Acting Chair, Elizabeth Anderson called the roll.

Board Members present: Acting Chair, Elizabeth Anderson; Victoria Williams, David Waldron and Melanie Rollins.

Board member absent: Matt Shildneck

Also present: Sandy Strehlou, HPRB Coordinator; Peggy Sue McRae, Recording Secretary.

Minutes

The minutes of the HPRB meeting of 06.22.11 were approved.

Planning Discussion: HPRB and Planning Commission Joint Meeting

Chair, Elizabeth Anderson opened a discussion regarding a planned joint meeting of the HPRB board with the Friday Harbor Planning Commission.

HPRB Coordinator Sandy Strehlou provided copies of the signed letter from the board to the planning commission inviting a joint discussion.

It was suggested that the joint meeting take place at the regularly scheduled September 28th HPRB meeting.

Coordinator Strehlou recommended the board familiarize themselves with the function and record of the planning commission including reading through the comprehensive plan with particular attention to what relates to Historic Preservation. Board member Matt Shildneck is on the Planning Commission and may therefore be natural liaison between the board and the commissionnnin.

A preparatory discussion concerning HPRB goals for the joint meeting will be on the HPRB agenda for August 24th. It will be decided at that time if a HPRB sub-committee is needed.

HPRB Workshop: Transitional District Design Review Issues

The board discussed resolving the use of HPRB’s imperfect tools (out dated sections of the HP manual) and the need to keep internal discussion separate from the design review process.

It was suggested that the board develop basic ground rules for using the HPRB manual’s current language applied to the design review process particularly with regard to transitional neighborhoods. This topic will be on the agenda for the July 27th meeting.

Board member Victoria Williams requested case studies of transitional neighborhood design reviews to use as examples for the discussion. Coordinator Strehlou will select examples.

Board member David Waldron suggested adding the topic of Administrative Reviews to this discussion.

Coordinator Strehlou recommended the board read the HPRB ordinance regarding Design Reviews.

HPRB Training: Modern Views - Post War Architecture Discussion

Due to time constraints it was agreed that this film viewing and discussion would be postponed until the board has completed ordinance updates.

Ordinance Update Discussion: Landmark Register 17.64.080

The board reviewed proposed revisions to the current language for TFH ordinance relating to the Landmark Register.

Changes to the proposed language were made as follows:

17.64.100 Historic Landmark Register

B. Qualification – Paragraph 1 - Line 4 – Remove the words, "a significant degree of".

B. Qualification – Paragraph 3, # 4 in list. Typo correction. Should read, "as identified in the adopted Historic Preservation Manual".

H. Effects of Listing on the Register - Paragraph 1 – Lines 2 and 3. Remove the words, "denoting significant association with historic, archaeological, engineering, or cultural heritage of the community".

Coordinator Strehlou will rewrite to include that the ordinance references exteriors.

I. Modifications, Relocations and Demolition. - Paragraph 3. Line 2, "established in the rules" Coordinator Strehlou will rewrite to refer to what the rules are.

J. Administrative Review, # 3 remove typo. Remove "s" to read, "Repairs and delayed maintenance that replace irrevocably deteriorated that replace irrevocably"… ect. – This section may not be needed here as "Administrative Review" is addressed in a different section. If this is used it must say the same thing as references to Design Review elsewhere in the ordinances.

After the ordinance review is complete, and as recommended by Land Use Administrator Mike Bertrand, the board will review and update the HPRB’s current list of properties for possible qualification to the Landmark Register.

Ordinance Update Discussion: Design Review 17.64.60

Administrative reviews will not apply to properties on the Landmark Register with the exception of emergency situations (ie such as public health risk).

Due to time constraints a motion was made to postpone further discussion of Design Review 17.64.60 ordinance to a later date.

Staff Report

Because the responsibility of chairing board meetings rotates between HPRB members, staff has provided written speaking points to aid board members and provide consistency in running the meetings. Melanie Rollins will take the chairmanship of the board in August. Victoria Williams will chair meetings starting in November.

At the next Town Council meeting on Thursday July 21st at 5:30pm, the Agricultural Guild will make a presentation to the Council requesting allocation of LTAC funds for the Brickworks development. Because the Ag Guild’s Brickworks development will preserve an important local landmark and represents a significant partnership between the Town of Friday Harbor Historic Preservation Review Board and the Ag Guild, the board agreed to send a representative to support the project request. In addition, the board also decided to show support for the Brickworks project by volunteering to assist laying pavers for a few hours probably on a Saturday.

Ghosts

Robin Jacobson of the Island’s Visitor’s Bureau and Adrienne Bourne of the San Juan Island Library are organizing an October event with the theme of local ghost legends and historic buildings. Historic Preservation Coordinator Strehlou will assist. The date of the event has not yet been determined.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:01

Peggy Sue McRae, Recording Secretary