Historic Preservation Review Board Attending A Meeting Of the Town of Friday Harbor Planning Commission

Wednesday, September 22, 2011, 5:30 PM

The meeting of the Town of Friday Harbor Planning Commission was called to order by Chair, Jeff Iverson at 5:30 PM at Town Hall.

Chair, Jeff Iverson called the roll.

Planning Commissioners present: Jeff Iverson, Sally Thomsen, Linda Browne, Kay Kohler and Matt Shildneck.

Historic Preservation Review Board members present: Acting Chair, Melanie Rollins; Elizabeth Anderson, Victoria Williams, and David Waldron. Matt Shildneck, HPRB member, is also on the Planning Commission.

Also present: Roxanna Zalmanek, Recording Secretary for the Planning Commission, Sandy Strehlou, HPRB Coordinator; Peggy Sue McRae, Recording Secretary for HPRB, and Steve Stewart public citizen.

Minutes

The Planning Commission approved their minutes of May 12.

Historic Preservation Review Board Introduction

At the request of the Historic Preservation Review Board the HPRB was invited to attend a joint meeting with the Planning Commission. The HPRB was given one hour and was the first item on the Planning Commission’s agenda.

HPRB member David Waldron introduced the HPRB to the Planning Commission suggesting that these two well-established groups do not know each other very well and yet share areas of common interest. He explained that the HPRB Board would like to tell the Planning Commission what the HPRB board does and respectively learn what the Planning Commission is doing. He then provided background on the role of the HPRB.

HPRB Coordinator Sandy Strehlou pointed out the historic district on a map noting that to date the HPRB has inventoried structures up to the 1940s and is just beginning to document structures from the late 1940s through the 1960s.

Design Reviews, Landmarking and Incentives

Waldron explained the design review goals and process, and the goals of land marking program that has not yet been implemented. Through a landmarking program (which will include only sites that retain significant historic integrity) the HPRB will be able to make incentives available to appropriate properties both within and outside of the historic district.

The HPRB is looking for other cost neutral incentives. Creating incentives related to zoning or land-use would be one area, among several, where the HPRB could benefit from the expertise and advice of the Planning Commission.

Another potential incentive would be possible provided the Town of Friday Harbor become designated by the State of WA as a Certified Local Government (CLG). Advantages of becoming a CLG include property tax incentives for Landmark properties.

Strehlou noted that the HP is currently updating its ordinance language and is in the beginning stage of updating the language regarding incentives.

Streetscapes

Regarding the streetscape, or spaces between buildings, Waldron pointed out that there is no plan for guiding this sort of development or designated advisory body to review it. Several recent projects, as well as others in the works, are not required to be reviewed by the HPRB or the Planning Commission. For example, the infrastructure beneath Spring Street is due to be replaced and will be an opportunity to redo Spring Street. Strehlou added that Scenic Byway infrastructure (signs, kiosks, etc.) will also have an impact on the historic district, and is therefore an area of interest for the HPRB. She suggested that these are examples of the development of public spaces that could effect the district, and as such the HPRB will want to provide input to the Town. Thinking ahead, the HPRB could benefit from input of the Planning Commission on these and other areas of development.

Comments from the Planning Commission

Planning Commission Chair, Jeff Iverson, noted that two unique aspects of Friday Harbor are that Friday Harbor was never burned in a catastrophic fire and Friday Harbor has a ferry dock in its core.

Iverson noted that the Planning Commission is an advisory body to the Town Council that does research but does not make decisions. The Planning Commission is tasked with researching issues related to growth, development and land use. The Planning Commission is currently working on updating the Shoreline plan.

HPRB members departed at 6:34.

Peggy Sue McRae, Recording Secretary